In the clubhouse, I stopped in front of my locker and just stared at it. Really, guys? There were black streamers hanging everywhere and black balloons tied to a ball and chain. A sign read: A Sucker Is Born Every Day.

  Calvin Malone was horse laughing, a bag of ice tied to his shoulder.

  Ace Newman was grinding on a pole. “I love weddings,” he yelled, “I’m planning the bachelor party.”

  Todd Morris threw a cleat at him. “We ain’t going to the Chuck E. Cheese.”

  Ace dodged the cleat and laughed. What a transformation. From drugged out whore hound to proud papa. I had to admit, I wished I’d gotten to witness some of the shit he’d pulled in his younger days, but I liked this Ace Newman too.

  He slapped me on the back. “Seriously, congratulations, Steele. It’ll be the best thing you ever did. Just knock her up quick. Tit milk is the best.”

  I rolled my eyes. Yep, the Ace Newman of old was just beneath the surface.

  His words had put an image in my head though. Eliana with a rounded belly, her breasts swollen. Our baby sliding from her body as he or she entered the world. She’d make a good mother, nurturing and kind. Not like the bitch who raised her. I’d teach the kid to hit a ball, surf in the sea. Maybe…

  What the hell was wrong with me?

  In the space of two weeks, I got a fake girlfriend and turned her into a fake fiancée, and now I was dreaming about playing catch with Kane Junior or Juniorette?

  I was so screwed.

  But our kids would be cute. Maybe her strawberry hair and my green eyes?

  Stop it!

  “You okay?” Calvin asked, throwing an arm over my shoulders.

  Was I?

  “Yeah, man. Just a lot going on.”

  He chortled. “I can see that. When do I get to meet her?”

  “Today, actually. She’ll be at the game.”

  “Nice. Her and about six million screaming tweenagers. You heard about all the pictures and signing shit we need to do before and after, right?”

  I groaned. “Yep. Got my sharpies ready.”

  He gave me a slap on the shoulder. “Alright, then. Be sure to hook your girl up with Whitney and Holly. Whit’s been doing some great wedding designs, and nobody can beat Holly’s cakes. We’ve got you covered. You set a date?”

  I just stared at him. “What?”

  He rolled his eyes. “A date, moron. For the wedding. Be prepared to drop a load. I thought I was going to have to take out a second mortgage to just pay for Whit’s dress.”

  It was my turn to roll my eyes. Calvin’s contract exceeded my own. The man wasn’t financially hurting. But if his wife was a spender…?

  Was Eliana a spender? She didn’t seem to be. Her clothes were nice, but she didn’t seem to be high maintenance, not that it mattered. It wasn’t like I couldn’t afford to buy her anything she wanted, but I didn’t want a wife who spent half of her life in a spa and the rest shopping. I wanted a wife who…

  Stop it! She wasn’t going to be my damn wife. She…

  Calvin slapped me on the back, bringing me back from my raging thoughts. “Anyway, I’m going to head out. I’m benched today, so I get to enjoy this fine weather. Catch ‘em high or low, okay, man?”

  I held out a fist, and he bumped it. “Will do. I see another W in our column today.”

  “Damn straight. We’ll be a contender yet.”

  I watched him walk away. He seemed happy. He was another one who got into a shitload of trouble his rookie year. Almost lost his girl and his career in the space of a few months. Fame and fortune could go to a man’s head quick.

  My dad always said that money brought out the true character of a person. If they were good inside, it made them better. If they were rotten… well, their stench only got worse.

  I guessed, for the most part, that was true, but I thought there must be some exceptions. Like Ace, who was once as rotten as they came. He now donated half his salary to homeless vets and was constantly looking for run-down apartment buildings he could buy for them to live in.

  Calvin was another example. He went sideways for a little bit as he learned to crawl then walk with his pockets loaded. But he reverted to the good ole country boy he originally was.

  Me?

  I was born with a silver spoon stuck in my mouth. I’d never had to fight for anything until I fought to make it to the majors. Women came easy, even before I wore the Beasts hat. Sure, I never knew if they wanted me or my money, but I never took the time to care because they were willing to give me what I wanted for a few expensive meals and some flowers.

  Was that what I liked about Eliana? That she’d rather live on a farm than a penthouse? Rather stroke the fur of a dog than someone’s ego? That she learned sex skills from a YouTube video rather than try them out on a different partner every night?

  Why was this driving me crazy?

  For some reason, it felt like I needed to make some huge decision. Today. Right now. When in reality, she and I could take our time. We could get to know each other, even better now that she was living with me. We could find out if this attraction had substance to it. If she, like Nana said, was someone I’d want to trudge up a mountain with.

  “Let’s go, Steele!”

  Shaking away the nagging thoughts, I lifted a hand and pulled my shit together. Pulled on my uniform — I needed to get to work.

  I grinned at the thought of bacon frying up in a pan.

  ***

  Ignoring the piercing screams of hundreds of middle schoolers, I glanced up at the section behind the plate, looking for Eliana. She wasn’t here yet. Was she okay?

  Luke wound up, and I forced my attention back on the batter, noticing where Todd Morris’s glove slid to before the ball left Luke’s hand.

  “Strike.”

  Alright. We were off to a good start.

  Where’s Eliana?

  Shit. I forced my focus back on the game.

  Crack!

  The ball went straight up in the air, soaring way above our dugout. Keeping my eyes on it, I waved the other guys off, judging speed and distance. It would be close, but I thought I could reach it. I jumped the wall and… a freaking kid’s glove popped up, snagging it before it got down to me.

  My jaw clenched tight before I cursed a twelve-year-old out, I listened to the crowd boo the kid who now looked devastated that he’d cost us an out. Feeling sorry for him, I yelled. “Nice catch. Next time, let me catch it first, and I’ll sign it for you.”

  Still red-faced, he gave me a thumbs-up, and I jogged back to my base to await my next chance to make a play.

  By the third out, Eliana still wasn’t there, and I wished I hadn’t left my phone in my locker. Unease walked like a spider up my spine as I headed to our dugout. Was she okay?

  We were up by one when it was my turn to bat. Todd had hit a zinger to center and was on second, waiting for me to advance him.

  Glancing into the stands one last time before I took the plate, I saw her. She smiled and waved, a bag of popcorn in her hand. Zoe and… Mom and Nana were smiling beside her.

  What the hell?

  They were supposed to be on a plane right about now.

  With zero time to puzzle through that, I took my position, crowding the plate. The pitcher wound up, then whoosh, it was in the catcher’s glove with a loud smack.

  “Strike.”

  Stepping out of the box, I gave the bat another few hard swings and glanced at Coach Griffin, who was standing next to our new batting coach, “Spaceman” Delaney. No signal from either man. Alright, I’d take what looked good then.

  Back in the box, I waited. Outside and high.

  “Ball.”

  I ignored two more outside and highs then fouled one off into the stands. I stepped back into the box with two strikes and three balls on the board as the pitcher wound up again.

  This pitch was beautiful. If I’d had time to smile, I would have.

  Crack!

  It felt right coming off the bat, and my hands vibrated with the impact. The crowd was going wild as I threw the wood down. I didn’t watch, just dug my cleats in, heading for first, my eyes on the base coach. His arm was spinning — no homer, but he thought I could make a double — so I bore down and made my turn, my cleat hitting the edge of first just right, throwing up dirt to get to second.

  I was fast for a big man, but this was going to be close. I went down, dust flying up all around me as I slid. My cleat connected an instant before the ball cracked into the baseman’s glove. I was back on my feet, and looking for the blue shirt to make the final call, but the play wasn’t over. The second baseman turned and sent the ball whizzing to home.

  “Safe!” my umpire yelled, his arms splayed out, but I barely heard him because I was on the run again, heading for third as I watched Todd digging hard for the score.

  Todd went down outside the zone, his hand touching the plate as the ball smacked into the catcher’s glove.

  “Safe!”

  The catcher didn’t hesitate and threw to third while still on his knees. I had time, but went down anyway, coming back up and was dusting myself off as another, “Safe!” was called.

  “Nice hit!” the third base coach said, and I shot him a grin.

  Glancing up at the stands, Eliana was jumping up and down, clapping, the popcorn she had tucked under her arm spilling everywhere. Mom and Zoe were clapping too while Nana just beamed.

  Turned out, my good luck charm was even more powerful in person. We beat the socks off the Sox, putting that beautiful W next to our name. I scored twice, and nothing got by me at first. I even signed the ball for the kid who’d stolen the out from me earlier.

  The press jungle seemed to take forever as I answered questions and bragged on my team. I signed more balls and hats, and even one kid’s bicep before tramp stamping two giggling groupies who flirted outrageously with me.

  Then Eliana was in my arms.

  “I thought you two were heading back to California,” I said to Mom, my girl still tucked under my arm.

  Mom was grinning. Like, really grinning. A cat who had not only eaten the canary but was using a feather as a toothpick kind of grin.

  “Well, your nana and I decided to do some pre-wedding planning.”

  I looked down at Eliana, whose eyes were huge in her face. She gave me an I know nothing about this shake of the head.

  Mom went on. “We were thinking that,” she glanced over at Nana with a sad look, “since she…”

  Nana hmphed and jumped in. “We were thinking that since I’m going to be kicking the bucket, and since you two are already engaged, you should get married sooner rather than later so I can be there.”

  “Uh…”

  My lips felt numb. My tongue did too. I was pretty sure my brain had dissolved into mush.

  Mom was bouncing up and down. “Well? What do you think? A November wedding would be perfect! The World Series would be over that first week. You could get married that Saturday or Sunday.”

  “Uh…” That sound came from Eliana. Her fingers were digging a hole in my ribs.

  “You don’t have to do a thing except pick out your dress and colors and things. We’ve already contacted a wedding planner, and she can meet with you tomorrow morning.”

  “Uh…”

  “Kane Bartholomew!”

  I snapped to attention at the name. “Yes, Nana?”

  “Are you going to grant your grandmother her dying wish, or are you going to break her heart?”

  Very slowly, I looked down into wide blue eyes. An enormous fake smile was frozen on her face, her freckles aglow on her nose. “Well, dear, what do you think?”

  She blinked. That was good. Movement was good, I supposed.

  “Dying wish,” Nana grumbled.

  Eliana exhaled. “Sounds like fun.”

  ***

  “You okay?” I asked Eliana after she plopped down on the bed, looking like a starfish against the pale duvet.

  “I still can’t believe that just happened.” She groaned and turned on her side to pull a pillow over her face. “Seriously. We’re really really really getting married now. As in ‘I do’ and ‘you may kiss your bride’ and ‘till Nana’s death do us part.’” She pulled the pillow off and looked at me. “I’m sorry, that was terrible. Sometimes the edit filter in my brain doesn’t work right.” With a long sigh, the pillow was on her face again.

  Adorable.

  I grinned, although she was too busy smothering herself to see it. Climbing on top of her until I was straddling her waist, I pulled the pillow off and tossed it aside, then held down her wrists to keep her still. “Come on, is the idea of being hitched to me all that bad?”

  She bucked up, tossing me forward until we were nose to nose. She swallowed hard, her breathing increasing as she looked up with those glorious blues. “I don’t even know Nana’s name. I was told to call her ‘nana’ from the very beginning. I don’t know your sisters’ names. What they do for a living. How your relationship is with them. I wish…” She trailed off with a little shake of her head.

  I let go of one of her wrists to push her hair back from her face. “Nana was born Evelyn Niswonger — don’t call her Evelyn, it will break her heart — and married Charles Steele sixty-six or so years ago. Grandpa died three Easters ago of a heart attack. They had five children. My dad is the eldest. I have two aunts and two uncles. They all work at Steele Global although Dad is the CEO now. I also have nine cousins. Three of them have kids now, so family reunions are getting more and more interesting.”

  “Your sisters?”

  I couldn’t stop the smile as I thought of the two brats. “I’m the oldest at almost twenty-six. Kristen is three years younger and is in the process of becoming a lawyer at Berkeley. She’s a smart-ass know-it-all, so the profession is perfect for her.”

  Eliana smiled up at me. “You love her.”

  “Yeah. I haven’t always loved her. Mom swears that I tried to convince them to flush her down the toilet when she was a baby.” I chuckled. “I probably did. And when she got older, she’d steal my toys. Hit me, then when I hit her back, she’d go running off to tell, and I’d get into trouble. Typical sibling stuff, right?”

  Eliana’s smile dimmed. “Only child, remember? Sounds like fun.”

  I kissed her nose. “It was fun. Then Kaitlyn came along three years after that. She’s twenty and the artist of the family. Photography. She’s at Berkeley too — she and Kristen share an apartment — but she’s already a primary photographer for Steele Global. She’s super cool. Very laid back. The exact opposite of Kris.”

  “Will they be at the wedding?”

  “I’m sure they will be. Pointing and laughing most likely. Of the three of us, I’ve been the one most adamant about not getting married. They’ll have great fun rubbing my nose in it.”

  “I can’t wait to meet them.”

  Letting go of her other wrist, I rested myself on my elbows and kissed her temple. “You’ll love them. And they’ll love you. They’re both crazy about animals, so you’ll have a lot to talk about.”

  Eliana nuzzled her face against mine. “Maybe marrying you won’t be so bad. I’ll gain two sisters… for a while.” She laughed then, although it sounded forced and a haunted look crept into her eyes. “You’re very lucky, you know.”

  I thought of her horrible mother. The loss of her father and grandparents. Step-dads coming in and out of her life. “Yeah, I know how lucky I am. I won the lottery at birth. Not just financially but in every sense of the word.”

  Eliana’s nose turned pink. “You deserve it. And they deserve you. It’s good that you all have each other.”

  I thumbed away a lone tear that fell. “You deserve it too, Eliana. Just because you haven’t gotten it yet, doesn’t mean you’re any less deserving. It just means it will come to you in a different way is all.”

  Eliana sniffed and blinked rapidly before taking a deep breath. “Can you believe Nana already has a Pinterest page set up with wedding ideas? That woman is a force of nature.”

  I let her change the subject. “Yes, I believe it. She’s probably had this planned in her mind since the day I was born. Remember, those are just ‘suggestions’ as she called it. This is your wedding, Eliana. Even though our circumstances are unusual, I don’t want you to spare any expense. Make it your dream. I’ll buy you anything you want.”

  She laughed, a more genuine sound this time. “Oh really? So, if I want a gold-plated, horse-drawn carriage with diamond-encrusted reins to deliver me at the altar, you’re okay with that?”

  I wrinkled my nose. “Um, yeah. If that’s what you want.”

  Her eyes brightened. “Awesome. Then gold-plated everything it is. The twelve flower girls will toss out rubies instead of rose petals. I’ll wear a diamond tiara and Christian Lacroix dress. The ceremony will be in a castle in Rome, and we’ll fly all the guests in, and of course, pay for their accommodations for the eight-day celebration.”

  I laughed. “For eight days, we’ll need a thousand bottles of wine and twenty-four five-course meals, plus receptions with a sixteen-tier white chocolate cake at each.”

  “Yes!” Eliana exclaimed, lifting her hips to buck me up again. She really was stronger than she looked. “And speaking of flowers. I’ve heard rumors that William and Kate spent eight hundred thousand on flowers alone for their wedding.”

  I fake gasped. “I’m very competitive, you know. No royal will out-do a Steele shindig. We’ll blow a cool million on those.”

  The sadness was completely gone from Eliana’s eyes now, and I realized that I would do just about anything to keep it from coming back. “Does that sound like your dream wedding?”

  She wrinkled her nose. “It sounds terrible.” She sighed. “I’ve pictured my wedding dress in my head for forever. I guess most little girls have. Simple white silk and lace, nothing fancy. No big poofs or extra-long train. My bouquet would feature blush pink and white roses, dahlias, and peonies. Peonies were my grandmother’s favorite flower.”

  “It sounds really pretty.”

  She ran a finger down the scruff on my face. “In my mind, it is, but I’ve really never given it serious thought. There was vet school, then building a practice. Maybe traveling and seeing the world a bit first before settling down. I thought I would probably be in my thirties. My clock would be ticking, but I’d still have a few years with my husband before starting a family.”