"Why so glum?" he asked her, and she jumped, surprised.

  Eric reached up and, with one finger, smoothed away the lines on her forehead. "Your face gives everything away, Alicia. Something was bothering you. Feel like talking?"

  She shook her head and grabbed a towel to wipe the excess lotion off her hands. Walking away from him, she said, "You're all set to go. I'll have Juan tape up that shoulder for you."

  Eric sat up on the edge of the table and held the towel around his hips in place with one hand. "I'd rather you did it. It always feels better when you do it."

  Alicia ran her fingers through her hair and leaned against one of the supply cabinets. "Flattery will get you nowhere. What do you want?"

  He rose off the table and walked toward her. "You haven't been yourself, Alicia. What's up?"

  "Funny thing. I was just thinking the same about you. We both know what the problem is," she replied uneasily and brought her arms across her chest.

  Eric tucked the towel tight around his hips and mimicked her pose. He hated seeing her hurting and wanted to try to lighten her load. "Well, I don't think my problem is Jose."

  That comment dragged a reluctant smile to her lips. "That certainly eases my mind, Eric."

  He leaned toward her and brushed back a lock of hair that had fallen onto her face during the massage. "Want to trade our tales of misery?"

  Alicia inclined her head and considered him for a long moment. "Seems to me there's no story to trade. On the contrary. It seems as if our stories are the same. Boy. Girl. The game that gets between them."

  Her words stung, and he pulled away, all traces of humor gone. "You think it's that simple."

  "Simple, huh?" She popped off the edge of the counter and advanced on him. "You think it's simple to lie beside someone every night and know you're number two."

  She was almost in his face, her fists clenched tight, when she paused and resumed her tirade. "You think it's easy to lie there, knowing that person beside you is everything to you and that the feeling isn't reciprocated?"

  Her words were like a sharp knife driven into his gut. The heat of the pain seared through him because his own disappointment was too fresh. "I know, goddammit. I know because the night I got home, all I could think about was her. Meanwhile, she was busy thinking about leaving me."

  Alicia cradled the side of his face and softly said, "Who left first, Eric?"

  Her touch was calming, reassuring him of their friendship. He reached up, took hold of her hand, and twined his fingers with hers. "I don't understand, Alicia. I was there for her."

  "Were you? Were you there for her during your marriage, Eric?" she asked softly, and when he hesitated, she continued. "When the end of this season comes, will you be there? Or will you be thinking about next season already?"

  "I don't know what I'm doing about next season, Alicia," he replied truthfully.

  She expelled a harsh breath. "Wrong answer. There should be no question in your mind that what you want more than anything is to be with Yvonne."

  "Of course, I want that," he shot back, but Alicia shook her head and, with her free hand, poked a finger in his chest. "Let her know it, Eric. Let her know that whether you win this season doesn't matter. That all that matters is that she's in your life."

  "Is that what you want from Jose? I've never had any doubt that what Jose wanted was you. From the moment he set his eyes on you in spring training, it was obvious to all of us," Eric stressed, trying to help his young friend.

  Alicia sighed, let go of Eric's hand, and stepped away from him. "Ever since the accident...."

  "You have to cut him a break, Alicia. He's all confused about what's happening in his life. You need to cut him some slack," he urged.

  Alicia smiled sadly and nodded. "You're a good friend, Eric. Gracias."

  He embraced her in a tight hug, and it took a second for her to relax and hug him back. "You're welcome, amiga."

  Chapter Eighteen

  The heat of the sun suffused her body, spreading warmth through her. Well, almost all of her. There was this great big cold spot in her chest where her heart used to be. A week of sun and surf had done nothing to banish that void, but it had burnished her with a nice golden glow and added some nice highlights to her hair. With no television, radio, or newspapers, she had the time to catch up with her reading. And after a week of doing nothing physical, the aches and pains that had lingered from the season were gone.

  She leaned up on the chaise lounge that faced the warm waters of the Pacific. Behind her was a hut without electricity or a floor. It only held the bare amenities of life. All around her, there was nothing but nature. Not another soul until either the caretakers came by later to ferry customers on and off the island or she went to the main hall. She avoided the others on the island if she could, going to the main area only once a day for dinner. Yvonne was content to live off fresh fruits for the rest of her meals. After all, she had come here to be alone, relax, and think about things.

  Yvonne had another seven days to go. She wouldn't be returning to mainland Chile until next week. From there, she was headed to South Beach in Miami for a little while before returning to New Jersey.

  Could she have run any farther? she asked herself. It had been a nearly thirteen-hour trip to the other end of the world. Another few hours and she'd be at the South Pole, she thought with a laugh.

  And by the time she got back to New Jersey, the season would be as good as over. The Maulers would either be in the playoffs or it would be over. Or would it? she wondered. Would it ever be over for Eric?

  She worried that the answer was "No."

  Forcing herself to stop thinking and start relaxing, she grabbed her novel, eased back into the chair, and started reading, but the sounds of the caretaker's boat soon intruded.

  She watched the little skiff ferry over from the larger island across the way. The small boat cut quickly through the water before her on its way to the dock at the central hall. After it passed out of sight, she resumed reading, but it wasn't long before one of the young waiters came by, bearing an envelope for her.

  Yvonne signed for it and turned the Tyvek envelope over and over in her hands before yanking it open.

  Inside, there was a copy of the Ledger Record News from a few days before. On its face were two hastily scribbled notes -- one from Nita and one from Alicia. She smiled at their comments about missing her. She felt the loss of her friends and the camaraderie they had come to share during the past two months. In Alicia and Nita, she had discovered kindred spirits -- two women who understood what it was like to have demanding careers, had tasted success, and yet still wanted more.

  She had to confess that to herself. This season had given her satisfaction, but she relished the thought of next year and possibly heading to the playoffs. Was that what Eric had felt every season for the last dozen or so years? She didn't need to wonder how it felt to almost reach the peak and fail. In her sophomore year of college, her team had lost the title. Two years later, she'd come home as a National Champion. The taste of it had been sweet.

  Eric had never tasted that sweetness.

  Unfolding the paper, she noticed that it was open to Nita's latest article, and she picked it up and started to read.

  Ledger Record News, September 15

  Enough Time for a Maulers Miracle?

  By Juanita de Castro for Sports Live!

  Injured rookie Jose Fernandez is still only playing part-time and at a position where he is still getting comfortable. Veteran catcher Nick Sandler is holding his own but lacks Fernandez's cannon of an arm that threw out nearly every runner this year. Despite that, the team has come together, and with veteran Eric Mendoza on a hitting streak, the Maulers are starting to inch up in the rankings once more. If they can pull a sweep of the Braves, not an easy task, the Maulers will once again be within sight of a spot in the playoffs. . .

  A strong breeze picked up and ruffled the paper in her hands. She snapped it open again and shifted to the standings. The Maulers had made up a lot of ground in the past week alone, and with three weeks of games left, they could make up the huge deficit that had built up during the six weeks that Jose and Alicia had been gone. The team had gone into a slump after his injury and the firing of their trainer. Yvonne was glad to see that with them back, the Maulers' spirits had revived.

  And Eric was doing well. The box scores from the night before showed that he had gone 3 for 4. His batting average was .326, which was great.

  She was happy for him. He was doing well without her. And she was doing well without him, she reminded herself. She was having a fun time out here on this virtually deserted stretch of beach. Sleeping alone peacefully with the comforting sounds of the ocean from her open windows.

  And her body felt good. Well-rested after a season that had been harder on her than she had expected. Tomorrow, she was going to go for a long jog and then do a light workout on the body bag that she had asked the hotel to set up next to her hut. They'd thought her crazy. After all, people came here to get away from all that, but Yvonne knew herself too well. She couldn't go a whole two weeks without a good workout. Boxing was something new she had started with Alicia just before heading out on vacation. Despite that, she had noticed the difference in her arms and shoulders already and after this season, if there was one thing she wanted was more upper body strength.

  She was surviving, she thought, and closed the paper, shoved it back into the envelope so she could throw it out once she was in the hut. Grabbing the book from the sand where she had laid it, she leaned back in the chaise lounge and started reading once more.

  The only thing she didn't like about the book was that the hero, unfortunately, reminded her of Eric. As the author described the dark, well-muscled looks of the privateer, it was too easy to imagine her ex in that role. Easy to imagine herself as the heroine for a moment.

  Shaking her head, she tossed the romance aside and grabbed the mystery she had planned to start next. She cracked open the spine, hoping all the while that the hero of this book would be old, balding, and overweight. No such luck, she realized after a few pages, but at least he was blonde.

  #

  Eric had watched Jose battle back pitch after pitch. This pitcher knew Jose's weaknesses, and yet his friend had been able to stay alive at the plate, fouling away one ball after another. With the game on the line, Jose understood just how important it was that he get a hit or get on base.

  From the dugout steps, Eric stood and waited, feeling as if his whole life was just one big game of waiting. The catcher flashed the signs. The pitcher nodded, set his position, and then threw the ball, a low, sinking fastball sure to give Jose trouble. Those low pitches always had and since the accident....

  Jose timed and positioned his swing perfectly. The fly ball sailed into the gap between left and centerfield. The runner on third took off and came in to score the winning run as Jose cruised to first.

  After that, pandemonium broke out. Players and coaches streamed out of the dugout and onto the field. So did some fans as the celebration began. The Maulers had made it into the Wild Card playoff.

  Eric just stood by the edge of the dugout, the victory leaving a flat taste in his mouth rather than one of success. Was it because he'd been here before, more times than he cared to remember? Or was it because Yvonne wasn't here to witness it? Share it with him.

  As the celebration on the field made its way into the locker room, Eric strolled in with some of the other players and tried to get into the spirit of things. He grabbed a bottle of iced champagne, popped the cork, and started spraying his teammates and coaches.

  Gabriel walked into the center of the room and was immediately doused with streams of champagne. Out of the corner of his eye, Eric caught the action as Jose grabbed Alicia, poured an entire bottle over her head, and pinned her to one of the lockers. He lowered his head and kissed her, confirming to all the players what they had guessed had been going on for some time.

  Catcalls and whoops of congratulations erupted around the couple, and Eric smiled. It was good to know that things seemed to have worked out between his friends.

  As the champagne bath slowly trickled to an end, the players were besieged by the reporters who came in to ask about the game and the season, their thoughts on having made the playoffs. Nita was one of them, and as he undressed and answered another reporter, Eric saw her head toward Gabriel.

  There was no doubt in his mind as the reporter spoke to Gabriel that she was interested in his longtime friend. As Gabriel reached out and laid a hand on her waist, the intimate gesture spoke of a similar interest on the part of his friend. Eric was pleased. Nita was not only attractive, but smart and sensible. And she loved baseball. What more could a man ask for?

  Someone to come home to was the immediate reply from the nagging voice in his head. Eric didn't want to hear it. Excusing himself from the reporter who had been busy trying to get Eric's answer on whether this would be his last season, a question for which he had no answer, he headed into the showers and, after, quickly left for home.

  On the way to his car, he caught a glimpse of Nita slipping into Gabriel's car and smiled. At least his friend wasn't going to be alone tonight.

  You don't have to be either, said the voice again. If you can't call her, write to her. Let her know what you feel for her. It nagged on, the way it had been doing since Yvonne had left for Chile, or wherever she was now. Alicia and Nita had mentioned that she was also heading to Miami for a little while.

  It seemed Yvonne was content to spend time everywhere instead of coming home to him. The little voice inside him asked, “And who's to blame for that?”

  Chapter Nineteen

  "What are you doing?" Gabriel asked as he slipped his hand around her waist and under the silk of her robe. Her skin was warm and soft. He loved the feel of it.

  Nita flushed guiltily and quickly sealed the envelope. Gabriel reached out and snagged it from her hands, turned it around. It was addressed to Yvonne, and he smiled. "Playing matchmaker?"

  Nita glanced at him, clearly confused. "You're not upset? Alicia and I –”

  "Oh, so it's the two of you working together? What's in it?" he asked and tossed the envelope on the kitchen table.

  She turned in his arms and laid her hands against his bare chest. "Some notes from us to let her know how we're doing, and a copy of the paper. Figured she'd want to keep up on what's happening way up here. Oh, and a letter from Eric."

  Gabriel didn't need to examine her face very closely. Nita had a very expressive face, and her guilt was quite transparent. He was actually a little surprised by it. "There's nothing wrong with trying to help a friend," he offered.

  It seemed to ease her concern somewhat. "You're not upset about it?"

  He chuckled and pulled her close, needy for the feel of her close to him. It had been barely an hour since they had made love, and yet he wanted her beside him. He totally understood how Eric must be feeling. Yvonne had been away for over a week. "I admire what you're trying to do, you and Alicia. I've tried talking to Eric myself," he admitted as he urged her away so he could undo the tie on her robe.

  The robe slipped open, and Nita felt the chill of the air conditioning on her skin, but that cold was quickly replaced by the heat of him lazily moving his hands up and down along her sides. "Did Eric say anything?" she asked and slipped her hands up to his shoulders, which bared more of her to his gaze as the robe parted even more.

  His olive-green eyes darkened, the brown in them becoming more pronounced as he looked at her. He gave her a slow smile, the dimples deepening on each side of his mouth, and cupped her breasts.

  She sucked in a breath, gripped his shoulders tighter as he shifted his thumbs back and forth over her until her nipples had hardened. Nita was losing control rapidly and tried to regain it. "Did Eric mention what he had written to Yvonne?" she pressed.

  "Eric is nuts without her, and I'm nuts for you. Can this discussion wait?"

  Nita nodded, reached up, and slipped off her robe. "Only if you promise to be a good boy later and listen to what I have to say."

  He wrapped his arms around her waist and hauled her close, a wicked smile on his lips. "How about I listen now, and you tell me what you want?"

  A flood of warmth washed over her, bringing with it a cascade of emotions about this very intriguing man. This very powerful man, who wasn't afraid to let her be in charge. Combined with his good looks and intelligence, it was a lethal combination. One she couldn't refuse.

  "First...."

  #

  She lay with her head cradled to his chest, listening to his heartbeat, which was only just returning to normal. "That was ...."

  She stopped short, unable to find quite the word to describe it, even though it was her profession to be a wordsmith. Nothing could describe how she felt when they made love. Or the quiet aftermath of it, filled with peace and contentment. Nothing except the fact that she was in love with him and probably had been for some time.

  "Gabriel, I want...."

  "You can't possibly want more," he said, but the teasing tone of his voice was obvious.

  She leaned an elbow on his chest and propped her head up so she could look at him. "I want to tell you that I love you, Gabriel. I don't know when it happened or how.”

  "I can. I can tell you when I fell in love with you," he said, shocking her into silence. "It was the night Jose was injured. You came by the bar, and I was kind of pissed at you. I thought, here's that shark reporter hot on the scent of blood."

  "I wasn't –”

  He silenced her by placing a finger on her lips. "I realized that right away. Your concern for me, for Jose. Even for the team. And as the night passed, it hit me just how much I had come to look forward to seeing you and how I wanted more."