The Lonely Hearts Club by Radclyffe Read Free Book Online Page B

comfortable with her swing, and easily knocked her last warm-up pitch into far left field. As she shouldered her bat, she idly checked out the opponent’s bench. When she saw Liz standing with Parker Jones on the Hammers’ sideline, she stopped so abruptly she blocked the path of the next batter coming around the backstop toward home plate.
    “Hey, Reilly,” Sean protested, “out of the road.”
    “Oh, sorry.” Reilly side-stepped but kept her eyes on Liz.
    “You okay? We need you on your game tonight.”
    “I’m fine. I just…never mind.” She had wondered all day if Liz would come tonight, and had been looking for her since she’d arrived at the ball field forty-five minutes ago. But they hadn’t exactly agreed to meet, and she should have figured Liz would be there with another woman. But, Jesus, Parker Jones? Not only was Parker the best pitcher in the league, she had a different woman on her arm every week.
    “You sure?” Sean asked.
    “Sure I’m sure.” Reilly frowned at her own brief lapse in concentration. Liz was single. It made sense she’d be dating someone. “Don’t worry.”
    “Okay.” Sean didn’t sound convinced and her expression changed to concern. “We all want to win, you know, but it’s just a game. If you’re tired—”
    “I’m great. And I know it’s just a game.” Reilly grinned. “Just a game where we’re going to kick their asses.”
    Sean grinned back. “Damn right.”
    Reilly hustled back to the Angels’ sideline and knelt by the players’ bench to make sure all her gear was still together. The Angels were in the field first, and she didn’t want to have to search for her glove when the game started. Pulling off her batting glove, she stuffed it into the back pocket of her shorts. When she stood, Liz was beside her.
    “Hi, Liz!”
    “Hi yourself. You didn’t tell me you were an ace hitter,” Liz teased.
    “I’ve had a few lucky games,” Reilly said, trying not to stare. Liz’s hair looked lighter in the sunlight, almost as if strands of gold had been spun through the dark auburn. Her green eyes were warm and unabashedly welcoming. In navy shorts and a white ribbed tank top, she looked younger and softer than she had in her business clothes. For just a second, Reilly remained silent, merely enjoying the sight of her. Then Liz tilted her head very slightly, as if in question, and Reilly said the first thing that came into her mind. “I was hoping you’d make it.”
    “Oh, well I…” Liz glanced over the field and down the slope to the other six fields, caught off-guard by the pleasure of Reilly’s pleasure. “This is amazing. It beats the hell out of corporate dinners.”
    “I know what you mean.” Reilly looked toward the Hammers’ bench. “So I saw you consorting with the enemy.”
    “The enemy?” Liz frowned, then followed Reilly’s gaze. “Oh. You mean Parker. I didn’t even know she played until ten minutes ago. But I understand her team has been giving you a beating.”
    “A beating? They’re tied with us for first place,” Reilly exploded. “Hell, they wouldn’t even be there if we hadn’t had to take a loss one night when we couldn’t field the team. Three of us ended up getting called in for a multi-vehicle pile-up—” She narrowed her eyes as Liz burst into laughter. “Not funny. That was really not funny.”
    “I can see you take your softball seriously.”
    “What’s the point of playing if you don’t want to win?” Reilly liked the way Liz laughed. It was the first time she’d seen her so unguarded, and it wasn’t until that moment that she realized Liz’s features had been shadowed by sadness or worry or both until now. Like this, with the sunlight slanting across her face and her eyes suffused with pleasure, she was beautiful. Just plain beautiful.
    “I’m torn as to who to support,” Liz confided. “My associate over there, along with a bunch of other attorneys I know—or, you, over here. Maybe I just