Out of the Shadow by Jl Paul Read Free Book Online Page A

asked as his eyes darkened. He brushed his lips against hers softly but the kiss immediately heated. She linked her hands behind his head and pressed her body to his. A small groan escaped his lips.
    “ We should have stayed in your hotel,” she said.
    He smiled in her mouth. “Al, don’t even go there.”
    She giggled and pecked his lips. The physical part of their relationship was still relatively new as they’d decided not to take things to that level until after she’d graduated high school. She’d once thought that they’d wait until they married – thought it was a romantic notion – but she loved him so much and was so sure of him that one night, shortly before her graduation party, they’d succumbed to the passion that raged inside of them.
    “ Why not?” she asked in an attempt to appear coy.
    He chuckled and gathered her close again. He kissed the top of her head and sighed heavily, his breath teasing her hair. “Because, princess, we can’t do anything like that now. We’re not going to run off to my hotel room for a quickie. Doesn’t feel right, you know?”
    “ I know,” she said as she nestled her cheek into his chest.
    “ Soon,” he said. “As soon as we can spend a little more time together.”
    “ Promise?” she asked, peering up into his eyes.
    He kissed her again. “Promise.”
    “ I’m holding you to that,” she said, smiling. “Now come on, I have to get ready for my game.”
 
    ***
 
    Team Florida was up by a run in the sixth inning when Ally approached the plate. She smoothed the dirt in the batter’s box with a cleat and took her stance, her eyes on the pitcher.
    She took a few practice swings, very much aware of Cole in the stands.
    She watched the first pitch cross the plate and tensed when the ump called it a strike. She took a step back, taking a few practice swings, buying a little time to regroup.
    Ally dug in and narrowed her eyes at her opponent, daring her to throw it a little high. The pitch came and she connected, knocking it near the wall. She took off down the baseline and groaned when the right fielder caught it. But the runner on third tagged and crossed the plate, tying the score. She jogged back to the dugout, eyes searching for Cole’s, but the crowd was so thick, she couldn’t find him. She furrowed her brows as she hopped down the steps and hi-fived her teammates. She couldn’t concentrate on Cole’s location at the moment; they still had a game to win.
    Tara, the third basemen, knocked in another run before Lisa hit into a double play, ending their inning. Ally grabbed her glove and trotted out on the field.
    They managed to hold them and Ally joined half heartedly in the celebration. She knew Cole would not be waiting with her family and she didn’t know how she’d manage to keep the disappointment off her face.
    She hurried through her shower, collected her gear, and dashed off to meet her family. She knew how uncomfortable her father probably was with all the people gawking at him, wondering if the guy that looked like Jay Jones was actually the Jay Jones. And she’d been lucky, so far, that none of her teammates had mentioned anything about it.
    Richie and Callie, RJ’s parents, had flown in that morning and joined the rest of the group waiting to congratulate Ally. But she was surprised to see Rhys and Sasha Redden and their son, Robby, standing next to her parents.
    She plastered a smile on her face, accepted the hugs and kisses, and assured everyone it was all right if they ran over to Redden Records with Rhys to talk about the latest hitch in Out of Control’s plans.
    “ Hey, cuz,” Jamie said sheepishly. “I sort of made a date with a chick from Team California. Um, but I can cancel, if you want.”
    “ Nah, it’s all right,” she said. “I’ll probably just turn in early – I’m sort of tired, anyway.”
    “ Aw, come on, Ally,” a voice said behind her. She turned and found Robby Redden grinning, dimples evident on his