Up To Bat — Linda Boulanger

Three and a half months ago, star pitcher Ben Darvis had spent a night in heaven with his lips pressed against the same shoulder mouthed by the baby Cari now held. Seeing her with the tiny infant had thrown him a curve ball. Cari was good at that. His mind roamed back to that night, the one and only time she'd gone on the road with them, the first time he'd admitted he had feelings for the spunky twenty-something with her sandy blond ponytail and ready smile. Just thinking about her turned up the corners of his mouth. It also caused a painful pinch right behind the wall of his finely sculpted chest, especially when he allowed himself to remember the way she'd traced those planes with soft fingertips before her lips had followed suit.

Her sudden departure after that night had hurt him more than he wanted to admit. Now she was back, tossing the ball into his territory, leaving Ben Darvis to make contact or strike out.

Enjoy bonus short stories "Center Stage" and "Best Friend Rules"