Catching Lily (Spring Training Book 2) Read online

  Yesterday, when he got the call from Lincoln at Zodiac, he’d sagged with relief and excitement. He’d left town after today’s game without even speaking to Brett or Xavier, his two closest friends and the only members of the team who knew about Lily.

  It was after two in the morning when he finally set his head down near hers and forced himself to get a few hours of sleep.

  It seemed like moments, however, before his eyes jerked open to find Lily smiling, her body in the same position. “Morning.”

  He lifted a hand to set it on her lower back and hauled her closer, loving the way she giggled as he growled into her neck. He set his teeth on her thin pale skin and bit down gently until she squirmed and pressed against his chest. “Dominic, I’m a grown woman. Don’t mark me.”

  He met her gaze and groaned. “I have to get back.”

  She nodded, biting her lower lip.

  “Come with me.”

  “To Jupiter?” Her eyes widened. “I can’t just leave.”

  “Call your assistant. Stephan? Ask him to take over for a few days.” Dominic wasn’t sure that was a possibility, but he was silently praying.

  She nibbled on her lip again. “I could. If I don’t mind being teased about it for months.”

  “You could stay with me for months and avoid the confrontation.” He lifted a brow, testing the waters.

  She rolled her eyes. “Sure. That’s a perfect plan.”

  He thought so. “But let’s stick with two days for now. It’s Saturday. You’re not open on Monday, right?”

  “Right.”

  “So can Stephan handle things for two days if you return by the time you open on Tuesday?” He forced himself to remain calm, even though his heart pounded at the idea of holding her in his arms for three more nights in a row.

  “Maybe.”

  Dominic pressed her back against the mattress, reached over her body, probably smashing her, and snagged her purse from the floor. Her phone fell out of the side pocket as he set it on the bed. When he lifted it in front of her, he grinned. “Ask.”

  She giggled again. “Okay, but let’s let him sleep a bit past…” she glanced at the time on the display, “…six.”

  “We don’t have time. I have to get back.” He rolled over her and pushed himself to standing, turning around to haul her to at least a sitting position. “I have to be on the field at nine.”

  “I need to take my own car, anyway. You can rush around here like a crazy man and go ahead of me.”

  He cocked his head to one side. If he left, would she get cold feet and change her mind? Not even try to get Stephan to cover for her?

  She reached for his hand and pulled it to her face to rub his knuckles against her cheek. “I’ll be there before you finish for the day. Promise.”

  He pushed her back onto the bed, set his hands on both sides of her body, and narrowed his gaze, searching her face. “Lily…”

  “Consider it done.” She reached for his forearms and gripped them with her small hands. “What time do you finish?”

  “Usually about three. The game starts at one.”

  “I don’t think I can get there by one. I need to make some arrangements. But I’ll meet you at the stadium by three. If you’re not done, I’ll wait. Then I’ll see you play tomorrow, right?”

  He nodded slowly. He had to trust she would do as she said. He didn’t have another option. So he closed the distance, kissed her briefly, and righted himself to head to the bathroom before he could get sucked into the vortex that was Lily Phillips and never make it to practice on time.

  * * *

  While Dominic rushed around to get out of the house, Lily snuggled back into his bed and watched him. She was way too tired and it was way too early to convince her body to move.

  She also didn’t have a car. She had taken Uber to get to Club Zodiac last night, and Dominic had driven her to his house. He tried to get her to take the keys to his SUV in the garage, but she refused, saying she would call a driver when she was human enough to move. How was he so alert?

  Then he was gone in a flurry of last-second kissing and a glare that told her he would hunt her ass down and spank it if she didn’t show up at three.

  She shivered at the thought and considered arriving late just to see him fret.

  Within minutes of his leaving, she called Stephan and easily passed off her duties to him for the weekend. Seconds later, she was back asleep in the comfortable cocoon of Dominic’s bed.

  The buzz of her phone on the pillow next to her yanked her awake a second time. She glanced around, realized it was late morning, and grabbed the cell.

  She immediately bolted to sitting, blinking at the screen. “No fucking way,” she shouted into the empty room. Her hands shook as she rubbed her eyes and refocused on the device.

  You have a lot of gall. I said to stay away from Cordes.

  She dropped the phone as if it were going to burn her and groaned as she tried to think. That motherfucker had followed her to Zodiac last night and then back to Dominic’s? This could not be happening. She hadn’t heard a single peep out of Luke for over two weeks. She had a restraining order. And he had the audacity to threaten her again?

  She shoved the covers off her body and stomped around the room to gather her clothes and put them on with shaky hands. When she finished, she fished a hair tie out of her purse and put her heavy locks in a knot on top of her head. Then she made the call to the police.

  He answered on the first ring. “Detective Wright speaking.”

  “Hi. Yes. This is Lily Phillips. Do you remember me?”

  “Of course. Everything okay?”

  “No. That bastard threatened me again.”

  “Shit,” he muttered. “Where are you?”

  “Dominic’s house. But I’m heading home.”

  “Stay put. I’ll meet you there.”

  She worried about that for a moment. She didn’t want the neighbors to see the police in the driveway when they knew Dominic was away. Someone would freak out.

  On the other hand, Dominic was going to have a coronary when he found out, and it would be fatal if he thought she didn’t do everything possible to keep herself safe. “Okay.”

  She ended the call and stared at the phone. She should call Dominic. The heart attack he was going to have would kill him twice if she didn’t. But what could he do from Jupiter? He needed to concentrate on his game. She hesitated and then decided it would be better to tell him after she got there.

  By the time she was put together and had wandered to the front door, Wright was already ringing the bell.

  Lily opened the heavy door and let him in. She rubbed her temple as he entered. “I can’t believe this.”

  “You have a restraining order, right?”

  “Yes. The asshole didn’t show up for the hearing, but he was served. He’s fully aware.”

  “Yet he had the nerve to text you again.” He took her phone out of her hand and read the text as she handed it to him. “Crazy dude.”

  “Not one incident in two weeks, and then I spend one evening and night with Dominic, and Luke’s all up in my business again. It makes no sense. He has to realize I wouldn’t get back together with him if he were the last man on Earth. Why the hell would he break the restraining order to torment me like this?”

  “I don’t know. But I intend to find out. I’ll head to his place now. You should pay close attention to your surroundings. Can you stay inside until I’ve found him?”

  She shook her head. The only thing worse than not calling the cops this morning would be not showing up at the field by three. “I need to swing by my apartment, and then I’m heading to Jupiter.”

  “Okay.” He nodded. “But be careful. Keep your phone in your hand and your finger on speed-dial for nine-one-one.”

  “I will.” She slapped her forehead. “I don’t have a car. I need to call a taxi.”

  “To get home?”

  “Yes.” She tapped her finger on her phone a f
ew times.

  “I’ll take you. It would make me feel better, anyway. I don’t trust this guy. He could be at your apartment waiting for you to arrive.”

  Lily cringed. Jesus. How had her world crumbled to this level?

  * * *

  Assuming there was no unexpected traffic on the highway, she was going to make it to Jupiter on time. She gripped the steering wheel with both hands, waiting for her sister to pick up the phone.

  “Hey.”

  “Hey, Ava.”

  “Are you on your Bluetooth? Sounds like you’re in the car.”

  “Yep. Long story, but when I went to Zodiac last night, Dominic was there.”

  “Oooh. I think I like this story.”

  “So, we spent the night together…”

  “Of course you did.” She giggled.

  “And now I’m on my way to Jupiter.”

  “Yay.” She squealed so loud Lily cringed.

  “Could you possibly help Stephan out at the gallery today and tomorrow and close up?”

  “Of course. Under one condition.”

  “Anything.” Lily smiled. She knew Ava was kidding. Whatever her “condition” was, it would be funny.

  “Get me tickets to a game and have your hunky guy set me up with a teammate.”

  Lily laughed. “I’ll see what I can do.” Then she sobered. “I need to tell you something else, though.”

  “Uh-oh. I don’t like the tone of your voice.”

  “You shouldn’t. Luke texted me this morning.”

  “Please tell me you’re kidding.”

  “I wish. I called the police. They’re looking into it. I left town.”

  “Good for you. I’ll alert Stephan, and we’ll make sure the gallery is locked and the alarm is set.”

  “Thanks. You’re the best.”

  “No worries. Have fun. When will you be back?”

  “I’m opening on Tuesday.”

  “Okay.”

  Lily hung up, shook the threat of Luke Vandergriff from her head, and drove the rest of the way to Jupiter thinking of three more delicious nights with Dominic.

  She was heading from the visitor parking lot when Dominic exited the clubhouse. Even though she stood pretty far away from him, she knew his walk, his size, the color of his hair, and the shadow of a beard on his face.

  She smiled.

  Several baseball fans stood right outside the gate near the entrance to the clubhouse. Groupies, she thought they were called. Some were men, but many of them were women. They held out items for Dominic to sign as he walked by.

  He glanced up at Lily and gave a quick wave, motioning her closer, and then he took a ball from a little boy’s hand and proceeded to sign it. As he handed it back, a notepad was thrust toward him from someone behind the child.

  Lily slowly wandered closer, wondering how weird it would be to have a relationship with someone famous. Zia had done it, and Lily hadn’t envied her a bit. Hanging around next to a man who was constantly under the public’s microscope was eerie. Could she do this? She wasn’t sure, but she was willing to give it a shot. At this point, she didn’t see any other options.

  Twice she had attempted to end things with Dominic, and both times she had succumbed to his magic powers of persuasion the moment he stepped back into her personal space. Running from him over age or dominance or physical location or his notoriety or even threats was no longer going to work. She didn’t have the strength to walk away again.

  When she was several yards from the thinning gaggle of people around him, she stopped behind everyone and waited. She watched him closely. Damn, he was gorgeous. His hair was a tousled mess from a recent shower and no comb. His beard was well groomed. The smile he shared with perfect strangers was gracious.

  His chest. Damn. It stretched on forever, and it was hers to see under the collared shirt. It was a team shirt in dark blue. He also wore khaki pants and loafers, which made her lick her lips as she let her gaze wander lower.

  As she skimmed her gaze back up his body, a woman leaned into him from the crowd. She smiled broadly as if they knew each other and pressed her boobs against his arms.

  Lily winced. Dominic probably had women hitting on him every day all over the country. Another mark in the negative column. Lily was going to need thick skin to date a famous guy with female fans throwing themselves at him.

  This redhead was definitely throwing herself at him. She set a hand on his chest, her long fake nails pressing into him. Then she had the audacity to arch her chest closer and pull down one side of her blouse to reveal far too much cleavage.

  For a moment, Lily had no idea what the woman’s goal was, but when she held up a sharpie, Lily’s eyes bugged out. She wanted her boob signed? Did that happen in real life?

  Dominic didn’t look at Lily, but he frowned as he took the pen and signed somewhere on her chest, not nearly as close to her nipple as the woman seemed to prefer. At least he had some restraint.

  The woman didn’t back away. In fact, as she took the pen, she wrapped her fingers around his and leaned closer. Jesus.

  Lily looked away. She didn’t want to watch, and she didn’t want Dominic to think she cared. She didn’t. She shouldn’t. It was out of his control.

  Zia had told her this would happen.

  As if thinking of her friend could conjure a person into being, Zia’s sweet voice came from behind her. “Lily!”

  Lily spun around and grinned. “Hey. You’re alive. I thought maybe you got sucked into this marriage thing and I was never going to hear from you again.”

  “Forget about me.” Zia glanced around Lily and lifted her eyebrows. “You and Dominic?”

  Lily flushed. Crazy. She was a grown woman. Why did she get embarrassed about seeing the sexy baseball player? “Yeah. I guess.”

  “You guess?” The voice came from behind her. It was deep. It was commanding. It made her panties wet instantly.

  Dominic’s huge arms reached around her, completely encompassing her frame from behind while he set a kiss on the top of her head.

  How the hell did he get so close to her so fast?

  She inhaled slowly and scrunched up her nose while she tipped her face back to look up at him. “That woman’s perfume is all over you.”

  He winced. “Yeah. She does that.”

  “Often? You’ve seen her before?”

  “Yep. Her name’s Valerie. She’s here all the time. And she wears that same perfume too.”

  “And she gets it all over you.”

  He squeezed her tighter. His voice softened as his lips landed on her ear. “She’s not you. And I would never consider her for one moment, whether or not I had you.”

  Lily flushed, heat rushing up her face.

  Zia giggled, reminding Lily her friend stood a yard away.

  Brett stepped into the mix also, kissing Zia briefly and then tucking an arm around her. “So, you two are…together?”

  “Yeah, I guess,” Dominic mimicked in a teasing voice.

  Lily pushed an elbow back into his gut. “Stop it.”

  “Just agreeing with you.” He didn’t sound angry, though.

  “I’m here, aren’t I?” She tipped her head back again and lifted a brow.

  “Yes. Indeed. And that’s saying a lot.”

  “More than you know,” she muttered, not wanting to discuss the situation with Luke in the parking lot. Zia and Brett hadn’t been in town during the initial battle against Lily’s ex. They needed to be filled in.

  “You guys want to go to dinner with us?” Zia asked.

  “You sure?” Dominic squeezed Lily’s body tighter. “You just got married. You want to hang with other humans already?”

  Zia giggled again. “Come on. We aren’t recluses. We go out.”

  Lily thought it was a good idea. A chance to play catch-up. Plus, it would give them something normal to do before she found herself sequestered in Dominic’s condo, probably on her knees, for the next several days. “Let’s go with them.”
>
  “Okay. Sounds good.” He took her hand and led her toward her car. “I’ll leave my car here. We can pick it up later.” When they reached her Lexus, he flattened her to the door, cupped her face, and kissed the sense out of her. “Missed you.”

  “You saw me this morning.”

  He grinned, his thumb rubbing her bottom lip, his forehead against hers. “Long time ago. I’m glad you’re here. Now tell me what I missed.” He pulled back, his brow furrowing.

  “Caught that, did you?”

  “Yes.”

  “Apparently we were followed last night.”

  “Fuck.” He tensed, his hands going to her shoulders and squeezing.

  She nodded. “Got a text after you left, threatening me.”

  “Please tell me you called the cops.”

  “I did. And Detective Wright came to your house. I didn’t really want your neighbors to see that, but he insisted.”

  “Seriously? Who gives a fuck about my neighbors? This is about your safety.”

  She knew he would say that. She grabbed his forearms and held him tight. “They’re looking into it. Wright drove me home, and then I left town.”

  “Good girl.” He narrowed his gaze. “I do not like this. Vandergriff is fucking following us? Why? And that means he’s been on your tail this entire time while you let your guard down and I wasn’t in Miami.”

  She nodded. It was scary. He wasn’t kidding. “I don’t understand at all. Why the hell does Luke care? He hasn’t contacted me a single time. He didn’t show up for the hearing. Not one text or threat. And then one night with you, and he’s up my ass again with no regard for the restraining order? That makes no sense.”

  Dominic rubbed her arms as if she were cold. “Let’s go. I want to get out of here. If he’s been following you all this time, I don’t trust him not to be watching now.”

  “At least today he was with the cops while I drove here. He can’t possibly be here yet.” She shuddered. This entire situation was so far out of reality.

  “Then let’s go to dinner and back to my condo. I’m sure Vandergriff has my address, but we’ll lock the doors and enjoy our night.”

  Lily nodded. Was it that simple? She still couldn’t wrap her mind around Luke’s intentions. Why the hell did he want her back?