Underdog Luke “Single” Singleton is yearning to make a comeback. After getting hit in the neck with a pitch—an injury that nearly cost him his life—he has one last chance to play for his hometown team, the Stockton Beavers. But his mom has Alzheimer’s, and he’s all she has to depend on. How can he pursue his career, much less someone special?
Personal care aide Roberta Bennett is done dating baseball players. Having had her share of heartbreak, she heads to Stockton hoping for a fresh start. But after she finds Luke’s mom outside, lost, and alone, she can’t refuse when he hires her on the spot. Unbeknownst to Luke, Roberta is all too familiar with the violent tendencies of the pitcher who hit him.
Now that they’re living under the same roof, the last thing either of them is looking for is a relationship. But it’s not long before they find themselves drawn to each other. And right when Luke is thinking about finally making a change to his single status, a secret from Roberta’s past emerges with the power to tear them apart.
we were finally starting to enjoy ourselves. This time, I pull on the corner of
her scarf and end up drawing it down over her shoulder, spinning her around. I
have her off-balance, trying to find her footing, when she falls into my arms.
on my neck at the exact spot where I got hit. I swallow hard, never believing
anything in the world could feel as good as this. If given the choice, I’d go
through all the pain and rehab all over again just to have her do what she’s
doing to me now. She glides her fingers along my jaw and across my goatee
before lightly skimming them over my lips, making me shudder with pleasure. I
lean in, and she lowers her hand, her eyes burning into me. Intent on capturing
her lips with mine, I’m close enough to feel her warm breath on my face when
suddenly she pushes me away from her, taking a step back.
“Sorry… I tripped and—”
“It’s okay. I—”
leaving the alcove.
just happened. I almost kissed her…
And for a split second, I could’ve sworn by the fire in her eyes that she’d
really wanted me to. God, could she
possibly have feelings for me? No… That’s just crazy. She probably didn’t
want to hurt my feelings, and to save
me the embarrassment, she graciously backed away before anything could happen.
Yeah, that sounds more like it. Now we can just pretend like she tripped and I
caught her and go on our merry way. My fingers stray to my neck, right where
hers were. Because that’s what she wants,
right?
