Over the Fence: Lyssa Layne's Baseball Romances Read online

  Table of Contents

  Cover

  Title Page

  Copyright

  Over the Fence Blurb

  The Right Pitch

  Quote

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Epilogue

  Acknowledgements

  Fear of Striking Out

  Quote

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Epilogue

  Acknowledgements

  Another at Bat

  Quote

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Epilogue

  Acknowledgements

  A Diamond is Forever

  Quote

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Epilogue

  Acknowledgements

  About the Author

  Other Books by Lyssa Layne

  Catch My Heart

  Loved by the Linebacker

  Until You Fall in Love

  Love is a Fire

  Love & Famiglia

  Everybody’s After Love

  My Favorite What If

  Holding the Other

  My Calling

  Over the Fence

  Lyssa Layne

  The characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, places, or events is coincidental and not intended by the author.

  If you purchase this book without a cover you should be aware that this book may have been stolen property and reported as “unsold and destroyed” to the publisher. In such case the author has not received any payment for this “stripped book.”

  Over the Fence

  Copyright © 2016 Lyssa Layne

  All rights reserved.

  This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form without permission. The copying, scanning, uploading, and distribution of this book via the internet or via any other means without the permission of the publisher is illegal and punishable by law. Please purchase only authorized electronic or print editions, and do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated.

  Over the Fence

  Over the Fence is a collection of Lyssa Layne’s baseball romances including The Right Pitch, Fear of Striking Out, Another at Bat, and a BONUS STORY, A Diamond is Forever.

  The Right Pitch

  Colie Adger is trying to make it in the big leagues as an athletic trainer. Working in a man’s world isn’t easy but Colie has the help of Grant Adamson, a veteran pitcher on her team that has her back through the good, the bad, and the oh-so-ugly times. Colie’s elated when big time pitcher Jace Richards, her former crush, comes back into her life. Throughout the season, Colie must figure out how to make the best decisions for all the men in her life—both on and off the field. As good as she is at making decisions for others, can Colie figure out her own heart and hit a homerun off the right pitch?

  Fear of Striking Out

  Shortstop Tate James has been traded from the all-American town of Milwaukee to the trendy City of Angels. This ball player is less than excited about his new hometown. That is until he crosses paths with beautiful Mia Tomko. She lets him know that not all L.A. women are just after fame and fortune.When someone from both of their pasts arrives, will it tear them apart or make them closer?

  Another at Bat

  Pitcher Jace Richards had it all. Fame, status, money, and the perfect girl but it wasn’t enough. Unable to curb his gambling addiction, he lost everything. Laurel Darbis is the mom to ten-year-old Grey. Grey is about to start baseball with his friends but their coach backs out at the last minute. All of the parents are thrilled when the new coach arrives, everyone except Laurel.

  A Diamond is Forever

  Pitcher Benny Martinez’s longtime girlfriend Isabel Soltero is struggling to raise their teenage son as Benny travels with his team. Both parents are afraid that history will repeat itself and with Benny on the road, Isabel is doing her best to be both the mother and the father to him. Throughout Benny’s travels, he watches his fellow ball players, Grant Adamson, Tate James, and Jace Richards interact with their families and he soon realizes what he’s missing. It’s time Benny makes a decision which comes first—his family or his career?

  The Right Pitch

  “Life will always throw you curves, just keep fouling them off … the right pitch will come, but when it does, be prepared to run the bases.”

  -Rick Maksian

  CHAPTER 1

  My fingers slowly wrap around his calf while my right hand slides down his muscular thigh. Electrified by his warm skin touching mine, I lean against him with all my weight until I hear him moan. Smiling to myself, I push just an inch further, my charm bracelet jingling as I squeeze his leg.

  “Mmm, Colie…,” he mumbles, his face relaxed in pure pleasure.

  I hold my position just a few more seconds before I step back slowly, relieving the pressure. I grab his hand and help him sit up. Grunting, pitcher Grant Adamson says, “Ten years pitching, the cramps just never get easier.”

  “It’s potassium deficiency. I put a banana in your locker every morning, Grant. If you’d just eat one once in a while, then the cramps wouldn’t be that bad.”

  “And miss out on one of your massages? No way, this feels a
mazing,” he says as he stands and bends forward, his athletic shorts stretching over his well-defined backside. I chew on my bottom lip as I take in the Zeus-like statue in front of me. I may be his athletic trainer, but I’m still allowed to enjoy the view. He lets out a low grumble as his hands dangle to his toes and I press lightly on his back.

  I grin at his answer, knowing I’ve done my job. It’s my second year working with the New York Aces baseball team. Last season was my big break, I finally moved from the rookies to the actual starting line-up. When one of the assistant trainers had a family emergency, I was asked to step in and help out. Luckily, I showcased my skills and was able to work with the starting players for the rest of the season. I’m not sure how this year will play out. I’m hoping my boss will ask me to go to spring training, but the pitchers leave this week and I still haven’t heard anything.

  “Colie working her magic again?” Benny Martinez, the team’s best closing pitcher asks.

  Grant stands up and nods at Benny’s comment. “You know it! Colie has that special touch,” Grant answers and gives me a wink.

  My pulse races briefly but I shake it off and roll my eyes. “You two make my job sound so dirty.”

  In all honesty, I’m used to it. I’m surrounded by men sometimes eighty plus hours a week. I hear them discuss jock itch, female anatomy, and more often than not their latest sexual conquests. I can cuss in multiple languages which is something I wish I could add to my resume. Female athletic trainers in Major League Baseball are few and far between, so you have to take the good with the bad. In their defense, they try to tone it down when I’m around.

  The two men laugh in unison as Benny grabs an exercise band, snapping it in my direction while Grant continues to stretch. I swear, some days I feel like I work with a bunch of junior high boys. Well, a bunch of junior high millionaires, but that’s beside the point.

  I lift my chin in Grant’s direction and ask, “How’s the elbow?”

  He rotates his right pitching arm and nods. “It feels really good. I’m ready for spring training thanks to you.”

  Grant flashes me his epic, heartthrob smile, the one where his left eyebrow rises ever so slightly. The one he rarely shows except after a big win. I take in his features. His square face with its chiseled jawline. His deep-set grey eyes with just a hint of green. His eyebrows where the inner half of each brow slants sharply downward, the left one with a scar from being nailed by a line drive. His wide mouth with those full lips. His thick brown hair with just a hint of gray teasing at his temples. Mmm…

  I smile and shake my head. “Nuh-uh, don’t even think about it. Sit down.”

  I’ve worked with Grant long enough to know he’s lying to me. When I got my big shot, he was the first player I worked with. In fact, most of the other guys didn’t want a chick around them. Once they saw how quickly I got Grant’s shoulder feeling better and he earned back his starting spot in the rotation, they soon changed their minds. Unfortunately, his elbow started acting up at the end of last season and we’ve been trying to rehabilitate it in the off-season.

  He sighs. “Colie, I’m fine, really.”

  I nod as I slowly pull his forearm toward me. I ask as I look up into his steely grey eyes, “Have you been icing and doing the exercises I showed you?”

  “Of course I have! I’m not some overweight, middle-aged guy trying to get out of work.” He clenches his teeth and lowers his voice as he continues, “Sorry. I’ve been doing everything you told me, it’s just frustrating. I need one more good season. After this year, I’ll be okay with pitching relief, but I need to be in the rotation one last time.”

  I place my hand on his thigh and give it a light squeeze. “I’m going to keep you on the field, Grant. I won’t let you down.”

  His brows unfurrow and his face softens. He places his hand on mine and presses gently to show his appreciation.

  “Take it easy tonight and I’ll see you bright and early in the morning.”

  Standing up, he smiles and gives me a quick salute. “Yes, boss.”

  Throwing a towel at his six-two frame as he leaves the training room, I shake my head laughing. I’m thankful Grant and I clicked from the beginning. I know he helped get the guys on board with having a female trainer. He took me under his wing and has continued to watch out for me, as have the rest of the guys. Now, it’s like I have twenty-five big brothers looking over my shoulder. I guess it’s the reason I can never get a date in this city, especially with a baseball player.

  ***

  The sun isn’t even up when my iPhone alarm goes off singing Put Me in Coach. I groan into the pillow, pressing it tight against my face. I was in the middle of a wonderful, glorious dream. It’s a recurring dream where Jace Richards is carrying me on the beach. We’re laughing, the sun is shining, and he lays me down in the sand when the damn alarm goes off.

  My phone beeps with a text message. I throw the pillow across the room, irritated more at the dream than the alarm. It’s been almost five years since I’ve seen Jace. He was a senior baseball player with a torn ACL, and we were best friends. I always wanted more, yet I never acted on my feelings for him until it was too late. After the game when he tore his ACL, I stayed with him all night. In the morning, he told me he’d given up, he was never going to play baseball again, so he was leaving school. I begged him not to, did everything I could short of professing my love, but he went home the next day and I haven’t seen him since.

  Much to my surprise, less than a year later, he signed with a minor league team and two years ago joined the starting pitching rotation for the Washington Diplomats. Ever since I saw his picture on ESPN, I’ve been having these dreams. Two years of these and the sexless life I lead is really starting to take its toll on me.

  Some nights we’re on the beach, other times we’re back in college, but lately we’ve been in a dugout. In the dream, we never talk, only kiss. When his lips touch my neck, I feel the tingle in the same spot. The same feeling occurs when he kisses my shoulder, my breasts, and everywhere else. I glance in the mirror as I brush my teeth and my cheeks are red just at the thought of the dream.

  I spit out toothpaste, pausing to look at myself again in the mirror. My cheeks are still flushed from the dream. “Get it together, Colie. Jace doesn’t even remember you.”

  It’s hard to forget your first love when he’s constantly in the news. If he hasn’t earned another win for his team, he’s flaunting his latest girlfriend. I’m sure it’s better the way things are now. I just pray my career as a personal trainer doesn’t lead to us crossing paths. It’s part of the reason I’m hoping in the long run to switch to a team not in the same division as Jace Richards.

  My phone beeps again as I walk into my bedroom. Pulling off the tank top I slept in, my fingers search for my phone on the dresser. Since I don’t have my contacts in yet, I skim the text with one eye shut, although I can already tell it’s from Grant. He knows I’m not a morning person and always texts me five minutes after my alarm goes off. Typing a quick reply, I hit send as I rummage through my drawers looking for a sports bra. A neon pink one should do the trick and I pull it over my B-cups. My small boobs are the price I pay for staying in shape. I stumble into the bathroom to put my contacts in.

  Grant and I meet every morning for a quick run at the gym followed by a good stretching session. And yes, I wear make-up to the gym. I’ve been in a few too many paparazzi pictures with the guys to know that I always need to be ready. I blink my contacts into place. Everyone always asks if I use colored ones because my eyes are bright blue, but I swear that I don’t. I pull my long, blonde hair back into a ponytail and sigh. No matter my age, I have a total baby face. That, combined with the fact that I’m only five feet five inches tall means I will forever be carded when I buy alcohol.

  Scrunching my square nose and pursing my thin lips, I take a final look in the mirror. I practice the most awkward face in the mirror so I can to see how I’ll look when the paparazzi snap my photo. They alw
ays get the worst pictures. Luckily, I’m usually in the background, blurry and out of focus.

  A sharp knock on the door startles me, and I glance at the clock. I still have five minutes before I have to meet Grant. Grabbing a pair of running shorts and a tank top that I’m still pulling down, I open the door.

  “Still waking up?” he says, as his eyes drift down to my still-exposed belly. I tug my shirt down quickly while my cheeks flush. I hope he doesn’t notice.

  “Just getting my shoes on.”

  “Got a caffeine boost for you. Single shot of espresso, right?” he says, holding out a cup in his right hand.