The Ace Read Online Free

control for all we know. He could be taking advantage of weak women everywhere, leaving broken hearts in his wake while he sets up his next conquest.”
    “Karen!” she exclaimed. “You don’t know that he’s like that. Not every guy is as much of a dog as you like to believe.”
    It had been weird meeting Jerry once Maddie had gotten involved with Chase, after so many years of watching him from afar. She hadn’t been sure what to expect, but she had been pleasantly surprised to find that he really seemed like just an average guy. He didn’t appear to have an ounce of arrogance in him when he wasn’t in baseball mode.
    In fact, if you didn’t know who he was, you would never guess that he was a multimillionaire athlete with a fastball feared throughout the league. He was so normal that it was almost disconcerting. With the new contract, however, she had to believe that the money, along with all the fame and publicity, had gone straight to his head.
    “No,” she said, pointing toward the infield where he stood, “but I wouldn’t be surprised to find a secret side of him. I mean, look at him. He’s young, successful, making a boatload of money, like you said, and you think that’s not going to change him? Not a chance. He’s going to milk it for all he can.”
    “Chase is young, successful and making a boatload of money, and yet look at him.”
    Karen shook her head as she glanced at the dugout where she knew Chase would be sitting. “Chase is an oddity. I love him dearly, but there’s something wrong with that boy.”
    Shannon laughed. “You’re right. I never would have guessed someone his age would be ready to settle down with someone twelve years older and with a kid, even as gorgeous as Maddie is.” She took a sip of her hot chocolate. “Well, maybe with the wedding planning, Jerry’ll be around more. I’m sure Chase will have him stand up with him since they’re good friends. And everyone knows you’ll shove your way into being maid of honor.”
    “And why wouldn’t I be maid of honor?” she asked with a scoff, ignoring the trill of excitement that passed through her at the thought of possibly spending time with Jerry.
    “I’m sure you will be, but I’m just saying it’s not like you’d give Maddie any choice about it,” Shannon said with a knowing smile.
    “Hmm, whatever. I choose to ignore your snarkiness,” Karen said. She studied Jerry with a contemplative look. “It might be better if I didn’t really get to know him.”
    “Why’s that?”
    “I mean, I don’t want to ruin this ,” she said, sweeping her mitten-covered hand toward the field. The first batter on the opposing team was stepping up to the plate to begin the game. “If I start spending a lot of time with him, he’ll just fall in love with me and I’ll eventually have to break his heart and he’ll act the fool and I’ll end up hating him and I’ll never be able to go to another Rockets game again until he retires. Probably just best to keep him as my favorite player and that’s it.”
    Shannon snorted. “Oh, good Lord. Break his heart...,” she repeated as she laughed and shook her head at her sister. “You’re a piece of work.”
    Karen laughed with her and sat back, settling in for a long game of watching Jerry do his thing and enjoying every minute of it.
    * * *
    “Where are we going?” Karen asked Maddie as she and Shannon trailed after her and Bree.
    After the end of the game, which the Rockets had won, they’d met up with Maddie and Bree in the concourse area and, after Maddie had flashed some badge to Security, were now following them down a long tunnel that appeared to never end.
    “We’re going to meet up with Chase,” Maddie said, glancing over her shoulder as she held Bree’s hand. “This is where we meet him after the game.”
    “Ooohhh,” Shannon teased as she hip-checked Karen. “Maybe Jerry will be there too and you can get up close and personal.”
    “Shut up,” Karen said