The scout, p.1
The Scout, page 1
The Scout
Carina Rose
THE SCOUT
© 2023 Carina Rose
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except with brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.
This book is a work of fiction. All names, characters, locations, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, things, living or dead, locales, or events is entirely coincidental.
All teams, leagues, rules, and calendar of events within the league are fictional and should not be compared with any real professional baseball leagues.
Editor: James Gallagher, Castle Walls Editing
Proofreader: Rosa Sharon, Fairy Proofmother Proofreading
Cover Design: Sommer Stein, Perfect Pear Creative
Cover Photographer: Wander Aguiar Photography, LLC
Formatted with Vellum
Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Epilogue
Bonus Scene
About the Author
Contact Carina Rose
A note from the Author…
Acknowledgments
Books by Carina Rose
Chapter 1
Hannah
The buzzer sounded and chair legs immediately scraped against the linoleum floor.
“Bye, Miss Hannah,” my high school students said as they quickly filed out of my art room, ready to start their spring break.
“Bye, see you in a week. Be safe,” I shouted above their boisterous voices, knowing full well they weren’t listening.
Despite our class project of making signs for my upcoming reunion, I still couldn’t believe fifteen years had passed since I received my diploma. Not much at Blossom Berry Falls High School had changed. The cinder block walls were painted the same canary yellow, the combined cafeteria and auditorium still had that lingering school-lunch scent mingled with antiseptic, and the main lobby continued to feature the pictures of illustrious alumni who had gone on to do great things.
I wasn’t knocking the wall of fame. It did boast quite a few remarkable people who had attended our small school. The entire town of Blossom Berry Falls, Virginia, was very proud of them—and rightfully so. But from my graduating class, there was none other than Cash Jameson. Each day when I walked through the doors to start my day, I had to look at his gorgeous face—chiseled jaw, light-brown hair that had that effortlessly sexy look, and a confident gleam in his pretty sea-blue eyes that could (and did) garner him a lot of attention. Then there was that damn smile. It used to turn me on. Now it just irritated me.
One hundred years could pass, and I still wouldn’t forget the day he stepped into the main office. I happened to be there to turn in my crossing guard sash (yes, I was that student) when the prettiest cerulean eyes met mine. He knew the magic they possessed. Then he smiled, and I didn’t stand a chance. When the principal’s secretary, Mrs. Higgins, pulled up Cash’s schedule—and realized we had the same homeroom—she paired us together.
And that was how it started. From that day forward, it was me, the art student, and the hot new boy. All the girls vied for his attention, but for some reason, he gave it all to me.
Not that I complained. Why would I? Back then, and even now, I was average—which I was more than fine with. I wasn’t tall, thin, or glamorous. My hair was a soft brown that would get blonder highlights during the summer. I wasn’t a complete nerd and had a lot of friends, loved painting and didn’t bother with high school drama unless it was on the auditorium’s stage.
Life was quiet. Just how I liked it.
It hadn’t taken long for Cash to change all of that.
He quickly became my best friend, my first love, my first everything. And the first guy to break my heart. We were the couple no one saw coming and that everyone envied. To us, we were friends who one day cozied up a bit closer than normal while watching a movie in my basement. His thumbs had traced small circles on my shoulder, I’d snuggled into his side, enjoying the way his strong arm wrapped around me, and then I’d looked up the same time he looked down, and for some reason, our lips had met.
It wasn’t just an average kiss—not to us. It changed everything. In that moment, time suspended, our friendship morphed into something neither of us imagined, and saying I love you altered. We used to repeat those words all the time. Mostly because we were inseparable, and it rolled off our tongues easily. Except, it used to be a quick “Love you.” Then he added the “I” and said it in a tone so irreverent I could feel it down to my toes. Even my heart realized the difference. Those three words, combined with his unwavering gaze, changed everything.
“Knock, knock.” Mia stood in the doorway, pulling me from my thoughts. She and I had been friends since the eighth grade, and now we both taught at our alma mater. No one, not even my sister, knew me as well as Mia did.
“Hi.” I hung up my smock and grabbed my purse out of the bottom drawer of my desk.
Walking into my classroom, Mia let out her breath. “I can’t believe it’s spring break already. Thank God I decided to have the class watch a movie rather than discuss historical literature. No disrespect to the genre, but it was hard enough to keep them entertained with The Breakfast Club. But as soon as the bell rang, they were up and out as though their asses were on fire.” She laughed and glanced over at the long counters in front of the windows, where various styles of artwork sat to dry. “Oh wow, these are great. You’re such a good teacher.”
“The kids are talented.” I loved my students, and seeing their creativity made coming to work fun.
“You’re talented too. Don’t you forget that.” Mia’s phone chimed, and her eyes rolled as she looked at the screen. “The meeting is starting. Janice is getting antsy. You’d think this was a meeting to discuss world hunger, not our class reunion.”
I huffed out a sarcastic laugh. “Okay, let me just text Jimmy and wish him luck.” My son was the starting pitcher on Blossom Berry Falls High School’s varsity baseball team, the Bobcats. Normally I saw him before games, but they weren’t playing at home. In addition, I’d committed to help organize our class reunion, and the final meeting was this afternoon.
“Tell him Aunt Mia says to kick ass.”
Shaking my head, I tapped out and voiced, “Aunt Mia said to have a great game.”
“That’s not even close.”
Laughing once more, I put my phone back into my bag. “Okay, I’m ready.”
We walked down the hall to the library, where the reunion committee had gathered, and took our seats at the large table. Janice, who had been our class president back in the day, sat at the end of the table as a CEO would during a board meeting. She couldn’t have been more excited about this event, while Mia and I—well, mostly me—weren’t as excited. All I hoped was that Cash would be too busy to come back.
Aside from watching him on television, thanks to my son being one of his biggest fans, I hadn’t seen Cash since he left for the big leagues right out of high school. Jimmy knew we had graduated together but never asked many questions about him, probably assuming Cash was way too cool to hang out with his dorky mom—thank God. How do you explain to your son that the man he idolized was his father, who never called his mom back? You didn’t.
After a while, I’d let it go.
How long could I have gone on telling myself that Cash was busy and that once the season was over, he’d call or come home? Or that he’d read my emails or the letter I sent to the ball club. Granted, it had been about ten years since I’d done any of those things, but a girl could take a hint.
Then, two years ago, Cash got injured, so he was no longer a player for the Utah Hawks but a scout for them instead. Jimmy felt awful about his injury and even sent a get-well-soon card to the team’s address. Each time my son mentioned his idol’s name, I itched to tell him the truth, but getting the words out was a different story.
What if Cash didn’t take the news well? Or act like his father had? The last thing I wanted was for my son to feel rejected. We were doing well, the two of us.
“Hannah? Did you hear me?”
After a few blinks, I glanced across the table. “I’m sorry, Jan. What did you say?”
She gave me a small insincere smile followed by a long exhale. “I asked if you confirmed the DJ for the party.”
“Yes. All confirmed.”
“Great, thank you.” Janice looked at Michael, the athletic director. He hadn’t graduated with us, but thanks to Janice planning a full weekend of activities, including the varsity alumni baseball team versus the current varsity team, she’d added him to the list. It wouldn’t surprise me if J
That was another issue occupying my mind. I still hadn’t heard if he was coming to town, but I had a feeling now would be the time.
And I was right.
Michael nodded. “It is. The majority of your class’s team will be here, and I’ve filled some of the positions with local alumni from other years. I will say, our current team is very amped up to beat the ‘old men.’” He chuckled. “That was their words. They all found out right before I came here that they’d be on the same field with Cash Jameson. The boys are very excited.”
Mia glanced at me, and I gave her a tight smile. There had been no doubt in my mind that if I looked at my phone, I’d see that Jimmy had left me a text telling me about the announcement. My heart thundered, and it wouldn’t surprise me if others could hear its rapid beat.
“Have you seen him lately?” Susan, another classmate and a member of Janice’s clique, fanned her face as she looked at me. When I arched a brow, she added, “Cash. Have you seen him? You two dated, right? Wow, did he mature nicely. That man has to be one of the sexiest men who ever roamed these halls. To think he’ll be back. I wonder if he’s single.”
I narrowed my eyes. Along with the canary-yellow walls in the hallway, Susan hadn’t changed either. She’d always been one of the mean girls, and fifteen years later, she could still hold the title of class bitch—if that were a category in the yearbook.
She knew damn well we’d dated. Everyone knew about Cash and Hannah. We were inseparable. Even when teachers had an alphabetical seating chart, we were next to each other. Our class voted us the couple most likely to get married. Obviously, that never happened. Then I went to college and came back with a baby.
Mia chimed in, saving me from having to answer. “Was there anything else? I have another appointment to get to. And before you ask, the cake has been ordered, as well as the cookies.”
If I could have stood up and hugged her, I would have. Instead, I gave her a nod of appreciation, knowing our appointment was going to my house and cracking open a bottle of wine. She was the only one other than my family who knew that Cash was Jimmy’s father. Everyone else assumed it was my college friend Rob. Mainly because he’d accompanied me home for Christmas and was there when I went into labor. In small towns, rumors spread fast, and rather than correct them, I’d let it go. It wasn’t my fault people chose to assume things.
No one needed to know the truth. I’d tried to tell Cash and his family. His father didn’t believe me and thought I was after his hefty contract bonus. He also added that Cash never mentioned or asked about me, and that I should forget about him. Cash proved him right when he didn’t return my calls. As far as Jimmy knew, his dad was a great guy who just wasn’t ready to settle down—not all a lie. Cash was a great guy—until he wasn’t.
Janice shook her head. “No, we’re all set. If I have any questions, I’ll reach out. The final schedule of events will be sent to your email.”
As my students had done, Mia and I stood and hurried out of the room, then the building. “She is so annoying. And, really, was it necessary to have a dozen meetings for a class reunion that has sixty people in it?”
I shrugged. “Some things and people never change. So my place?”
“Yes, I’m going to stop and grab an extra bottle of wine. Something tells me we’re going to need it.”
Laughing, I couldn’t disagree. “I beat you to it. We’ll have plenty.”
“Great. I’ll follow you.”
During the entire drive to my house, I couldn’t stop my nerves or my mind from running through scenarios of Cash’s return. Would he seek me out? Go to our favorite spot at the park? Would he sit at our booth at Blossom Berry Falls Diner? Would he stay in town at the inn, or would he stay outside of town?
The one question that tickled my nerves was knowing whether he was married. The last time I’d seen him, he was standing next to a very pretty and very pregnant woman. I envied her. The way he gave her the smile that once belonged to me broke my heart. Despite all that, his baby would be close to Jimmy’s age. Did he have a brother or a sister? Another thought that added to the guilt.
One day everything would be out in the open, and I just hoped my son didn’t end up hating me.
“You know what you should do? Hook up with someone before Cash gets here.”
“Excuse me? How much wine have you had? And what does he have to do with it?”
Mia waved her hand between us. “It’s not the wine. Just think about it, Hannah. If you have sex, it can ease your sexual frustration. Well . . . temporarily ease.” Ignoring my eye roll, she continued, “Really, when’s the last time you had sex? And not some mediocre quickie. I mean full-on, orgasmic, shout-to-the-heavens sex.”
Fine. It had been a decade and a half. She’d flip if I told her that. Yes, we were best friends, but Mia would never understand how or why. It wasn’t that I didn’t date, and she knew that. I’d gone on four equally awful dates. Probably because no one measured up to Cash—not that many could. And it wasn’t just their looks. It was that euphoric feeling that I wanted again. That tingling in my belly of thousands of tiny flutters that would come to life when I looked at someone or when they looked at me. Could I have slept with one of those guys? Maybe, but I wasn’t that needy, and there wasn’t anything wrong with a self-induced orgasm. Volleying the ball back to her, I asked, “When’s the last time you did?”
Shockingly, she replied, “Two weeks ago.”
Thanks to her answer, my gasp sent wine down the wrong pipe.
“Hands in the air, Hannah! Hands in the air!” Mia threw her free one above her head as though I needed an example of what she meant.
Rather than listen to her, I got up, grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge, twisted off the cap, and took a small sip between coughs to help soothe my now raw throat. Breathing a bit more normally, I went back into the living room and sat back down. “Who did you have sex with two weeks ago, and why am I just hearing about it?”
She shrugged her right shoulder. “It’s no big deal. It was with Jacob.” When I blinked, she added, “Mr. Tillman? The substitute history teacher? I know you saw him.”
“Um, yes, I did see him. Everyone saw him. Mia, he has to be—”
“Twenty-four. I know, I know. I’m divorced, not dead. And, girl, I haven’t orgasmed that much in . . . well . . . ever. And his body was incredible . . . and talented. Guess how many orgasms I had.”
“Do I need to?”
Mia laughed. “Sorry, but I’ve been dying to tell someone. Well, you, since you’re my someone.”
“Fine, tell me. How many?”
“Three. Well, three and a half, if you count the time in the car, when I didn’t finish because we rolled up next to a cop. I didn’t even know that many were possible. I mean, I’ve read about them in romance books but always thought the author exaggerated. And his body is incredible. He has two percent body fat. Two. I have two percent body fat in my little toe.”
I couldn’t contain the snort that flew from my mouth. Thankfully she joined in. Neither of us were stick figures, but neither of us wanted to be either. We’d always had a little bit of meat on our bones. Cash loved my curves . . . more specifically, my ass. Back then, he’d grab it any chance he got.
Cash.
Talk about a beautiful physique. In high school, he was fit, but in the last picture I saw of him in an online magazine, he was wearing his baseball uniform sans jersey. Not only did he have a slew of muscles, but he also had tattoos that made him look even sexier.
Rather than harp on my ex’s ridiculous body and my lack of non-toy-induced orgasmic fun, I said, “I’m happy for you, Mia. Are you going to see him again?”
