My Romance Novel: Return to Breckinridge - Chapter 8: Foul Ball

Chapter 8: Foul Ball

“Someone sure is in a good mood,” Bud said to Kirby.
It was Monday morning and Kirby had entered the hardware store humming to herself and all but dancing through the aisles as she tidied shelves and prepared for the day’s business.
“Mmmmmm, I had a wonderful weekend, Bud. I am most definitely in a good mood,” she said.
“Well, it looks good on you, whatever – or whoever – it is,” he replied, playfully. “And you have on a new outfit, too! Wow, our customers won’t recognize you.”
It was true, partially. Her outfit wasn’t new, but it was something she hadn’t worn in a while. Her jeans were snug and hugged her hips, her hand-knitted, gray Irish wool sweater was fitted around her breasts and through her belly and hips, and she had on a pair of pink cowboy books that peaked out from underneath her boot cut jeans. She had actually woken up early enough to fix her hair, letting it fall around her shoulders in soft curls, and she was wearing makeup and jewelry.
“Thanks, Bud. Truth is, I’m not wearing anything new today. Just some things I haven’t worn in a long time. But this weekend, someone made me feel beautiful from the inside, out, and I can’t stop smiling.”
Bud put his arm on her shoulder in a fatherly way and said, “I’m glad, Kirby. You deserve that, and so much more.”
“Thanks, Bud. It’s refreshing to be reminded that there are still good men out there, you know? And I think I’ve finally found one for myself,” she said.
Kirby couldn’t believe how amazing she felt. After a weekend with Dave, there was nothing that could bring her down. After skiing and the hot springs, they had gone out for sushi and spent Saturday night wrapped in each other’s arms on his couch, just talking. On Sunday, they’d napped on and off, watched some football and made a mess of his kitchen trying to figure out how to make egg rolls from scratch. They’d had a bottle of wine and gone for a walk in the fresh fallen snow, and Kirby could not remember a weekend that had been more perfect. When she finally left Dave to go back to her place Sunday night, she felt lonely for him immediately. She needed to be close to him, she felt; she needed to hear his voice and feel the warm of this chest when he pulled her in tight for a hug, and she needed to feel his mouth against hers again, hungrily devouring her lips and leaving both of them aching for more. She had never been so swept away.
She knew he was in the gym this morning, having some physical therapy done on his knee, and she did not expect to hear from him until later. So when her cell phone rang just before lunchtime, she assumed it could only be Scarlet, who had tried reaching her over the weekend multiple times. So she did not even look at the caller ID and instead just clicked onto the incoming call with a cheery, “Hello, this is Kirby!”
“Kirby.”
The voice was not Scarlet’s. It was deadpan. Male. Gruff. Slimy. She would know that voice anywhere. It was Trevor.
“Trevor. What do you want?”
“Happy to hear from me, your old flame? They say first love never dies, you know.”
“I don’t know who ‘they’ is, but in this case ‘they’ are wrong. What do you want, Trevor. Tell me quickly and tell me now, or I’m hanging up.”
“Oh yes, I know, you’re in a rush. I’m calling you at work, aren’t I? That is what you call it, isn’t it? Hanging out at that hardware store all day is what you call your ‘work’ these days, isn’t it? How sad. What a waste of your time. You know, it could have been different for you and I…”
“Trevor, I’m hanging up.”
“I’ll just call back.”
“Out with it. Why did you call?” Trevor didn’t call her often, usually only when he was drunk and regretting how he had treated her. This was different though. He never called sober, in the middle of the day. She wondered what he wanted.
“You know Breck is a small town, so just how long did you think you could keep this from me?”
“Keep what?! What are you even talking about? What do you want?!?”
“I just wanted to call and wish you well in your new relationship. And, in case things are getting serious with you and Dave, I wanted to help you out just a little bit by giving you some good advice.”
“What’s your advice? Never mind, I don’t need it.”
“It goes like this. You think I was bad? I know people who know Dave. Hell, I know Dave. He’ll be bigger trouble for you than I ever was. The guy has a rap sheet a mile long, and even major league baseball is catching on now. Ever wonder why he’s here, why he’s not in spring training like the rest of the pros? Ask him. No team wants him. He’s too violent, too mean, and he’ll be nothing but trouble for you.”
Trevor hung up the phone before Kirby could ask any one of the million questions she had. How does he know this? Nothing on Google even hinted at a temper or a violent side. Had a savvy PR agent kept it all hidden away? Why is he telling me this? Why isn’t Dave playing ball this season? Why is he so worried about how strong he is, is it because he really has a violent streak?
Over the course of the next few minutes, a call from Trevor had sent her soaring on cloud 9 and down to the depths of mistrust. It completely ruined her afternoon. Not even a lavender latte could cheer her up.
After her shift was done, Kirby walked slowly down Main Street towards the pizza place where she was meeting Dave for dinner. She called Scarlet as she walked and took a few minutes to fill her in.
“Honestly, Kirby, I am so happy for you and I wouldn’t give a second thought to anything Trevor said. He’s already tried to ruin your life once, and came damn close to succeeding; are you really going to give him the satisfaction of doing it again?” Scarlet asked.
“I guess it just made me realize how little I know about Dave. I mean, we’ve spent time together and talked a ton, but do I really know him?”
“See, you’re letting him do this to you. You’re letting Trevor fill you with doubts, which is just what he wants. Let it go, Kirby. It’s time for you to start trusting again. Trust your instinct, trust Dave, enjoy your life. Don’t let Trevor win. Not this time.”
Already seated at a tiny table for two in a candlelit corner of Luigi’s, Dave was waiting for Kirby with a grin on his face. As soon as he saw her, he leaped up from the table and rushed to her side, smothering her in kisses and murmuring into her ear. “I’ve missed you, I’m so glad you’re here.” How could I possibly walk away from such a sweet, gentle, thoughtful man? Kirby decided then and there to forget all about Trevor’s cautions and enjoy the sexy, sensitive man in front of her. He looked amazing in chocolate brown corduroy slacks and a cream colored wool sweater. Mountain life looked good on him, no doubt about it.
“Did you hear from Duke today?” Kirby asked, taking a seat in the chair Dave was holding out for her. It was the daily question she asked ever since Dave let her know that he was still eligible to play ball this year.
“Nope, not today. You’ve got me in Breckenridge until at least tomorrow,” he said, laughing.
“Maybe we could just change your number, then I’d never have to worry about Duke calling you ever again!”
Dave took her hand and looked deep into her eyes. “Getting used to the idea of having me around, are you?”
Kirby blushed.
“Don’t worry,” Dave continued. “I like being around too.”
After finishing two bottles of Chianti and devouring a hand-tossed, Mediterranean style pizza, they went back to Dave’s place, hand in hand. As they walked he kept his arm around her tightly, warming her against the chilly night, and Kirby thought again of Trevor’s warning. She was about to share it with Dave, just to be honest and give him a chance to share his side of things, but thought better of it. Trust. I trust Dave. Trevor has given me no reason to trust him ever again, so I won’t.

At the top of the stairs that led to the door of his rented condo, Dave stopped Kirby by putting his arms around her before she could enter his home. He scooped her up in his arms and cradled her close as he whispered in her ear, “Will you stay with me tonight? I need you here and I want you so badly.”
“I only have one response to that,” she said, nuzzling kisses into his neck.
“Oh? And what is that?” Dave asked, breathlessly.
“Get me naked,” she said huskily.
It was all the invitation Dave needed. He set her down briefly just so he could unlock and open the door, and then ushered her inside before attacking her with great impatience. He stripped off her jeans, yanked her shirt off over her head, and then stood back and admired her in her cherry-red G-string and matching bra. “Damn, you are one sexy woman. How did I get so lucky?”
“You haven’t gotten lucky yet,” she said.
“No, but I think I’m close.” He was on his knees in front of her then, using his teeth to remove her panties. His hands cupped her bottom and kneaded into her skin, and he enjoyed feeling the softness of her flesh and the way it molded warmly into his hands. Kirby giggled. “You’re tickling me!”
They tumbled backward onto the floor and Kirby enjoyed dismantling him, one article of clothing at a time. Within a minute of stepping over the threshold, they were on the floor and in each other’s arms, naked and breathing hard. He reached for her and pulled her into his lap, his erection hard against her. Folding her knees around his waist, they sat gazing at one another, enjoying the thrill of touching each other and anticipating what they both knew they couldn’t stop from happening between them that night.
“You are so beautiful,” he said, cupping the back of her head in his hands and kissing her tenderly. She kissed him back, softly, and traced the lines of his face with her fingers. She ran her fingers through his hair, admiring how thick and long it was, and kissed every spot of his shoulders where his hair touched his tan, smooth skin. They stayed that way for a while, exploring each other and enjoying the warmth they were creating.
Dave shifted Kirby until she was astride him and then gently pushed into her. As they joined, he took one of her hard nipples into his mouth, which drew a low moan from her throat.
Slowly at first and then more urgently, she ground her hips against his pelvis. She was so wet for him, so ready, and it was turning him on. He worked hard to hold back and enjoy every moment of their connection. He let out his breath, long and slow, as she continued riding him, whispering her name on a sigh. “Kirby. You’re amazing. Ride me hard,” he begged.
She quickened her pace, enjoying how deeply he filled her, giddy and breathless from the heat of their connection. Harder and faster she pumped, pulling him deeper inside of her as if she wanted to take him into her very core and make him stay forever. She could not believe that only a week ago she had sworn she would never become interested in him, was apprehensive of him even, and now here they were, lost in each other and finding in each other an intimacy so immediately that she already had forgotten her life without him.
“Come for me, Kirby, don’t hold back. Give me everything, I’m ready for you,” he said, breathlessly.
In a final wild pulsing of her hips, she exploded into him and the last bit of energy drained from their bodies. They collapsed on the floor, wide-eyed and panting, and gripping each other’s hands as if they would never let go.
She suddenly felt apprehensive again, as if she had just given a part of her that she would never get back and it was about to be trampled on before her eyes. Glancing over at Dave, she saw he was staring at her curiously, but with a satisfied grin on his face.
“If I had only known you had all that in you, we would not have wasted our time cuddling the other night,” he said, impishly. She shoved his hand away with a laugh, and he wrapped his arms around her.
“It’s okay, Kirby. I know you’ve been hurt before. It’s all alright. I’ve got you. Nothing can hurt you now, okay? Trust me. Shh, shh. Trust me.”
Nothing? Nothing, perhaps, except you, she thought.
Kirby stayed the night and in his bed they made love several more times before falling asleep in each other’s arms, exhausted. The man had serious moves and the stamina of a professional athlete, not surprisingly. Every muscle ached by the time they finally called it a night and snuggled in for some sleep. She couldn’t remember a time when a man had made her feel so cherished, so desirable and so wanted, the way Dave had. Her last thought as she fell asleep in his arms was, is this what love is supposed to feel like?
Morning came too quickly and a shard of light from the east-facing window stabbed her in the eye, waking her unceremoniously. She immediately turned over, looking for Dave, but he was not in bed. Then she heard him singing in the shower and smiled. Someone’s in a good mood. It felt so natural and easy to wake up and start her day with him, and it was definitely something she would have no problem getting used to.
She rolled over to his side of the bed, enjoying the scent of him on the pillow and the heat he had left in the sheets. She closed her eyes, relaxing and inhaling and taking in the room around her. Not surprisingly, he had not unpacked a whole lot and she saw with some sadness that he was still living out of a suitcase. I guess he could get the call from Duke any day. And if he did, where would that leave us? Us. We are now an Us.
The thought of even a possibility he could be leaving Breckenridge filled her with grief, and she closed her eyes tight and wished the thought away. Something pulsed then under the pillow, a vibrating sensation was jostling her head, and she reached her hand underneath the pillow to investigate. Her fingers found Dave’s phone and she pulled it out.
A text message was blinking on the lock screen and the name of the sender caught her eye. It was from Trevor.
Update on the property. It’s all yours, for 50% below market value. I just need you to do one thing for me. Call me and let’s work through it. Trust me, it won’t hurt you a bit.
His message sounded so…personal and familiar, like he and Dave were best friends working on a business deal together. What did Dave and Trevor have up their sleeve, and why did she get the feeling it had something to do with her?
Fear and mistrust flooded her, and all glowing feelings of love and security she had awoken with faded away. She got out of bed, listened to hear that Dave was still in the shower, found her clothes, and left the condo.
She did not like the vibe the message had left her with. Trevor and Dave were up to something, she was sure of it, and she wanted no part of it.

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