“You can, but if it’s something you’ve already asked all the other guys on the team, I’d save my breath.”
“What?” she asked, upping the disgust already present in her glare.
“So I see you finally got to meet my mom,” Clair said as she walked up from behind AJ and slipped her hand into Addi’s.
AJ’s insides bottomed out as his eyes shifted from Clair’s smiling eyes to her grandmother’s standing next to her and then to Addison’s—the coach’s daughter—Clair’s mom. That’s when it hit him. Those eyes. He’d recognized them but hadn’t put two and two together. All three pairs staring at him right then had that same familiar sweetness. The coach’s wife’s eyes were well worn while Clair’s were, as usual, full of curiosity and adorable. Addison’s eyes were breathtaking. Only at the moment those sweet eyes were glaring at him.
Well, shit.
“Not formally,” he said in response to Clair’s comment. He took off his batting gloves and turned to Addison. “I had no idea,” he said, praying she wouldn’t say anything about what an asshole he’d been to her in front of Clair and Coach Lara’s wife.
He held his hand out to Addison. “I’m AJ Romero. I really had no idea you were Clair’s mom.”
Her brow rose, but mercifully, she shook his hand. “Yes, I know. I’m Addison Lara, your coach’s daughter. I tried to introduce myself yesterday and again today.”
“Yeah,” he said, shaking his head and feeling like a bigger douche than Travis. “About that, I was under the impression that . . .”
He glanced down at Clair, who was sucking on her Popsicle and looking up at him inquisitively. No way could he admit what his first impression of sweet Clair’s mom had been. This was not how he’d pictured Clair’s mom to be at all. He’d expected older—much older. Given the coach’s and his wife’s ages, AJ thought for sure late thirties, early thirties at the youngest. Addison couldn’t be much older than AJ, and he was only twenty-five.
“I just . . .” he said, meeting Addison’s eyes. “I had you mistaken for someone else. I apologize.”
Addison’s expression softened a bit; though her brow was still arched as if she were still unsure what he meant exactly by mistaken her for someone else. But she didn’t ask.
“You look just like Clair,” he said, gazing into those sweet eyes as something else suddenly dawned on him.
Travis must’ve been talking about the birthday surprise for Clair after the game, not a date. At least AJ could hope, not that he was getting ideas about her even now.
“Technically, I look like her,” Clair pointed out. “When they put photos of us together when mom was my age, we could pass for twins.”
“It’s the eyes,” AJ said, breathing in deeply as he turned back to Addison, whose gaze had definitely softened now. “You both have the same big dark eyes.”
He stopped short of saying they were beautiful for the same reason he wouldn’t start getting any ideas about her. Staring into her eyes now reminded him of something. Those same eyes had sparkled just as beautifully as she’d chatted with all the other guys. He may’ve been way off when it came to who she was, but one thing he’d been certain of even when he’d watched her from afar. Her body language had said it all. Not only was she comfortable around all these ballplayers noticeably competing for her attention, but she enjoyed the attention. Too much.
Refraining from frowning, AJ glanced down at her hands casually. At least she wasn’t wearing any rings. But just because she was the brainy daughter of the coach—a man he had the utmost respect for—and she was doing a damn good job of raising one of the most amazing little girls he’d ever met, it didn’t make her a good girl by default. Brainy or not, she’d already gotten knocked up once by someone who didn’t care to stick around. Judging from her age and Clair’s, she’d been pretty damn young when it happened too.
As much of a curiosity as she’d been even before he knew who she was, AJ could admit the fact that she was the coach’s daughter and that alone should make her off limits, made her even more intriguing. Still because she was the coach’s daughter, or rather especially because she was, not to mention his best buddy’s mom, he’d have to take extreme caution before considering anything with Addison.
Her friendliness with the guys earlier made him curious about something else suddenly. “Why haven’t I met you until—?”
“There you are.” Miranda cozied up next to him. “I’m glad you made it on time. I was worried after our long night last night you might be late.”
Feeling the heat of annoyance rise up his back and neck, AJ turned to Miranda, not sure how best to respond to her comment.
“Are you AJ’s girlfriend?” Clair asked, curiously tilting her head.
“No,” AJ responded a little too quickly but couldn’t even look at Addison now, so he focused on Clair’s curious eyes. “No, she’s not.”
“Not yet anyway,” Miranda winked at Clair. “I’d say after last night we’re at least more than friends now.”
Feeling every muscle in his body tense, AJ had never in his life felt the urge to tell a woman to shut the fuck up. Things only got worse.
Miranda laughed softly then offered Clair her hand. “I’m AJ’s friend and you are?”
“I’m Clair, AJ’s best buddy,” Clair said, shaking Miranda’s hand. “This is my mom and my nana,” she said, doing the introductions.
“Oh, nice to meet you Nana and Mom,” Miranda said, reaching her hand out to both.
“McKayla,” Mrs. Lara said as she shook Miranda’s hand.
“Nice to have met you both,” Addison said without offering her name but shook Miranda’s hand.
She didn’t bother looking at AJ again. Instead, she turned to Clair. “We gotta get Nana up to the suite. Her leg wasn’t feeling so good earlier, remember?”
“Have a good game, AJ,” Clair said as she began walking off with Addison and McKayla through the crowded infield.
AJ took a deep breath as he finished buckling his catcher’s gear, not just to calm down from being too rude to Miranda when he dismissed her, but because Addison hadn’t gone straight to their suite like she said she would. Clair and her nana did—without Addison. She seemed in enough hurry and concerned for her mother’s leg when they walked away, yet she’d easily been sidetracked by a few of those same players she’d been chatting with earlier.
Within minutes, she was giggling again in that way that shouldn’t but irritated AJ to no end.
Chapter 2
Addison
From the time she’d been a little girl, Daddy’s girl, Addison had had a weakness for baseball players. She loved everything about the sport and everything about her daddy. She’d had her entire future planned from about the same age as Clair. She would grow up to be either a major league statistician or become the best baseball scout that ever was. She’d marry a baseball player, and she’d homeschool their kids so they could follow him all around the country during the season and not miss a single one of his games. So far, she was oh for three. From the look of her stats, they’d likely stay that way for good.
Addison had been born late in her parents’ lives, a sort of miracle baby who, after years of trying, they’d finally been able to have with the help of in vitro fertilization. Her mom did confess that, by the time one of the many tries took, she’d been ready to just give up and accept they’d never be parents.
With them becoming parents so late in life, by the time she’d graduated from high school at only seventeen, her dad had already retired from playing and moved on to mentoring and coaching. Back then, he was still mentoring in the minors, but it was perfect for her. She had access to meeting and being around up-and-coming young baseball players not much older than herself.
Having been such an academic loner her entire life, she knew little about socializing and even less about boys. When she graduated from high school, instead of a trip anywhere exotic and because she already had a brand new car, her parents had gotten her what she
’d requested for her seventeenth birthday: a transformation. She’d been tired of being that bookworm with the thick glasses and reputation of a recluse. That was never going to land her the baseball-playing boyfriend she’d always dreamed of.
It was stupid and shallow, but she’d only been seventeen at the time. She was a high-school graduate and had never even held a boy’s hand, let alone been kissed by one. She’d been so ready and excited about the change: a brand new Addison.
Her mom, bless her heart, had been all for it. Addison got a new hairdo complete with highlights, contact lenses, a makeover, and an entire new wardrobe. She even finally took up her much more outgoing and popular cousin on her invitations to go out with her that summer, and Addison finally got that first kiss. The bad thing was she began to enjoy the new change too much, particularly the boys who took more than a liking to the new Addison. She was quickly out of control then discovered yet another character flaw: how easily her inexperienced heart fell for the wrong guys—especially baseball players.
It was a hard life lesson learned, but at least the lesson came early in life. It was also the reason why she’d decided to take the position in Chicago. After years of being away from all this, she felt stronger and wiser now.
Addison had known coming back to live with her parents was a risk. This weekend was exactly what she’d been trying to avoid all those years—getting back into the routine of meeting or getting close to any of her father’s trainees and players. Since they’d moved out here, she’d spent her time avoiding making it out to any of the games. Already she’d spent the better part of her first weekend back in her dad’s world mingling with the guys—guys she’d known from way back in their minor league days and she hadn’t seen in years.
Now here she was on her way to spend the rest of the evening with a bunch of them. After spending the last two days catching up with some of the guys and meeting new ones, she was beyond confident she’d conquered her weakness for ballplayers. Addison was older, wiser, and knew better now. More importantly, it wasn’t just about her anymore. She had someone far more important to think of now. She may’ve been careless when opening up her heart to anyone in the past, when it was just her own heart she was risking, but now she had Clair’s to think about. No way was she letting that little girl’s heart be crushed by some guy Addison brought into their lives, even if he was one she’d been lusting over for years. She hadn’t even been in the man’s presence longer than a weekend, and already he’d confirmed two things she’d feared might be the case with him.
He was as arrogant as she’d expected a superstar athlete like himself to be. And he was a lady killer, one who’d promptly stomp all over her heart if she let him.
Addison’s father and Clair spoke highly of the guy. Her father had often referred to him as a class act. Clearly, he was a different man when it came to women. She’d seen the way he’d checked her out, eyeing her from top to bottom at one point then sauntering away as if to make his point that he’d give her the time of day when he was good and ready.
She wasn’t sure yet if she believed that he’d had no idea she was his coach’s daughter. His insinuation about his being sure she knew all the players very well had left her so stunned and brought back ugly memories of being accused of that by Clair’s donor. Ironically, it was the only thing that had her believing AJ didn’t really know who she was. As close as her dad had described his relationship with the guy, she couldn’t imagine him wanting to insult his coach’s daughter and his best buddy’s mom that way.
Addison hadn’t been able to believe her luck, but then she should’ve seen it coming. The one player she’d known would be her biggest challenge was the one whom her daughter had immediately become closest to. Her best buddy? Really? Only Addison would have such stupid luck.
After today’s insightful moment that confirmed what she’d suspected all along—that even thinking about becoming friends with her daughter’s new best buddy would be a bad idea—she couldn’t chance it. Arrogant or not, the man was a sight to behold. Addison hadn’t been able to believe how much bigger he was in real life than what she’d imagined and seen on television.
Her father and Clair had warned her. Still, she hadn’t been ready for it. And, Jesus, did he have to be even better looking in person too? Those perfectly plump lips she’d stared at too often in magazines and online photos, often wondering if they hadn’t been photoshopped to perfection, were even more luscious up close and in person. As strong as she’d like to think her resolve would be about not allowing so much as a little crush on the guy, she wasn’t so sure after having met him in person. One thing was for sure. Addison would be sticking to her rule from here on. She’d be staying far, far away from her dad’s and now Clair’s world of baseball. She’d watch the games from the safety of her own television—at home.
One the biggest reasons her social life was almost nonexistent was because of her other big fear. Clair’s condition required meticulous attention. She’d read horror stories of what even a simple slipup or mistake could mean to people with allergies. Even leaving her with her parents, who assured her they’d take the utmost caution with her, made her nervous. So did the thought of becoming distracted with a social life. Even just a friendship with someone who she’d been so fascinated by for years would be too distracting and out of the question. She planned on staying away from all the players on the team—especially him.
But today was an exception. This was for Clair. Like so many of the other exceptions she’d made in her life, Clair was absolutely worth all of them. Addison’s father was right. Clair was going to love this. He’d done the same or similar rather for Addison a few times when she was a little girl, and those birthday celebrations were the most memorable she had to date. She’d get through this day and move on, unscathed by any temptation
They arrived at the zoo, just the four of them as planned. Clair was far too perceptive to not catch her papa getting directions to where her surprise would be. So he asked about the latest exhibit Clair had talked about on the way there in the car, the one she’d seen on the television commercials. He handed the lady behind the booth the note explaining about the surprise party, and the lady was on it.
As expected, Clair was thoroughly surprised when they opened the door to the birthday room and the whole team was there. So surprised her little face had scrunched and she cried. Since Clair had never been your typical little girl, it wasn’t often that she cried. Seeing her do so made Addison a little emotional too, until AJ approached them and her heart began to get a workout for other reasons.
“Don’t cry, Clair Bear,” AJ said as he squatted down and hugged her. “This is all for you because you deserve it. Besides”—he smiled sweetly, wiping her tears away gently with his thumb—“you know there’s no crying in baseball.”
Clair laughed. Of course even though the movie was way before Clair’s time, A League of Their Own would be one of Clair’s all-time favorite movies, one she’d seen so many times she had a lot of the lines memorized. It was no surprise she’d let her best buddy in on that. Addison’s heart had also swelled a little when she heard AJ call her daughter Clair Bear. It was what her papa called her. Surely AJ had heard him. She now saw that Clair hadn’t jumped ahead of herself when she’d told Addison AJ was her best buddy. She could see why too. Despite the arrogant first impression he’d made on Addison, seeing how incredibly sweet he was to Clair had her thinking twice about him. This was also so different from what she’d heard about his ticking-time-bomb personality. Addison’s dad mentioned he’d come a long way since he first stepped up to the big leagues years ago.
One of the things that had most worried Addison, even before formally meeting him, was she’d known about Andrés long before the whole world knew about him. He was also by far her father’s most intense apprentice. Her father had kept her up to date with everything about him. In the past year, her father had often invited her to come out and meet him. While tempted, Addison made zero attempts
, but when Clair told her about meeting him, Addison had been even more worried. She knew it was just a matter of time. The closer Clair got to him, the surer Addison was she’d have no choice but to meet him sooner than later. Now here she was watching him give her daughter the royal treatment.
It felt as surreal as it felt nightmarish.
Another thing that was just a well-known fact was that he was single. He’d even recently made Sports Illustrated’s list of America’s most eligible bachelors, no matter what Miranda, who curiously wasn’t here with him, was trying to insinuate earlier.
For the most part, and Addison knew this from the time she was a kid, professional athletes had very busy schedules. It was why, when she was so young and clueless, part of her plan was to homeschool any kids she might have with her dream baseball-player husband. She’d hated how often her father was gone.
As the party continued, Addison watched the zoo attendants take charge of the party, moving things along: the lighting of the candles on Clair’s giant giraffe cake, passing out the cake, and then the games and shows they put on for everyone.
No surprise the young female snake handler, who’d brought out a few for the show, chose AJ from the audience to come up and volunteer. She’d already tried in vain to get the birthday girl up there, but while Clair could be ahead of her time when it came to many things and she loved animals, she was beyond squeamish when it came to the slithery kind.
The snake handler placed one side of the huge Boa she was carrying on her neck and arms on AJ’s shoulders, assuring him he’d be okay. The other players laughed nervously, watching AJ’s animated expressions as the giant snake’s tail curled, nearly touching his face.
“I’m gonna need another volunteer,” the snake handler announced, already surveying the crowd of players.
Clair lifted Addison’s hand. “My mom will!”
Addison’s hand recoiled fast enough, but the players, who were all likely relieved they hadn’t been picked, were already chanting and cheering her on. She glanced at her dad, who shrugged with a smile; then she glared playfully at Clair, who was giggling into her hands.