Catch of a Lifetime: A Cricket Creek Novel Read Online Free PDF

It wasn’t that he was a womanizing jerk, like Jessica surely thought, but he ran because of baseball. His pro-baseball father had repeatedly cheated on his mother throughout his major-league career, turning her into a sad little shell of a woman until she finally wised up and left his sorry ass, taking half of everything, including his sizable MLB retirement. And while there were some really good guys in baseball, Ty had seen so many cheat while on the road, somehow thinking it was their right or was even expected of them as a professional ballplayer. Ty ground his teeth together just thinking about it. Like it came with the territory and was somehow part of the contract.
    After blowing out a sigh, Ty kicked a rock across theparking lot. His mother might have finally escaped, but all the money in the world couldn’t make up for years of misery, and he had made a personal vow never to do that to a woman . . . and the simplest way was to never get attached or fall in love.
    Of course, Ty realized that the women who threw themselves at pro athletes were to blame as well, and he had no problem with a hit-it-and-quit-it mentality with chicks who were in it for the thrill and nothing more. That being said, Ty had chosen his bed partners carefully, and more often than not, the eye candy on his arm never landed between his sheets.
    Ty drew in another breath of spring-scented air and shoved his hands in his pockets. He hadn’t really cared much about his player reputation until he saw the wary mistrust in the amber eyes of Jessica Robinson. He was drawn to the woman in ways he couldn’t even explain, and his casual questions about her to Noah had gotten at least a few answers. She had come to her aunt Myra’s diner sixteen and pregnant, and had raised young Madison in Cricket Creek before going off to culinary school and settling down in Chicago. Noah had said that Jessica had never been married and was dedicated to her daughter and her career, but apparently was back here to take over the diner. Ty understood and respected all of that, but she was a beautiful, vibrant, talented woman and deserved so much more.
    Ty scuffed his shoe against the concrete and then watched the sky turn orange and purple over the Ohio River. He had sunk some serious money into the baseball complex, but instead of feeling anxious about the investment, he felt good. This was a solid little town with good-hearted people. The kids trying out for the Cougars had been overlooked or let go from minor-league teams and were getting a second chance to fulfill their dreams. For thefirst time in a long while, Ty felt a sense of purpose, and he smiled.
    Life was good. . . . Now all he needed to make his night complete was a long, hot kiss from the birthday girl. With that in mind, he slipped behind the wheel of his car and headed over to Sully’s Tavern.

3

Surprise!
    “M om, may I give you some advice?” Madison asked while they waited at the curb for the light to turn green.
    “Do I have a choice?”
    Madison grinned. “No.”
    Jessica angled her head at her daughter and wished she already had that martini in her hand. “Shoot.”
    “Have some fun with Ty McKenna.”
    “What?” Jessica hoped she wasn’t blushing.
    “Mom, the man is hotter than a firecracker. Funny. Sexy as sin, and,
hello
? He’s totally into you. Have some fun. Flirt.” Madison leaned closer and whispered, “Kiss him. . . .”
    “Ma-di-son!”
    “What?” Madison raised her palms skyward. “He’s single; you’re single. He’s interested. What’s holding you back?”
    “I told you, he is a notorious player.”
    “So was Noah Falcon, and he and Olivia are happy as clams,” Madison insisted.
    “I never did understand that saying. Why are clams considered to be happy?”
    “The saying came from John G. Saxe in his ‘Sonnet to aClam.’ The full phrase is ‘happy as a clam in high water,’ since it can’t be found by predators then. Mom, why are you shaking