Justin called from his car fifteen minutes later. Grace hid her disappointment from him. She was really enjoying their time alone with Nick, but knew that it wasn’t anything more than two people getting to know one another. Deep down she wanted it to be more. She wanted Nick to touch her face and pull her to his mouth and suck the breath right out of her. She felt a giddy sensation in her stomach just thinking about it. He looked so good!
“Nice beard, been hiding from the law long?” she asked.
“I was wondering when you’d get around to that. I’ve just been a little lazy lately. You don’t think it’s sexy?” he asked earnestly. She couldn’t help herself from reaching out and touching his face with the back of her hand. Yes, it was indeed. Very sexy. She pulled her hand away quickly.
“In a grungy sort of way, yeah. What’s up with being so lazy? You have a pretty busy schedule ahead of you in a few weeks. Are you getting too old for all this?” She knew that would spark something out of him. He was looking at her funny and she was beginning to get a little self-conscious. “Nick? Aren’t you even going to attempt to strike back?” He leaned towards her, oh God, she could feel his breath in her neck. Oh God, it was going to happen, please…whatever you do now, don’t kiss me. I won’t be able to survive it…
“Hey, what’s up?” Justin burst through the front door, his arms laden with groceries. “We have food; we have beer, and…Oh damn! You two started without me! Finish up; we need to get on the road. Miss me?” Gruden started barking ferociously. Justin dropped the groceries and retreated behind the kitchen counter. Nick reluctantly sat back and laughed a menacing laugh. That was a close one. Don’t ever, he thought, get that close again! He glanced at her. She was averting his eyes, and looked a bit flushed. That turned him on more than anything, and suddenly he wished that he wasn’t there. He needed to go to the bathroom, but was in no shape to stand up. He had been so surprised by her touch that he forgot who and where he was. Her hand on his face was warm and gentle and so familiar to him that he was stunned, for a few moments, at least. Thank God for Justin, he had been about to do something that he definitely would have regretted later.
“Justin, the dog isn’t gonna bite you, he’s a pussy! Gruden! Where’s your ball?” Nick knew the old trick and Gruden turned and wagged his tail. “Go get the ball!” The dog tripped over himself and scrambled back on his feet and ran to get the ball outside, not realizing that the sliding door was closed. He slammed right into it with an amazing thump. “Unbelievable!” Nick laughed. “Grace, where in the hell did you ever find such a perfect dog for you?” He was laughing so hard that Gruden, in his ultimate embarrassment, trotted to her bedroom with his head low.
“Awe, baby, come here!” Grace glared at Nick. “Now you’ve hurt his feelings! He looks up to you, you’re the first man who wasn’t afraid of him! He has a complex, now go apologize! I mean it; he’ll sulk and hide out all day now!” She was genuinely upset, and it was a nice diversion from what had almost happened. He apologized and followed the dog into her room.
“Hey, boy.” His voice was almost a whisper so Grace couldn’t here him. “I’m sorry, buddy. You’re mom just threw me a fast ball I couldn’t quite get a piece of, and…” Gruden let out a low growl. “It’s all right, I understand completely. No more baseball talk, O.K? Let’s go back out and pretend that the last ten minutes never happened. Deal?” Gruden’s ears laid back and he licked Nick’s arm. “Good boy! Let’s go have some fun!” Damn, he was going to have to take this dog to some classes to toughen him up! That’s what happens when a male spends too much time in a woman’s presence, they get all sensitive and weak. Not me, he thought to himself, not ever.
While Nick was in the bedroom, Grace got up and went to Justin. She was still reeling from the almost kiss and needed her friend to release energy onto.
“Justin, what are you trying to do here? You have something up your sleeve, and I’m telling you right now…”
“Oh! I almost forgot to tell you…SHUT UP! I’m not trying to do anything. You’re the ones who look like your father just walked in on you doing the dirty. What are you trying to do, that’s the question here! Listen, Nick is my friend, and I don’t want some tramp ruining his perfectly honorable reputation. I mean it.” They stared at each other for a brief moment and both burst into laughter. “Aha! You thought I was serious for a second!” He was laughing so hard she thought he was going to wet himself. Her sides ached and her cheeks were sore, and after a few brutal moments Nick came back in with Gruden.
“What’s so funny?” He smiled, feeling the infectious laughter. Grace and Justin looked at each other and doubled over onto the floor.

Grace’s house sat on the top of West Seattle. It faced east, so there was no view from the front yard or porch. Whenever anyone came to her house for the first time you could see the disappointment on their face as they walked to the front door. The splendor, however, hits you as you walk through the door towards her open living room. The entire west wall was a window to the most amazing view of Puget Sound and the islands behind it. She loved waking up to that view and enjoying a cup of hot tea on the deck. At night she would languish in the hot tub that she had bought for herself for Christmas. Life was sweet. Then why was she so lonely? Gruden paced the perimeter of the backyard and stopped to look and see if she was watching him. He was satisfied that she was and continued to sniff as if tracking a bad guy. That’s what she needed, a bad guy. She loved Justin, but let’s face it, he wasn’t doing any good for her sex life. She knew that they would have a good time, so she went inside to get dressed. She put on her suede jeans and cowboy boots, knowing that he would scoff at them, and a red scoop line blouse with billowy sleeves. She felt like a renaissance poet, and it made her feel sexy. It accentuated her chest, even though she hated her breasts. They were too big. She could never find the right shirts that would accommodate them without making her look frumpy at the waistline. The shirts that fit her waist and arms were too tight around her chest. It was fruitless to shop at J. Crew, her favorite haunt for pants, because they believed that every woman wore a 34-B bra size. The red shirt was silky and she liked the way it caressed her skin as she moved. The doorbell rang.
“Come on in! Gruden’s in the backyard!” She was still in her bathroom putting on some light makeup. She heard the door open and then shut. “Do you want a mimosa? There’s orange juice in the fridge and the champagne is in the ice bucket.” She put her hair up loosely. There. Now she felt good. She looked pretty good, too. The ten pounds she had lost so far since she started her job with Sports Northwest were starting to make a difference in her confidence. Granted, it was due to stress, not exercise. “Grab me one, will you?”
“A woman who gets down to business first thing, I like it.” She turned around so fast that she slipped on the wet floor. Nick grabbed her arm before she slid into the splits position to the ground. “Did your mother name you that as a joke? My God, you’re about as graceful as a linebacker!”
“What the hell are you doing here?” He was still holding her arm, and she felt a rush of heat go through her body and rest on the spot where he was touching. Gruden, hearing an unknown voice coming from inside, began to bark aggressively at the sliding door. He let her arm go, smiled a wide smile that sent heat to the parts she had ignored lately, and turned to go into the living room. “Don’t let him in, he’s very protective!” Nick ignored her and walked to the door. He bent down to Gruden’s level and slid the door open with one finger.
“Hey there, Gruden! Where’s your ball?” So much for protection. The dog wiggled his butt and ran back outside for the football. “He’s some watchdog, all right. You should feel real safe all by yourself at night.” He walked to the kitchen and poured two flutes of champagne, adding a splash of orange juice. He handed one to her. “Sorry to disappoint you, but Justin is running behind. Probably can’t decide which outfit to wear, so he asked me to pick you up. Plus, he’s afraid of the big bad wolf.” As if on cue, Gruden ran inside with the football. Nick pulled it from his jaws and walked out onto the deck, the dog waiting anxiously for the pass. He drew his right arm back and lobbed it way high into the air. Grace couldn’t help but stare. He was magnificent. Look at that ass! What was it about Levi’s that made a guys butt look so damned good? They were tight around his muscular thighs as he stepped and turned. He caught her eyes and smiled again. She lifted her glass to her mouth and swallowed her mimosa in a gulp.
“Remind me to slap him when I see him. That still doesn’t explain why you’re here.”
“I’m not exactly sure, but I think he’s protecting me from a girlfriend. Apparently we’re going to Portland for the day. He wants to pretend that he’s on vacation and spend a lot of money. Are you ready? You look good, by the way… sorry about not showing up at Cutters that night. Something came up, and I got my extra house key from a friend. Thanks for sending my keys to me.” Why was he vomiting at the mouth? Well, this was one for the books! The look on her face was priceless! He didn’t want her to know that he had waited for her for an hour. And a few beers. Now he felt better about her tagging along with them. And saying that she looked good was definitely an understatement. She looked incredible, he couldn’t stop noticing her breasts swelling out of the top of her low cut blouse. He wanted to lean against her and feel them against his chest. He also wanted to feel how soft that suede felt as he covered her ass with his hands. What was it about this woman? He was used to the slightly emaciated twenty something girl! Grace was a woman, and then some. She wasn’t fat by any means, but she was definitely all woman. He wondered what she would feel like. He swallowed his drink and grabbed her purse from the couch. “Let’s go. He’s probably ready by now.”
‘Well, first of all, you’re assuming that I spend my evenings alone from the dog comment earlier. Second of all, I didn’t go to Cutters that night either, I sent them via courier. And thirdly, put my purse down. I know Justin, and if he’s being picky about his wardrobe, then we might as well have another drink, if you can handle it. I’ll call him while you – you are a bartender aren’t you?” She walked to the telephone to call Justin. Nick stared at her for a second and then grinned. She was a feisty one, all right. This might actually be some fun after all.
“Justin? Hey, it’s Grace, where are you, precious piece of shit? CALL ME!” She hung up. She turned to him, grabbed her mimosa and smiled politely. “Voice mail. Maybe he’s on his way over here. So baseball, huh? Gee, that’s neat! I’ve never entertained a real live baseball player before! So, like, how do you hit that little ball with a skinny little bat, anyway?” She thought that she would start conversing at a level that he could understand, coming from a woman and all. At first he just stared numbly at her, then, he flashed those teeth again. She really needed to stop making him do that, it was brutal on her concentration.
“Well, see, the thing that’s real important is that you never, ever take your eye off the little ball, because once you hit it, the goal is to run to the first pillow on the ground to your right side. It’s called a base. If you hit it real far without anybody touching it, you can move to the second one. Sometimes, and I’ve only done this a couple of times, you can race all the way to the home pillow without stopping. All you have to do is touch the pillows, there are four, as you pass them. It’s real fun.” She was laughing by the time he got to second. He remembered thinking about her laugh at very odd times lately. It made him feel good, like when a fan would scream words of encouragement at him from the stands just before he stepped up to the plate at a crucial moment, something so simple, and yet so obnoxious at the same time. He was trained to block them out, but just like her, they sometimes broke through his concentration.
“Ha ha. I’m sorry. I figured that was the kind of conversation you enjoyed with women. Besides, you lied to me. Here I thought I was a good customer to an attractive bartender. Now I’ll never forgive myself for making an ass out of myself in front of someone I’ll have to interview eventually. Speaking of which, what we’re doing is forbidden, you know. When you were just a bartender, or patron or whatever you were, you were fair game, but now you’re a conflict of interest…too bad.” She ran her eyes down his body and got up from the couch to make another. She should probably slow down, but he made her a bit nervous, which was silly because she had interviewed Joe Montana (granted he was friends with her family), for crying out loud. He was just an average player on an average team sitting in the living room of a very average girl. Woman. Shit.
“Well, first of all”, he mocked, ‘”you’re assuming that I only spend time with women who can’t count to a hundred. Second of all, I never introduced myself as ‘Nick the Bartender’. You assumed that role on your own. Thirdly, you also assume that you could have me anytime you like, as if I’m impressed that you’re a journalist.” He was starting to feel edgy.
“I’m a writer, not a journalist. So how does it feel to be just another piece of meat? Sound familiar?” She was pushing it, she knew, but she couldn’t stop herself from pissing him off. It was her best defense.
“ I think maybe I should go.” He got up to leave, and she felt a pang of guilt. She stepped in front of him before he reached the step.
“I don’t know why insults shoot out of my mouth so easily with you. I’m sorry I can’t seem to help it. You took me by surprise, and I’m not too good with surprises. Please go back in and fight with me? Make it a good fight, though, or you won’t be invited back…plus I can’t possibly drink this bottle by myself.” Please, please, please stay…
“Somehow I doubt that. Ok, but there are some conditions. No insulting our fatal flaws. No false advertising of any kind and I’m in charge from here on out. I get to drive, I get to decide where we go, and I get to surprise you with every decision. You need to get over your phobia of surprises because I really don’t think that I can survive your insulting behavior if you don’t. Deal”? That damned smile again.
“O.K. Deal. But...”
“No!” They sat back down, Grace grabbing the champagne and orange juice on her way. She suddenly felt warm and cozy, and she decided to throw a Duraflame into the fireplace. As she crossed the room, Nick smiled. He had been thinking that exact same thing. He felt an old friend lurking about. He, Nicholas Alan Blake, felt all funny inside. But it didn’t stay dispersed for long. It definitely was moving towards a very concentrated area and he needed, more than anything, another mimosa at ten thirty in the morning. What the hell was happening here? He began to feel awkward, and as she lit the fire he thought that he wouldn’t survive this day. The doorbell rang. With a surge of both relief and disappointment Nick realized that Justin had arrived.
Grace turned and rose to get the door. Nick stayed put on the couch, rubbing Gruden behind the ears. Gruden’s eyes followed Grace intently as she went to the door. The dog didn’t even bark! What if that was some psycho at the door? Maybe he needed to go to some sort of dog training school. He filed that away in his head so he could look into it later.
“Hey! What’s goin’ on? Whose Range Rover is that?” Nell burst in the front door as if she lived there. Gruden raced toward her. “Oh, I’m sorry! I didn’t know you had company! Hi, I’m Nell. You’re the bartender! Or whatever you are.” She laughed and shook his hand. He stood up to greet her. “Gee you guys, starting early today? Not that it surprises me. What’s going on?”
“Hi, Nick Blake. Nice to finally meet you! Actually, we were enjoying a mimosa while Justin decides what to wear today.”
“Ah, I see. Well, that could take all day. Mind if I join you?”
“Actually, Nell, we were just about to talk some business. Grace seems to think that she’s going to interview me, and I need to discuss some things first. Maybe we could hook up later on, though?” Grace couldn’t believe he just came up with such a blatant lie. She smiled on the inside. She kind of wanted a bit more time with just him, and she knew that if Nell stayed, they would alter their behavior towards each other. Had he wanted the same thing? Nell gave her a look of minor disappointment (she’d get over it real quick) and gave in.
“O.K, well, give me a call later then. Oh, I almost forgot! I need to borrow your car tomorrow if I can. My bumper is finally getting fixed and I have so many errands to run. I’ll drop off my car and walk here in the morning. The guy said he could only do it tomorrow while they’re closed so his boss doesn’t find out. He’s only charging me twenty five bucks, and the rest of it I’ll trade for catering his anniversary party. I love having my own business!”
“Nell owns a Bistro in Bellevue.” Grace explained. “Yeah, I guess that’s all right. I don’t really have anything I need to do anyway.”
“Perfect. Thanks!” She turned her head as she walked to the door. “Nice to meet you Nick! Don’t say anything you’ll regret, she might quote you.” She laughed and was gone.
“I wonder where Justin is. Do you think we should go over there?” She asked.
“I’ll call him in a minute. Just so you know I won’t do an interview with you. You know that. I keep myself as private as possible, I know it sounds funny. I talk about the game, but no private stuff. I saw your article on McNeil, and I know how you like to bring up personal issues. Please don’t take offense to that.”
“Well, I know that you rarely give interviews, and you turn down televised talk shows, but I thought that you were just a little shy is all.” She smiled and settled down on the couch next to him. “Don’t worry. I won’t quote you without a written agreement from you, O.K? Besides, I like to think of you as just a bartender trying to find his way through life. It’s easier that way. So I guess you weren’t lying to Nell after all, I was hoping you just wanted to spend more time with just me." She smiled and took a sip of her mimosa and couldn’t believe that just came out of her mouth. She pulled the flute from her mouth spilling a few drops down her cleavage. Damn! Why was she so hopeless? Nick’s sudden laughter caught her off guard.
“You are priceless, Grace! Really priceless! Here’s to making new friends.” He lifted his glass, clinked it against hers; wanting nothing more than to chase the spilled champagne down her shirt with his mouth. He noticed her deep breath before she took another sip, again spilling it. “For crying out loud!” He got up to get a towel. Gruden followed him like a shadow. “I don’t know how you even function in the world,” he laughed, “do you ever go out to eat in public? I take it you don’t wear white to an Italian restaurant.”
“Now you’re just being mean! As a matter of fact, coincidentally I always wear white, it never fails… I am pathetic, I know, but that’s me, take it or leave it. What’s it to you, anyway, it’s not like I’m trying to wiggle my way into your bed or anything.” She hoped she sounded more convincing than she felt.
“Uh, huh, anyway…” he laughed. He couldn’t remember the last time he had laughed with a woman and meant it. He had a sudden urge to pull her to him and hug her so tightly that she couldn't possibly let go, but he knew that she was serious about the wiggling herself into his bed thing. As much as he wanted her, she wasn’t easy, even though he knew that she wanted him. Plus, this was one of Justin’s best friends, and if he broke her heart, Justin would never forgive it a second time. Sometimes life’s curve-balls weren’t remotely hittable.

4


“We’ve decided, Grace, that you’ve become quite a hit! We want you to follow the Sunray's wherever they go and report on each player as the season progresses. Northwest Sports wants you to do a weekly magazine show on each featured player, so this very well could be your breakthrough opportunity!” Justin almost squealed. Grace almost threw up.
“What are you talking about, Justin? This isn’t funny, I don’t like surprises, real or not!” Seriously, she was going to throw up all over the conference table.
“Grace, you’ve read your fan mail after your McNiel interview was printed! The women love your refreshing point of view. You’re the talk of the town in the sports arena because you chose such a sexual angle! You’re the ‘Sex and the City’ of sports journalism! Now we have boyfriend’s begging us to stop you from getting the women interested in professional sports. Not to mention the interest from the gay community. I’m gonna exploit this until I can retire at thirty six.” He was so excited, she couldn’t bear to disappoint him.
“Fine, I’ll think about it. But absolutely NO television!”





5

“In only four weeks, the Sunray's will pack up their gear and head to sunnier skies in the Arizona desert. This is a time to test the strength, the ability, the talent and the stamina of the men who believe themselves to be worthy of wearing the red and gray. I intend to follow these brave warriors into the battle that is Major League Baseball. Ladies, it might not be pretty. Leave the boys in the bar, make yourselves some Margaritas and settle in while I take you on an inside tour of what it’s really all about, next month on Sports Northwest!” Ugh, she had seen the promo a million times already. Was she that frumpy? She had to do something about her hair. And her body. Justin wouldn’t let her change a thing because the guys would feel more comfortable talking to Grace than some floozy. Deep down, however, she wanted to be that floozy. She wondered when she would get the chance to interview Nick Blake. She had sent his keys to The Avenue bar via courier, thanks to Justin. He was probably pissed as hell that she had stood him up that night. It all seemed like so long ago, even though it had only been a month and she still had that lingering feeling of disappointment at herself for not going. As much as she denied it, she actually enjoyed the brief heated arguments that they had shared. What an ass. Nevermind, she thought to herself, he would get his when she had him in front of the camera. All in good time.

She awoke in the middle of the night to a tapping noise at the window. It was two in the morning, for God’s sake, this had better be good! “GRACE FITZZZZPRATRICK!!!!! COME OUT AND FACE ME NOWWW!” Ah shit, Mick. Bless the child, for he had a crush on the American Woman who made him shine! She pushed the quilt over her body and reluctantly got out of bed. Why? Why me? The dog started growling on the floor next to her. “Hey, sunshhhine! Whatz freshh?” Great, a lonely and drunk Irish pitcher in her yard. What next?
“Go away, Danny! I’m not interested!” Please, please go away…
“Iloveyasewmush…thoo.” What? What the hell was he saying?
“I’m calling a cab, Danny. Wait quietly on the front porch. You don’t love anybody, remember? You’ll never love a woman again, they’re heartless and evil beings. It’s true, I quoted you! Don’t forget who you are this early in the game, dammit! Call me tomorrow!”
“Bye, you are right, who am I? Where…” He drifted into oblivion. She left him there. What a character! Where was she…oh yeah, Nick was looming over her completely naked and…she awoke with her clothes on from the night before. Had the pitcher come to her apartment? She couldn’t remember. She reminded herself to tell him that she didn’t mess around with the players. Then her phone rang. Her heart skipped several beats as she realized it was Nick’s number. But it wasn’t Nick’s voice she heard after hello. It was Justin’s.
“Hey, doll! It’s Justin. Where are you?”
“I’m at home, where do you think I am? I think Danny McNeil came to my house drunk last night. What are you doing up this early?” It was seven thirty and she knew that he didn’t usually wake up until at least noon on Saturdays.
“Actually, I’m still up. I ran into Nick and Liz last night. They got into a lovers quarrel so he and I decided to go test out the blackjack tables. Hey, I won four hundred dollars! Wanna spend the day with a rich sexy man?” And gay. Story of her life.
“Well, I do need to get some clothes for Arizona…”
“Sure, I’ll pick you up around ten, then. Be ready, I’m scared to wait with that thing in your house!” With that he hung up. Suddenly that thing jumped onto her bed. Gruden was ready for his morning walk, so she reluctantly got out of bed and pulled on her sweats.
“Come on, thing. Let’s go outside!” The big German Shepherd wagged his tail and raced for the front door, grabbing his football in his mouth before skidding into the wall. It was no use. He was as graceful as she was.



6

Nick came back to the table from the men’s room.
“Who was that? Was it Liz?” God, he hoped not. One of these days he was going to give up and date someone above twenty three. Liz had been getting a little too attached lately. He was going to have to slow things down a bit, or completely if that’s what it took. Nobody told him what where and with whom he could see. Her jealousy was borderline psychotic. All he had done was inquire about Grace to Justin last night and she had flown off the handle! He was so embarrassed that he said some pretty ugly words to her in public and grabbed Justin to leave the bar. He left her behind without even looking back. Now he was in for it. He knew that going to the casinos all night would protect him for a while, but now he was forced to go home. He needed a shower, and he thought that maybe he would actually shave his beard today. Spring training was quickly approaching, and he knew that he needed to start mentally preparing for it. Getting shit from the guys for his appearance was not an option. He just was too lazy to shave, that’s all. Plus Evelyn, the airline stewardess he had met on the plane home from California last week, had said that he looked dangerous. Which everyone knows means sexy. Maybe he would just trim it up a bit.
“Nick! Are you getting all this? Hello?” He realized Justin was waiting for an answer.
“What? I’m sorry, I was thinking about Arizona. Who did you say was on the phone?”
“I didn’t. And Arizona my perfect ass! I have a solution for you. Drop me off at my place and pick me up at nine thirty. I have the day all planned out for you, no arguments. It’ll be fun. Whatever you do, Nick, do not answer your phone! In fact, give it to me. Lock your doors so she can’t get in and entice you with an apology, either.” He knew Justin, and arguments were futile. He decided to go to Frankie’s house to shower just to be safe. That ruled out shaving.

3


Nicholas Alan Blake grew up in a small town just south of Cincinnati, Ohio. Because it was south, that meant that he lived in Kentucky, which, by the ripe old age of ten, he despised. He went to a private school in Cincinnati, and the kids incessantly called him a country bumpkin, among other things. But that was O.K., it only made him tougher. His mother always told him that the other kids were jealous because he lived on so much land with horses, and his very own lake to swim in. He didn’t care, he just wanted to be one of the guys, so he developed his scowling “I don’t give a shit what you think” attitude that actually drove all the prissy girls crazy. He soon became the most popular boy in the fourth grade, which really grossed him out. All he wanted to do was play sports; he really didn’t like all that girlie attention. He wanted to be a famous football player like Joe Namath or Terry Bradshaw. He wasn’t that good at it, though. Every time his dad threw the ball at him, he couldn’t keep it in his little hands. Then his dad bought him a baseball glove. He ate, slept and went to church attached to that glove. It had become an extension of his arm, and he really knew how to keep his eye on that little white ball that he had become to love so much. Baseball became his best friend and his first love all at the same time. When he was thirteen, his dad got a promotion, and they moved to Lexington where his new office was. His mother was so happy because they were able to buy a thoroughbred farm complete with the white wooden fences and a big statue of a running horse at the entrance gates. Nick hated it all the way out there and only wanted to move away so that he could play ball for New York, or maybe Chicago. He went to a Red’s game whenever his dad could steal the time to drive up to Cincinnati, but that just wasn’t good enough. He needed more. One evening, when he and his dad had returned from a day game against the Mets, they came home to his mother and a gentleman friend of hers engaging in more than just pleasant conversation. Nick was devastated, and would never forgive his mother for betraying them. His little sister was crying in her room, and Nick went to make sure that she was all right. She was only two years old and he was pretty sure that she was too young to understand what was happening. When he got to the door, he realized that the door had been locked from the outside. What if something had happened to her? What if she had choked on a toy, or climbed out of her crib and fell? While his mother was in bed with another man, his sweet little sister was left to fend for herself! He screamed for his father, and when he didn’t come right away, he threw himself against the door. When his dad got to the door, it was splintered in two, and his son was holding his little girl, both of them crying. He packed the kids up and left for the airport the very next morning. Nick never went back to Kentucky after that day. He grew up at that moment of discovery. He became the other parent to his sister, and the caretaker of their new home in Seattle. His father’s company had transferred him to their corporate office without question. That’s when he met Justin and Caroline Stone. They were the twins who lived a block away. They were a year younger than he was, and they carpooled to Seattle Prep together. Nick had begun to give up on his dreams to be in the big leagues. He was now resigned to be a goddamned housewife at what should be the best time of his life! He was, after all, a teenager with needs! One of which, was Caroline Stone. She was so pretty, and soft, and sweet, and she was going to be his first kiss, he just knew it, and he felt all funny inside. He didn’t ever want that funny feeling to go away.

Nick curled his lips up into a small personal smile as he thought about Caroline. As he remembered their first kiss together, he couldn’t help but feel the pang of guilt that he would always carry with him where she was concerned. Thank God Justin didn’t still carry his anger the way Nick carried that guilt. God love Justin and his big, albeit gay heart. He reminded himself to invite him over for dinner sometime this week, if he didn’t go to Palm Desert, of course. He turned the corner wondering why he was suddenly feeling so damned nostalgic. He was truly pissed just five minutes ago, for Christ’s sake! Damned foolish girl. Now he wished he had gotten his keys after all. He hailed a cab and headed for Frankie’s. He wasn’t going to be able to make an appearance at the bar tonight; he had other things in mind. She would just have to get over it, is all. Tonight he would set Grace straight about some things. What things, he surely didn’t know, but he knew that she needed a good straightening. He would figure it out later. What the hell was he thinking about? He was so incredibly unsure of himself! Perhaps he should help Frankie out after all, and he would send her to meet Grace and get his keys. That’s exactly what he’d do. That’ll show her how little she interested him. Good plan, my man, good fucking plan.
He arrived at the bar at noon, and Frankie was in the office doing the books from the night before.
“Hey, Frank. I’m gonna have to ask a favor tonight, O.K? I need you to go to Cutters at Pike Place Market and get my keys from this woman at five o’clock. Can you do it?” He waited with baited breath. She hadn’t forgiven him for tricking her into meeting her ex-boyfriend last night, and he really didn’t think that she would agree to help him any time soon. After a few seconds of silence, he continued. “O.K, so I guess I can’t come in tonight, I really need to get my keys, or I’m locked out of my house. See ya shortstop.”
“Wait! Wait right there, big shot! If you think I’m gonna go get your keys from some dumb bimbo because you’re too mortified that you actually slept with her last night, not to mention what you did to me, your fucking crazy!”
“What did I tell you about that mouth of yours? That is so unattractive, and you’re above that kind of talk, Frankie.”
“I talk like I was taught, Nick. Forget it. You need to clean up your own messes. And you better be back here to help me close, I’ve been here since nine this morning.” Yep, she was still pissed. Shit, he was set on not having to meet this annoying woman tonight.
“Thanks a lot. I’ll remember this; some thanks for raising you when I should have been playing little league.”
“It would have ended the same way, big shot. Now get out of here. I have some interviews today. God knows I need a real bartender behind this bar.”
“Ouch!” As if. She loved him because he’s free publicity. He’s being used even by his own flesh and blood! He left her to her work and sauntered down the beach in search of the perfect cup of coffee.

Grace lifted her shirt up to wipe off the nonfat vanilla latte that she spilled on it moments before. As she patted the stain, she wondered why Nick didn’t just go back and get his keys. She certainly didn’t have time to meet him at the bar tonight. He was so mean and cocky, she wouldn’t go even if she could. How could he be so nice and charming in the bar, and so infuriating outside of it? Well, she had been humiliated not once, but twice in public because of him! She had half a mind to write a column about it for the magazine. Didn’t he realize that she could destroy his already tarnished reputation? Something was up his ass, and the writer in her wanted to find out what, but the woman in her knew that he wasn’t worth it. Nobody was worth his blatant disrespect for women. She rose from her chair and walked along the beach to gather her thoughts for her interview tomorrow. She heard that Danny McNeil was quite a gentleman according to some of the local gossip. You didn’t have to go far from the stadium to hear the girls chattering excitedly about him. This could be fun, she thought. Indeed he was too young for her, but how does one define too young, anyway? She couldn’t believe she was actually having this conversation with herself. She smirked at the thought of it all and got into her car. In front of her, Nick crossed the street. Neither saw the other.

2


Grace Fitzpatrick crawled out of her car in the parking lot of Time’s Up Publications. She had a slight headache; but then again, she usually did so early in the morning. One of these days she would slow down her cocktail consumption. Today she would spend getting all of her background information on the newest pitcher that the Sunray’s had acquired from Ireland, of all places. He was a 22 year-old firecracker who was discovered quite by accident when one of the Sunray’s outfielders went on a vacation to visit friends in Dublin. She reached into her purse for her cell phone. Shit, she must have left it at home. As she passed through the front entrance of the building, her editor, Justin, accosted her.
“There’s a baseball player waiting for you in your office, and man, is he gorgeous! I might have to take up baseball games this summer…anyway, you might as well do the interview now and get your background research together later.” Great, she wasn’t remotely ready for an interview with Danny today. Why was he here today?
“You know, if you think this guy is so great, why don’t you entertain him for the rest of the morning? You never know, maybe he’s gay…that would put a whole new spin on my story.” Grace blew past Justin into her office and stopped in her tracks. Nick Blake, center fielder extraordinaire and hottest player alive was leaning against her desk with his ankles and arms crossed as if expecting her. She, for the first time in her life, was totally speechless.
“See, the craziest thing happened last night, I was gathering my friends up after you left the bar in such a rush, when a phone rang. At first I thought it was mine, but my phone doesn’t ring to the theme song from “Sanford and Son.” Charming, by the way… Anyway, I decided that it might be a good idea if I answered it. Your friend Nell is quite a gal. She’s funny! I should’ve asked her out.”
Justin drew a deep sigh, showing his disappointment. Nick continued as if he hadn’t noticed.
“Thanks Justin, but I think I can take it from here. So, Grace, is it? Yeah, we met the night of your little birthday celebration, but I sincerely doubt that you remember. And no, I’m not gay. Bye Justin.” Did he just dismiss her boss?!? Justin turned to leave, and Grace told him that she would meet him in his office in five minutes. “So here, princess, is your phone. You should really keep better track of it.” He handed her the phone, and Grace took it, never taking her eyes off him. Damn, she loved that smile! It was purely evil the way his scowls turned into teeth and lips and all of the things in between. She tried to convince herself that he wasn’t her type after all.
“Thank you so much, but you could have just left it in the lost and found. Nell would have told me.” She reminded herself to kill Nell as soon as she could. Why wasn’t she warned about this? “I’m sorry; I didn’t quite get your name?” Smooth. Don’t let him know that you’re dangerously close to being his stalker.
“Uh-huh,” he paused and raised one brow inquisitively. “Are you sure, you being a sports writer and all, that you don’t know my name? Nick Blake? Center field? No? I’m sorry; I must be too old for you to notice me. I hear you have Mick stopping by to see you tomorrow. Like ‘em young, huh?” He grinned again, and she thought she noticed a bit of cynicism in his tone.
“I’m sorry, who?”
“McNeil… Danny?” Was she stupid?
“Oh! Yes, I do indeed have an interview with him tomorrow. Speaking of which, I need to get to my editor’s office. Do you mind seeing yourself out? Thanks for bringing my phone; you really didn’t have to. It was nice to meet you, Mick. I mean Nick. I happen to be new to Seattle by nine months. I’m new to the sports world; I’m a poet, really. I’m actually a football fan, not baseball, so I’m sorry that I didn’t recognize you. I know how your major league ego must be bruised…” Did she actually just say all that? Oh my God, she had no self control! “Good day, then.” She had to get out of that office! She grabbed her laptop on the chair and left him standing there leaning against her desk, totally unaware that his smile had turned into one of his famous scowls.

Upon entering Justin’s office, she really thought that she was going to throw up. Justin stood up and smoothed his tie. She headed for his wastebasket on the side of his desk.
“Hangover, my darling?” He laughed. “Well, well, well, what have we here, a case of mistaken identity? Really, Nick… McNeil, I can never keep them straight, so sorry about that. Anyway, what a doll! Have you been a bad girl with him yet? Do tell Uncle Justin.” He was impossible. He had deliberately lied to her about who, exactly, was waiting in her office.
“Why did you do that? You know that I can’t function in front of attractive men! Why did I even bother confiding in you? Did Nell call you about this?” She wanted to punch him in the jaw, she was so mad.
“Actually, no. He did. I’ve known Nick since junior high school, silly. When you told me that you had seen a hot baseball player at Frankie’s I knew exactly who you were referring to. I just wanted to see how you would play it out, that’s all. Nell told him where you worked, so he called me to find out when you’d be in. If it makes you feel better, I’ve seen him naked, and he’s definitely worth it.”
“Worth what?”
“The hurt you’re gonna feel when he inevitably breaks your heart. Nick is a hopeless bachelor, Grace. He likes ‘em young and dumb, and quite frankly, sweetie, I’m surprised that he even seems remotely interested in you. No offense.”
“What in the hell is that supposed to mean? What do you mean you know him? Shit, Justin, you’re a bastard! I just pissed him off in there, and now he’ll never talk to me, let alone let me interview him!”
“I didn’t know you were scheduled to interview him. Listen, you’re a beautiful independent woman. You’re not his type, that’s all. And I’m deeply wounded by your remarks. By the way, you’ll never get an interview with Nick Blake. Don’t you have another story to prep for? Bye now, sweet cheeks. I’m very busy. I’ll see you at the boat at 5:30. Baby, it’s Friday night, and my newest lusty young man is going with us, so don’t be late.”
Of all the rotten things, this took the cake! How could he have played her like this? She never should have let him convince her to take this job. She knew working for him could get dicey; he was one of her best friends, after all. But how could he have hidden the fact that he knew one of the most notorious ball players in the league? He knew that if she could interview Nick, she would move up in the ranks! Sports Illustrated would take notice. At the least the local newspaper! She turned into her office and sat down to call Nell when she noticed that Nick had left his keys on the desk. Damn it. That meant he had to come back for them. She needed to get out of here. She would skip on over to Nordstrom for that make-up. That should give him enough time to grab his keys and leave the building. On the other hand, she could apologize for her earlier behavior, and ask him for an interview.

As Nick walked down the street to his car, he silently swore to himself. What the hell had just happened in there? She couldn’t possibly have shrugged him off like that! Who did she think she was, anyway? She’s the one following him with her eyes every time he moved! Oh, God, had he imagined that? He was going to have to call Justin and get the skinny on this one. No one treated Nick Blake like that. And what kind of a sports writer didn’t recognize him, anyway? Sure, Time’s Up was just a local independent entertainment magazine, but still. Was she for real? He reached into his rain jacket for his keys, and realized, with dismay, that they weren’t there. Great, he must have left them on her damned desk! He pulled his phone out to call Justin, and noticed with horror that he still had Grace’s phone. He had given his phone to Grace! Shit. The last thing he wanted to do was see her again. Damn, he was angry now. He turned into Nordstrom to see if Liz, his most recent fling, was working. She was a 24-year-old art student who loved to live on the edge of the world. She was great in the sack, and that’s really all he needed to take the edge off. He wondered if she was willing to have a quickie in a back hallway somewhere. He decided to call his cell phone to see if Grace would answer it and make arrangements to swap back through Justin. That way he wouldn’t have to see her face to face again. What did she mean “major league ego”? God, she pissed him off. He dialed his phone number. Then he heard his phone ring. In the store. As he turned, he saw her unmistakable profile at the Lancôme counter. Shit. Liz was applying lipstick onto Grace, and for a moment, he was caught up in a fantasy involving those lips somewhere else. She grabbed the phone, looking puzzled.
“This isn’t my phone…oh, great!” She looked at the incoming number and realized it was her cell number. “Hello?”
“First of all, don’t ever make insinuations about my so called major league ego, and second of all, who do you think you are, anyway, talking to someone you don’t even know like that, who, out of the kindness of his heart was doing you a favor to begin with? You really piss me off, Miss Fitzpatrick! I need my keys and my cell phone. Now.”
The now somehow seemed to brush against the back of her neck, and her hair felt like it was standing on end. She slowly turned her head around and was face to face with the man himself, and he didn’t look real happy.
“Nick! Hi! I was hoping you would come by to see me today! You want to come by my place a little later on? I have chocolate sauce…” Nick cut Liz off as if brushing away a fly.
“Not now, Liz. I need a moment with your experiment, here. Could you give us a second?” Then he realized how rude he was being, and gave her a kiss on the mouth to pacify her. Grace stared in awe. He was a pig! She was half his age! Almost.
“Here’s your stupid phone, and your keys are on my desk. Go over and get them, and please don’t come back again. You are a vile disgusting excuse for a man, and I cannot, for the life of me, understand why I was ever attracted to you in the first place. Now, before you make another scene, kindly give me my phone and leave before I yell for security!”
“Are you kidding me? You’re a real piece of work, Grace! You have this uncanny ability to piss me off at the drop of a hat, and I’ve only seen you twice! How do you do that, I wonder? It must be that hard, bitchy exterior of yours. Apparently the only way to break out of it is to have a few too many cocktails. I’ll tell you what, you keep my keys, I’m not going back to your office. Meet me at Cutters by the market at five. Bring my keys, and lighten up your attitude, would you? I need to leave now; I’m contemplating whether or not to smack your ass so hard you won’t sit for a week! That’s the least of what you deserve.” Before she could reply in disgust he turned and marched out of the store, and it was then that she realized everyone in Nordstrom was staring at her. Her cheeks flooded with heat and she shakily walked out.
Little did she know, ahead of her Nick couldn’t help but grin. He had known she was attracted to him! She probably didn’t even realize that she had blatantly let that cat out of the bag. Score a point for the man; the lady can’t beat Nick Blake. He was too good. He would charm her tonight and she would become putty in his hands, even though she is annoying as hell. He felt like he was back in Upper School. Back when he was just Nick, before the major leagues and before the so-called glamour of fame and fortune. And he liked it.

Part One
“The Wind Up”

Wrinkled beams of yellow light situated softly against his familiar face.
Love sheepishly grins, and she’s caught.

Grace put down her pen, turned her gaze towards the beautiful man across the bar and continued sipping her Cosmopolitan as nonchalantly as possible. God he’s beautiful. Unattainable. Undeniably sexy. He had dark brown hair that any woman would kill for, thick and slightly tousled. His arms were tanned and muscular, he was a baseball player, after all, and the green long sleeved tee shirt pushed up to his elbows hung snugly in all the right places and matched the green of his eyes. His jaw was slightly squared and his chin had an ever so slight dimple, which didn’t compare to the ones on each side of his mouth when he thought to smile. She’ll never get him. She’s too normal and way too old. At 32, Grace was single, unsatisfied, and honestly horny. Her brown hair would be dull and lifeless if it weren’t for the power of highlighting and she swore her freckles were beginning to resemble age spots. She wasn’t happy about it, and decided to go to Nordstrom tomorrow and buy herself some new makeup. Until then, a little vodka never hurt to put a little color into her cheeks. Not to mention courage into her body. Maybe she would drum up that courage to speak to him. She ordered another drink from her server and buried her nose back into her notebook where she was writing her most recent poem. Nell was late, yet again, and she was tired of it. How could she do this alone? She was desperately close to becoming a barfly! Nell was her decoy, so where the hell was she? She remembered her cell phone, and reached for her purse.

As Grace searched for her phone, Nick continued to play local superstar. He had known she would show up tonight. He remembered her mention it the week before, which happened to be her birthday, and he had purposely sent her about three too many cocktails, for the sheer enjoyment of watching her progress from shy and unnoticed to center stage flirt. It always amazed him how chicks got split personality disorders when alcohol was involved. God how he loved them! Never a dull damned minute. He checked his watch. Only one more hour before Frankie would let him go home. He wasn’t cut out for this publicity crap. Baseball was all he knew, but family was family, and Frankie needed the help and he was well aware that showing up in the bar helped Frankie’s business. He glanced back towards Grace. He was pretty sure that she was hot for him. He was flattered, but he really enjoyed the thrill of a young naïve woman, and she didn’t quite fit the mold. She was pretty (but not a knockout), and after she had a few cocktails could be quite the crowd pleaser (she had made about twelve new friends last week, but he doubted that she remembered) with her sarcastic sense of humor. He caught himself several times this week remembering the sound of her laughter. It bordered on cackling, really, but was contagious all the same. He dismissed the thoughts going through his mind as boredom, and ordered another beer. Her cell phone rang, and she dropped it as she pulled it from her overloaded purse. What the hell could women possibly keep in those things, anyway? He started to walk towards her to help her out when Sherry, her cocktail server made it to the rescue first. He ignored his disappointment. Damn, he needed to get away, play a little golf in the sun. Maybe he’d go visit his dad in Palm Desert for the weekend. He wasn’t attracted to Grace, just restless, and the Seattle skies weren’t helping. He was watching Sherry bend over to grab Grace’s cell phone, noticing her tight twenty three-year-old ass when Frankie stormed into the bar.
“You son of a bitch, Nick! How could you humiliate me like that? You have some strange twisted idea of love, if this is how you treat me, you sadistic ass! Get the hell out of my bar!” Nick turned to see the fire in Frankie explode, and had an idea that laughter was definitely the best medicine.

His lips curled very slowly into the most beautiful smile that Grace had ever seen. How could he be smiling when he had wronged this incredibly beautiful (and very young) woman who obviously loved him passionately? Damn it Nell, where are you? I need help, she thought. One more drink, and then she’d leave. She was mildly curious as to how he would handle this fiery woman. No doubt, another tawdry affair gone bad. Shit, she was nothing compared to this woman. Suddenly she felt old and ugly and unworthy. No, she would order one more. She would walk up to the bar where he sat (God how she loved how confident vodka made her feel) and order her drink directly next to him as if everything was normal. She could do this.

As Grace lifted herself from her chair, Nick noticed her gesture of thanks to Sherry for her help. He also noticed that she hadn’t bothered to answer the phone that was incessantly ringing. He didn’t have time to think any further, however, because Frankie practically jumped the bar to get at him. He moved to his right as if catching a zinger off the bat of Sammy Sosa. She tackled him, however, and he dropped to the beer soaked floor laughing so hard his sides ached. God, she cracked him up! She pounded at his chest until he sat up and picked her up with him as if she were a pillow that he was carrying off to bed with him.
“Put me down! What in hell do you think you’re doing?” She screamed, and everyone at the bar was now focused on the situation.
“Frankie, I’m salvaging what little dignity you seem to have left. You can thank me later, but for now, shut the hell up.” Suddenly, as if in an old movie, the music stopped and everyone froze. Grace apparently was a bit buzzed already, and failed to notice. She sidled up to the bar where Nick was standing.
“Um, can I get another drink please? I seem to have spilled mine all down the front of my shirt.” Nick barely survived, for some inexplicable reason, this pronouncement, and if it weren’t for his sister’s crazy antics over his shoulder, he would have offered to personally clean up the mess that she had made of herself. However, that thought led to slight arousal, so his response was short and rude, “Later!” accompanied by one of his death glares that he seemed so famous for and she had never felt so stupid and rejected in her life. She picked up her purse and left after paying her server, tipping way too much, as usual. She would never grace him, no pun intended, with her presence again. The girl was right, he is a bastard. However, as fate would have it, she left her cell phone sitting right there on the bar, where fifteen minutes later Nick answered after the third ring. This would be the beginning of many strange and sometimes down right hilarious coincidences in the life of Grace.