The Ace Read Online Free Page A

as she shoved her sister, but didn’t miss the smile that Maddie threw them. “You too.”
    “Lips are sealed,” Maddie said. “No one will mention your little crush.”
    Karen sighed heavily. “I really hate you all.”
    They stood around for a few minutes, bouncing on their toes trying to keep warm as they waited for Chase to emerge from the tunnel. When they finally spotted his tall frame, Bree gave a little squeal as she ran and launched herself into his arms.
    “Hey, there. It’s nice to see you back in town. Awesome win today.” Karen stood on her toes to give him a one-armed hug once he’d extricated himself from Bree and Maddie.
    “It’s good to see you, Karen. Hey, Shannon,” he said with a nod to Karen’s sister. “Smutty threw an awesome game today. Good way to start the season, that’s for sure.”
    “What are you making up about me, Patty?” Jerry asked as he walked over to them with the catcher, Matt Buck, on his heels. He glanced over at Karen and a huge grin broke out on his face. “Aunt Karen! Where have you been, my love?”
    Her eyes bugged out as he pulled her into arms and gave her a big bear hug, squishing her into his black North Face jacket. “What...” she sputtered as he squeezed her tight against his long, hard body. She was too shocked to enjoy being so close to him, but she caught a hint of his cologne. Woodsy, with a touch of amber, and that made her mouth water.
    He pulled back and his coffee-colored eyes sparkled down at her. His short, dark brown hair was still damp from a shower. “There’s no need to be embarrassed. We all know I’m your favorite and that’s why I’m so glad I could give you, my number-one fan, a good game today.”
    Before she could even utter a response, he cocked his head over his shoulder. “That’s Matt Buck. Bucky, this is Aunt Karen.”
    Matt laughed as he held out his hand, his cobalt eyes twinkling as they crinkled in the corners. “Somehow I find it hard to believe that you’re his aunt.”
    “He could only wish.”
    Jerry chuckled but then noticed the tall blonde standing behind Karen and straightened up. “And who are you? You have to be related to this one here. You look just like her, only taller.”
    Shannon smiled, despite hating the reminder that she stood out like an Amazon woman, and held out her hand as she walked over to him. “I’m Shannon and yes, she’s my sister.”
    He shook it with a firm grip. “Nice to meet you, Shannon. Jerry Smutton.”
    “Uh, yeah, I got that,” she said with a snigger. Her smile became shy as she met Matt’s eyes and gave him a little finger wave. “Hi, it’s nice to meet you.”
    “Um, yeah,” he said with a big smile of his own. “Nice to meet you too.”
    Shannon tore her eyes away from him breaking the sudden awkwardness and noticed that Karen was still staring at Jerry. “I think you’ve somehow accomplished making her speechless,” she said to Jerry with a humorous glint in her eye. “That’s quite a feat.”
    “Oh fuc...shut up,” Karen quickly corrected when Maddie cleared her throat loudly and glanced down at Bree. “Just because he’s a big smart-ass doesn’t make me speechless. I’m just in awe of the size of the ego that walked in here and I’m feeling a bit smothered.”
    Jerry threw his head back and laughed. “Whose ego? Mine or yours?”
    Karen jerked back in surprise before her brows puckered. “My ego? What are you talking about?”
    “Oh, I’ve heard all about you, Aunt Karen,” he teased with a wag of his finger. “All the stories.”
    Karen looked over his shoulder at Maddie and Chase. Both of them shrugged, indicating they had no idea what he was referring to.
    “And what stories would those be, Smutty?” she asked, using the nickname his teammates had bestowed upon him.
    He paused for a second and then laughed again. “You called me Smutty. That’s funny. Come on, Bucky.”
    Matt hesitated before grinning again at Shannon, who beamed right