Then he was following me off the edge, his hips slamming into me harder. He roared and thrust one last time.

  We stayed that way, bodies connected, our sweat drying as we gazed at each other in the solitude of his kitchen.

  It should have been awkward.

  It wasn’t.

  We didn’t speak. Nothing needed to be said that he probably didn’t already know.

  In a short space of time, I’d come to care for him deeply. But I also knew that I wouldn’t be here right now if outside forces hadn’t thrust us together, wedging our separate lives into one so unexpectedly.

  The silence, warm and comfortable as it was, stretched out, and I knew it couldn’t last forever.

  With a long exhale, Kane lifted his head and pressed his lips to my forehead. “We need to talk.”

  I swallowed hard. “Yes, we do.” Sliding my hands up his back, his muscles jumped under my touch. “Can we do it later?”

  I felt him smile. “Yeah, later is good.”

  Squeezing him tighter, I pressed my face into his chest. “Good, because I’m not ready.”

  He kissed my hair. “Me neither.”

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  Kane

  The earth must have shifted beneath my feet because I felt like I was standing on ground as shaky as my California home. Okay, maybe not literally, but I was rocking inside.

  I’d said those words out loud, we need to talk. Not the damn “L” word, but it felt close. Me. Man-whore Kane Steele talking about feelings and shit. But, dammit, I was feeling. With my body, with my mind, deeper. Maybe my soul.

  When I walked into that kitchen and saw Eliana making something as simple as bacon, something twisted and shifted inside me, and I understood what Calvin and Ace and Todd had been talking about.

  But in two weeks? That was totally jacked, and I didn’t know if I could trust it. What if it was the emotional high of my rookie professional season, or the sadness of knowing I would soon lose one of the people who’d been a rock in my life? Maybe I just wanted to protect Eliana from her mother. All I knew for sure was that Eliana had changed something in me.

  And it was temporary, I’d have to be a moron to think it was more. In a few months, I’d have to let her go, and she’d be the “what-if” woman I’d think of even on my death bed.

  I was a moron anyway. If I was smart, I’d buy her and Zoe a place to live and keep distance between us. We’d play the happy couple for my parents and grandmother but keep our lives separate the rest of the time.

  Fuck that.

  I’d deal with missing her later, but she would be in my bed every night until then.

  Eliana sighed and relaxed against me. My dick was still inside her, and I was holding her so tight I could feel her heart beating against my chest.

  And nothing had ever felt so right in my life.

  Shifting slightly, she kissed me right over my heart before looking up at me with those clear blues. “Penny for your thoughts.”

  “You’d be wasting your money right now.” She said nothing, just looked up at me expectantly and I added, “The same thing I’ve been thinking about a lot lately.”

  “Nana?” she asked. “I’ve been thinking about her too. She’s an amazing person.”

  It gave me a jolt. Nana was the person I should have been thinking about. Shit. Or baseball. My career. Getting to the series. Giving the MLB my best before taking over the family business.

  Not Eliana. Not how she felt in my arms.

  I kissed her forehead and lied. “Yeah. Nana. I thought she looked really tired yesterday.”

  Her face grew sad. “She did. I think the trip here and now planning for the wedding is filling her with life and sucking it from her simultaneously.”

  Here was my opening. “Do you think we’re making a mistake? The wedding, I mean.”

  She blinked and pressed her face to my chest again. “I don’t know. It’s the kindest thing we can do for her. She clearly adores you and can now die peacefully knowing that you are settled, which does indeed seem to be one of her greatest wishes.”

  I scoffed. “Then come back and haunt me when we divorce.” Eliana shuddered, and I pulled her closer. “You okay?”

  She blew out a long breath. “That’s the downside… divorce. Alize has been married so many times, I always promised myself that I wouldn’t walk that plank until I was one hundred percent sure that it would last.”

  “You’re nothing like your mother,” I said sternly, needing her to believe it. “Besides, how can anyone know one hundred percent? Don’t you think just about every couple wholeheartedly believes that they’ve found their soulmate when they tie the knot?”

  I felt her nod. “I suppose.”

  “We like each other, right?”

  She squeezed harder. “Very much.”

  “We laugh and have fun. Only fake bicker so far, and the sex is a-fucking-mazing.”

  Eliana laughed. “True, true and true!”

  And I’m starting to fall for you — hard.

  Those were the words I so badly wanted to say to her, but my mouth became dry as cotton, and my throat refused to work. It was like my body had a stranglehold on my heart.

  There was so much I wanted to say, was afraid to say, but my phone vibrated, and the moment was gone.

  I glanced at the screen. Coach Griffin. I wondered what he wanted.

  Then I remembered.

  Adrenaline dumped into my system, and I lunged for the phone. Glancing at the clock, I tapped the green button as I flew down the hall. I was late. I was never late. Never!

  “On my way, Coach.”

  “You better be. The ‘Bat with a Beast’ event started five minutes ago.”

  Shit, the kids’ event. I had totally forgotten. “Sorry, Coach. I’m on my way. Be there in fifteen.”

  “Make it ten. We’ll talk about the fine later.”

  Shoving my feet in some shoes, I pulled a hoodie on simultaneously, grabbing my keys and a cap from the dresser, praying the traffic wouldn’t be too bad.

  Eliana was in the hallway, a small bag in her hand. “Granola bar and water,” she said, shoving the bag at me.

  I didn’t have time for a kiss and just shouted as I grabbed the bag, “Thanks.”

  Then I was out the door, cursing myself for forgetting, for losing focus.

  For fucking instead of following my dream.

  ***

  Two hours later, I was still pissed at myself. Sure, I made certain the kids had fun and smiled wide for all the pictures.

  But I was pissed.

  I’d been careless, and I was never careless.

  First, I’d nearly forgotten the damn condom, and I no-way-in-hell ever forgot those. Dammit, I was so paranoid about using them that I only ever strapped on the ones I personally purchased. With my family’s wealth, and now my fame, it was hard to trust that a woman wasn’t looking for a baby daddy. One needle through the foil packet was all it would take to strap me down to a gold digger for eighteen years. No little Kane Juniors on my watch. At least not until I was ready.

  And then I forgot the kid’s event. I woke up and showered thinking I had a few hours to spend with Eliana before heading to the stadium for pregame practice. And it wasn’t like I hadn’t been reminded a hundred times yesterday. It’s just that I saw her in my Beasts shirt and panties, and my memory banks were wiped.

  During pregame, I forced myself to focus. I needed to get Eliana out of my head. Jogging back to the dugout for some water, I heard someone calling my name. I looked up, and some groupie chick flashed her tits.

  She was hot. Like the “Baywatch” kind of hot that used to get me off. I thought I even recognized the girl. Hell, I might have fucked her already.

  She pulled her shirt back down just enough to cover her nipples but left the underside bare. “Want to get a drink tonight?” she yelled, flashing brilliant white teeth.

  I didn’t. I wasn’t even remotely interested. Actually, I was more than a little disgusted, by her and by myself.

  Not long ago, I would have signaled for her to come closer. I would have flirted back, maybe gotten her phone number so I could screw her brains out after the game.

  Now, there was nothing.

  Not a single thing stirred in me, even though she was crazy beautiful, with a body that could cause men to have wet dreams.

  She didn’t have strawberry hair, and there wasn’t a freckle in sight. Instead of blushing, she was brazen… and it turned me off.

  I raised my left hand, giving her the classic “I’m married” finger wave. Of course, there wasn’t a ring on that hand yet, but there would be soon.

  The groupie shrugged and smiled wider. The shrug caused the tiny shirt to ride higher, showing more tit. Of course it didn’t matter to her. Riding the cock of a “somebody” she could brag about to her friends was the one thing women like that cared about.

  Truly disgusted now, I tossed down my water bottle and turned away.

  “I’ll save you,” Luke said, his shit-eating grin in place. “I love all you guys getting hitched cause it just leaves more pussy for me.”

  He crooked his finger to the girl, and she didn’t even hesitate. She was at the fence, showing Luke her tits this time. He could have her. In fact, he could have them all.

  I had Eliana.

  Knowing it made me smile.

  ***

  Hand over my heart, I stared at the flag as the national anthem played, then took my position at first base. Over the catcher’s head, I had a clear view of Eliana in the stands, Zoe on one side of her, Mom and Nana on the other. I squinted, looking closer. Sure enough, Nana had gotten the Beasts logo on her t-shirt bedazzled. Knowing Nana, the shirt was probably covered with real emeralds and diamonds. I might need to hire a bodyguard just to protect her shirt.

  The first batter walked up to the plate, and I pulled my shit together, focusing on nothing but our pitcher winding up. I didn’t know Chuck very well, but he had been doing a good job and finding more time on the mound.

  Wind up. Pitch. Strike. Whoa damn, that sucker was ninety-seven miles an hour. Glad Chuck wasn’t tossing that shit at me. And I hoped he could keep that speed up.

  Two more strikes and we had our first out. My nerves began to settle. Second batter stood up and experienced the same fate, the crowd going crazy as he slunk back to the dugout.

  This was the part many people, and players, hated about baseball. Although I’d never admit it out loud, the game could sometimes be boring as hell.

  I got into position, and the third batter swung, and the ball came off his bat with a loud crack. Rushing to my base, I watched it take a hard bounce, but Ace stopped it, coming up with a fireball at my chest.

  “Out!”

  Grinning, I headed to the dugout, pointing my glove at Ace. It was a helluva throw. He tipped his hat and took a little bow. The crowd went even more crazy with his antics.

  By the fourth inning, the score was still zip to zip. I’d gotten thrown out at second my first go around, then hit a damn popup the second. I was eager to get back on the plate, but we were going through batters too slow. It wasn’t until the sixth that I had a bat in my hand again, and I decided to mix it up and hit with my left.

  The pitcher didn’t like it, I could tell. His expression just made me crowd the plate a little harder. I watched his hand as he wound up, and his fingers were straight over the top of the ball. By the time the ball was leaving his hand, I was expecting his fastball and… fuck! I hit the dirt as the bomb came directly at my head.

  In the MLB, pitchers average about ninety-five miles an hour, which means it only takes about four-tenths of a second for a ball to travel the sixty feet, six inches from hand to plate. By the time the ball was a dozen feet in front of the pitcher, the batter had better know if he was going to swing, hope for a ball, or hit the dirt like I’d just done. That was why hitting three out of ten was considered a fucking good average. The reaction time needed to be incredible.

  Position was important too, of course. A millimeter too high and you had a grounder. A millimeter too low and that damn thing was popping up and falling into a glove.

  I stood up and brushed the dust off, taking my time. I glanced into the stands to see Eliana’s hand clamped over her mouth. I smiled. Don’t worry, baby. I’ve got this.

  Back at the plate, I crowded it again and kept my eye on the pitcher’s hand. Another fastball was okay with me. It launched, and within a heartbeat, I’d made my decision to swing. It wasn’t even a real decision, just an instinct created from standing in this spot a thousand times.

  Crack!

  My hands went numb as the ball left the bat. It felt good, but I didn’t trust it to be a homer. I took off, keeping my eyes on the first base coach. He was smiling, and I slowed down, enjoying the rest of the jog.

  When I rounded third, something flashed in the corner of my eye — a literal freaking flash. A man, bare-assed naked, was streaking across the field.

  I didn’t know where he came from, but I could tell where he was going — straight for home. And he seemed excited to be doing it, again literally, because his dick was leading the way.

  Oh, hell no. If he was heading home, I wasn’t taking another damn step.

  Glancing into the stands, I barked out a laugh. Eliana’s mouth was sagged open while Mom had covered her face with her hands. Nana had two fingers in her mouth, whistling loudly.

  “Go, Beasts!” the man was screaming, waving something over his head. “Win-ning streak!”

  Two security dudes were hot on his tail. His short legs a blur, the streaker was quicker than I’d imagined. Maybe quicker than me. But adrenaline could do that to a man under the right circumstances.

  “Uh, should we do something?” I asked the third baseman, and he raised an eyebrow at me.

  “You want to tackle a chubby naked guy, go for it.”

  As I was imagining grabbing him by the love handles — and instead accidentally grabbing another handle — additional security swarmed the field. The streaker had made it past the pitcher’s mound, and I wondered if he’d try to slide home.

  The crowd was wild, whether cheering the dude on or rooting for security, I’d never know. I thought I could still hear Nana whistling above the roar. Another glance in the stands proved me correct.

  “Security don’t get paid enough for this shit,” the third baseman muttered.

  I had to agree because one bulky guy took a flying leap, but his arms slid down and off the naked man’s body like he was covered in grease.

  Maybe he was.

  Just as it looked like he was going to tag home, another security guard went for his feet. With a dive most NFL players would be jealous of, the big man wrapped his arms around naked dude’s ankles.

  The crowd gasped as naked dude’s arms began to pinwheel, but gravity wasn’t his friend. He hit the ground hard, dick first, followed closely by his belly and face. To a man, everyone in the stadium winced as he scooted several feet across the dirt, leaving skin, and things I don’t even want to think of, in his wake.

  I was still holding onto my own balls as security tossed several towels on the guy, then yanked him up, dirt and all, to march him off. The guy must have been drunk as all fuck because he was smiling and shouting, “Win-ning streak! Win-ning streak!”

  The crowd, of course, joined him.

  “Win-ning streak! Win-ning streak!”

  It was kind of catchy.

  When everything was clear, the ump whistled the play to continue, and I took off toward him to finish my home run. Glancing up in the stands before I tagged home, I met Eliana’s laughing eyes and couldn’t keep the grin off my face.

  I liked having her there.

  Sharing the good, the bad, and the ugly.

  A lot.

  ***

  When the game was over, our winning streak had continued with a four to two win, and it was time to face the press and their standard questions. It was the same blah blah blah with a few questions about the streaker tossed in until a reporter I didn’t recognize stuck his mike in my face, his cameraman’s light blindingly close.

  “Any comment on the videos posted online of your fiancée?”

  Huh? What the hell was he talking about?

  “I’m not sure what you mean.”

  I tried to push through the throng of people surrounding me. I didn’t like the smarmy look on the reporter’s face and didn’t want to give him time to ask the question again.

  He stepped in front of me. “A video of your fiancée, Eliana Anderson, having, um, intimate relations with a man began circulating on the internet today. It’s gone viral. I’m asking if you have a comment about the video or its content. Were you aware of the video’s existence?”

  More cameras turned to me as the question was heard by the other reporters and everyone wanted a piece of this breaking story. My mind went numb. So did my feet.

  Someone grabbed my arm and pushed me in the other direction. “That’s enough questions.” It was a woman’s voice. I looked down — it was Katrina Delaney, marching me to the locker room.

  After about a dozen steps, my mind began to work again, and I shook Katrina off. “I’ve got to get to Eliana before those snakes—”

  “We got her. I had some of my team escort her back into an empty suite with the rest of your family. She doesn’t know any of this is going on.”

  I sagged against the wall and leaned down to put my hands on my knees, breathing hard. I allowed myself just a moment before pushing myself back up. “I’ll sue those bastards. What they said out there was libel. Eliana wouldn’t—”

  “Kane, it’s true. I heard rumblings just as you all were finishing up the ninth.” Katrina stepped closer and placed a hand on my arm. “I went online and found the video. Unless Eliana has a twin, it’s her. And it is viral. It’s had nearly a million hits in just under an hour. This won’t be stopped.”

  I stared at her. This couldn’t be true.

  Covering my face with my hands, I scrubbed hard before pressing the heels of my hands into my eyes. “Is it bad?” I asked from that position.

  The answer was soft. “Yeah, but it doesn’t appear that she knew she was being filmed. Kane… the man never showed his face, so we don’t know who he is or where the video originated from. I… I’m sorry. I really liked Eliana the couple times I met her. I was looking forward to working on a pets and vets program with her.”