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After the VIPs was a long line of people, all of whom stopped to sample the food. Ethan and I refilled trays and answered questions until a familiar voice from my past made me freeze. I had to be imagining things. I looked down the line of people and spotted a man I never thought I’d see again.
Even from a distance, he was unmistakable. Well over six feet tall, he had broad shoulders and narrow hips, and his dark suit did nothing to hide his physique. Longish blond hair framed a classically handsome face. I couldn’t see his eyes from here, but I remembered their dark sapphire-blue colour.
“Carter?”
Chapter 2
Carter
“Carter Cook, is that you?”
I lifted my head, searching the crowd for the owner of the voice from my past, hoping I was wrong, knowing I wasn’t. When I found her standing next to a table full of baked goods, her smile lit up her face, and her beautiful brown eyes were sparkling. Why did this have to happen today?
When I accepted the minor league contract with Vancouver, I knew I was heading for Red Rock. A small city that Jane Templeton had returned home to after the huge scandal when her husband was caught naked in a hotel room with two women who were not his wife. A scandal that I had a hand in exposing, even if unintentionally.
I’d been dreading running into Jane since I’d been assigned to the Fliers, and I’d hoped to avoid this meeting—forever, if possible. But I didn’t have that kind of luck, so I forced a smile and moved to greet Jane like the old friend she was. That she might be again, if she never found out about my part in the end of her marriage.
“Jane Templeton. I didn’t expect to run into you on my very first day back in professional baseball.”
Jane’s brown hair was pulled into a ponytail that showed off streaks of blue and red highlights: the Fliers colours. The apron she wore couldn’t hide the fact she had more curves, and there were a few lines around her eyes, but she was as beautiful as I remembered. The most arresting thing about her were her eyes; rich brown with flecks of green, they displayed a happiness I had never seen when she was married to Chad.
She threw her arms around me, and with only a second of hesitation, I returned the hug, trying not to notice the warmth of her curves in my arms. She was my friend. Ten years ago she had welcomed me into her home when I got my first call-up from the minors to play in the big leagues. I’d been twenty-four and a lot awestruck, and Chad hadn’t been a total ass yet. He’d taken pity on me, bringing me home for dinner my first night in town. Jane had taken one look at me and insisted I move in with them until I knew for sure I wouldn’t be sent back down to the minors.
For two months, I’d stayed in their guest room, had meals with them when we weren’t on the road, and had hung out with the whole family. Sure, maybe I’d had a tiny bit of a crush on Jane, but I’d gotten over it. Jane had been beautiful, but more than ten years older than me, married, and with two preteen kids. Totally off-limits. So I’d put away my crush and treated Jane like an older sister, but now, with her arms around me? It all came rushing back, and I was shifting away from her embrace to hide my body’s involuntary response.
“It’s Jane Morris now. I took back my name after the divorce.” Jane was grinning as she said it, taking any sting out of the words. “I can’t believe you’re here. I heard about your accident, of course. But I had no idea you’d signed with Vancouver. Obviously you’ve recovered, which is wonderful news.”
There was so much happiness in her smile that I didn’t have the heart to tell her the truth. My recovery was tentative at best, with no guarantees. A movement behind Jane distracted me, and I looked up to see a teenager towering over her. He couldn’t be the kid I’d spent hours playing video games with, could he? Doing the math made me feel a hundred years old. Ethan must have been about ten the last time I saw him, and now he was almost a man. “Ethan?”
“Ethan, do you remember Carter?” Jane asked.
“It’s great to see you back in baseball, Carter,” Ethan said.
Ethan stuck his hand out, and I took it to shake, then pulled him into a hug. “It’s good to see you again.”
Ethan had been like the little brother I’d never had when I was staying with Chad and Jane, and I’d had a blast hanging with him anytime Jane had to go out when I was living there. They’d refused to let me pay any rent, knowing I was making the league minimum, so it had seemed like the least I could do to repay them for their kindness.
Ethan was bouncing on his toes, almost vibrating with excitement. “I followed your career even after you were traded to Seattle. It was so cool to see you hit that walk-off homer in the league championship to sweep New York.”
“Thanks. It was a memorable night.” I tried to hide how much Ethan’s words impacted me, reminding me of both the best and worst time of my life. I’d hit the run that had won the game, and a few days later, just as the World Championship was about to begin, my life as I knew it had ended. Every day since then had been a battle to get back to this point.
“You’re busy. I should let you get back to work,” I said.
“You have to come over soon. We’d love more time to catch up with you.” Jane handed me a glossy business card. “Call me once you get settled, and we’ll set something up.”
Her fingers brushed mine as I accepted the card she offered, and their warmth set off another burst of desire through me. Get a grip, Carter. I tucked the card in my suit pocket. I should avoid Jane, but I didn’t have the willpower to deny myself the chance to spend time with her. The biggest risk was that she might find out I was the one who had exposed Chad’s indiscretions to the media. It had been an accident, and I still felt like the public humiliation she had suffered was my fault. I didn’t want to upset her by bringing up ancient history.
“I’ll call.” I snagged a cupcake off her table before I made my way back into the clubhouse. I was pretty sure that promise would be my undoing, and I needed to get my head right. I was here to play baseball. Nothing more. Complications with Jane Morris were not on the menu.
The locker room was old and not in the best shape, something I’d known when I’d signed. The Fliers were building a new ballpark, but until then, the club had to make do with the old park. All concrete walls, carrying the odour of years of sweaty ballplayers and spilled sports drinks, it wasn’t the most attractive venue, but it was home for as long as they would let me play. It was nothing like even the oldest park in the majors, but I didn’t care.
I’d had the privilege of playing in some of the best of them, and while I’d enjoyed it, the opportunity to play here in Red Rock meant more than any of them. Most former major league players would resent being signed to a Triple-A contract, but I was thrilled. Playing any level of ball professionally again was a huge accomplishment.
After being told over and over by doctors and physiotherapists that I should be grateful simply to be able to walk, I had worked my ass off to prove them all wrong. Step one had been regaining my mobility, which was almost back to 100 percent. I’d been working more on strength and speed, because that tied into both hitting power and my ability to field my position.
It was all still a work in progress, but I’d done enough to attract the interest of the new Vancouver club, and their faith in me kept me going. Without the league expansion I might not have gotten a second look from any club, but the expansion teams were desperate for players. I’d reached out to everyone I knew, called in every favour owed to me, and, in the end, the Vanquish had given me a shot. I was a long way from the all-star player I had been, but I could hold my own.
I sure wasn’t doing it for the money. The Vanquish had offered me league minimum. Minor league minimum. If I got called up to Vancouver, I’d make the minimum there too. I didn’t care. I’d made a bundle in free agency before the accident, and I’d invested well. An airtight prenup had kept my ex from draining my bank accounts when she divorced me after the accident. I was playing for the love of the game, because I still had something to prove and a promise to keep. I would keep playing until either I kept my promise, or no one would hire me.
