Clutch Hit Faith O'Shea (red queen free ebook txt) 📖

He threw his arm around her neck and squeezed. “Maybe not but I need you for all the important things.”

On the drive back to the condo, Allie couldn’t help thinking, she needed Mateo for all the important things too, without even having known she needed them at all.

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

The next morning, Mateo snuck back for another kiss goodbye before he left for Harborside, not wanting to go but needing to. He was already running late and couldn’t make any more excuses about going. Allie was catching a plane to the Dominican Republic this morning and she’d be gone until the end of the week and he already missed her. Like breath. Like baseball. Those months in Brazil had been torture even though the dos Santos’ had found him a place to work out and some batting cages to keep his swing in shape. When something was in your blood, it needed to flow.

Standing at the open door, one foot out, one foot still inside, he prompted, “You will text me when you get there?”

“I promise.”

“And you won’t find another player who you find marriage material.”

She looked up from her notes at that and gave him a sardonic smile.

“I can only do one of them at a time. There are laws against bigamy.”

“You cannot even be tempted.”

The smile dipped into a reflective frown, but she met his eyes and admitted, “You’re enough of a temptation for me. My heart couldn’t handle another.”

Satisfied that she felt some kind of connection, he said, “Okay. Good. Goodbye. Miss me.”

She approached, gave him another kiss for good measure then quipped, “I can’t miss you if you don’t go away.”

“I’m going.”

“Say hi to everyone for me.”

He didn’t take his eyes off her until the elevator opened and closed.

He leaned against the wall, his head back, wondering where this love had come from. When he was sitting at that bar in Cancun, his only thought was how to get to America and play ball. It was still a driving force, but Allie had become even more important. He’d lived twenty-six years without her, but now, he wasn’t sure how he’d resolve to live life if she was no longer there. She’d brought color, texture, sound, and emotion, sensory delights he didn’t even know existed. And he’d lived in a country where all of that permeated the air, the sea, the cities and towns.

As he exited the elevator and headed for his car, he resolved to move outside this prison, this tangle of fear that had knotted in his gut. He could not think the worst while she was away, that she’d find someone else. She might not love him, but she did feel tied to him. She’d said as much on her return from Cuba. She would not betray their vows any more than he would.

Was this her worry? That he would? How could he explain his feelings? That there was no one who could tempt him away from her. He couldn’t deny that there’d been many nights he’d satisfied his need with an available woman. They were everywhere, crowding, flirting, desirous, and he’d taken what they offered without thought or regret. It had never evolved into more. He’d never dated anyone seriously, too intent on his game, too focused on his future once the decision was made to defect. He gave a half-hearted laugh as he left the garage. It looked like he’d lost any opportunity for that ritual as soon as she’d walked into that bar.

When he arrived at Calipari’s, he heard voices coming from the virtual field. Rique was already here, talking to Leo and someone he didn’t recognize. He carried his gear into the illuminated space and was introduced to the new batting coach, Brad Purcell. He’d forgotten that Mac would have hired his own staff, and as he shook the man’s hand, firm and steady, he instantly liked him.

“You are a coach’s dream, Alvarez. I’ve watched some of your videos and you’re a natural, born hitter. That’ll be clutch for us this year. As always, Allie’s done a bang-up job.”

He was skeptical about that assessment.

“I’m not sure I’m a natural. I would not have to practice so many hours if I was.”

“Then your work ethic is to be admired, as well. I was just telling Rique here, he could take lessons from you.”

Rique protested, “Hey, my ethic is getting better, along with my hitting, and I am taking lessons from him.”

Leo agreed. “Mattie here’s been giving him pointers and the kid’s listening.”

Rique said easily, “You listen to people who have your best interests at heart.”

The sound of running feet caught their attention, and Seb was all but out of breath when he joined them.

“Sorry. I was up late watching the Bruins game. Didn’t hear the alarm go off.”

“You’re lucky we haven’t started yet. I heard you dropped by to mentor some of the kids here over the weekend.”

“I promised Mac I’d make it part of my community service. It was fun, though, so it’s no biggie.”

He went and dropped his bag over by the bench on the first base line, and on his way back, excitement in his voice, he said, “I was with the older kids, little leaguers, ten to twelve, but on the opposite side of the field, the seven-to-ten-year-old’s were doing drills. There was this one girl. Shit, she was kick-ass. I could have watched her all day. Funny thing. She was wearing Mac’s number. If she were a boy, I’d say she’d outstat him one day.”

Leo exchanged looks with Brad, but it seemed Mattie was the only one who noticed the arched brows. It had flown right over Seb’s head. The kid was someone, but who?

He didn’t have much time to think about it once the fielding drills started. He fell into the routine with the same kind of energy he always did, and by the end of the morning he was soaked with sweat. It felt good and it had also taken his mind off