Lucky 13 (Deadlines & Diamonds) Read online

  Lucky 13 (Deadlines & Diamonds, #4)

  Morgan Kearns

  Copyright©MorganKearns2012

  Kindle Edition

  Praises for LUCKY 13:

  “My perfect man has a name now. Enrique Santiago.”

  ~Rhonda Plumhoff, author of Erotic Treats

  Praises for MORGAN KEARNS:

  “Morgan Kearns is the

  Queen of Contemporary Romance.”

  ~Kristina’s Books and More

  “Whatever Morgan puts in ink I will read.”

  ~Good Choice Reading

  Praises for OUT OF LEFT FIELD:

  “…smoothly written with a great relationship between the main characters.”

  ~InD’Tale Magazine

  “…a story that comes to life in the palm of your hand and characters that work their way into your heart…”

  ~Linda Boulanger, author of To Dance with the Enemy

  Praises for IN IT TO WIN IT:

  “If sweet and romance had a baby, this book would be the finished product.”

  ~Romance Novel Junkies

  Praises for FADE TO BLACK:

  “…an amazingly powerful love story…”

  ~Book Crazy

  Available titles from Morgan Kearns

  Deadlines & Diamonds

  Lucky 13

  Out of Left Field

  In It To Win It

  Fade to Black

  Bound by a Touch Novels

  Heart Ache

  Lucky 13 is a work of fiction. The characters and events are the product of the author’s imagination and are used fictitiously. Any similarities to any persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

  Copyright © 2012 Morgan Kearns

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any form or by any means without the written consent of the author, except for brief quotations used in critical articles or reviews.

  Cover art by Char Adles

  www.romancenovelcenter.com/charadlesperger

  Shayne’s I-shoulda-told-you-the-truth-and-I’m-sorry Steak recipe found in Literary Chocolate 2 by Rhonda Plumhoff

  www.morgankearns.com

  ISBN: 1-4793-5992-0

  EAN13: 978-1479359929

  Visit www.MorganKearns.com to order additional copies.

  Ricky’s brain caught up to his body about halfway across the dance floor. As he realized what he was about to do, his steps stuttered, his mojo warring with a jolt of insecurity. Damn, he hated this part of the dating process. He watched the other guys hit on women all the time, even resorted to studying their lines, but he couldn’t flat-out lie, promise things he’d never be able to give the woman when the sun turned the western skies salmon.

  His lungs released his breath about the time his feet came to a stop in front of her. “Hi.”

  She smiled, and his heart dropped to his toes. “Hi, I’m Shayne.”

  He stuck out his hand. “Enrique Santiago.”

  Her hand slipped into his. The softness of her palm against his did funny things to his intestines. Her chin moved up and down in a slow, barely noticeable nod. “You’re the Rockets Left Fielder?”

  “Yeah.” She’d heard of him? Sweet! “My friends call me Ricky.”

  She raised one brow and quirked the corner of her lip. “And am I to assume we’re friends?”

  “I’d like to be.”

  To Shayne: I usually dedicate my books to my heroes, but it seemed more appropriate to give this page to you. The Xavier curse ends with you!

  Thank you’s

  To my readers: THANK YOU!!! Thanks for buying my books, loving them and telling your friends about them. I love getting to know you all!

  A big shout-out to my faithful I-dotters and T-crossers; Dawn, Dawn, Julie, and Katie, Thank you!

  To Natascha: Thanks for whipping out your fine-toothed comb.

  Since books are judged by their covers, I have to thank my fabulous and very patient graphic designer, Char Adles and uber sexy cover model, Ryan!

  To my street team: Thank you for being “Team Kearns”. I love you all!!!

  I never dreamed I’d need a fan club, let alone a President. Thank you, Rhonda, for your love and support and for volunteering for the position. You’re the best!!

  To my friends in the writing community: Thank you for your friendship, for sharing your knowledge, and letting me bounce ideas off of you. I *heart* you!

  To the four best kids in the world: Thanks for making me laugh and giving me inspiration! I love you!

  To my husband: I couldn’t do what I do without your love and support. Thank you for living my Happily-Ever-After with me! I love you!

  Lucky 13

  (Deadlines & Diamonds)

  Morgan Kearns

  1

  “Can I be your plus one?”

  “I didn’t think you’d need one.” Enrique “Ricky” Santiago glanced up into the face of one of his closest buddies and teammate, Mason James. Ricky waved a hand at the seat next to him. “Have a seat, my man. Where’s Chloe?”

  Mason chuckled, but Ricky didn’t buy the nonchalant. “She had a meeting with the accountant.”

  Ricky shook his head. “Seriously, man, either she needs to go back to high school or—”

  “Or?”

  “Or get a freakin’ calculator.” He couldn’t bear to voice his suspicions. By the sick look on Mason’s face, the guy already knew and wasn’t ready to go Sherlock Holmes on his wife’s fidelity. “You just get here?”

  “Yeah.” Mason sat and leaned back in the chair. “Why you here all by your lonesome?”

  “I don’t bring dates to these kinds of things. You know that.” Ricky took a swig of his Bud. “Chicks get the wrong idea, gettin’ all twitterpated over my celebrity friends. The next thing I know they’re readin’ Brides magazine.”

  Mason barked out a laugh. “I’ve been married so damn long I guess I’d forgotten.”

  Ricky didn’t bother saying he envied the shit out his married teammates. He let his gaze drift over the sea of dancers, searching out the happy couple. Damn, life really had a way of throwing a curve when you were expecting a fastball.

  A feather could have knocked Ricky over when he found out the great Xavier had fallen for Frankie Holden. Okay, that wasn’t exactly right. Frankie was one hell of a woman. Half the team crushed on her, but that she’d fallen in love with him and actually married the sonofabitch? Nobody saw that shit comin’.

  Hell, he’d never seen Xavier with a lovestruck, can’t-get-enough-of-her grin on his face. But as he swayed on the dance floor with Frankie in his arms, the look on his face hollered complete damned adoration.

  Who’d’ve thunk it?

  Mason knocked on the table with his knuckles. “Surprised the shit outta me, too.”

  “Huh?”

  “I never woulda thought he was capable of it either. I guess you just never know.”

  Ricky shook his head again. “No, I guess you don’t.”

  “You hear his condo’s on the market?”

  “Nah.” Ricky watched as Xavier bent down to whisper into Frankie’s ear. She tossed her head back in a laugh Ricky couldn’t hear before snuggling closer into her husband’s chest. “Makes sense, though.”

  “You should buy it.”

  “I got a place of my own.”

  Mason chuckled. “Yeah, but can you imagine the women showin’ up on that doorstep?”

  “I don’t want X’s sloppy seconds.” He had a love/hate relationship with the former left fielder. Xavier hated him and Ricky was peachy-keen-okay not sendin’ any love back.

  “At least you’d be gettin’ some.” Mason snickered when Ricky emphasized his d
isgust with a single finger. “I’m gonna get me a beer. You need one?”

  Ricky raised his half-full bottle. “I’m good. Thanks.”

  Mason crossed the room, giving a high-five to catcher, Dominic Kane. The guy had some girl wrapped around him so tightly it looked like he was covered in a hot pink second skin. Kane put his hands on her ass and the chippie just grinned. Ricky had to wonder whose date he’d pinched.

  He let his eyes wander, surveying his teammates socializing with people he didn’t know and that’s when he noticed her. Off to the side, standing alone, her slender body, wrapped in red fabric, held his attention better than a ticker-tape parade. Auburn hair caressed her shoulders, draping down her back. Her tiny waist accentuated curves that made Ricky’s blood heat.

  Beautiful. No, that wasn’t enough. Breathtaking.

  She crossed her arms around her middle. Her small smile seemed forced and Ricky wondered if she felt as out of place as he did. She swayed gently from side to side. What a shame she didn’t have someone to dance with.

  Ricky’s brain caught up to his body about halfway across the dance floor. As he realized what he was about to do, his steps stuttered, his mojo warring with a jolt of insecurity. Damn, he hated this part of the dating process. He watched the other guys hit on women all the time, even resorted to studying their lines, but he couldn’t flat-out lie, promise things he’d never be able to give the woman when the sun turned the western skies salmon.

  He released his breath about the time his feet came to a stop in front of her. “Hi.”

  She smiled, and his heart dropped to his toes. “Hi, I’m Shayne.”

  He stuck out his hand. “Enrique Santiago.”

  Her hand slipped into his. The softness of her palm against his did funny things to his intestines. Her chin moved up and down in a slow, barely noticeable nod. “You’re the Rockets Left Fielder?”

  “Yeah.” She’d heard of him? Sweet! “My friends call me Ricky.”

  She raised one brow and quirked the corner of her lip. “And am I to assume we’re friends?”

  “I’d like to be.”

  Danger! He had a habit of losing his heart to women he shouldn’t. Truth was, he didn’t bring women around his friends because he started hearing wedding bells when the guys offered a stamp of approval. As he stared into the liquid chocolate of Shayne’s eyes, warning bells blared, whistled, hollered, and warned him to take it slow. Danger, Enrique Santiago!

  He motioned to the open bar. “Can I buy you a drink?”

  She giggled, which had been his goal. “No, I’m fi-”

  “Here, Mom, I brought you some punch.”

  Mom? The kid had brought Ricky a punch, too. A sucker-punch to the gut. He had to be about twelve or so and had an inch on his mom. Brown hair, hazel eyes, square jaw…

  Holy shit!

  A sickening sense of déjà-vu made Ricky’s stomach roll. He shot a glance over his shoulder just in time to see the happy couple turn. Man, it took a lot of balls to invite your baby-mama to your wedding reception.

  Except as Ricky looked back at the kid, he noticed something else, the almond shape of his eyes also seemed familiar. They were a more masculine form of…his mom’s.

  “So, Shayne, you’re Xavier’s sister?”

  She nodded.

  The kid’s frown reeked of contempt. “And you’re the guy who stole his position.”

  “Matt!” Shayne grabbed him by the tie, bringing his nose down until it touched hers. “You apologize. That’s not the way it was and you know it.”

  Matt jerked out of her hold, muttering, “Whatever,” as he stomped off, a punch glass in each hand.

  Her cheeks darkened with a blush. “I’m sorry. Since X came back into my life, Matt’s been a little…protective of his uncle.”

  “Back into your life?”

  Shayne dropped her chin a bit, like the topic made her uncomfortable. “Long story short, we spent a lot of years apart. We’re back together now.” She held a hand out to him. “You feel like dancing?”

  Did he ever!

  He shrugged. “I gotta be honest, I’m not very good.”

  She took his hand and tugged him toward the dance floor. “That’s okay. I’m really good at it. Just follow my lead.”

  Oh, hell yeah, he’d follow her all right. The way her hips moved with each step, he’d follow her to the ends of the earth and enjoy every step of the journey.

  She abruptly stopped and turned, holding one hand at the level of his hip, the other about even with his shoulder. He stepped into her hold, seizing the chance to pull her close. She didn’t fight the subtle intimacy.

  Sappy love songs played and the world around them disappeared. As each song transitioned into the next, the woman in his arms softened just a little more. He held her close. Her hair tickled his cheek, getting caught in the whiskers he kept trimmed close to his face. She turned her head and pressed her lips to his cheek. With his heart pounding out of his chest, he turned his head and their lips met in a sweet quick kiss.

  “I’m sorry.” She put her fingers to her mouth and some distance between their bodies. “I shouldn’t have done that. I’m sorry. It’s been a very long time since I’ve…um, well…it’s been a very long time.”

  He stroked her cheek with his thumb. “I’d like to kiss you again, if that’s okay.”

  “I’d like that, too, believe me.” She shook her head, her smile sad. “But I don’t think it’s a good idea. I can’t start something I can’t finish.”

  Ricky’s stomach hit his Ferragamos. “Who said anything about finishing?”

  She smirked, her brows jogging.

  He groaned. “Oh, don’t take me there, mujer bonita.”

  “I’m not from around here, and I…” The hesitancy in her eyes broke his heart. “I’m not good at relationships. Ask X. The only one I haven’t screwed up is with my son, but he has to love me. I’m his mother.”

  “No, he loves you because you deserve to be loved.”

  “How do you know? You don’t even know me. I could be an axe murderer.”

  “I know.”

  She cocked her head to the side.

  “It’s in the way he looks at you. Even with his ‘whatever’, he respects you, and I’m guessing he knows he’s gonna catch hell for it when you guys get home.”

  Ah, man, she had a gorgeous smile.

  “Yep, he will.” She jerked her head over to the corner where Matt moped. “And yeah, he knows it.”

  “And that, my fair Shayne, is why he loves you.”

  She placed a flat palm against his chest. Heat seeped through the starched cotton of his shirt to scald him. “Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome.” He kissed her lightly, keeping it quick, chaste. “Can I call you?”

  She shook her head. “I don’t think so.”

  Her rebuff hurt. Using his hand on the small of her back, he guided her to the side of the dance floor. He slipped his wallet from his back pocket and pulled out a business card. “It’s not like you don’t know how to track me down, but if you change your mind, my personal cell phone number is on that card.”

  He saw the war going on in her head. Clear as day. She didn’t want to want to call him. As she listened to her angel and devil, he wasn’t sure which way she’d go and hadn’t realized he’d been holding his breath until she smiled and looked down at the card.

  “I can’t promise—”

  He kissed her to keep her rebuttal from spilling out. He half expected her to slap him when he eased back. “Sorry.”

  “It’s okay.” She sucked her bottom lip between her teeth and Ricky barely held back a groan.

  “Just hold on to it, okay? Just in case. Call anytime, day or night.”

  ***

  Being hit on wasn’t exactly a foreign concept for Shayne. She may not be in her twenties anymore, she may have a son quickly approaching his teens, but she had eyes in her head. She saw the way guys looked at her, and, completely disgusted, Matt mad
e sure she knew about the ones she didn’t see.

  Usually though, she fought the same annoyance Matt didn’t bother to hide. Enrique Santiago, however, struck her differently. He made her feel things she hadn’t in a very long time. Actually, she wasn’t sure she ever had. Not in her adult life anyway.

  Staring into his deep, dark eyes, she began to wonder what kind of man he was. Athletic, for sure. But, duh! that much could be told just by looking at the guy.

  His earring winked, caught by the light. He took her hand, kissed her knuckles, and her breath hitched. “Day or night, Shayne.”

  As he turned to walk away, unexplained tears stung her eyes. Good hell, what was wrong with her? She didn’t even know him. Only knew what her brother said, and those details weren’t flattering. Santiago didn’t grace the front page of the tabloids very often. When he did, it seemed to be when one of his idiot team members did something and Ricky happened to be standing in the crossfire.

  She focused on the black lettering against the milky white of the card. Simply his name, email and a phone number. No flash. No fuss.

  “Mom?”

  She put on a disapproving frown and turned to her son.

  His hands shot up. “I’m sorry. Real sorry. I shouldn’t have—”

  “No, you shouldn’t have.” She put her hands on her hips, narrowed her eyes, staring up into Matt’s hazels. “I raised you better than that.”

  “I know.” He nodded. “I’m sorry.”

  “And I’m not the one you owe an apology.”

  Matt looked over her shoulder, she guessed his gaze sought Ricky. He closed his eyes, licked his lips. “Excuse me.”

  Pride, strong and flowing, washed over her as Matt strode right up to the table where Santiago sat with another Rockets player she recognized as the first baseman. Mason James, maybe? Matt spoke. Ricky nodded, then stood and extended his hand.