Maid For Beckett Catching The Baseball Legend’s Heart novel Chapter 18

Chapter 18

-Beckett-‘

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The calming serenity of Andi’s trailer lot turned glacial the second Sloane’s heels clicked against the dirt path. The shift in Andi was so sudden, so jarring, I almost didn’t recognize her.

Back at the estate, she had stood toe–to–toe with Sloane like she was gearing up for a heavyweight fight. She didn’t flinch didn’t back down, didn’t even blink when Sloane tried to intimidate her. I was her boss, but she’d always made sure I knew I was dealing with Super Andi and not some fragile little girl.

But here, in front of her family, she was a skittish lamb–afraid the dragon would take away her family. I had always wondered what would shake Andi’s resolve. This was it: endangering her family.

Body stiff, shoulders locked, jaw tight, her hands trembled as she tried to shield her mother with her body. She wasn’t scared of Sloane. She was afraid that Sloane would embarrass her family. Humiliating them, looking down on them.

And I hated that I suddenly understood that.

Sloane took off her sunglasses, eyes blazing. “Beckett, what is happening? Why are you here? Why is she here-” she fired off like an automatic rifle.

Sloane’s attitude had never bothered me before. She came from old money, with parents who thought money was parenting. She was spoiled. What she wanted, she got, and she had always had the world within her hands. But when Andi flinched at Sloane’s tone, I felt an itch to silence whatever blunder Sloane was about to utter.

“I’m busy,” I snapped, stepping in front of Andi without thinking. “We’ll talk later.”

Sloane sputtered. “But-”

“I said later, Sloane.”

A knot in Andi’s shoulder visibly loosened.

Chest puffing, Sloane cast her judgmental gaze at Andi’s family, their trailer house, and the entire park. Her cheeks turned beet–red when she realized there were a handful of people watching us–curious, judging, whispering.

Sloane simmered. She was boiling water in a pot, ready to whistle in madness.

This was not good.

Sloane wasn’t used to being told what to do. Her nose flared as she secured her high heels into the ground. “No, Beckett. We are going to talk now.”

I stared at Sloane, wondering why the hell I was tolerating this attitude. The longer I stared at her, the more I saw her brother. It was Jonas who seemed to be staring at me, begging me to understand his little sister.

I blew out a sigh and dropped the baseball glove Caleb was showing me. I looked at Andi’s hule brother. His eyes were begging me to stay longer, but they sparkled with adoration. I ruffled his wild brunette hait. “Come see me at the estate

sometime,” I said.

His eyes lit up. “Really? You mean that?”

His smile made me forget about Sloane’s attitude for a moment. “Yes, buddy. As long as you do well at school, okay!”

His head bobbed like a spring. “I will. Andi, did you hear that?”

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Chapter 18

Andi’s smile was tentative. “Go to school now. You’re already late.”

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Caleb sprang from his seat, grabbing everything he had made me sign–his poster, his baseball bat, gloves, and taking tons of pictures on his phone. At least one of us was truly happy.

“Ma’am, I’ll be leaving now. Thank you for the breakfast,” I said to Andi’s mom.

“Oh, no worries,” the old lady smiled at me. “You’re welcome here anytime. Thank you for checking up on my Andi”

I nodded curtly, dropping my gaze to Andi. Her eyes were stormy, confused, and unsure. “I’ll see you at the mansion.” I sat turning on my heel, not waiting for her reply.

I didn’t look back. If I did, I wasn’t sure what would happen in my chest. Something tight and unfamiliar was already twisting there, and I wasn’t ready to acknowledge it.

I escorted Sloane toward my SUV, the dirt crunching under her overpriced heels. She kept fanning herself dramatically, like the air offended her.

The moment I shut the passenger door behind her and rounded the hood to get into the driver’s seat, Sloane exploded.

“Have you lost your mind?” she hissed, crossing her arms. “Do you know how horrible this place is? People are staring! With phones!” She lowered her voice as if the universe might be listening. “People who recognize me.”

I clenched my jaw. I doubted anyone in that park recognized her. From the looks of it, they were too busy surviving every day to give a shit about people like Sloane and me. They were merely curious.

How did you find me, Sloane? It’s nine o’clock in the morning,” I sighed, signaling her driver to follow us.

I have my ways,” she said, as if that didn’t sound cryptic at all.

I took a mental note to bring my car to the auto shop before going home. This wasn’t the first time she had bugged my car.

She wiggled in her seat, the hem of her skirt rising to a very indecent height. I knew what she was doing, but Sloane was merely a little sister in my eyes. A very annoying little sister.

‘What were you doing in that…” she paused, choosing a word. “That dumpster,” she said, keeping her judgment at bay. This was probably the first time she had ever set foot in a trailer park. Sloane doesn’t even know that people sleep through the pollution and noise of traffic, the construction equipment, and dog barking. She was too oblivious of the real world “You didn’t need to drive that weasel home since I fired her.”

Somehow, her name–calling left a bitter taste on my tongue. Sure, I had called Andi a chipmunk, but that came from a place of teasing. It might not have sounded like it, but it did. It was cute. Sloane, on the other hand, named people because she didn’t see them as her equals.

“I’m not firing anyone, Sloane,” I sighed. “Where should I take you?”

Sloane’s mood lit up like a flipped switch. I thought that was real talent. She reached over the console and wrapped her hand -with insanely long talons–around my arm. “Take me to lunch.”

“Lunch?” I frowned. I had barely finished my breakfast at Andi’s.

I sensed a scheme coming, and I already disliked it. Nothing was a coincidence with Sloane. She always had a hidden agenda.

“JP said people need to see us together. You know how much heat I’ve been under since last week.”

JP was Sloane’s handler, and last week, a video of her partying like a maniac had leaked. Not only had she been drunk, but

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2:17 pm

Chapter 18

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people claimed she had been smoking marijuana at that party. A few of her photos had been circulating online.

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“I have to be at the field today, Sloane. I don’t have time for lunch.” That was a total lie, but I would have been anywhere but eating lunch with Sloane while pretending I didn’t know paparazzi would be lying in wait for us.

“Oh, dinner then? My treat,” she fired back, batting her long lashes at me. “Please, Becky. I really need your help right now.”

I wanted to pinch the bridge of my nose. This day had barely started, and it was already going down misery road. I knew I would regret this, but I really wanted to be alone today.

“Fine. Dinner.”

“Yay! Now, stop the car,” she said. Her driver pulled to a stop behind us. “I’ll see you later. Becky baby. I’ll send you the address, okay?”

She was already slipping out of the car, content with my answer–even if I had no plans of coming to dinner with her.

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