Page 2 of Naked

She was in Tampa. And I was in fuckingSeattleof all the goddamned places on earth to be when she finally came back. Everything around me turned to cotton. My vision went fuzzy and the conversation muted. I think they were asking if I was okay, but I got up and stumbled toward the offices.

Tilley Villanueva was going to be the death of me. From her wild red hair to her sinful hips, she’d been the object of my attention for two long years. Except she friend-zoned me immediately, which turned out okay because she was an awesome friend.

A best friend I really wanted to have the sex with, but a best friend nonetheless. She was smart, loved sports beyond reason, and shared my affinity for terrible comedies.

ThenAdamcame along, offering her the job of her dreams. I was cool with it. She deserved to be successful and happy. So when she jumped my bones the night before she left, I grabbed her hips in both my hands and made the most of my shot at being with Tilley. It was amazing.

No, not amazing.Mind altering.

And then I woke up alone because she freaked out. I know she freaked out because she hadn’t answered a single call, text, or email since.

I blinked just enough to find my way to Anson’s office.

“Come in!”

I stepped inside. I could see Anson clearly enough, but the generic desk and white walls remained a blur. “I need to go.”

His eyebrows shot up. “To dinner? I agree the seafood did sound delicious.”

“No.” I shook my head trying to clear it enough to speak in coherent sentences. “To Tampa. I need to go back to Tampa. Family emergency.” Yeah, call it that. He’d have to let me go.

Now his eyebrows drew down in concern. “A family emergency? What’s wrong? How can I help?”

I steadied myself on the chair in front of the desk. “I just need to go. Now. Runyon was scheduled to start tomorrow anyway, right? I’ll be back for game three. Promise.”

It was a crazy plan, but it had to work. I could hop a plane and be back in Tampa by morning. I’d find Tilley, convince her to talk to me—finally—and then hop a plane back.

“Yes, Runyon is starting tomorrow, but if it’s an emergency maybe you should stay in Tampa? What’s happened, son?”

Crap. He pulled out theson.It made me feel bad that this wasn’t technically an emergency. No one was hurt or sick or dying. Just my goddamned heart. “No. It’s not technically an emergency. Or family. But Ihaveto go.”

Anson blinked at me dumbfounded now. I was completely fucking this whole thing up. He sat back in his seat. “I’m...confused, Hunter.”

My vision finally cleared, everything coming into sharp focus. I would go back to Tampa. I would talk sense into Tilley. She would come back with me. I wouldn’t put any strain on my team or risk being put on any lists.

“I’ll only miss tomorrow’s game. I promise. I’ll be there and back.”

Anson studied me. He wasn’t convinced. Or maybe he was just so perplexed he didn’t know what to say.

“Look, I played fifty-two straight games for you. I never complained. I didn’t get hurt. I showed up day after day because you needed me. All the other guys have backups. I finally have Runyon, but you’ve still only used him to start three times. Three. If you let me go—no questions asked—I’ll play another fifty-two straight without complaints. I’ll catch every line drive. I’ll hit a homer a game.”

“Whoa.” Anson put up his hands. “You’re making some pretty big promises right now.”

“And if I come back and play like shit, I’ll make it up to you. I’m the hardest worker on the team. This is all I ask.”

My manager stared at me long and hard, ran his fingers over his lower lip, and then shrugged. “You’re sure I can’t do anything to help?”

“No.”

He nodded once. “Then go. And good luck.”

I ran out of there as fast as I could, only stopping long enough to grab my wallet and phone. The guys tried to ask what was going on but I just waved at them and left. I needed to be on a plane immediately. I didn’t even care if I got stuck in a middle seat in the last row next to the restrooms, as long as it got me back to Tampa in time to see Tilley.

Oh, that woman and her rules. I’d been patient long enough. It was time to talk.

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