Fastball (17 page)

Since the team had to arrive early in Chicago
in order to have enough time for the pre-game practice and
warm-ups, Maddie had a few hours between the time she checked in at
the Hilton and the time she’d have to make her way to Wrigley for
the one-thirty start. Napping was fruitless—not when she was still
so wound—and the thoughts of what she
hoped
would happen
tonight had turned her brain to cotton candy. A long shower helped
calm her nerves a bit, but she knew it was going to prove to be an
anxious day.

But once she arrived at the Wrigley gate, her
professionalism and her deep love for the game automatically took
over. She felt the familiar thrill that the game was about to
begin. Like most sportswriters, she revered Wrigley as a baseball
shrine. She was damn lucky to be making a good living doing
something that usually felt like a privilege.

She’d skipped batting practice and warm-ups,
so she hadn’t seen Jake since she’d deplaned at O’Hare. Peering
down from the press box through her binoculars, she zeroed in on
him now.

He stood near the top of the visitors’
dugout, his cap off, his right leg flexed with the foot planted on
the field level. Maddie could never get over how utterly hot he
looked in uniform. The high-cut style of his shirtsleeves
emphasized the rippling power of his muscular biceps and forearms.
His long legs spoke of startling strength, but she knew he was
nevertheless surprisingly agile for a man his size. No wonder his
posters were perennial bestsellers. The guy was a total fox and
Maddie had no doubt his image looked down from many a young, and
maybe not-so-young, woman’s bedroom wall.

She didn’t care. She just wanted the real
thing in
her
bedroom.

It turned out to be a great day for the
Patriots, which always made her stories easier to write. Jake’s
incredible hitting streak looked like it was never going to stop.
Every time he got to the plate, the Cubs’ pitchers looked like they
wished they were somewhere else. For Jake, a Patriots victory,
combined with a personal three-for-three day with three RBI’s and
two runs scored made it a great afternoon at the park for him.

For Maddie, it was a perfect prelude for what
she hoped would be a memorable night.

* * *

When Jake got back to his hotel room a little
after five o’clock, the message light on the hotel phone was
flashing. He knew it couldn’t be someone on the team, since he’d
just left them. Not likely to be anyone in his family, since they
would just call him on his cell. When he finished punching in all
the requisite numbers and the message started playing, he could
hardly believe his ears. The first words he heard in Maddie’s sexy
voice made his heart thud in his chest and his body freeze in
surprise.

“Hi Jake. It’s Maddie. You know I’m in town.
Um, I just wanted to let you know that I’ll be going down to Buddy
Guy’s club after nine. I’m into blues music, and it’s the best
place in Chicago. Anyway, that’s where I’ll be, so, bye.”

After staring at the phone for a few seconds,
he listened to the message again. She sounded a little shy and
hesitant, and totally sweet. With what he was sure was a goofy
grin, he pumped his fist in the air and let out a loud whoop. Yeah,
it was stupid, but right now he didn’t care. It felt like he’d won
the lottery. Several days of not seeing Maddie hadn’t made things
one bit better, or lessened her impact on him. Not after that hot
kiss on the golf course. In fact, as disheartened as he’d been by
her rejection, not seeing her at all had definitely been worse. And
when he’d seen her on the plane today—Christ, when she’d
smiled
at him—it had felt like a cloud lifting from his
personal horizon.

Jake had no idea why she’d changed her mind
about seeing him, but he supposed she’d tell him. He was eager to
hear her reasons, but not as eager as he was to get his hands on
her lush little body.

He did a quick check of his suitcase, coming
up empty, so he headed to a nearby drugstore. Maybe he was tempting
fate—after all, she might simply want to talk—but the last thing he
wanted was to be caught unprepared.

For whatever might happen.

* * *

Jake scanned the jam-packed, noisy room at
Buddy Guy’s, but he couldn’t find Maddie in the dim light. Only the
very front of the room near the stage had enough light to pick
anyone out. He wanted to stalk through the narrow aisles and search
for her, but patiently waited his turn as the hosts slowly took
people to their tables. The canned music was already loud, and the
live band was just starting to get ready for their set. He wondered
how he and Maddie were going to even be able to talk when the band
really got going.

Then again, maybe talking wasn’t on her mind,
which wouldn’t be a problem for him.

Finally his turn came. One of the hosts
looked him up and down. “I think you must be meeting a young lady
here, right? Petite, dark hair, real sweet face?”

“You got it.” Jake smiled at the elderly
gentleman’s evocative description of Maddie.

The host turned on his heel with a knowing
smile. “Follow me to paradise, sir.”

Oh, yeah. He was so down with that plan.

Snaking through the maze of tables, the host
made a jagged diagonal for the back corner. Jake tucked in right
behind him, and damned if he wasn’t beginning to feel nervous.
Seconds later, Maddie came into view. By herself at a table for
two, sipping a glass of white wine, she absolutely looked an angel
sent straight from heaven. Maddie had chosen a black suit, but had
already shed the jacket which now hung over the back of her chair.
Her tight, short-sleeved, silky white shirt highlighted the smooth
outline of her very tempting, generous breasts. And if he didn’t
get himself under control right away, he’d be sporting a hard-on
before he even got to the table.

She greeted him with a playful smile that
held a hint of shyness. “I’m glad to see you, Jake.” She waited
until he was seated, then turned so she was almost leaning into
him. “I’m guessing that you’re finding this kind of strange, aren’t
you?”

He was tempted to say,
who cares?
Instead, he returned her smile. “That’s putting it mildly. I wasn’t
sure you’d even be on this trip, and I sure as hell didn’t figure
on getting that message.”

A waitress sidled up to Jake. When the leggy
server started to flirt with him, Jake couldn’t help but notice
Maddie’s adorable scowl. He didn’t think it was possible, but his
mood soared even higher as he ordered a beer.

Maddie glared at the server’s retreating
back, then switched her attention to Jake. He must have been
looking amused because she wrinkled her nose at him, looking a
little sheepish. “Try some of these jumbo shrimp I ordered,” she
said with a laugh in her voice. “They’re flambéed in a spicy
bourbon sauce, so they really get your juices going.”

Jake choked back a surprised laugh. But he
repressed the off-color quip that was rising to his lips and opened
his mouth to take the shrimp she’d skewered for him. Too bad she
didn’t pick it up with her hand instead of the fork. He’d have
slowly sucked the spicy tang of the blackened shrimp right off her
fingers.

Maddie glanced quickly around them, suddenly
looking serious. She leaned even closer to him, resting her hand
lightly on his arm. “I know we’re taking a risk of being seen, but
I didn’t know what else to do. I had to see you, and I could hardly
go knocking on the door of your room. I know this bar is close to
the hotel, but I’ve never actually seen anyone from the team come
here. So, I think we’re okay.”

He did his best to focus on her words, even
though part of his mind was already undressing her. His body had
been yearning to do just that for the last four hours, but the
rational part of his brain cautioned him to go slow. But her eyes
shone with an intensity he’d never seen before, bringing him to
full alert.

“Jake, I’d really like you to hear me out
before you say anything,” she said in a determined voice.

“Whatever you want, Maddie.”

She flashed him an anxious smile. “I know you
must be wondering why I called, especially after the way I’ve been
pushing you away. And here I am now, asking you to meet me.” She
hesitated, looking a bit embarrassed. “Actually, I hardly know
where to start.”

“Just relax and say whatever you need
to.”

Maddie sighed. “All I’ve been doing these
last few days is arguing with myself. The truth is, I
do
think there’s something special happening between us. Or, at least,
the possibility of something special. Ever since that night in La
Jolla, I’ve wanted to…to be with you.”

She fiddled with the stem of her wine glass.
Her hand was trembling, which caught Jake hard in the gut. It took
all of his willpower not to drag her into his arms and kiss the
hell out of her right then and there. But he’d promised to listen,
so he fisted his hands in his lap instead.

“All my life I’ve felt driven to be the best
at what I do,” she continued. “Until now, my career has been
everything, really, and I’ve had to fight very hard to get where I
am. I couldn’t bear to think of having to give it up, and I was
afraid I’d have to if I wanted to be with you. And I think we do
have to acknowledge that the risks are real, for both of us.”

She arched her elegant eyebrows, simply
waiting, and he was finally forced to nod his head in agreement. If
this thing had any chance of working between them, Jake knew they
had to be honest with each other.

“But when I went up to Massachusetts to visit
my mom,” she went on, “I had the time and space to catch my breath
and think this all through. I talked to some people I trust, too,
and that reminded me that some things are worth taking a risk for.
I don’t know how I forgot that, but I did. Too caught up in the
fear, I guess. But I’ve been fighting to keep you out of my heart
and it’s a fight I’m not sure I can win. It’s not a fight I even
want
to win.” She gave him a wry smile. “What more can I
say? I just want to be with you. To give what’s happening between
us a chance. But I’ll understand if you’ve changed your mind.” She
took a deep breath. “You’re call, Jake. Really.”

He stared at her, stunned she would think
there was a chance in hell that he no longer wanted her, wanted
this
. But she obviously thought it was a possibility. He
could see it in the rigid set of her shoulders and in the way her
lower lip trembled ever so slightly. It had taken a great deal for
her to call him and to make that sweet, heart-breaking admission.
And he wished he had the words to express how he felt right now—how
damn
grateful
and honored—but his tongue stuck to the roof
of his mouth.

So, he simply leaned in close, covering her
clenched fists with one of his hands. Then he brushed her lush
mouth with a soft, gentle kiss of anticipation, one he hoped spoke
of a possible future together, and not just a brief passion.

Jake didn’t really want to be gentle. He
wanted to crush her body against his. But this wasn’t the place to
be making out like a couple of horny teenagers, so he whispered in
her ear. “I know you love this place, but can we leave now?”

Maddie let out a half-strangled laugh. “Just
get the damn waiter,” she said.

* * *

As Jake grabbed her hand and towed her out of
the club and onto Wabash—apparently, he was still
very
eager
for them to get involved—Maddie did some quick thinking. It would
be fatal to go back to the Hilton together, so she suggested an
alternative. Keeping a tight grip on her hand, Jake gave a terse
nod in agreement and strode to the curb to wave down a cab. After
practically lifting her into the back seat, he slid in beside her.
When she caught a glimpse of the impressive bulge pressing against
the front of his jeans, she had to clamp her lips together to keep
from laughing. Equal parts anticipation and relief rushed through
her, weakening her limbs and leaving her just a little bit
shaky.

“The Madison Hotel,” Jake barked to the
cabbie as he pulled her into a fierce embrace.

She melted against him, her softer body
molding to his hard frame from shoulder to thigh. He licked into
her mouth with a fierce desire, startling a squeak from her. He
gentled his embrace, tipping her slightly back over his arm as he
kissed her with a deep, sensual passion. She wriggled, sliding her
legs up and across his knees so that she was more or less sitting
in his lap. Her skirts rode high, bunching around the top of her
thighs. She made no move to smooth the hem downward as she shifted
even closer.

Jake’s gaze tracked down. The sight of her
nearly naked legs made his eyes burn hot, and his arms flexed
around her with a steel-like hardness. One of his big hands
wandered to her thigh even as he returned to feasting on her
mouth.

A minute later, Maddie let out a quiet gasp
and broke away when Jake’s wandering hand slipped under her skirt
to brush the edge of her silk panties. She blinked and cut a quick
glance to the barrier separating them from the cabbie. Fortunately,
the guy didn’t seem to be paying them any attention as he listened
to the blare of some pop radio station. And, fortunately, the dark,
Plexiglas shield pretty much hid their lower bodies from view.

Jake grasped her chin between his long
fingers. “It’s okay, babe,” he murmured, his cobalt blue gaze dark
with passion. “He can’t see anything.”

Then he captured her lips again in an
open-mouth, deliciously wet kiss even as his fingers brushed
against her panties. With a whimper, Maddie surrendered, shifting
one leg to allow him better access. Her thigh came into contact
with the hard bulge in his jeans. Jake ground out a low moan and
began to stroke her through her now-damp panties. He kissed her
deeply, longingly, tasting smoky and masculine. Against her bare
leg, his cock strained for release from the confines of his jeans.
He was a big man, and the size and the heat of his erection took
her panties from damp to drenched. She couldn’t wait to have all of
him inside of her.