Spring Training Read online

  Table of Contents

  Legal Page

  Title Page

  Book Description

  Dedication

  Trademarks Acknowledgement

  Prologue

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  New Excerpt

  About the Author

  Publisher Page

  A Totally Bound Publication

  Spring Training

  ISBN # 978-1-78430-041-8

  ©Copyright Stacey Lynn Rhodes 2014

  Cover Art by Posh Gosh ©Copyright May 2014

  Edited by Rebecca Douglas

  Totally Bound Publishing

  This is a work of fiction. All characters, places and events are from the author’s imagination and should not be confused with fact. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, events or places is purely coincidental.

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any material form, whether by printing, photocopying, scanning or otherwise without the written permission of the publisher, Totally Bound Publishing.

  Applications should be addressed in the first instance, in writing, to Totally Bound Publishing. Unauthorised or restricted acts in relation to this publication may result in civil proceedings and/or criminal prosecution.

  The author and illustrator have asserted their respective rights under the Copyright Designs and Patents Acts 1988 (as amended) to be identified as the author of this book and illustrator of the artwork.

  Published in 2014 by Totally Bound Publishing, Newland House, The Point, Weaver Road, Lincoln, LN6 3QN

  Warning:

  This book contains sexually explicit content which is only suitable for mature readers. This story has a heat rating of Totally Sizzling and a Sexometer of 2.

  Seasoned Women

  SPRING TRAINING

  Stacey Lynn Rhodes

  Book four in the Seasoned Women series

  With two diverging careers on the line, Teri and Aaron are torn between the right thing to do…and what feels so right to them.

  With a son who’s played since he could walk, Teri lives, eats and breathes baseball. She was almost more excited than Emery when his invitation to a minor league team’s training camp came. But excited doesn’t begin to describe her reaction to Em’s new mentor, Aaron Reynolds. A spring fling? Just the ticket.

  Fighting a chronic injury, Aaron is biding his time until he can return to the majors. Being assigned a mixed-up rookie to babysit is fine with him, especially one that comes with a sassy, sexy camp follower like Teri. But he soon finds he has his hands full…trying to keep Emery on the straight and narrow…and trying to keep his liaison with Teri strictly physical.

  Dedication

  With love to my real life inspirations:

  Teresa, who showed courage, humor, and energy in raising her twins from such a young age. You did great, little mama. Hope you like my Alex and Em.

  And Theresa, the biggest baseball fan I know, with a four-pack of boys and a donated kidney—endlessly positive and energetic. I’m truly blessed to have you for a sister-in-law.

  Trademarks Acknowledgement

  The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of the following wordmarks mentioned in this work of fiction:

  Culver’s: Culver Franchising System, Inc.

  Google: Google, Inc.

  Miata: Mazda Motor Corporation

  Facebook: Facebook, Inc.

  Bose: Bose Corporation

  Volvo: AB Volvo

  Prologue

  “Heads up, it’s a bunt! He’s putting it down!” Teri screamed, cupping her hands around her mouth. The infielders were already reading the stance of the batter and moving forward in anticipation.

  Sure enough, the batter skillfully laid a soft bunt down the third base line and took off for first, and with bases loaded, everyone was running.

  Teri jumped to her feet. “Home, force at home!” she yelled as if she could be heard over the roar of the crowd. Her eyes were glued to the third baseman.

  He charged the ball, snagging it on the run then deftly flipping it to the catcher for the out at home.

  “Turn two, turn two!”

  The catcher heaved the ball to first, just past the head of the batter, and Teri watched, heart in her throat, for the call from the umpire.

  Before he’d even finished his “Out!” signaling the successful double play, she was in the air with a whoop, looking automatically to the tall, rangy third baseman, who was pointing straight at her with a crooked grin. She blew him a kiss, and the handsome ballplayer winked back before running to join his teammates celebrating their victory with a huge dogpile on the pitcher’s mound. It was early in the season yet, but a return trip to the College World Series in Omaha was looking more and more likely.

  Fingers crossed.

  Her heart pounding with adrenaline, and still feeling giddy from being on the receiving end of that beautiful smile, Teri turned a bit sheepishly to the tall, equally handsome man standing and clapping next to her on the bleachers. He was looking down at her with a familiar combination of amusement and embarrassment. As soon as their eyes met, she threw her arms around his middle in an apologetic hug.

  “Do I know you?” he mocked.

  Teri smiled against his shirt. “Know me and love me.”

  “You love him more.” He patted her on the head.

  It was a frequent complaint, without heat, and one she always had an answer for. “I love you both the same, just differently.”

  “Yeah, right.” Alex gave her one last squeeze before setting her aside. “I’m going down. You coming?” He rolled his eyes dramatically. “What am I saying? Of course you’re coming. Stick close to me—it’s a mob scene down there.”

  Teri grinned as her protective ‘older’ son grabbed her hand and used his height to his advantage in shouldering his way through the masses toward the dugout of the celebrating players, tugging her along in his wake. They successfully navigated the stadium steps then worked their way along the walkway until they could get down to field level.

  One body separated itself from the team and was suddenly thumping against them, enveloping them both in a hard, sweaty embrace.

  “Get off me, fucker, you’re gross.”

  “Alex! Watch your mouth.”

  “Sorry, Mom, but he is gross.”

  “That’s not the word I meant, and you know it.” She turned to her youngest son, Emery—youngest by a whole five minutes—and reached up to take his face in her hands. “Great play at the end, Em. Good hustle. They never would’ve gotten the batter in time if it’d been anyone else.”

  Emery flushed with pleasure at the compliment, even as he contradicted, “Jeez, Ma, you’re not biased or anything. That’s a play any good third baseman should’ve made.”

  “Be that way. I know you’re awesome.” She stretched on tiptoes to kiss his cheek. “You coming with us to grab a bite after you clean up?” It was a rhetorical question, of course. Emery was a growing boy and never missed a chance to eat, especially after a game and when Teri was paying. She was all about giving her boys choices, though, even obvious ones.

  “Excuse me, Emery Sandusky?”

  The family turned as one toward the unfamiliar voice.

  “Yeah, I’m Emery.” Em froze when he saw who was speaking.

  Teri’s smile glued itself
to her lips and she carefully watched Em. He swallowed and glanced at his head coach, who was standing slightly behind the stranger.

  “Bill Patterson.” The man offered his hand to Em, who thankfully had the presence of mind to accept it for a shake. “Your coach and I have been talking. Do you have a minute?”

  Teri’s breath caught—Oh my God, it is a scout—and she practically shoved Em toward the two men. “You go, hon. We’ll be at Culver’s. On second thought, we’re driving through. I’ll get you the usual. See you at home. C’mon, Alex.” She pulled on his arm frantically and aimed him toward the car.

  “What’s the hurry? Didn’t you want to hear what he had to say?” Alex reluctantly allowed her to lead him back up to the walkway out of the college stadium.

  Teri didn’t answer right away, her mind churning over the possibility of Emery getting his break into professional ball. There was no doubt in her mind he had the talent. She’d been watching every level of baseball for years and knew her son had ‘it’—that quality from which stars were made. Her concern was more for his level of commitment and focus. All the knowledge of the game and physical talent in the world couldn’t make up for a lack of drive and the immature antics she knew him to be capable of.

  She sighed and reminded herself Emery was still a kid, a pretty typical twenty-one-year-old. Teri had just never been able to rein him in all the way, and as a result, she and his more level-headed twin brother were always bailing him out of one bad scrape after another. Oh, nothing major… Yet, she added cynically. But he was still a worry to her in a way Alex had never been.

  It was one of the rare moments Teri regretted not having anything to do with their biological dad. Maybe having a father-figure around would have been what Em needed. Even as the thought occurred to her, she was shaking her head, negating it. The twins had been the result of her first, and only, sexual escapade in college, with an older student who, unbeknownst to her, had already fathered a kid by another girl.

  When she’d turned up pregnant, he’d shown his true colors and had not been exactly supportive. His parents had joined forces with hers, though, and the young couple had acceded to their wishes and tried a brief, disastrous marriage soon after the boys were born. He’d gone on to cheat on her when the twins were toddlers, and that had been that.

  She and the boys had done well by each other, and as they grew, the differences in the two became more evident. Alex was quieter and more studious, while Emery was the life of the party and had a tendency to struggle in school, mostly from lack of interest. He and Alex had started out about as identical as could be, but now they looked more like brothers than twins, which suited them just fine. Alex was more slender, with a runner’s form, while Emery hit the weights and was much broader and more muscular. Alex alone needed glasses, although he usually wore contacts. Emery wore his dark brown hair longer than his brother, in a sort of rebellious, shapeless shag that stuck out from under his ball cap.

  Teri smiled up at her more clean-cut son and looped her arm through his, finally responding, “You know I’d love to be a fly on the wall, but Emery doesn’t need his mom hovering over him for this. His coach is there with him. He’ll do fine.” She hoped. “I’m sure we’ll hear all the details a hundred times. Let’s go pick up some dinner—you know your brother’s going to be starved.”

  Please let him get his shot…and not screw it up.

  Chapter One

  Six weeks later

  Aaron rolled his shoulder gingerly then scowled down at the oily rag in his hand. Bad enough that he wasn’t able to be at his real home, working out with his team for spring training, but now Coach had talked him into babysitting duty for the new young phenom he’d brought into the organization. A phenom that was currently AWOL. Not exactly an auspicious start.

  His cell phone rang just as he was getting into a good rhythm. “Damn it. Great timing, Deke.” After looking around fruitlessly for a sec, he finally just wiped his oily hands down his jeans. They were old anyway.

  When he finally picked the phone up, he had to smile at the contact photo of his friend getting knocked ass over teakettle during a play at home. “Hey, man,” he answered.

  “Hank! Wut up?” Deke’s low drawl was as thick and strong as Deke himself.

  “Not much.” He stood and walked over to the sliding door to the balcony, staring out at the forested greenbelt behind the condo complex. He’d closed the door earlier because some random neighbor somewhere had been smoking. “Just doing some chores. Day off.” He slid the door open and sniffed to make sure the air was unpolluted before stepping out. One thing he couldn’t stand was the smell of smoke. Probably came from growing up with a dad who’d constantly smoked in the house. He’d had enough second-hand carcinogens in his lifetime.

  “So how long ya gonna be down on the farm makin’ hay?”

  Aaron had to chuckle at the creative reference to his current position with one of their minor league teams—or ‘farm teams’. Deke might fool those who didn’t know him into thinking he was some dumb hick, but he was sharp and had a wicked quick sense of humor. “Probably until my country accent’s as thick as yours, boy.” He sat on the chaise longue and swung his legs up onto the seat.

  “Hain’t never gonna happen. This here took decades to perfect.” After a brief laugh, Deke added in a more serious tone, “You ain’t worried ‘bout the long run, are ya? The docs haven’t said anything else?”

  “Nothing new.” Aaron shrugged reflexively then winced. He kept forgetting. “It’ll just take time and determination.” And luck.

  “And you got those in spades, or your name ain’t Hank Aaron Reynolds, son.”

  “Amen, brother.”

  “How’s the wet nursin’ going?”

  “Typical.” Aaron wasn’t a gossip, but this was Deke, and he knew that whatever he said wouldn’t go anywhere. Well, maybe with the exception of his wife, Julia, but she was similar to Deke in that she was trustworthy. They had both proven it many times before, especially during this time in Aaron’s career. Everyone knew that Aaron and Deke were best friends, so Deke and Julia got asked questions about him a lot but never volunteered anything.

  “So he’s basically young and cocky and full of himself?”

  “Sort of. Yeah, on the face of it. Seems to have decent manners, though, so it might not be too bad. That said, he didn’t come home last night.”

  Deke gave a snort. “What, already? He’s only been there a day, right?”

  “Yep.” He sighed. Aaron had seen Emery Sandusky’s footage with the rest of the coaching staff, and he was a heck of a ballplayer. He played third base like he’d been born for it, plus he was a natural hitter. But it hadn’t taken much digging to find out he was a partier, so Coach had asked Aaron to open up his condo to the young man, to try to insulate him as best he could and be a steadying influence.

  Even so, Emery’d disappeared his first night in town with some of the other younger players.

  Deke grunted disgustedly and Aaron continued, “I didn’t expect to have to lay down the law about curfew and house rules before the kid even unpacked. I suppose I’ll have to have a chat with him today. If he ever comes home,” he added, looking at the clock. They had a day off today but would be expected to hit it hard starting tomorrow. “I was going to take him over to the field and show him around so he knows what to expect when he walks in tomorrow.”

  “That’s nice of ya, Dad.”

  “Shove it,” Aaron shot back without any heat. “Speaking of dads, how’s Julia coming along? She got that baby baked yet?”

  “Still cookin’, Uncle Hank,” Deke answered proudly. After a couple of years of effort, complicated by the team’s travelling schedule, Deke and Julia had finally managed to get the deed done. His best friend couldn’t wait to be a daddy. “You’d best heal up and come on back, ‘cause if you ain’t here when this baby comes, Julia will never forgive ya.”

  Aaron smirked. “Yeah, I’m sure it’s Julia that won’t be
happy.”

  Deke laughed his cheerful, deep chuckle. “That’s all I’m coppin’ to. We get to take a gander at it tomorrow, maybe find out if it’s a boy or girl if he don’t have his legs crossed.”

  “Or her legs,” Aaron pointed out.

  “I’ll be glad when we find out, man. I hate callin’ the baby ‘it’ and every fuckin’ time I say one or t’other someone corrects me.”

  Aaron laughed. “Yeah, that’ll come in handy.”

  “I’d best be goin’. Don’t be a stranger, ’kay?”

  “Yeah, man. I’ll touch base in a couple days.”

  “You do that. See ya.”

  Aaron said goodbye and hung up then stretched. He really didn’t have much to do today. He’d already gone to the store to stock up on food for the week, done some light cleaning and caught up on emails. Maybe he’d go for a jog after he put a bit more time into the glove he was breaking in.

  He went back inside and settled into the soothing rhythm of working oil into leather. He’d been at it for about ten minutes when he heard the sound of a key in the lock. He looked up from the glove as the front door of the condo opened. His new charge came through the door, looking a bit worse for the wear, slamming the door behind him in his haste.

  Here we go.

  Having great skills at ball didn’t always translate into life skills, and this guy was, as Deke had so succinctly put, a typical, cocky young guy. Aaron sighed. When he’d offered to help out his old coach while doing rehab, he’d figured that would mean running outfielders’ drills and encouraging players during training. He hadn’t thought he’d be stuck mentoring a party boy one-on-one. But the kid was promising enough to McCauley that he had a vested interest in keeping him on the straight and narrow. He tried to remember that and put a welcoming smile on his face.