The Running Series Complete Collection: 3-Book Set plus Bonus Novella (185 page)

“He’s back!” Jette hollers when she sees him.  “Evan, pop open the champagne.”

He reaches over and grabs one of the Champagne Krug bottles.  Fuck a duck.  I’ve been dying to taste champagne that costs almost two hundred dollars a bottle, and when one is finally offered to me, I can’t have any. Jette and Derek are walking around the room passing out champagne glasses to everyone around me.

Adam appears at my side with a champagne glass full of bubbly amber liquid.  He smiles and hands it to me.  “This is for you.  I didn’t want you to think we forgot about you.”

I hand the glass back to him.  “You know I can’t have any champagne.  What are you thinking?”

“Emmy, baby, of course I know that.  It’s your favorite – Green Tea ginger ale.  Now you can toast with us.”

I take the glass back and look up into his face.  “You’re amazing.  Have I told you that lately?”

“Only once or twice today.”  He leans down and kisses me.  “But I don’t mind hearing it again.”

Once everyone is served, Evan stands up on one of the chairs, takes a fork to his glass, and signals for everyone to quiet. “Can I have everyone’s attention, please? I’d like to make a toast to the man of the hour. Please raise your glass and join me.”

He raises his glass in the air, then turns to Cole and announces, “Someone once told me that a good toast is like a miniskirt. It should be short enough to be interesting, but long enough to cover the essentials.”

Evan earns a few hearty laughs, so he pauses to enjoy the moment. 

“There comes a time in every man’s life when he has to quit warming the bench and watching the game from the sidelines and step up to the plate. Today, Cole, is that day for you.  In my own career, I’ve learned that life is unpredictable. Often times, when you’re feeling good—the count is in your favor and you think you’ve got it all figured out—you get thrown a curve ball. Just remember that through it all, you will always have your friends and family to help you round the bases toward home plate.  Let’s raise our glasses in tribute to the Red Hawk’s newest shortstop and my little cousin, Cole McGuire.”

When everyone has raised a glass, Evan closes with a simple wish.  “May the saints protect you, sorrows neglect you, and bad luck to the teams that don't respect you.”  The whole room cheers and toasts.

Evan hops down off the chair and grabs Cole for a big bear hug.  I can think of any number of women who would give their right arm to be in the middle of that man sandwich.

“Um, I hate to break up the love fest, but I have someone here who’s anxious to meet you, Cole.”  Adam walks Cole over towards Alex and makes the necessary introductions. 

“Who’s the cougar?” Auggie asks as he joins us at our table.  “She’s certainly on the prowl tonight.”

“Her name is Alex Davenport and she’s Adam’s new boss,” I explain.

“How old do you think she is?” Camilla asks.

“Late thirties, early forties,” I guess.

“I agree,” Shea confirms.

“No way,” Auggie interjects.  “Forget her face – Botox and plastic surgery stopped the aging process.  Look at her hands.  Thin skin, fine lines, blue veins ... she’s in her late forties, early fifties, easy.”

We watch as she lifts a glass of champagne to her lips.  It’s hard to miss the telltale signs of aging showing on her hands.  “Holy crap!”

“Wow.  I’ve got to give it to her,” Reese compliments.  “She’s really toned and well preserved for someone of that age.”

“Watch her talk,” Auggie instructs.  “She has the same exact expression, even when she laughs.  She must have had a recent round of Botox because the muscles in her face still haven’t relaxed.”

I know it’s rude to stare, but I can’t help it.  Just as Auggie had described, her face is expressionless, stretched and frozen in a bronzed mask.  She looks like a creepy plastic doll. 

“Are you sure it’s Botox?” Camilla asks.  “Maybe she’s had too many face lifts.”

Auggie leans in and explains.  “A lot of my best clients have regular Botox treatments.  In order to close a deal, I’ve even driven a few to their plastic surgeon’s office.  One client, Barbara Klein, had me take her to a follow-up appointment because her eyebrows were Spocking, just like that one over there.”  He points over towards Alex.

“What the hell is that?” I ask.  “Spocking?”

“You know – Spock from Star Trek with the pointed eyebrows?  It means they didn’t put the injections in the right locations and the corners of the brows are stretching.”

The more closely I look at Alex, the less attractive she becomes.  Is it wrong of me to enjoy this so much?  Probably.  I think it would be a good idea to change the topic.

“Reese, you’re the only single girl here tonight,” I tell her, “I think you should go talk to Drake Heyworth.  He’s over there with Joey and Lucas.” 

I still can’t believe that so many of my friends have superstar friends.  Lucas is an actor, and I’m certain he must have met Joey and Drake before.  I would kick serious ass at a game of Six Degrees of Separation.

“I couldn’t.  I wouldn’t know what to say.”

“You wouldn’t have to say much, Red.  Just offer to take him home and put some memories in that memory foam mattress of yours,” Auggie suggests.

“The only way that would happen is if I kidnap him and take him against his will.”

Adam interrupts our fantasy game.  “What kind of trouble are you girls getting yourself into now?”  He’s strayed from the pack to come and check on me – so sweet.

“We’re just encouraging Reese to put the moves on Drake Heyworth,” I tell him. 

“I have a few moves I’d like to try out tonight, too,” he tells me.  Adam pulls up a chair and places it right next to mine.  He rests his arm across the back of my chair and pulls me close.  I rest my head on his chest and exhale.  This is my happy place.

I love the way he makes me feel – like I’m the only person in the world, in his world.  When I look up into his metallic gray eyes, I see the same feelings reflected back at me. His fingertips caress my shoulder, draw circles on my nape, and slide down my back.  He kisses my temple and nuzzles beneath my ear, his tongue lightly touching the sensitive skin. Beneath the table, his hand squeezes my thigh and cups the back of my knee. 

He makes me feel beautiful. 

The whole room quiets as Pop star Tess Tyler takes the stage to sing the National Anthem. Jette leans over and whispers, “I can’t stand her.”

“Did she and Evan ... you know?” I ask as I slap my hand over Adam’s to still its upward slide on my leg. 

“Probably.  She’s friends with Averee and she tried to get Evan to visit her in rehab – right there in front of me,” she explains quietly.

“Bitch.”

“Yup.”

Adam’s eyes are glued to the television as the whistle blows, signaling the kickoff.  All the men are up and out of their seats shouting at the screen as the kick is received and the players begin their back and forth struggle to move the ball.  But Adam remains dutifully at my side.  “Watch this,” I tell the girls.

Speaking directly to Adam I tell him, “Honey, I think my water broke.”

“Uh-huh,” he grunts, completely unaware of what he’s agreeing to.

“I want to tear your clothes off and take you right here in front of everyone.”

“Sure, sure,” he absentmindedly answers.

“Ooh – can I try?” Jette asks.

“Go for it.”

“Hey, Adam – would you leave Emmy and run away with me?” she asks.

“Yeah.  Whatever,” he tells her.

I place my hands on his face and turn his attention back to me.  “Adam, go – be with the guys.”

He opens his mouth to protest.  “No, that’s okay, I ...”

“I’m not asking, I’m telling,” I explain.  “Go.”

He turns to me, tilting my chin up to press a kiss to the tip of my nose.  “Love you, babe,” he calls to me as he practically runs away.

I excuse myself from the table to visit the bathroom for the tenth time tonight.  This soda goes right through me.  Just as I’m about to reach out for the doorknob, the door swings open, nearly knocking me on my ass.

“Oh, I’m sooo sorry,” Alex snarls when she sees me.  With her high heels and long legs, she towers over me.  “Are you alright?”

“Of course,” I dismiss her, “I’m fine.” 

“I’m so glad.  So tell me, Emmalyn, how do you feel about Adam taking on this new position during such a tumultuous time in your lives?” she asks.

“We’re having a baby.  There’s nothing tumultuous about it,” I explain.  “If he’s happy, then I’m happy.”

“That’s wonderful to hear,” she says.  “Most women in your
condition
wouldn’t be quite so willing to make the kind of sacrifice you’re making.”

“Sacrifice?” I repeat.

“You know – long hours at the office.  Spring training in Florida.  Scouting all over the country.  I’m afraid he’s going to be quite busy for the foreseeable future.”

“You must be mistaken,” I explain.  “Adam’s not going to spring training.  And he’s definitely not travelling around scouting players.  He has teams of scouts to do that for him.”

She nods her head and smiles.  “I’m sorry, I guess he hasn’t told you.  I shouldn’t have said anything.”  She smiles maliciously as she says it, waiting for my reaction. 

She’s baiting me and I will not bite.

I take a deep breath and throw my shoulders back.  “It looks like one of us is going to be very disappointed,” I tell her.

She snickers derisively as she walks away, most likely heading back to watch the game with the guys. 

I slip into the ladies’ room replaying the conversation over and over in my head.  Could she be right?  Does Adam plan on travelling with the club, leaving me home alone for long stretches at a time?  Now?  Until I hear it from Adam’s lips, I refuse to believe a thing this woman says.

She must have a motive for saying those things.  But what is it?  To drive a wedge between me and Adam?  To instigate a fight?  Why?

I knew I wasn’t going to like Alex, but I had no idea how wrong my reasons were. 

“Where were you?” Jette reprimands me when I return to my friends.  “You missed it.  A perfect touch down!”

“Sorry, I had to use the bathroom.”

“Again?” she asks.

“Yup.”  I grab the bottle of ginger ale Adam left for me and fill my glass.  “I ran into Alex on my way and she’s really starting to irritate me.”

“Speaking of which, your new
friend
is looking extremely chummy with our men,” Camilla gripes.  “Do you think we should say something?”  I look over to see Alex high-fiving the guys, cheering the last play.

“Nah.  She’s harmless,” I tell her, fighting back the urge to forcibly remove Alex from this restaurant and toss her ass out onto the street.

“Emmy’s right,” Jette concedes.  “I’ve seen women of every size, shape, and style throw themselves at my husband.  Young and old, rich and poor, big and small – makes no difference.  This troll is no different.  It’s kind of pathetic.”

“It is,” I agree whole-heartedly.

“
D
ID YOU HAVE FUN
tonight?” Adam asks me on the short drive home as Van Morrison croons in the background over the car sound system.  I love driving Adam’s SUV.  It’s one of the few splurges he’s allowed himself to make.  I rarely get to drive, but since he’s been drinking tonight, that responsibility is bestowed upon me.

“I had a blast,” I admit.  “I got to hang out with Maggie Martin and Kitty Sutton, and I got to stare at Drake Heyworth in the flesh all night.  I’d say all-in-all, it was a pretty terrific night.”

“It was an great night,” Adam agrees.  “So, what did you think of Alex?  She’s amazing, don’t you think?”

Amazing?  Does he really not see what the rest of us see?  Auggie saw it.  Jette saw it.  Why can’t he see it, too?

“Are we being totally honest, Sparky?” I ask cautiously. 

“Always,” he quickly answers.

“Then, no – I don’t find her awesome, amazing, or anything even close to it.”

I turn to look at Adam and he is staring at me, his brow arched. “Jealous?” he has the audacity to suggest.

“Seriously?” I turn away, focusing back on the road ahead. 

“If it’s not jealousy, then what is it?” He places a hand on my leg and gently traces invisible circles on my thigh with this thumb.  That connection, the completeness I feel when he touches me is at once comforting and reassuring.

“That is not a conversation we need to have right now.  It’s almost midnight and you’re half in the bag.  I need you clearheaded and wide awake before I can answer that question.”  I place my hand on top of his.  He splays his fingers apart and I weave our hands together.  “We’re almost home.  Let’s finish this discussion in the morning.”

He gives my hand a squeeze.  “Okay.”