Carter picked up his glass, only to realize that it was already empty. How many drinks had he had? He’d lost count. To his immense irritation, he was only vaguely buzzed. It was just his luck that he couldn’t get drunk off his ass like he wanted to.He was considering whether or not he wanted to go back to his room and sleep or get another beer when a woman sat down next to him at the bar, wearing a skimpy top and even shorter skirt. The woman’s breasts were close to spilling from her top if she moved too quickly. She smiled flirtatiously at Carter, her lips bright pink and pouting.“You’re that ballplayer, aren’t you?” she said, a slight drawl to her words. “Basketball, right?”Carter couldn’t help but stare at her breasts: he was human and male, after all. She certainly had enough of them to get the attention of any straight male in this greasy little dive bar.“Close,” said Carter. “Baseball.”“Oh, even better. The way you guys handle those balls…” She fluttered her eyelashes.

The last time Carter had made out with a woman in the backseat of his car, he had been fifteen, a virgin, and had come in his jeans within five minutes. It hadn’t been his greatest shining moment.Now, though, he wanted to savor Lucy. She made the most delicious little sounds in the back of her throat, like she couldn’t get enough of him. He was infinitely glad that he’d sprung for a sports car that had a roomy backseat.A tiny part of his mind whispered he should tell her the truth, but he pushed the thought away. It would only hurt her, and besides, things had changed. It was no longer about getting revenge on Hayden: it was all about Lucy and how she’d taken over his entire world in such a short time.It was dim inside, but there was enough light from the distant streetlamps to let him see what he was doing. A small part of him wished he could see every inch of Lucy in vivid detail, but there would be other times for that. Right now, he needed to be inside her, to feel her shake

The following Monday, Carter woke up at five a.m. and couldn’t go back to sleep. He considered waking Lucy as well, but she was currently wrapped up in the blankets, cocooned in warmth. She was fast asleep, and he didn’t have the heart to wake her. Besides, he’d be back within an hour.He dressed in his running clothes and headed out. The town was still, fog rolling in from the water, and it was so quiet that the only sounds were Carter’s exhalations and the sound of his tennis shoes against the pavement.He had two weeks until he had to go to Seattle for his appointment with his orthopedic surgeon. Lately, he’d dreamt of the appointment, and one night he’d tossed and turned until Lucy had had to wake him up. The dreams always ended with him being told that he was officially retired for good, and it only increased the ball of anxiety building in his gut.Was that why he was so obsessed with Lucy? Because she distracted him from what could very well happen? It made sense, but then ag

When Carter stepped outside, fans mobbed him within minutes. Although most Seattleites were generally reticent to approach strangers, apparently today they made an exception for Carter. Fans of all ages crowded around him, demanding photos and autographs.“When are you playing again?”“You need to come back next season!”“Were you here to see your doctor? What’s the verdict?”Carter ignored the questions, smiling for the cameras and signing so many autographs that his hand began to cramp. He finally made some excuse and pushed his way through the crowd.He had no destination in mind. It didn’t really matter where he went, because his career was officially over.After multiple tests that included both X-rays and CT scans, Carter’s orthopedic surgeon had declared that his torn rotator cuff hadn’t healed to the extent it had needed to for him to return. I know it’s not what you wanted to hear, he’d said in that calm doctor voice that Carter hated. But it had been a real long shot an

“Luuuuuucy, dinner is ready!” called Thea from the kitchen. “I made vegan curry!”Lucy bit back a smile at her sister’s enthusiasm for all things vegan. Despite her trepidation, she had to admit that Thea could make damn tasty vegan dishes.At the moment, though, Lucy wasn’t hungry. She hadn’t been hungry much in the last month since she’d broken things off with Carter. She’d inadvertently lost five pounds, which, considering how petite she was already, was enough weight that Thea had commented on it. Lucy had brushed aside her sister’s concerns. The last thing she wanted to talk about was Carter and how he’d stomped all over her heart.Lucy had decided to stay with Thea and Anthony in Seattle for a week. A week turned into two, and now she’d been here for a month. Thea had quietly offered to help Lucy break her lease in Los Angeles if she wanted to move back to Washington, but Lucy had demurred.In all honesty, Lucy had no idea what she wanted to do. She was more lost than she’d e