Playing Catch: A Baseball Romance (15 page)

She didn’t have time for this charade. Ripping the questionnaire in two, Jeanine left the clipboard on an end table and strode out of the office.

Useless tears bubbled from her eyes, and she hastily swiped them on her way to the elevator. She’d cut back on the one-night stands on her own.

She’d gone cold turkey for weeks at a time. It wasn’t as if she had a sexual addiction problem. Kirk was making a mountain out of a molehill.

She enjoyed sex. She didn’t want a relationship, and he made her nervous with his care and concern. What did he really want from her?

Not watching where she was going, Jeanine dashed around a corner and slammed into a hard, dense, and very male chest.

“Whoa, there, sugar,” a deep voice drawled as a man grabbed onto her wrist.

It was one of the hooded stalkers, only he had his hood down.

“Sorry. I didn’t mean to run into you.” Jeanine backed away from his grasp.

“Is this the right way to Dr. Sparks’ office?” The man let go and wiped his fingers through his dark brown hair. It hung a little longish into his open hood. Cat-like green-brown eyes studied her over a strong, straight nose and sparkling white teeth.

“Yes, right around the corner. First door to the left.” Jeanine rubbed her wrist where he’d touched. Okay, so he wasn’t the least bit scary, and he was the usual type of guy she bedded. But obviously, he was also seeing Dr. Sparks.

“I’m a little early for my appointment,” the man said. “By the way, name’s Ty. You have time for a cup of coffee?”

“Uh, actually, I’m in a hurry. Late for work.”

“Sure, maybe next time. Are you seeing her regularly?”

“Uh, I really can’t say. I have to go.” Turning quickly, she hustled to the elevator. She’d never met this man before, other than seeing him outside her apartment building showing off his abs the morning of Bianca’s karate test. He could even be one of the men who’d robbed her place.

Her pulse pounding, she jiggled the elevator button. This was the last time she was coming to Dr. Sparks’ office, where all the sexually addicted men congregated.

“Didn’t mean to scare you.” The deep voice purred behind her, too close.

How’d he do that? Zoom in on her without her being aware?

“You better back off or I’ll Mace you.” She hugged her purse close. “I saw you that morning stalking me. Did you break into my apartment?”

His face turned to stone and his eyes dulled as if he’d pulled down the shutters. “Can’t a man be friendly without being accused of a crime?”

Thankfully, the elevator arrived with a beep, and the doors swished open. Jeanine stepped in, but the man followed her.

“Thought you had an appointment.” She parked herself by the control panel.

“Told you I’m early. I’ll walk you to your car.”

“I’d rather you didn’t.” Jeanine had her finger poised over the emergency call button.

Ty blocked the elevator doors from closing. “Suit yourself. But a word of warning. I saw who you were speaking to before you went into Dr. Sparks’ office. He’s got his own reasons for getting close to you.”

“He’s none of your business.” Jeanine withdrew the can of pepper spray from her purse. “I’m warning you. Back off.”

“If you ever need my help, here’s my card.” Ty slipped his hand into his pocket and threw the card on the floor of the elevator, stepping out before Jeanine had a chance to spray him.

The elevator doors closed and Jeanine put the can back in her purse. She didn’t bother picking up his card, and it wasn’t until she was in her car before she realized she should have taken it to the police.

Damn. She wasn’t going back into that building ever again. And what had that man meant about Kirk? That he had ulterior motives for getting close to her?

She stopped by Marcia’s house and gifted the two tickets to Pappy and Bianca. They could enjoy an afternoon at the ball park. As for Jeanine, she was cutting all ties with Kirk.

Maybe she was being paranoid, but only the paranoid survive.

“
W
e killed it
!” Brock slapped Kirk on the back and gave him a high five as he crossed home plate with a last inning home run.

Taking a glance at the spectators sitting behind home plate, Kirk raised his fists and pumped. The sun was setting and the shadows were too deep for him to pick Jeanine out from the crowd, but she was sure to be up there cheering and screaming her head off.

He’d played his heart out knowing she was in the stands watching him. It wasn’t only the home run that made him tonight’s most valuable player, but also the last out at the plate when he stood his ground and took a hit from a baserunner who’d dived headfirst.

Before heading for the clubhouse, he and his teammates gathered near the outfield fence to sign autographs. It was a routine thing during spring training, where the atmosphere was more relaxed than during the regular season.

As soon as Brock and Kirk approached the fence, women screamed and shook their t-shirts, programs, and other items to be signed.

Jeanine wasn’t among them. Kirk shrugged, not surprised. She was probably pissed off because he’d played it too cool with her. Which was okay, because it showed she cared. Women like her, independent and tough, didn’t like men who slathered on the praise or acted cowed in their presence. Of course, she was the best thing to happen to him, but he wasn’t going to let her get a leg up over him, unless it was to ride him good and hard.

“Sir? Can I please have your autograph?” A little girl handed Kirk a stuffed bear, the type with the smooth skin for autographs.

“Sure. Can you spell your name for me so I can put a big heart around it?” Kirk gave her a warm smile. She was a tomboyish one, wearing the Rattlers’ cap backwards, two pigtails, freckled face and a big gap in her front teeth from a recent tooth fairy visit.

“B-I-A-N-C-A, Bianca,” the girl said loudly. “I’m named after my grandmother, Fiona.”

“Why, Bianca.” Brock handed a ball back to a little boy and turned his daughter’s baseball cap around. “I didn’t know you were coming to the game today.”

“We got a special surprise,” Bianca said. “Auntie J’s at home babysitting Boo, so Pappy and I got to come to the game.”

“That’s great. Was Boo sleeping or awake when you left?”

“He was asleep,” Pappy said from behind Bianca.

“Oh, sorry, I forgot to introduce you,” Brock turned to Kirk. “This is Marcia’s father, Ron Powers, and of course you figured out this little powerhouse here is Bianca, my daughter.”

The way he said ‘my daughter’ was full of pride and sent a twinge to Kirk’s heart. He’d heard the story behind it all and was happy that his buddy had his family back.

“Glad to meet you. I’m Kirk Kennedy.” Kirk shook Ron’s hand. “Been buddies with Brock since the Copperhead days.”

“We ought to have you over for a barbecue,” Ron said. “Binky can invite some of her friends, and I bet their dads would like to meet you. You know she’s trying out for Little League this year?”

“T-ball, still.” Bianca crossed her arms. “I’m too little for Little League.”

“You’ll get there.” Brock chuckled. “Cowabunga, dude.”

“Booyakasha!” She high-fived him. “Only the old guys say ‘Cowabunga.’”

“I can’t get into Booyakasha, but fine, Boo you!” Brock picked his daughter up and put her over his shoulders. “Let’s go get some grub. Hot dogs, pizza, or burgers.”

“Chicken fingers!” the little girl squealed as she messed up her father’s hair.

Their obvious love and affection for each other had Kirk’s throat lumping up. He fell in step behind them, walking with Mr. Powers.

“How’s Marcia feeling these days?” he inquired, since it seemed like Jeanine was concerned about her friend.

“She’s not admitting she has a problem.” Her father pursed his lips and shook his head. “She’s not allowing herself to rest. Feels guilty whenever someone’s helping her. Her best friend, Jeanine, offered to babysit next Wednesday so she and Brock could have a day off together, and it’s like pulling teeth to get her to accept.”

So, that was why Jeanine skipped the game. She was doing her friend a favor and it looked like she had no plans to surprise him on his one-day off, like she’d promised before their disastrous night together. A chill settled over Kirk like a wet poncho. He should have no expectations when it came to her.

“Anyway, I figure Jeanine’s getting practice taking care of the baby and convincing Marcia to relax,” Marcia’s father said.

“It must be tough,” Kirk picked up the conversation. “Has Brock convinced Marcia to see a therapist?”

“He’s trying, but my daughter is as stubborn as a twenty-team mule train. She hasn’t been the same since the baby was born, and I hate to see her suffer.” The older man sighed loudly. “She’s been through so much. I’m just glad she has such a good friend in Jeanine. That woman’s got a steel rod up her spine. She’s really good for my Marcia.”

“A day off for Marcia and Brock could be just what the doctor ordered,” Kirk agreed. He’d have to find something else to do that day, now that Jeanine had scotched her plans with him.

“Yep, and I’m going fishing with my old army buddies. Heard you and Jeanine will be babysitting partners.” The older man dropped a bombshell. “She’s planning a trip to the zoo, then overnight camping in our backyard. Bianca’s excited to sleep up in the treehouse, but you and the baby are going to be in a tent. She’s got it all set up.”

Kirk’s pulse ratcheted up in pace. So, Jeanine had planned something with him, and this was what it was like in the friend-zone.

“Sounds like fun.” Kirk scratched the back of his head. Growing up, he’d never been camping, not even the backyard kind. His mother would accept nothing less than five-star hotels and resorts, and even then, she’d complain about the amenities and lack of service.

At least Jeanine hadn’t forgotten about him. Was he surprised? Definitely. Was this something he had been looking forward to? Maybe not. But if it was a chance to get to know her better, than he could sacrifice a night with a crying baby and hang out with her.

“Pappy!” Bianca circled back to her grandfather’s side. “Dad says we can go out for ice cream. Let’s go. Let’s go.”

“You haven’t had dinner yet, little squirt.” Pappy tugged the brim of Bianca’s baseball cap down over her eyes.

“That’s right, Binky. Dinner first. I’ll call for some pizza and meet you guys back home after we shower and change.” Brock slung his arm around Kirk and walked with him to the clubhouse. “You’re coming with us, or did you have a hot date?”

“Seeing as my hot date is at your place, I’ll pick her up there. We were going to meet up after the game.” Or at least he was going to propose it once he signed an autograph for her. Kirk sauntered into the clubhouse, feeling two hundred percent better.

Even though Jeanine hadn’t seen him play ball, she’d done a noble thing by letting Bianca and Pappy have her tickets and taking care of the baby so they could attend.

“Glad things are going well with you two,” Brock said, opening his locker. “Any time you want the keys to the houseboat, it’s yours. I have one docked at Saguaro Lake.”

“Might be nice for an overnighter.”

“Definitely romantic.” Brock quirked a grin at him. “Make it count. She’s the best there is. Loyal to a fault, a guard dog, fearless and compassionate.”

He’d agree with all of the above, except the loyalty part. A woman who had a string of one-night-stands was by definition, not loyal. But then, neither was he. That was why he was seeing Dr. Sparks. The worst thing he could do would be to get under Jeanine’s hard shell and then end up hurting her.

“Jeanine’s a loyal friend, I get that. But has she ever had a steady relationship with a man?” Kirk was treading on shaky ground, but hey, guys gossiped too, and if Brock could clue him in, why not?

“She’s like you, bud. High standards. I’m surprised she’s looking at you twice. The woman’s probably been saving herself for you.”

“Yeah, right. Saving herself while having one-night stands. That’s a new one.”

“It is, dude. She’s saving her heart.” Brock tapped Kirk’s chest. “That’s the hardest to save and the easiest to break.”

Kirk was knocked speechless. His own heart leaped and pranced like a wild horse against his ribcage. Of course. While she was sleeping around with guys she didn’t care about, she was really a virgin at heart.

Maybe he did mean something to her, and she wanted to be friends first. Which was scary, because it would mean knowledge before sex. Friends before lovers. The type of relationship he’d never seen enacted for him—not with the way his parents dropped their pants for a slew of strangers.

Could he do it? Ensure his own loyalty was strong and true? Or was he doomed to be like his parents, swapping lovers like December twenty-sixth at the mall gift exchange?

J
eanine sat
on the porch swing, rocking gently back and forth and back and forth. Baby Brock slept, cuddled in her arms, his head resting on her left breast. She’d changed him and fed him, and stared into his sweet baby blue eyes. What an adorable doll he was. It was hard to believe he was colicky and cranky, but then, maybe he had his day and night times reversed and Marcia was in for one hell of a night.

She feathered her fingers lightly over his fuzzy, downy blond hair and closed her eyes, drifting with the well-oiled swing that no longer creaked—now that Brock was home and keeping everything maintained.

Bianca and Pappy had been so excited to go out to the game. Frankly, she was surprised Brock hadn’t offered them tickets, but when Pappy explained that Marcia didn’t trust anyone else to babysit Brock Jr., it all made sense.

The entire family was held hostage to Marcia’s fears that the baby would get hurt. The only people she trusted were Pappy, Brock, and Jeanine, or Auntie J to Bianca.

“You’re not such a monster baby, are you?” Jeanine rocked the little sweetheart. “I bet you’ll have fun camping with us. Your sister wants to sleep in the treehouse, so you and I are sleeping in the tent. “

It was too bad about Kirk, and she should probably tell him he wasn’t getting a surprise date. There was no way she could let Kirk sleep in the tree house with Bianca or anywhere near that precious little girl.

She hugged the baby, too lazy to go into the house and get her phone to text him. He was probably done with the game already and wondering where she was. Or maybe he handed out tickets like candy and he was already off with some other woman he’d invited.

What was he after with her? Should she believe the words of the man in the hoodie? Or was she purposely pushing him away because he was getting under her shield?

Jeanine was tired of psychoanalyzing herself. For once, it might have been nice to pour it all at the feet of the therapist, and let her solve her problems, but unfortunately, it wouldn’t solve a thing.

The therapist was only a bystander. Jeanine would have to live with the results.

A tear slid down Jeanine’s cheek, but she didn’t bother to wipe it. Baby Brock snored peacefully, his sweet breath puffing through his chubby cheeks. His lips were pink and pursed, sometimes making a sucking motion as his eyes rolled behind his thin eyelids.

She’d never be able to have a baby. Never take the chance of being pregnant and delivering a girl—a baby whore. No, a precious angel she couldn’t guard—couldn’t keep safe. Maybe that was why her mother left her. She couldn’t bear to see her daughter turn into a whore—used by men, helpless.

Helpless as a newborn baby while men gratified themselves over her body. Her mother never wanted a girl. Her mother never wanted to be pregnant. Her mother might have been too young.

Horror seized Jeanine’s chest and she gasped for breath. Her eyes bulged open and the porch suddenly seemed too small as an evil, bone-dry wind sucked the moisture from her throat, gagging the scream trapped in her throat.

“Jeanine!” Pounding footsteps clambered onto the porch.

She whirled around, protecting the baby who startled and woke, letting out a high-pitched wail.

“Don’t hurt the baby. Don’t hurt him.” Jeanine put her hand out to ward off the intruder. “Stay back. Stay away.”

“It’s me, Kirk.” He stood in front of her, hands out, palms up, beseeching her. “It’s going to be okay. Brock and Bianca went to get something to eat. I came by to fetch you and the baby.”

“I can’t go with you.” She huddled in the corner of the porch. “I don’t know you.”

“What happened with Dr. Sparks? What happened to you, Jeanine?”

“Nothing.” She rocked the baby, trying to calm him, but the more she rocked, the more agitated he got. “Please, stop crying. Stop crying, baby.”

“Let me take him.” Kirk moved slowly, his hands outstretched. “Let me help.”

“No. You don’t really want to help me. You have something up your sleeve. You aren’t who you say you are.” She couldn’t catch her breath, couldn’t speak fast enough.

“Where’s this coming from?” Kirk froze, blinking, his face stiff. “Did Dr. Sparks upset you? Did she say something to you?”

“No!” Jeanine yelled. Her heart was on a tripwire, and she was shaking from head to toe. “I didn’t go in. I couldn’t answer the fucking questions. I’m beyond help.”

In a single motion, Kirk lunged forward and wrapped both Jeanine and the baby in his arms. “You’re going to be okay. I’ll help you. Let’s go into the house and calm down.”

“I’m calm. I’m okay. I’m fine. Just fine.” Jeanine couldn’t even enunciate clearly. Cold sweat bathed her face and she trembled, her legs weak as rubber.

Slowly, Kirk guided her across the porch and into the house. He led her to the sofa and pressed her down, then took the baby, who stopped crying as soon as he put him in the battery-powered swing.

“What’s happening? What’s going on?” Jeanine curled up on the couch in a fetal position, holding her knees tight. “Am I going crazy?”

“You’re having a nervous breakdown. I’m checking you into a clinic tonight.” He covered her with a throw. “Don’t move.”

“I’m okay. I’m strong. This isn’t happening. I can cope. Don’t call anyone.”

He took his phone out and spoke. First to Marcia, then to Brock. And finally, he called Dr. Sparks, who recommended he take her to the hospital for evaluation.