Playing Catch: A Baseball Romance by Rachelle Ayala Page A

father: he should pull his share of the weight.”
    “He does. We both agreed that Pappy shouldn’t be the one getting up at night, so we take turns.” Marcia swiped at her tears “He’s home with the baby right now. He wanted me to get my work done.”
    “Let me stay. I’ll get it done.” Jeanine grabbed a box of tissues and gave one to Marcia. “You’re tired, exhausted, and you need a break.”
    “The work can wait until you get back.” Marcia blew her nose and heaved her shoulders. “Really, you should go. I’ll feel even more guilty if you don’t get your night off.”
    “Then promise me you’ll go home right now. I’ll be back tomorrow morning. All of this can wait.”
    “Are you the boss or am I?” The corner of Marcia’s lip raised in a halfway smile. “Now, get going. Besides, Kirk’s waiting for you, and he’s been talking up this trip all week.”
    “He has?” Now she really wanted to cancel. “What did he say we were up to?”
    “Not much. He insists you two are just friends, and that you have some kind of bet going on with him. Far be it from me to guess what you’re up to.” Marcia shook her head and yawned.
    “I’m off to get laid, and not with Kirk,” Jeanine said. “A night in Vegas is an exciting change of pace. Kirk’s tagging along, because he feels the same way.”
    “Well, be careful.” Marcia picked up her purse and extracted her car keys. “Kirk’s a real heartbreaker, so don’t set your sights for him. Brock says he’s a real sweet talker before he gets the goods, but once he’s gotten his rocks off, he’s gone like a flash in the pan.”
    “I already know.” Jeanine’s stomach soured. “The first night I met him, he was doing his walk of shame.”
    “While you were doing yours.” Marcia mustered up a chuckle. “Don’t you think that means something?”
    Jeanine swallowed hard and pursed her lips. “Only means neither of us can be trusted to love and cherish until the day we die.”
    After leaving the office, Jeanine called Marcia’s house.
    Pappy picked up the phone. After a bit of small talk, she asked to speak to Brock.
    “He’s not here right now,” Pappy said. “He stepped out.”
    “Oh? When will he be back?”
    “I don’t rightly know, but if it’s important, you can call his cell phone. You have his number, don’t you?”
    “Yes, of course I do. Thanks.” Jeanine said goodbye and hung up.
    Brock was up to no good, but Pappy was obviously in the dark, being Marcia’s father.
    “I bet that no good Kirk knows what’s up,” she muttered to herself as she marched to her car. They had a flight to catch, and while Phoenix to Vegas was only a short hop, she’d have Kirk’s complete attention at least until she snagged a hot man for the evening.
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    K irk’s eyes lit as he spotted Jeanine approach the Sky Harbor International Airport gate. She was wearing a pantsuit that made her long legs even longer. Chic, gorgeous, and well-attired, Jeanine could give any of his New York fashion models a run on the runway.
    Even though she was late, she sauntered toward the gate as if the world awaited her and every man would step aside to let her pass.
    The letters had been a big disappointment. Childish, written badly, full of fluff and sentiment. What kind of man thought like that? He wouldn’t be surprised if his mother had dictated the letters to some ex-con who’d scribbled them with his messy and heavy handwriting.
    Dear Jeanine, I can’t stop thinking about you and how great you look when you smile. I cannot stand it when we’re apart, because all I can do is daydream about you, how you laugh, how your hair bounces when you walk, how your lips curl when you’re teasing me, and how happy I am when you’re with me. I pull out your picture all the time and wish I can be with you. You’re my lucky charm and really special. I’m so glad we love each other, because what we have is really special. Yours, [drawing of a heart]
    Kirk