“Can I help you?” Chase’s father approached the newcomer.

“Is Gavin King here?” Before anyone could respond, the ballplayer returned, carrying a pitcher of beer.

“Gavin!” She brushed past the host and ran as quickly as her stilettos would allow toward the ballplayer. “I’ve been looking all over for you!”

She threw herself into his arms.

Chapter 32

Kristin. Jessica didn’t have to hear the name to know who she was: the woman was even more beautiful than she had imagined. She saw Gavin put the pitcher of beer aside and attempt to disengage, but her heart sank when the swimsuit model refused to let him go.

“You okay?” Nikki was looking at her in concern, her eyes switching back to Kristin and Gavin before returning to her.

“Sure,” Jessica said. “I just need some fresh air.”

She couldn’t stay for this scene, for Gavin to realize this gorgeous model obviously wanted him back. How could she ever hope to compete with her? Kristin was stunning, the kind of woman that turned every man’s head.

And at one time, Gavin’s.

Picking up her bag, she started for the door as Gavin approached her. “Don’t leave,” he said, his eyes glittering with emotion. “I have no idea what’s going on, or why she’s here. But I will get this straightened out—”

“I think you two need some time alone,” Jessica said, refusing to meet his eyes.

“Listen, you have to know, you are the woman I care about…”

She wanted desperately to believe him, but even from the distance she could see the model looking at them in confusion as if she were still part of a couple, and Gavin her other half. “It’s better that I go.”

He didn’t look happy about her decision. “I understand. I’ll call you later.”

“Sure.” She didn’t try to smile.

Somehow she made her way to her car. Luckily, they had taken separate vehicles, and she quickly started the ignition and put the Honda in reverse.

Escape. It was all she could think about. Blinking back the tears that stung behind her lids, she swallowed hard and forced her attention to the road. Inwardly she cringed at the picture of the gorgeous Kristin, cool and confident, obviously certain that once Gavin was back in her presence, he would be back in her life.

And now having seen her, Jessica understood why.

—

“What the hell is going on?” Gavin confronted Kristin angrily.

He’d taken her outside so they could speak privately. Yet he sensed more than one pair of eyes on him from inside the bar.

“What are you talking about? This was the first opportunity I had to get away for a few days. I thought you would be happy to see me.”

She gave a little pout that he had once thought enchanting. Now, it seemed manipulative and irritating.

“You and I broke up,” he said evenly, aware that more than one of his teammates glanced out the window to where they stood. “In fact, you dumped me when I needed you most…two-timing me in the process. We have nothing more to say to each other.”

“I know I treated you badly,” she admitted, looking up at him through a thick layer of mascara. He noticed she didn’t deny anything. “And you are upset with me. But I made a mistake.” Her eyes grew wide as they settled on his biceps. “I saw you on Twitter, in that video, hitting the ball the way you used to. And you looked so damn good…I want you back.”

She tried to put her arms around him once more, but he set her firmly aside.

“You need to listen to me,” Gavin said. “I don’t know what you are talking about, but I’m not in love with you anymore. There is someone else for me. I’m sorry that you came here, as if your feelings were the only ones that count. Do you need a ride to your hotel?”

Reality seemed to slowly dawn as his words sunk in. “You bastard!” she hissed. “You came out here when the Dodgers didn’t want you anymore, and expected me to live on an occasional phone call or text. There was someone else, but not like what you and I were—now it’s over and I’m here. And now you drop me like last week’s trash?” Her eyes narrowed with anger. “It’s that redhead who just left, isn’t it?”

When Gavin turned abruptly to walk away, she flew at him, all nails and claws. Grabbing her wrists, he effectively prevented her from striking him, intending to give her time to cool down. Furious, she kicked out, and her heel smacked him hard on his injured knee.

“Fuck!” He wrenched away from her, wrapping his hands around his knee as he sucked in a breath filled with pain.

“Gavin, did I—” Horror replaced her outrage as she realized what she’d done and her beautiful face went white. “I didn’t mean it!”

“Go,” he said through his teeth. “Just go.”

Turning around, he hobbled back toward the hotel, slamming the door behind him. Cody was beside him in an instant and he grimaced, gesturing to a towel lying on the table.

“Can you put some ice in that?”

“Jesus, did she—”

“The ice,” Gavin repeated.

The catcher nodded, and rushed to make the ice pack. Word got around quickly, for just as he put the towel on his leg, Pete and Jake appeared beside him.

“You okay?”

Gavin looked up through a haze of pain, embarrassed to admit the truth. “She kicked me. I don’t think she realized…”

“Let’s get you checked out immediately,” Pete said. “I don’t want to fool with this. There is an urgent care five minutes away. Jake, do you mind—”

“I’m on it. Let’s go,” he said to Gavin, his voice grim.

Fortunately, the urgent care center was open late on Saturday, and was only minutes from the hotel. Gavin sat in the waiting room, filling out forms, while Jake waited beside him.

“You don’t have to stay here,” he said to the shortstop as Jake handed the completed paperwork to the receptionist. “There is a party going on.”

“Yeah, well, there’s one going on here, too.” Jake shrugged, glancing at the couple arguing across from them. “Don’t worry about it. We’ll both return once they take care of your knee.”

“Gavin King?” The receptionist called him to the desk. “Come on back.”

Jake helped him navigate the hallway, and they found themselves in a cubicle partitioned with white curtains. There was a bed in the center, and Gavin sat on the edge, keeping the ice firmly on his leg. A female doctor who appeared to be about sixteen years old entered the space holding his file.

“Knee injury?” she asked, and without waiting for a response, pointed to the ice pack. “Can you roll up your trousers so I can take a look?”

Putting aside the towel, Gavin did as she asked, exposing his leg. There was a cut in the middle where Kristin’s heel had torn the skin, and blood oozed out from the wound. The physician probed carefully, and when she looked up, her eyes were full of misgiving.

“It doesn’t feel like anything is broken. I’m going to put on some antiseptic so it doesn’t get infected, and dress this. The ice is a great idea; it will keep down the swelling and help the healing process. Try to keep off your leg as much as you can for the next few days.”

“The cartilage?” Gavin hesitated to ask. “I had surgery a few months ago. It was healing.”

“I figured as much. I saw the scar. Right now, it’s a little inflamed, so it’s hard to tell how deep the damage is. I’d suggest you check in with your regular doctor tomorrow morning, and get a new MRI.”

Gavin’s eyes met Jake’s, full of apprehension, and then he looked back at the physician. “Thanks.”

She nodded, applying an antiseptic and a clean bandage. When she finished, she handed his chart to her assistant.

“Ice it as much as you can tonight. Do you need anything for pain?”