Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 92167 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 461(@200wpm)___ 369(@250wpm)___ 307(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92167 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 461(@200wpm)___ 369(@250wpm)___ 307(@300wpm)
“I love you, Freckles.”
Placing her hand against his cheek, her ring sparkling in the light, she smiled. “I love you, too, Linc.”
His lips on hers erased all the cheers around them as she focused on him alone.
Epilogue
Sixteen months later
“Dad!” Greer hollered over the noise of the gathered crowd milling around after the away game finished. “Did you see me?” She ran toward him, popcorn containers and dropped drink cups were kicked out of the way of her lightning-fast steps.
Linc smiled and caught the projectile of his daughter launching at him. She wrapped her arms tight around his neck and hugged hard. One he returned.
“I saw you, kid. You were amazing!”
She leaned back, grinned, then came in once more, pressing her face into his neck. “I caught it and made a double play.”
Lord, baseball was difficult to watch when it was his kid playing. She eased up her grip on his neck and settled into his arms as he held her with ease.
“Uncle Carlos really is a great shortstop.”
He clenched his jaw and made what he hoped was an agreeing grunt. He and Carlos Ruiz weren’t best friends by any stretch but when his little girl made the move from outfield to shortstop, he bit the bullet and reached out to him, asking for pointers. The man had done more than that. He actually showed up with his wife, Ana, and his son, Mateo, who was a year older than Greer. Hell, he’d not even known the man had a child. Much less a wife.
“Meh,” he said with a grin as the man in question walked up, his arm around his slender wife. “He’s okay. I think, kid, you’re going to be far better than he ever will.”
Heads together, his daughter chuckled. “Of course I will. I have not only him teaching me but also you, Dad.”
“And you did well even with that challenge, Greer.” Carlos shot him a look only to grunt when his wife elbowed him in the gut. Ana was deaf but proficient at reading lips.
“Where’s Mateo?” Greer questioned.
“Over with some of his other friends,” Carlos said, jerking his thumb over his shoulder.
“Can I go say hi, Dad?”
“Of course, but don’t stay long. We have to get going.”
She wriggled and he set her on the ground. After taking two steps she came back and hugged Carlos. “Gracias, Tio.” A kiss on the cheek and she was gone.
Ana glanced between the two of them and shook her head before walking away, trailing in the direction Greer had bolted.
Silence stretched between them until Carlos cleared his throat.
“You’re welcome. You know, for me being the best uncle she’ll ever have.”
Linc fought a smile. “I liked you better when you avoided me. But I’ll be sure to tell Tully and Mitchell you said that.”
The man laughed and turned so they were shoulder to shoulder. A lot of people stopped to look at them and Linc got it. While getting to be a bit more common, it wasn’t every day that a current and a past professional baseball player were just hanging out at the park.
“I didn’t avoid you. I was avoiding a confrontation.”
Linc rubbed his thumb over his right eyebrow. “Whatever story you need to tell yourself.”
“You’re lucky my wife likes you.” Carlos crossed his arms.
Another snort. “You’re lucky she likes you.”
The man nodded sagely. “There is that. How’s Emma?”
It still grated to have his wife’s name on that man’s lips, but he swallowed his snappish response. Emma got it, he was going to be jealous until the day he died. It’s what it was going to be.
“Claiming she’s a whale and that my big-headed child has gotten too comfortable and is resting on his laurels—not planning on coming for a while yet.”
Carlos laughed before clearing his throat and pushing his hands in his pockets. “Sorry. Date’s coming soon, though, yes?”
“Another month but she wants him evicted right away.”
“Ana was like that her last few weeks. Couldn’t get comfortable. Was cranky at everything I did and cried at the drop of a hat, making me wonder what I’d fucked up this time.”
Linc understood that. “Emma’s still working.”
He whistled. “Stubborn. I feel for her with this child. Your big head, her stubbornness. Here’s hoping he gets her looks.”
“I pray for that every day.” They watched as Greer, Mateo, and Ana began walking toward them. They signed about the game and his heart swelled for his daughter. She may not have come from his loins, but Greer was his daughter and he would beat anyone who suggested otherwise.
Mateo had begun teaching Greer how to sign so she could communicate better with his mother.
“Just a reminder, before your wife gets over here, and I have to pretend to like you again—your son better keep his hands to himself.”
Carlos laughed and when Ana walked up and signed “What’s so funny?” neither of them could stop laughing long enough to come up with a credible response.