Title: Third Base
Author: Heidi McLaughlin
On Sale: June 7, 2016
Publisher: Forever
Series: The Boys of Summer, #1
Formats: eBook
Price: $3.99 USD
Ethan
Davenport is already Boston's most eligible bachelor. In his second
season with the Boston Renegades he has set his eyes on the girl behind
the visitors' dugout.
That girl is Daisy Robinson, a journalism student at the University of Boston and a die-hard Renegades fan.
But
with new found love comes challenges and Ethan and Daisy have to deal
with his crazy schedule, school finals and his presence on her campus
for some much needed media training.
For Ethan nothing can come between him and Daisy, until a secret that she's been keeping threatens to destroy them both.
I
look at the scoreboard from the on-deck circle. It’s the bottom of
the ninth with two outs. Unless we go on some miraculous run, the
game is over and we’ve lost, giving us our second loss in a row.
The Orioles coach calls for a time-out and approaches the mound. This
gives Meyers, our right fielder, the opportunity for us to talk.
Actually, it gives me the ability to stare at the girl that has held
my attention all night. After my home run, I thought I could focus on
the game, but each time I came up to bat or went out to the field, I
was looking to see if she was staring… and she was, which really
stroked my ego.
I meet Meyers halfway between the on-deck circle and home plate.
Usually, we’d stand back or talk to the third base coach, but
there’s no coming back from this defeat. When I reach him, I can
tell he’s frustrated; we all are. We’re a far better team than
what our record shows. Even though it’s still very early, our
expectations are much higher, and with the road trip coming up, we
have got to get out of this funk, fast… before it’s too late.
“This ump is calling shit.” Meyers kicks the dirt around his
feet.
“Has been all night.” On any given night it’s either in your
favor or not. Some umpires come into a game with a chip on their
shoulder. They remember everything, and they don’t let you
forget it. They say once the game is over, it’s over. Umpires don’t
feel that way.
“Play ball!” the umpire yells.
Meyers goes back to home plate and settles in for what could be his
last pitch. If he gets on base, I’m up. If he strikes out, my night
is over. I rest my bat on my shoulder and watch - not Meyers, but the
girl in the hat. She’s leaning forward, resting her elbows on the
dugout. I had every intention of finding an usher during the seventh
inning but lost my nerve. I don’t know how that’d be received if
our manager was to find out, and short of going into the stands the
second the game is over, I’m running out of options.
It’s a swing and foul ball for Meyers, still giving me hope. The
girl hasn’t moved, and something tells me that she’s focused on
me. I should be focused on the game, but I’m not.
I lean over to the usher who stands by the field and whisper,
“There’s a girl in section sixty-five, row c, seat one. I’d
like to talk to her after the game.”
He nods and says something into his really cool CIA
walkie-talkie-type thing. When I first arrived, I asked if I could
play with it. I was told no. It was a total buzz kill. I asked my
agent to get me one, and he told me to grow up… not one of my finer
moments.
Meyers goes down swinging and just like that, the game’s over. We
lost three to eight. I wait for him to walk by before returning to
the dugout, but not without one last look at the girl in row c.
Another usher is walking down the aisle toward her. I climb down the
stairs and pause where she can’t see me. The usher approaches her
and talks wildly with his hands. She looks around, reaches for her
bag, and follows him up the steps. I can only hope she’ll be in the
lounge when I get there.
Right now I’m thankful I’m not allowed to give interviews yet
because it means I can shower and get upstairs quicker. The reporters
call my name, asking about my home-run. They know I’m not allowed
to speak with them, but they try anyway. I keep my head down, my
classic move after we’ve lost, and rush into the clubhouse. There
will be no after-game meeting; our manager will save that for
tomorrow.
I shower quickly and slip into jeans and a t-shirt. My hair is still
wet and dripping down onto my shirt, but I don’t want my third base
girl waiting too long. I take the back stairs two at a time and enter
the lounge. This is where the wives and girlfriends hang out, and now
that I think about it, it’s probably not the best place to have
sent her. It’s like vulture prey in here for new girlfriends… not
that she’s my girlfriend. I just want to know her name.
As soon as I enter the hallway, I find her sitting outside the door.
She stands up when she hears me coming and keeps her hands behind her
back, watching me closely. I come to a halt in front of her, and all
I can see is the top of her hat. She’s about a foot shorter than
me, and I like that.
“I wanted to apologize for giving you the ball.” I keep my hands
clasped to avoid the nervous twitch I have. The last thing I want to
do is scare her away.
“Oh… do you want it back?” Her voice is soft, sweet, and
completely Boston. Hearing her speak makes me feel like I have
something to look forward to, like I’m home.
“What? No, I thought I embarrassed you… It’s just…”
My knees go weak when she looks at me. Her light green eyes are the
color of sea glass, and she has a dimple that compliments her smile.
I find myself wanting to rub my thumb over it so I can feel it.
“You didn’t embarrass me. It was nice.”
“What’s your name?” I ask, needing to know because calling her
‘third base girl’ or ‘girl in row c’ isn’t going to cut it.
“Daisy.”
Daisy, I repeat in my head so I don’t forget. Daisy… like the
flowers that my mother loves.
“I’m Ethan,” I stupidly tell her but feel like I should
introduce myself. “Wanna get out of here and grab some dinner?”
She eyes me and then the ground, making me wait what feels like an
eternity for her answer.
Review by Gia:
Third Base is a good read. Ethan is a professional baseball player for Boston Renegades. Daisy is the a Boston University student and a huge Boston Renegades fan. She has season tickets. She catches Ethan's eye. I loved how even though she was a major Renegades fan she didn't throw herself at Ethan. She's not a just after a baseball player. Her and Ethan connect. They have there up and downs. Daisy has a secret that I felt for the reader it's was easy to figure out but when it comes out it's a complete shock for Ethan. It's a pretty big secret and definitely has potential to cause major problems for Ethan and Daisy.
This one is a great read and you should check it out.
4 1/2 Amazeballs Stars!!
AUTHOR INFORMATION
Heidi McLaughlin is a New York Times and
USA Today bestselling author. Originally from the Pacific
Northwest, she now lives in picturesque Vermont with her husband and two
daughters. Also renting space in their home is an over-hyper
Beagle/Jack Russell, Buttercup and a Highland West/Mini Schnauzer,
Jill.
When
she isn't writing one of the many stories planned for release, you'll
find her sitting courtside during either daughter's basketball games.
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