Worth the Trade (More Than A Game) (14 page)

“Yes. And you will behave yourself after hours.” She wasn’t going to get her heart involved, but she also wasn’t going to share him with anyone else.

“It would be a lot easier to do if you were with me,” he teased. “Otherwise…”

“No other women. Are we clear?”

“Yes, ma’am.” Marco saluted and took a drink of his juice. “But that rule goes both ways. If Baxter gets into a slump or Garcia can’t find his fastball, you’re not going to help them out are you?”

“Of course not. This is a unique situation.” One she wasn’t sure how she’d gotten herself into. “I’ve never slept with a ballplayer before. Or any kind of athlete.”

“I’ve never slept with a team owner before,” Marco said with that irresistible smile of his.

“Just their wives?”

“Hey, that was a long time ago. And she’s got nothing on you.” He lifted his gaze, heat lingered. “Hunter, you outshine every woman I’ve ever known. You do not have to worry about me even looking at another woman. Not on the road. Not ever.”

His sincerity warmed her, but made her even more determined to put some space between them. This was getting too hot too fast.

“I’ll clean up. You’d better get moving so you don’t miss your flight.”

* * * *

Marco made his flight, settled into his hotel room and went to the ballpark with the rest of his team. He took his turn in the batting cage, making solid contact on most of his reps. He felt good. Not great, but good. Maybe Hunter was right, he had confidence going into the last few games, he should approach the plate tonight with the same attitude.

He was a professional, a good hitter, good enough that Hunter had wanted him. Wanted him enough to trade a hot pitching prospect and a couple of guys who could be pretty solid players if given a chance.

Hunter had gone against her partner’s wishes to bring him to San Francisco. And now that he knew he could be the player she’d expected, Marco would do anything to keep it going.

He tried not to think about the sex. It was fantastic in every way, but it wasn’t the reason he’d come out of the slump. Sure, he’d relaxed because of it, because of her. Hunter gave him confidence on a deep level. She believed in him.

That confidence carried him through the first game of the road trip. He went two for three with a single, a double and a sacrifice, knocking in two runs in their win. Not bad, considering his heart was still in San Francisco.

After the game, he went to the hotel bar, trying to keep from calling her. To keep from missing her to the point of losing the concentration he’d finally recovered.

Bryce snuck up on him and patted him on the back.

“Buy you a beer?” he asked, but his offer lacked his usual enthusiasm.

“Sure.” Bryce had been responsible for one of the other runs of the game, a solo home run to tack on to their lead in the ninth.

“Good game.” Marco waited until their beers had been delivered before hitting the small talk. They both knew that Los Angeles had won their game tonight as well. The race was tight. The Goliaths were just two games out of first place. Their five game winning streak kept them alive while L.A. had won six of their last seven games.

“Yeah. We’re still in it. Let’s just hope we don’t lose any ground before we have to face them in their yard.” Bryce was usually the most upbeat player on the team. The rah-rah guy, who could spin just about anything into something positive. But he wasn’t his usual cheerful self, tonight.

“All we can do is play our game. Put ourselves in a position to be in the race come September.” Marco knew there was a fine line between taking a realistic look at their chances and jinxing the whole damn thing. He wasn’t about to screw things up by getting too cocky. But he needed to maintain a certain level of confidence. And make sure his teammates felt it too.

“So, it seems you’ve been able to elevate your game a little in the last few days.” Bryce took a long pull on his lager. “You getting laid or something?”

The way he said it, and the way he avoided eye contact made Marco wonder if the other man was fishing for information. More information than Marco was willing to share.

“Not tonight, that’s for sure.” Marco tried to make a joke out of it. “I mean, you’re the best prospect I’ve seen all night.”

Bryce laughed, but he didn’t really mean it.

“Just tell me the truth.” He looked Marco straight in the eye. “Have you slept with Rachel Parker?”

Who?

It took a minute for Marco to remember who Bryce was talking about. The reporter. The perky redhead from Bay Area Sports Net who conducted the postgame interviews.

“No.” Marco shook his head and placed a reassuring hand on his teammate’s shoulder.

“You can tell me.” Bryce kept his gaze steady, but he was bracing for the worst. “You wouldn’t be the first guy to fall under her spell.”

“No. I’ve only talked to her on camera.” Marco didn’t envy the man. Not when he seemed so into a woman he didn’t trust.

“You sure?” Bryce leaned forward, resting his elbows on the bar. “There’s got to be some reason for your transformation at the plate.”

There was. But he wasn’t going to share it with Bryce Baxter or anyone else, not when the reason was their boss.

“I think I’d remember something like that.” Marco tried to keep his tone light.

“Sorry man.” Bryce flipped some kind of switch in his head and turned into Mr. Happy-go-lucky all over again. “It’s just that we were supposed to hook up, you know after that game where you broke out of your slump. But then she canceled on me, not long after you left the bar. What was I supposed to think?”

“Maybe something came up.” Marco was hardly in the position of handing out advice on women. He was only sitting there to avoid calling Hunter and begging her once again to come down there.

“You sure it wasn’t you?” Bryce shook his head, as if he was disappointed in himself. “I don’t know what my problem is. It’s just that your turnaround came at about the same time she started pulling back.”

Marco wished he had some sort of wisdom to share with the other man, but he didn’t. Instead, he started worrying about Hunter slipping away from him. He had a feeling he’d be in worse shape than Bryce.

Two long-legged women walked into the bar, smiled at Marco and Bryce, and took a seat across from them. Close enough to let them know they were interested, but far enough away they could keep their options open.

“Maybe it’s time I move on.” Bryce swallowed the last of his beer. “What do you think? Want to join me?”

“Nah. I think I’m going to call it a night after this one.” Marco still had half a glass. “I’ve been in a good rhythm. Don’t want to do anything to get me off my game.”

“Suit yourself. I think I need to head over there.” Bryce tossed a few bills on the bar for a tip. “They look like they could help me with my hand-eye coordination.”

He grinned and then strode around the bar with a big, cocky grin on his face. The blonde looked over at Marco, but when Bryce shook his head she shrugged and turned her full attention on the shortstop.

Marco finished his drink, added to the tip, and headed up to his room. He knew better than to call Hunter. Hearing her voice would tie him up in knots. But he knew he wouldn’t sleep without letting her know he’d been a good boy.

He cleaned up and got ready for bed. He slipped between the sheets and sent her a text.

I’m in bed. Alone. Wish
you were here.

He set his phone on the nightstand and tried to close his eyes. Images of Hunter—naked, moving over him, under him—filled his mind, moving him in ways he never expected.

The phone buzzed and he grabbed it.

It’ll do you good to miss me. Make you realize what you’ve got.

Marco propped the pillows behind his head, and leaned back.

I’ve got one hell of a woman.

And one hell of an ache.

Don’t you forget it.

Don’t you forget me.

Impossible.

He could deal with the pain in his groin. It was the one in his chest that was starting to concern him.

Chapter 9

“Does the offer for a girls shopping trip still stand?” Hunter had called Annabelle, hoping that the other woman hadn’t merely been trying to be polite the last time they spoke.

“Of course. I was hoping we could get together soon.” Annabelle’s cheery voice helped Hunter relax a little. She’d never had girlfriends to hang out with. Let alone one who’d been a supermodel.

“So, I think I need a makeover,” Hunter confessed. She wanted to be the woman Marco thought she was.

“Are you free this afternoon? Clayton’s taking the girls for a father-daughter day. You know, princess movie, tea party and I’m thinking there will be some playing dress up.”

“Wow. My father-daughter days consisted of baseball games, hot dogs, and locker rooms full of half-naked jocks.” Hunter smiled at the bittersweet memory. Grief had a way of sneaking up on her at the most unexpected times.

“Oh my.” Annabelle giggled. “Clayton would never allow our girls around naked athletes. In fact, he didn’t like the idea of having the players and their families over. He’s very protective of our girls.”

“Maybe he’s protective of you, too.” Hunter remembered his jealousy over Annabelle’s past relationship with Marco. Finally, something she had in common with her business partner. Jealousy was a much easier emotion to deal with than grief.

“Oh, that’s just an act. He trusts me.” The lightness in her tone slipped. She wasn’t telling the whole truth. “But he’s determined to keep our girls innocent until they’re thirty.”

“Maybe he should follow my father’s plan, then. I didn’t date until I went off to college.” But Hunter had never felt like she was missing anything, not even prom. The idea of getting so worked up over a dress seemed silly. Until now.

They made arrangements to meet at Neiman Marcus. They’d start there, grab some lunch, and hopefully improve Hunter’s wardrobe and their friendship in the process.

“I think we should hit the lingerie department first.” Annabelle grabbed Hunter’s hand like they were a couple of schoolgirls.

“Actually, that part of my wardrobe is covered.” A blush crept across her cheeks. “It’s what goes over that I need help with.”

“Oh, really?” Annabelle threaded her arm through Hunter’s. “Who is he? And when do I get to meet him?”

“We’re keeping a low profile right now.” Maybe this was a bad idea. By inviting Annabelle shopping, Hunter had also invited her into her personal life. The last thing she needed was for her relationship with Marco to become public. She especially couldn’t let Clayton find out about it.

“Oooh. A secret love affair. How exciting,” Annabelle practically squealed. “And is there a particular occasion we’re dressing you for? A super-secret hot date?”

“No. No occasion. Just everyday stuff.” Hunter smoothed the front of her suit jacket. She wished the pockets were real, so she had somewhere to put her hands. “Something I can wear to the office, and then over to the ballgame afterward.”

“And after that?” Annabelle was making way too much of this.

“Let’s just say I want to soften my appearance, but remain professional.” Hunter hoped she wasn’t asking for too much. “Some of the dinosaurs I work with have a hard enough time with me being a woman in a man’s business. I don’t want to throw it in their faces.”

Much.

“Not your husband, of course.” Hunter had almost forgotten who she was talking to.

“No. He’s not a dinosaur. Just a Neanderthal.” The other woman let out a frustrated sigh. “I want to apologize again for the scene he made at the barbecue. I should have known better than to throw myself at Marco like that. Clayton would have flipped out if I’d greeted my cousin that way. But a former lover? What was I thinking?”

That Marco Santiago was hot? That she wished she’d never let him go?

“See, that’s another reason I’m glad you called. I want to be more involved with the team. Not that I want to be involved with any of the players, of course.” Annabelle laughed, her cheeks coloring. “But I think if I showed more of an interest in my husband’s business, well…” Her voice trailed off with some unspoken disappointment.