Page 113 of Double Play

An hour later we’re in a limo sent by FantasySuits, on the way to the airport, making out like teenagers desperate for every last second of contact.

As we pull into the private airstrip, we see a small corporate jet with Butch McVey standing at the bottom of the stairs. He’s got a fucking smug look on his face. I dislike him immediately.

I haven’t had a ton of contact with Butch McVey. I’ve met him a small handful of times at various events and, of course, have played against him. He has the whole bad boy image going for him and he seems to play it up. Where I’m old-school baseball, he’s the new kid on the block and everyone wants a piece of him.

She brings her face to mine. Our blue-green eyes meet. “I’ll video call you every night. It will be just like when one of us had road games. It’s basically an extra-long road trip.”

Except with the time difference, I know it’s not feasible, but I’m not saying that. I simply nod my head and swallow down the giant lump in my throat. “I left a gift for you in your suitcase. Open it when you arrive.”

She softly kisses my lips. “Thank you. I left one for you too.” She gives me her sexy, mischievous smile. “It’s on the ceiling of your bedroom.”

My spirits lift, if only for a moment, knowing what it is. “I can’t wait to see it…and then jerk off to it for the next two months.”

She giggles. “Call me if you need a little audio to go with that.”

“I will. Did you pack Captain America?”

“I did. I’ll miss my real Captain America though.” She closes her eyes and smiles. “You fulfilled every fantasy of mine that night. It plays on a loop in my mind. I’ll be thinking of it and you every night when I go to bed.”

I kiss her again. “Every minute with you is my fantasy. Hurry home, sunshine.”

With lumps in our throats, we step out of the limo, her on two feet and me with crutches and a mammoth cast on my left leg. Butch immediately walks over, holds out his hand, and smiles. “Hi, Arizona. I’m Butch. It’s nice to finally meet you. Congrats on your recent championship.”

She takes his hand as I watch on. I hate them touching. And then I start imagining how much more of her he’s going to be touching over the next two months. Despite the frigid cold temperature, I can feel sweat dripping down my back.

“Thank you. It’s nice to meet you as well. Do you know Layton?”

He nods as his eyes meet mine. “I think we’ve met a few times throughout the years, right?”

He holds out his hand while looking so fucking pompous. I want to punch him in the face.

I shake his hand hard, very hard, in return. “I think so. Here and there. Maybe when you were still making a name for yourself.” I stare at him, conveying my best,stay the fuck away from my girl, face.

He gives me a fake smile. “You’re showing your old age. Perhaps you have some memory issues. I’ve been a name since my rookie year when I led the league in hitting.”

Arizona turns to the man carrying her luggage onto the plane and then back to me. “I’m going to make sure my bags get onto the plane. I’ll be right back to say goodbye.”

I nod as she grabs her smaller carry-on bag and makes her way to the stairs leading up to the plane.

As soon as she’s out of earshot, he says, “She’s even hotter in person. Enjoy your last moments with her. She’s all mine for the next few months. I would have done this trip for free. She and I with our hands all over each other all day, every day.”

“Enjoy yourfakePR relationship while it lasts.”

He smiles. It’s a fucking self-satisfied smile. “Who says it will be fake, Lancaster? I’m going to be spending every day andeverynightwith her. It’s only a matter of time. I hear she likes ballplayers. She’ll no doubt have interest in the best one in the sport, not a gimp who will never play again.”

He tilts his head and makes it obvious that he’s staring at her ass as she ascends the staircase. I grit out, “Keep your fucking eyes off my girl.”

He lets out a laugh. “We’re going to be practically naked, all over each other for the next two months. My hands will be on that ass and everywhere else on her sexy body. You just remember that when you go to bed with your dick in your hand every night.”

“Keep it professional, McVey.”

“Like you did?” He turns and looks me in the eyes. “You’re a sinking ship, Lancaster. You’re a washed-up has-been. Your career is over, and your stock is plummeting. I’m the star of baseball now. She’s the star of softball. We’re the natural pairing, not you two. You’re only holding her back. You must realize that. Don’t be so fucking selfish. Just let her go.”

I have to sit there and listen to him articulate things that admittedly have gone through my head lately. “She’s too good for you, McVey.”

He lets out another deep laugh. “She’s probably too good for both of us. Nonetheless, the cream always risesto the top. And guess who’s on top right now? Guess who will be on top of her?”

I’m about to punch him in the face when Arizona walks back out of the plane. She looks at me from the top and the stairs and smiles. Arizona Abbott smiles are the kind that can start wars just to catch a glimpse of them. I feel them in every inch of my body.

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