The Virgin Scorecard

  A collection of novellas

  Lauren Blakely

  Contents

  Also by Lauren Blakely

  About

  The Virgin Scorecard

  Mr. Right Now

  1. Shane

  2. Clementine

  3. Clementine

  4. Shane

  5. Shane

  6. Clementine

  7. Shane

  8. Clementine

  9. Clementine

  10. Shane

  11. Clementine

  12. Shane

  13. Clementine

  14. Shane

  Chapter 15

  Epilogue

  Captain Romance

  Prologue

  1. Sullivan

  2. Erin

  3. Sullivan

  4. Erin

  5. Sullivan

  6. Erin

  7. Sullivan

  8. Sullivan

  9. Erin

  10. Sullivan

  Epilogue

  Kiss Your Tulips

  1. Drew

  2. Frankie

  3. Drew

  4. Frankie

  5. Drew

  Limo Bang

  1. Marlow

  2. Hudson

  3. Marlow

  4. Hudson

  5. Marlow

  6. Marlow

  7. Hudson

  Dog Fishing

  Nova

  Also by Lauren Blakely

  Contact

  Copyright © 2021 by Lauren Blakely

  Cover Design by Helen Williams.

  All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book. This contemporary romance is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners. This book is licensed for your personal use only. This book may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with, especially if you enjoy sexy romance novels with alpha males. If you are reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then you should return it and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the author’s work.

  Also by Lauren Blakely

  Big Rock Series

  Big Rock

  Mister O

  Well Hung

  Full Package

  Joy Ride

  Hard Wood

  * * *

  Rules of Love Series

  The Rules of Friends with Benefits (A Prequel Novella)

  The Virgin Rule Book

  The Virgin Game Plan

  The Virgin Replay

  The Virgin Scorecard

  * * *

  Men of Summer Series

  Scoring With Him

  Winning With Him

  All In With Him

  * * *

  The Guys Who Got Away Series

  Dear Sexy Ex-Boyfriend

  The What If Guy

  Thanks for Last Night

  The Dream Guy Next Door

  * * *

  The Gift Series

  The Engagement Gift

  The Virgin Gift

  The Decadent Gift

  * * *

  The Extravagant Series

  One Night Only

  One Exquisite Touch

  My One-Week Husband

  * * *

  MM Standalone Novels

  A Guy Walks Into My Bar

  One Time Only

  The Bromance Zone

  * * *

  The Heartbreakers Series

  Once Upon a Real Good Time

  Once Upon a Sure Thing

  Once Upon a Wild Fling

  * * *

  Boyfriend Material

  Asking For a Friend

  Sex and Other Shiny Objects

  One Night Stand-In

  * * *

  Lucky In Love Series

  Best Laid Plans

  The Feel Good Factor

  Nobody Does It Better

  Unzipped

  * * *

  Always Satisfied Series

  Satisfaction Guaranteed

  Instant Gratification

  Overnight Service

  Never Have I Ever

  PS It’s Always Been You

  Special Delivery

  * * *

  The Sexy Suit Series

  Lucky Suit

  Birthday Suit

  * * *

  From Paris With Love

  Wanderlust

  Part-Time Lover

  * * *

  One Love Series

  The Sexy One

  The Only One

  The Hot One

  The Knocked Up Plan

  Come As You Are

  * * *

  Sports Romance

  Most Valuable Playboy

  Most Likely to Score

  * * *

  Standalones

  Stud Finder

  The V Card

  The Real Deal

  Unbreak My Heart

  The Break-Up Album

  * * *

  The Caught Up in Love Series

  The Pretending Plot (previously called Pretending He’s Mine)

  The Dating Proposal

  The Second Chance Plan (previously called Caught Up In Us)

  The Private Rehearsal (previously called Playing With Her Heart)

  * * *

  Seductive Nights Series

  Night After Night

  After This Night

  One More Night

  A Wildly Seductive Night

  About

  Indulge in this collection that begins with Mr. Right Now and Captain Romance -- two romances between virgins and athletes that complete the bestselling RULES OF LOVE series.

  * * *

  Mr. Right Now

  I’ve got a problem. After a dozen failed dates - but who’s counting - I’m done hunting for Mr. Right. I’m more than ready to cash in my V-card, and at this point I’ll gladly hand it over to Mr. Right Now. When I go out with my friends for a night on the town, I bump into the perfect candidate. A guy from my past who kissed like a dream but took off before we could say goodbye. The swoony, charming pro athlete is back in the city and he’s as ready to help me with my project as he is to win baseball games. The next morning, I’m deliciously satisfied and I know I’ve chosen wisely. But when he leaves again, I can’t stop wondering -- what if Mr. Right Now is actually Mr. Right? And how do I get him back?

  * * *

  Captain Romance

  * * *

  I don’t have luck on my side when it comes to romance. That’s why I’m laser focused on my career as a sports reporter and making a mark as a woman in this tough field.

  When one of the city’s baseball stars asks me to spend a night on the town, I have to draw the line. Just friends, I say.

  He’s good with that.

  Very good with that.

  So good that I start falling for my new friend.

  Of all the swoony, charming, thoughtful men in this big city, why is the one I want thoroughly off-limits? But if I want a chance with the guy they call Captain Romance, I’m going to have to put more than my heart on the line.

  * * *

  This collection also includes Kiss Your Tulips, Limo Bang, and DogFishing, three stories set in the Rules of Love world.

  The Virgin Scorecard

  A collection of novellas

  By Lauren Blakely

  * * *

  Want to be the first to learn of sales, new releases, preorders and special freebies? Sign up for my VIP mailing list here!

  Mr. Right Now

  A Virgin Scorecard novella

  1

  Shane

  New city. Fresh start.

  That’s what I’m about these days.

  If I were a betting man—I’m not—I’d wager all my chips at the tables tonight. Everything’s been going my way since I got on the plane in New York six hours ago. We took off bang on time, I landed in my once-upon-a-time hometown early, and now my luggage is popping out of the baggage carousel first.

  I grab the black bag and head to the Lyft already waiting outside the airport.

  Yep, bet it all on red.

  The driver scurries out of the sleek black car, but I wave him off. I traveled light—always do. Baggage isn’t my style.

  “I’m all good, mate. I’ll just set it in the back seat,” I tell him as I toss my bag in the car.

  The bearded man with the San Francisco Dragons ball cap peers at me a little longer than a driver normally would. His brown eyes flicker a few seconds later.

  Given the telltale hat, I’ve got a hunch why.

  He points at me, a delighted smile curving his weathered face. “Are you . . . Shakespeare?”

  I laugh as I slide into the seat. “I am indeed.”

  “Holy fireman,” he says, t
hen rushes to the driver’s side, starts the engine, and peels off into traffic. “Dude. You are everything we need, Shakespeare. I am so stoked the team traded for you.”

  I smile as I pop my seat belt on. “I’m pretty chuffed too.”

  “Chuffed,” he snickers. “I can’t get enough of it. The British-isms. By the way, huge Dragons fan.”

  “I gathered as much,” I say, gesturing to the purple air freshener in the shape of the team’s logo. It hangs from the rearview mirror.

  “But I’ve seen more heat in a toaster than in the Dragons bullpen. Been writing letters to Ms. Winters for the last year, begging her to get us a fireman,” he says, naming the team owner for the baseball franchise as he cruises away from the airport. “Everyone knows you can’t go all the way unless you have a fireman.” He slaps a meaty paw against the dash to make his point. Can’t say I disagree. He peers in the rearview mirror, a grin lighting his face. “And we got one. Shakespeare the Fireman. Hey, can I call you that?”

  “Have at it. I pretty much answer to any variation of Shakespeare,” I say, since that’s the nickname that’s stuck with me since I played for the LA Bandits three years ago. I started with that team, then was traded to the New York Comets for a stretch, and now I’ll be suiting up for the Dragons. “The only variation I’m not fond of is ‘Shakespeare, you suck,’ which is what opposing teams’ fans call me.”

  “Screw them. You’re our Bard now,” the driver says, proud and possessive.

  “Thank you. I also answer to Shane.”

  He cracks up as he steers the car onto the 101. “Shane, you’re our anomaly. Brilliant, chuffed, bloody fabulous,” he says, imitating my accent.

  Not well, but that’s beside the point.

  Also, I don’t care if a fan talks British to me, as has become the saying among the so-called Shakespeare crew. It’s part of my anomaly factor, and I don’t mind it.

  “You’re the twenty-ninth English dude ever to play in the majors,” he remarks, almost as if he’s citing intel from my Wikipedia entry.

  “That is correct,” I say, and since he’s a fan, I don’t need to dive into my story. It’s a simple one, and like many good stories, it’s a love story. My father is a Hall-of-Fame American pitcher—Jedd Walker. He led the league in shutouts and innings pitched thirty years ago, won a couple of Cy Youngs and a World Series. When he retired, he traveled to England, met a brilliant woman in a pub, fell in love, and shacked up with her in London.

  And the birds and the bees made me a little later—helped along by a pint or two, I’m sure.

  After thirteen years in London, my parents moved back here so I could play baseball in America, a decision that served me well, that gave me the team skills to become a major leaguer.

  The driver and I chat more about the Dragons’ chances this season as he cruises the car into the city, the lights of San Francisco flickering like fireflies against the night sky.

  I draw a deep breath, energized to be here again, where I lived as a teenager.

  I had my first kiss here—under the bleachers at a ballpark with a charming, adorable pixie of a blonde, the kind of girl you could lose your mind for. The kind I nearly gave my heart to. Probably would have if we’d had more time.

  What’s she up to these days?

  Does Clementine still live here?

  I shake the thought away. I’m not here to track down my high school sweetheart. In fact, I ought to stay far, far away from women and romance, given my recent track record.

  Best to focus on work.

  “Good to be back,” I say, gazing out the window into the night.

  It’s also good to be out of New York and the troubles I escaped from. Trouble with an ex.

  So much trouble my agent sat me down at The Lucky Spot in Chelsea and told me a few weeks ago, “Romance and baseball don’t always mix. You’re heading into the arbitration end of this season, so when you return to San Francisco, maybe don’t hit the concert scene, since everyone you meet there is bad news.”

  Well, one person was bad news, so I get where his worry comes from. It’s his job to worry, and romance has a way of knocking a man off-kilter. Especially when it goes tits up.

  So I won’t do the concert thing, even though finding new bands is a hobby of mine. But that’s fine. I take off for spring training in a few days, so I won’t have time to attract trouble before I go.

  The driver exits the 101 into the city, and I breathe a sigh of . . . second chances.

  Maybe my agent is right.

  It’s always best to focus on work, especially when you’re entering a contract year and you have new employers to impress. Like Marlow Winters, the no-nonsense owner of the San Francisco Dragons.

  My goal is to make sure Marlow and the rest of management can’t imagine a team future without me. I’ll convince them with my steely attitude in the ninth inning, my wicked right arm, and the fireballs I can pelt over the plate.

  That’s all I need—strikeouts and saves.

  We reach my new home in the Marina, a third-floor beauty overlooking the bay with a fantastic view of the Golden Gate Bridge. The driver pulls up to the curb.

  “Had a blast driving you tonight, Shakespeare,” he says, scuttling around to open the door and grab my bag. “Screw your courage to the sticking place,” he booms, quoting Macbeth.

  It’s a thing some fans do.

  And I love it.

  “And we’ll not fail,” I say, completing the quote. “Have a good night.”

  As he pulls away into traffic, I head to the gleaming white door of my new pad. I tap in the code and go inside, then head up the stairs to my floor.

  I snagged this place last month, right after I learned of the trade. Already feels like home.

  It’s modern and clean, with black and gray furniture and framed posters of my favorite bands. I hung them up when I was here last month visiting friends before I officially moved.

  Setting the bag down, I flick on the rest of the lights and wander through my new home, heading to the bedroom to savor the view of the bay—one of this rental’s many selling points, as well as the young, hip neighborhood.

  Another benefit? It’s an entire country away from Tinsley.

  I shudder at the thought of my ex.

  The night we met at a club at the end of last season, I’d fallen for her, hook, line, and sinker. But she had only fallen for my rising star, and soon enough, the gossip-talk-show host latched on to bigger stars, landing an A-list actor and ditching me.

  In. That. Order.

  She’s history as of a few weeks ago, and I hope I’ve learned my lesson. Don’t give your heart away to people who’ll stomp on it.

  Heading to the kitchen to grab a glass of water, I unlock my phone.