Hot Ticket by Deirdre Martin, Julia London, Annette Blair, Geri Buckley Page A

World Series. So are you interested?”
    Was he insane? Was she interested ? “Yes!” Kelly cried, pumping her fist. “Yes, yes, yes !”

CHAPTER 10
    Kelly was waiting for Parker when he got in from San Francisco. Her apartment was swathed in candles, the tiny table had been set for two, and a bottle of wine was open and airing.
    Nice ambiance, but he didn’t need it, because Kelly was wearing a little red halter-top dress that hugged all her curves, and that was all the mood-setting he needed. He gathered her up in his arms, kissed her hard as he swung her around, then put her down on her feet again. “Do you know how much I missed you?” he asked, pushing her hair from her face.
    “Well . . . I think the four bazillion phones calls were a pretty good indication,” she said, and lifted her face to kiss him. “Come on, I made spinach lasagna, and I found this great wine—”
    He caught her before she could slip away and kissed her again as his hands slid down her back to her hips.
    “Parker, come on.” Kelly laughed and playfully pushed him away. “The meal is ready, and I want to tell you something.”

    “So tell me,” he murmured against her skin.
    “No. I have to have your full, undivided attention.”
    “You’ve got my attention. Every fiber, every cell is focused on you, baby.”
    “Parker.”
    He sighed, dropped his hands from her body. “Okay. I’m here,” he said, his gaze still skimming her body.
    “Would you like a glass of wine?”
    “I’d love one,” he said, and walked into the living room to give her a little space. He glanced around as she poured the wine. “The place looks great,” he said, nodding at all the candles. “Very romantic.”
    “I hoped you would think so,” she said, handing him a glass of wine. “I want this to be a very romantic evening,” she added as she sat on the couch. He followed her, touched his glass to hers, and sipped.
    “Sorry about that last game,” she said softly.
    Parker shrugged. “You win some, you lose some. It’ll all even out by the end of the season. If we keep up the pace, we ought to be in the running for the pennant. If not, someone ought to line us up and shoot us.”
    “I hope it doesn’t come to that ,” Kelly laughed.
    He loved the sound of her laugh and smiled, admiring her. How did he get so lucky? How did he end up with such a beautiful woman who wasn’t into him for fame or money or any reason other than she wanted to be with him?
    “You’ve got Arizona next and St. Louis right after that,” she commented.
    “Yep. Three days in town and then we’re on the road for about ten days.” He didn’t want to even think of it. Summer months were tough, constantly on a ball field somewhere, constantly away from the people he loved, and now, away from Kelly. He couldn’t stand it some days. “Are you okay with that?” he asked her. “The long absences?”

    “Sure!” she said brightly. “I know its part of the deal. And as a matter of fact . . .” She suddenly put her wineglass aside and faced him. “I have some great news, Parker. It looks like I’m going to be gone for a while, too.”
    In spite of his chuckle, Parker felt the first pinprick of trepidation. “How is it great news that you are going to be gone? Where are you going?”
    She was smiling so broadly and gripping her hands so tightly that he had the impression she was fighting to keep from floating away. “Actually . . . I am going to L.A.”
    She waited a moment to see his reaction. But it took Parker a moment to connect the dots, and even then, he could only blink.
    “Parker! I am going to L.A. to be tested for an ESPN talk show!” With a shriek of pure joy, she fell backward, her arms high above her head.
    “Oh, God,” he said, genuinely surprised and proud of her. “Kelly, that is fantastic!” He set aside his wine, grabbed her arm, and pulled her up to kiss her. “That’s awesome! I am so damn proud of you, baby.”
    “ Thank