Clutch Hit by Faith O'Shea (most popular ebook readers txt) 📗

his side, he spooned her close, and with his arm possessively around her waist, she drifted off, a smile on her face.

When she woke up again, he was already gone, and something curdled in her stomach. After throwing the sheets off, she padded out to the kitchen to find him, but the silence that echoed throughout the condo was deafening.

Where was he? Now that he had a license and a car and complete freedom, he could come and go as he pleased. That thought took up a lot of territory in her head, the ensuing battle about to begin. She retrieved her robe from her room, pulled it on and set about making coffee. Just as she was pouring the dark brew into her mug, he came through the door, a plastic bag clutched in his hand. With his free one, he took the mug and placed it on the counter and all but dragged her back to his bedroom.

First, he extracted a box of Trojans, opened it, and took one out before tossing it on the bed.

Then he kicked off his shoes, stripped out of his sweats and long-sleeved tee and reached under her robe to find the treasure beneath.

“Now for that kiss…”

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

By eleven o’clock the next morning, Allie was busy at work, answering the dozens of texts she’d received since she got back. She’d given him her night, and although he was still basking in it, he’d been left with some downtime. He began texting his friends, in too good a mood to sit and do nothing.

Neither Seb nor Rique was getting back to him. He hadn’t heard from either of them since early yesterday morning, before his shopping expedition. It wasn’t like them to completely ignore him, and he’d worry if it wasn’t such a wimpish thing to do. They were guys. They could take care of themselves. Rique was in Brazil, looking for a wife, believe it or not. He should have been wooing Fiona and that he wasn’t was nuts. Had he found what he was searching for yet? Or had he realized he was on a fool’s errand? What would happen when he came back? Pick up where he left off? He’d have to wait to ask him.

Seb had been invited to supervise a kids’ winter baseball camp at Calipari’s. It had been held over the last two days and Mateo thought for sure he’d break at some point, get back to him about practice tomorrow. They were scheduled to meet there at nine for another round of drills with Leo. He couldn’t wait to get back to it, even knowing he’d be missing time with Allie.

He leaned back on the sofa, taking in her animation as she chatted with one of the players. She was reassuring him about Mac and what he’d bring to the team. From what he’d gathered at the wake and funeral, there weren’t many who were disappointed with the move, and he wondered which player was questioning the decision. When she addressed him by name, her voice holding tight to some patience, he knew. Napolitano had lost his job. To Rique. Farina was the reason Nap had been retained by the team. Now that he was gone and there was a new shortstop in town, his prospects weren’t promising. It had to suck. What if it had been Ritter fighting for his livelihood with the woman who was involved with his replacement? He’d never thought about how their relationship would affect her job. Would there be resentments? Gossip?

Would it be another reason Allie would want to cancel the marriage?

Last night and this morning, she seemed all in and it had surprised the shit out of him. When he’d gotten back from the twenty-four-hour drugstore with six boxes of protection, she’d been just as eager to hit the sheets as he’d been. Relief had flooded her features when he’d returned, as if she thought…

The ping on his phone had him checking to see who’d texted.

Rique. Finally.

He swiped to see Found her. I’m engaged.

He dropped back against the couch, too dumbfounded to reply.

“Allie.”

She looked up from her phone, not yet part of another conversation, and asked, “What?”

“Rique’s engaged.”

Jumping up out of her seat, she raced over and sat down beside him so he could show her the text and asked, “Who. Who did he ask to marry him?”

She poked him in the ribs and insisted, “Ask him.”

He thumbed, “Allie wants to know who.”

She poked him again. “He doesn’t have to know we’re here together.”

“Your problem. Not mine.”

They both looked at his screen until the answer came.

Fifi.

“Santa mierda. I told you there was an explosion waiting to happen there.”

Her eyes were wide, her mouth gaping open.

“And she said yes?”

“If she hadn’t, then he wouldn’t be engaged, right?”

“What’s the woman thinking? He’s so not a good risk.”

“Maybe, querida, he’s found the right woman.”

He put his focus back on the cell and typed, Congratulations.

He turned to look at Allie, who was still leaning over his arm, staring at the phone. “Is it unmanly to add an emoji?”

She glanced up. “What kind were you thinking?”

“One for laughing my ass off.”

Before he could scroll to find one appropriate, Rique texted back, we’ll have to celebrate. If I can pry her away from the lab, maybe we can catch dinner one night after practice. Allie can come if you want.

Before he’d even finished reading the full text, Allie said, “No. I’m not going. It will look too much like we’re a couple.”

“We are a couple. For today. Remember?”

She slapped that thought away and asked, “What lab does he have to tear her away from?”

“She’s a geneticist. Has a doctorate and everything.”

A vein began throbbing along her forehead. “How can she be that smart and still have agreed to marry him?”

She still didn’t get it. So mired in her own fears, she rained on everyone else’s parade. He let out an exaggerated sigh and tried to explain what Rique was feeling, and, if she read between