Rookie Mistake: A Sports Romance Novel (The Beasts of Baseball Book 1) (77 page)

He grabbed a few of mine as I swatted at him. “You’re a damn liar. I went out there to save you and you eat my food? What kind of thanks is that?”

“Thanks.” I winked at him.

“For dealing with the press?”

“No, for sharing your chips. They were delicious.” I laughed and moved back as he reached for me. We were far too old to be causing a scene in the middle of the sandwich shop, but life was too short not to live it.

*

“Which one?” I picked up two rings that I thought might look good on Alisa’s hand and held them out toward Mark.

“Neither. Those are big and gaudy. This isn’t about showing her that you’re still wealthy and can buy her the world. The wedding ring is supposed to whisper the truth that you know her… really know her heart.” He shrugged.

I was at a loss for words for a minute. Where was my shallow brother?

“Wow. That was deep.”

“Yeah. It was on a commercial this morning.” He chuckled and pointed to a much smaller ring with a spray of tiny diamonds encircling a larger one. “That looks like Alisa to me. She’s beautiful and sweet, but the complexity of her personality is vast. I think that ring speaks to that. Honestly.”

I picked it up and smiled before handing it to the saleswoman keeping an eagle eye over the expensive rings. “You’re right. How did you get away with being so sensitive and me not knowing it?”

“I didn’t want to be bullied by you, you brute.” He crossed his arms over his chest. “Come on. I’m ready to get out of here. I’m starting to feel like I need to buy Lizzy something.”

“You should.” I put the ring on the counter and smiled at the lady standing behind the register. “I need a size five. Can you check to see if you have one?”

“I sure can.” She smiled at me before looking over to Mark. “Did you need something checked too, sir?”

“Yeah, my sanity.” He chuckled and turned his attention back to me. “I’ll get Lizzy something once everything settles down. She’s interested in moving forward with her idea of a private firm with Alisa, but I know you guys have a ton going on right now.”

“We’ll always have a ton going on. You guys will too. That’s life.” I turned back as the woman approached and paid her. After tucking the ring into my pants pocket, I walked out into the main part of the mall to find Mark on the phone. The smile on his face told me that he must be on the phone with Lizzy. No one else had the power to affect my brother so much.

I pulled my phone from my pocket and found a comfortable place to sit before calling Alisa’s dad. Her mother answered on the second ring, her voice bringing back innumerable memories of me and Clark getting into trouble.

“Hello?”

“Hi, Mrs. Beeler. This is Zek Kellington. I’m not sure you remember me, but—”

“Are you kidding me? How could we not remember you? You half grew up over here, silly boy.” She chuckled as a smile lifted my lips. “How are you? Alisa tells us that the two of you started dating and that you’re a free man now.”

I cringed at her words, but simply went with the conversation. “That’s right. Thanks to Alisa’s hard work in defending me.”

“Well, we’re quite proud of our girl.” Her mother’s tone changed a little. “Speaking of… is she okay? You’re not calling because—”

I cut her off. “No, ma’am. I mean yes. I mean… she’s fine.”

“You seem nervous. This is almost comical.” Alisa’s mother chuckled again. “What’s going on, Zek?”

“I need to come visit you guys, but I thought maybe I could just call first. I bought a ring today, and I was hoping that you and Mr. Beeler would let me ask for Alisa’s hand in marriage. I’ve loved her since we were kids.”

“I knew it!” Her mother’s excitement left my insides warming. “Honey. Get in here. Zek is on the phone and he wants to ask us if he can ask Alisa to marry him.”

I glanced up as Mark walked toward me and mouthed, ‘who is that?’

“Alisa’s parents.” I covered the phone to respond.

“Hey, boy. It’s been a long damn time. What gives?” Her father’s voice filled up the phone and it was my turn to laugh. Clark and I had gotten into more trouble with his old man than anyone knew, including his pretty wife.

“I’m outside the jewelry store, and I’m hoping you aren’t going to make me go back in there and return this pretty ring I just bought for Alisa.” I held my breath, hoping that I had the right to joke with him after all these years.

“Well, hell no. She’s just like her momma and would likely come after all of us if we took that opportunity away from her. She’s been in love with you for far too long for us to stop it. Not that we would.” He cleared his throat. “People make mistakes, boy. We all know that. Just don’t make them again. Once you get married, it ain’t just you. You got a woman to think about, and a family too after a while.”

“Give me that phone. Zek is a grown-ass man.” Alisa’s mom came back on the line. “We’re happy for you, baby. Make sure you guys come visit us soon and show the ring off. We’ll want to tell everyone about it, and you’re getting married in our home church, so don’t get any fancy ideas about running off or having some big unnecessary wedding in a hotel downtown. It isn’t happening.”

“Yes, ma’am. I’ll have her call you the minute she says yes. I hope she says yes.” I chuckled as Mark gave me an incredulous look.

“She will, Zek. Just make sure you’re willing to take care of her. She means the world to all of us.” Her mother’s voice softened and I could tell that she was close to tears.

“I will. She’ll be my first priority from here on out. I’ll be in touch, and thank you.” I hung up after we said our goodbyes and let out a long sigh. “They’re good with it. That part is done.”

“Now, tell me how you’re going to do it. Where are you going to propose?” Mark nodded toward the exit and moved that way as I joined him.

“I want something simple. Intimate.”

“A restaurant? A private balcony? Are you thinking of renting out a penthouse?” He opened the door and moved out into the late afternoon warmth.

“No. I think that’s the kind of guy I was back then, but I’m thinking on the back patio at the house. I want to put up some lights and make it special. You got a few hours you can lend me?” I pulled my keys out of my pocket as we walked to the car.

“You bet. I’m not supposed to be home until five or six. Lizzy has been a bit of a wreck lately from everything going on at Dellup, but I know she’s ready to work with Alisa on filing a suit against the firm. We have our finances in order for her to take off a few months. Today she’ll be putting in her notice. I need to be home when she gets there in case she needs me.”

“Alright. This shouldn’t take long.” I got in the car and pulled out my phone, texting Alisa to meet me at the house at six, but not a minute before. I wanted her to know that I had a surprise for her, but didn’t say much more than that.

She called immediately, but I let it go to voice mail as I turned the car out of the busy parking lot and headed for the house. Tonight was the night I would hit my knee for the only woman I could truly see myself spending forever with.

Now I only had to hope like hell that she felt the same for me as I felt for her. The truth of the matter couldn’t be denied though. Any woman willing to put up with the shit my life had slung at us for the last few years was completely committed and beyond willing to love me for the rest of my days.

I was glad it was her, though it always had been.

CHAPTER 8

e

Alisa

Z
ek’s text was a little unnerving, but I tried not to let it bother me too much. I loved surprises and always had. Whatever he was up to, I was just thrilled that he was doing better. The time at the lake had been just what the doctor ordered. A peace had settled over me while we were up there, and I was still clinging tightly to it.

After having a quick lunch at my brother’s house, I made my way to downtown and parked in the garage that belonged to Dellup. I wasn’t interested in going up to see anyone, but I was hoping that Lizzy would come down to talk.

I’d done a lot of thinking over our mini-vacation, and I was ready to step in and help her get out of the firm and subsequently start our own. It was a big step, a scary one, but the excitement pumping through me let me know that I was on the right track. It was simply time to take a hold of my career and do something with it.

I walked to the coffee shop just beside the tall skyscraper that was supposed to have held my future. I pulled my phone from my pocket and searched for her number. After texting her to come down, I grabbed two coffees and a plate of various cookies. I found the most intimate table near the back of the busy shop and sat down as a smile lifted my lips.

“What are you up to, Zek Kellington?” I pulled out my phone and scanned through his message again. Be at his house by six and wear something comfortable, but pretty. What a request. We wouldn’t be going out from what I could tell, or he would have instructed me to wear something fit for a restaurant or a night on the town.

“What has you smiling like that?” Lizzy dropped down into the chair across from me with a loud sigh. “Zek no doubt?”

“It’s always Zek.” I slid her coffee across the table to her. “This is for you. I thought you might need it.”

“I do.” She picked up a chocolate chip cookie and took a huge bite before lifting the treat in the air. “I need this too.”

I chuckled. “That bad? Tell me what’s going on. Catch me up.”

She nodded and finished chewing before settling back with her coffee cup nestled between her hands. “I put in my notice today.”

“What? You did not.” Excitement pulsed through me and I leaned forward. Leaving Dellup had been a nightmare for me as well. Ronnie and the other partners in the firm hadn’t been very kind, and yet there was little they could do to stop me. The fact that I didn’t file my own lawsuit after telling the bastards about Dillon and having them do nothing about it was a miracle. One they should be grateful for. “How did they handle it? Were they surprised? Pissed?”

“All the above. It didn’t go well at all, but you know why.” She shrugged and took a quick sip of her coffee. “Ronnie made sure to threaten me against talking about the situation with the Ketchum case. I just nodded and played the part of a weary, overworked lawyer.”

“Wow. He has some serious balls, does he not?” I broke a piece of a sugar cookie off and popped it in my mouth. “We need to move fast, but you know that, right?”

“Yes. I’m ready. I’ve been gathering the evidence to prove that he offered me the deal to throw the Ketchum case. I have all of it in a safe deposit box at home. Do you want to take the case, or just sit as part of my legal counsel team?” She took another bite of her cookie, and I felt the heaviness sitting on her. The dark circles under her piercing gaze didn’t fit her at all. Nor did the weary expression on her face.

“I’m taking the case, unless you had someone else in mind.” I watched her intently, trying to make sure she realized that if anyone was a good fit to defend her, it was me. Not only was I still thought of as one of the top defense attorneys in the city, but I cared about her. She was like family to me, would officially be sooner than later, or so I hoped.

“No. I want you to represent me, but with us talking about starting a new firm, I just wasn’t sure if you wanted to have our names both splashed all over the media. You know they’re going to go crazy over this. It will cause Dellup to go under a full-blown investigation, and part of that will open up the files on Dillon Starling too.” She let out a short sigh and shook her head. “I just don’t want you or Zek to have to relive anything you’ve already closed the door on.”

“We’re both good. Healed.” I nodded and took another drink of my coffee before setting it down. “We’ll work on the case next week, and once that’s all cleared up, we’ll open our firm. Now… tell me if you know what surprise Zek has up his sleeve.”

Her eyebrow lifted as a smile played at the edge of her lips. “A surprise? I haven’t heard anything about it. I can text Mark and find out if you want me to.”

I thought about it for a minute before discarding my desire to unravel the suspense. Half the fun was walking into the unknown and having no clue what to expect. The fact that Zek was up to something left me feeling adored and important.

“No. I’m good. I’ll call you later and fill you in on what happens.” I smiled and shifted the conversation to the latest court cases I’d seen on CNN earlier that morning. If there was one thing attorneys enjoyed talking about, it was the business.

Especially when it got ugly.

*

After leaving Lizzy, I drove back to Clark’s place and changed into a soft white dress and strapped sandals onto my feet. I didn’t wear any makeup, and I left my hair down the way Zek liked it best. I had no clue what to expect, but by the time I reached his house, I was a bundle of nerves.

He met me at the door wearing a button down shirt and dark jeans. His brown hair was a little disheveled, and his feet were bare. I stood there for a minute, just taking him in before he laughed and pulled me into a tight hug.

“We just saw each other this morning, and yet I’ve been longing for you since I dropped you off. I think we should see a doctor, don’t you?” He brushed his nose by mine.

“Nope. There isn’t any known medication that will help your condition, other than me.” I lifted to my toes and kissed him softly. “What’s going on? This idea of a surprise is driving me nuts.”

“Oh yeah? I like you being edgy because of me.” He moved into the house and closed the door behind us. “I made us dinner, and then I thought you might like to have a glass of wine out on the patio with me. It feels too good outside not to fully enjoy the evening out there.”

I walked into the kitchen and breathed in deeply as the smell of garlic and tomatoes rolled across my senses. “It smells so good in here, Zek.”

“Good. Now, be careful not to get your pretty dress dirty, but help me plate up our dinner. I tried a new recipe, and Mark helped. God forbid I don’t mention that my older brother helped out.” He smirked and handed me a plate.