Page 32 of Wild Hit (Wild Baseball Romance #3)

AUDREY

Princess Rose

How are things going with the new hubby?

I debate whether to leave her on read, but that won’t pass my journalist roommate’s sniff test.

The truth is that Miguel has me drenched in sweat all over, and that I really will have to do something so I can keep up with him.

Not that I’m a fan of working out, but he’s an incredible dancer, to the point where he makes me forget that my body’s composed of only left feet, and I even have fun being twirled around.

Like, who is this Audrey that watches me on the mirror with a full body blush, gleaming skin, flat and messy hair, shining eyes, and the toothiest grin in the world? Anyone who takes one glance at me will really think I’m a real newlywed wife.

But Rose and Hope—since the conversation’s happening on the group chat—don’t need to know all that. No one needs to know that I’m feeling like I’m on the senior prom right now.

Me

The news have been dropped

Landed like a bomb

Dad hasn’t talked to me since

These are factors that sure as hell are contributing to the wide smile on my face.

I believe that what really sold the news was when I said that I had fulfilled the terms of the bargain by marrying a guy he approved of.

That was a stroke of genius that came to me in the moment.

I’ve really spent all night dancing with a hot guy to celebrate my freedom.

Our freedom.

Me

This is it, girls

We’re free from my tyrannical father

Darling Hope

Ugh forget about us

What’s important here is YOU being safe

Princess Rose

And also having some fun with a certain hubby

Me

Good talk, bye

A cascade of laughing emoji and stickers follows after that.

I wish I could muster my usual disdain for a big eye roll, but the truth is that I wouldn’t mind staying a bit longer and having another turn at the dance floor with the hubby.

Er, I mean, with Miguel—my neighbor, coworker, and friend. Nothing else.

I snatch a few more paper towels and pat my face dry, my neck, and even my pits just in case I’m starting to stink up like a swamp monster.

I brush my bangs to the side, because they don’t look super great when they stick to my forehead.

My dress has pockets—of course—and I fish in one of them for my lipstick.

I’ve snacked on fancy finger food enough that it’s virtually gone.

After smacking my lips and waiting for the product to dry, I straighten out my silky dress and head out of the ladies restroom in search for my partner in petty crime.

The one I find waiting for me outside is Henry Vos, though.

He tucks his hands in the pockets of his slacks. “Finally, we can talk,” he says, as if I’d been waiting for this moment the whole night.

Two women have to walk around us to enter the restroom.

One of them is kind enough to make eye contact in a way that’s reassuring.

I nod my head at her because sadly I know this jerk, and we’re still in a very public place.

I’m sure this little lobby that exists as a buffer between the restrooms and the side entrance of the main venue must have cameras and all.

I fold my arms tight and lean my weight on a single leg in the universal body language speak for make this quick, you walking piece of garbage . Or at least that’s what I’m trying to convey. “What do you want?”

“Your father told me.” There’s a half smirk on his face, even though his eyes are like shards of ice. “You can’t possibly expect me to believe that your sudden marriage is real.”

The warm and fuzzy feelings I was enjoying part, allowing a block of ice to slide down my spine.

On the outside, I keep my composure by shrugging. “Think whatever you want.” I sidestep him and all is well for one second.

The next, I’m seriously regretting having told Miguel that I was fine with going to the restroom by myself.

Henry grabs me by the elbow and pulls at me so hard, I nearly lose my footing.

He throws me against a wall in a nook I hadn’t realized was here.

A staff door is across from me, if I can reach it I can get rid of this pest.

But of course, Henry blocks my path with his wiry body like he once did by the coffee machine at work.

I’m sweating again but for a completely different reason. How could I remember that this asshole isn’t above cornering me and making me extremely uncomfortable?

I hope Miguel realizes I’ve been gone a tad too long. And that he doesn’t think it’s just because I’m pooping.

Lifting my chin, I try for my usual bravado, but I’m betrayed by a heavy swallow. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?” I try to free myself but he grabs even tighter onto my arm. “Let me go or I’ll scream bloody murder in your ear.”

“Have fun with that, I’ll just pretend like you’re the one having a mental breakdown for no damn reason.”

Oh, so he admits he’s actually acting unhinged, huh? Self preservation allows me to keep my mouth shut, though. Also because my arm is starting to hurt and he’s way too close. The nook is significantly darker than the lobby, and on top of that he casts a shadow on me.

“I knew you were kind of slippery, Audrey,” he whispers, like he’s not being a serpent right now. “But I didn’t know you’d go as far as doing something like this.”

“What? Falling in love and marrying the love of my life?” I ask through gritted teeth. The lie sits heavy in my stomach, or that could just be the fear that’s churning my guts.

He snorts. “Maybe Charlie believes that bullshit, but I don’t. You haven’t even kissed him once all night.”

Shit.

I’d never thought about it like that. It’s true that lovey dovey newlyweds would be all over each other, no matter where they may be.

“What’s that to you?” I grunt, trying to pry him off with my free hand. I hate that he’s so much stronger than me. “Let go of me, you brute.”

“I won’t. Not until you reveal the truth and end this sham marriage,” he threatens.

It’s a good thing, really. It allows anger to kick self preservation to the curb.

“Or else?” I demand, wondering just what power he thinks he has over my decisions. Even if Dad supports Henry, I now have enough friends that I don’t feel so helpless anymore.

But then a really ugly smile forms on Henry’s face, something out of the book of serial killers. “Or else I’m going to ruin your marriage myself.”

Then something horrible happens. He swoops down to kiss me.

I scream. I beg in my mind. I call for one name from the bottom of my soul.

And he appears.

My arm is free, and a violent thud echoes in the quiet nook. Slowly, I peek one eye open and all I see is an expanse of dark.

I open both eyes wide and my breath hitches.

Right in front of me is the person I most wanted to see right now—Miguel, his gigantic back to me, and the dark was the deep green of his suit jacket.

My eyes fix on the thick column of his neck, and the second I feel his hand near mine I latch on for dear life.

“Stay away from my wife.”

Miguel’s voice comes out like a feral growl, something I’ve never heard before.

And a flash of heat chases away the fear from my spine. My skin breaks into goosebumps. My knees threaten to buckle.

Some rustling follows after Henry’s creepy laugh. “Your wife? You want me to believe that you care about Audrey when you just married her for her inheritance?”

“Is that a self projection?” Miguel asks with that growly voice, sharp as a knife.

“Look at you, using big words when you’re just a trained circus monkey.” Henry’s condescending little speech makes Miguel’s back tighten even more. “But it doesn’t matter. You may think you won, but in the end Audrey will end up with me.”

“The hell she will,” Miguel snaps, his free hand balling into a tight fist. “Touch her and you die, asshole.”

Henry gasps. “What would your fans say if they heard you talking like that? And what about your daughter?”

I take a sharp breath.

Next thing I know, Miguel’s fist is coiling back.

“No!” I scream, throwing myself at him. I wrap my arms like velcro around his torso, hands digging into his body with all my force. “Stop, he’s trying to make you throw your career away!”

But Henry’s not done. He throws another mocking laugh. “See? She’s too smart for you, man. Why would she ever give you the time of the day when you’re so beneath her? The sooner you end this, the more embarrassment you’ll spare when I go to the press with the news.”

“Shut the hell up, Henry,” I shout into Miguel’s back, squeezing him tighter. “Shut up and disappear, will you?”

“Divorce him and I will,” he sing-songs back.

“Never.” I drag the r in a way that my roommates would be proud of. “Miguel is my husband. Suck it up.”

And then, I don’t know, I glitch—I guess.

In the grand scheme of events, this is absolutely not the wildest thing I’ve ever done. But I can only think of one way to put an end to this nightmare. I release Miguel, and just as he’s turning to check on me, I grab his face and bring it down for a kiss.

He draws in air and for a moment that feels eternal, Miguel doesn’t move. My fingers slide into his hair, grabbing tighter onto his powerful jaws, and it works. He’s finally playing along.

A tiny peep dies in my throat as his arms come around me, one hand holding the back of my head and the other at the small of my back as he tilts me back slightly. Our lips desperately latch onto each other, seeking taste and heat and closeness. More of each other— please .

He reads my mind again, and next thing he’s opening my mouth with his, and I let him, and our tongues meet in a silky brush that I feel all the way down to my toes.

His jaw works hard under my hands, and the reminder of how big Miguel is, how coiled is the strength of his finely honed body, puts into starker contrast how tenderly he’s holding me. Like I’m delicate.

I would swoon in his arms if it wasn’t for Henry cursing and mumbling some garbage that I can’t make out while I’m busy, well, making out.

It takes herculean effort to come back down to earth. I don’t know what I’ll find when I open my eyes. When our lips part with a smacking sound, I bury my face in Miguel’s chest and hope for the best.

He’s breathing harshly, chest going up and down fast, heart beating violently. I’m not doing any better—actually, I’m completely out of breath. Miguel’s arms are still around me and I don’t feel cold at all, not one bit.

I feel him shift slightly, and then his voice wraps around me. “He’s gone. You’re safe now.”

I squeeze the lapels of his suit jacket and stay still, knowing full well that I’m safe because Miguel was here.