Maid For Beckett Catching The Baseball Legend’s Heart novel Chapter 76

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The three dogs‘ howl made me leap from my office chair, and the moment I opened the door. I heard Sloane’s pitchy voice. I ran down the stairs and cringed at the sight that bombarded me. Andi was straddling Sloane on the kitchen floor: the latter was all wail, and the former was beating the hell out of her opponent. Maple, Storm, and River were all howling, calling for my help.

And thank God my dogs called for help. I didn’t train them for this kind of scene, but they were smart not to attack Sloane.

Andi vibrated with anger in my arms. She was all fury and fire, thrashing like a feral animal, and for half a second, the sharp pull across my shoulder flared hot enough to steal my breath. I bit down on the pain that crawled from my shoulder through my entire body. Andi was fighting my grip, and for someone who stands five feet five, she was damn strong. I had to make sure she wouldn’t break free, because I had seen how she wrestled Sloane to the floor.

She was a wildcat. My freaking wild cat.

Sloane composed herself, pushing her tangled hair out of her face and tipping her chin up. “My face and body are my assets, something that someone like you would never understand. I will make sure you pay for ruining my face.”

Andi’s breath was starting to slow. She wasn’t crying. She wasn’t cowering. She wasn’t begging for mercy or explanation. She was wild–eyed, breathing hard, hands shaking with adrenaline, ready to tear apart anyone who thought they could hurt her and walk away untouched.

I already admired Andi’s courage in facing life’s challenges every day. She didn’t give up despite whatever shit I tossed in her head, and now her tenacity shone like the brightest stars in the night sky.

I won’t show it to Sloane, but I was damn proud of Andi’s artwork. Sloane’s legs bear scrapes, hair ruined, cheek already blooming red. Her fury was brighter than the summer sun.

“This isn’t over,” she snapped, pointing a manicured finger straight at Andi. “You assaulted me. I will sue you for physical abuse. Do you have any idea how much this face is worth?”

Andi stiffened in my arms, but she didn’t show how Sloane’s words affected her. I felt it–the way her body locked, the way she braced for the impact of Sloane’s wrath. And once again, the urge to protect Andi bloomed in my chest.

Sloane turned to me then, eyes blazing. “Are you just gonna stand there? Say something, Beckett.”

I couldn’t. I was tiptoeing into dangerous territory here. Sloane might be the real attacker here, and Andi was the victim, but I can’t just take sides.

Her brother left Sloane in my care. I promised to look out for her since her brother passed away. So despite all her crazy antics, I never really put her in her place.

Andi… God. Andi didn’t deserve any of this. Sloane was only attacking her because of me, because of her infatuation with me. Andi’s arrival in my life was unexpected and unplanned, and somehow, she had already sunk her roots into my life

Both of them are important to me.

Silence stretched, heavy and charged. Sloane mistook it for hesitation.

“You’re not even bothered that she did this to me?” she demanded. “She attacked me. She’s nothing, Beckett. A maid who clawed her way into your bed and your house-”

“That’s enough.” My voice cut through the kitchen, low and lethal. And the dogs sat in attention, facing the three of us

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Chapter 76

keenly.

Sloane’s shoulder stiffened; her eyes widened.

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I loosened my hold on Andi, but didn’t let her go. My hand stayed firm at her waist, ready to pull her back once she decided to sprint towards Sloane and attack again.

“I heard everything you said to Andi, Sloane. She only retaliated because you attacked her, I explained as calmly as I could, Sloane clutched her hands at her side, her eyes shooting daggers at Andi. “You’re taking her side?”

I sighed and shook my head. “I’m not taking anyone’s side. If Andi had said what you said to her, it would be her that I am reprimanding, not you.”

“You’re only saying that,” Sloane’s voice cracked, and her eyes glowed with tears. “Can’t you see what she did to me? She ruined my face!”

I can’t deny that Andi left a mark on Sloane’s face. There was a long scratch under her chin, and another on her forehead. “Those are not even deep wounds. Sloane. They will heal in a few days. You can even cover that with makeup.”

Sloane’s mouth gaped, disbelief coating her face. “I… I don’t believe this. Since when did you become a lapdog of this bitch? “That’s enough, Sloane,” my voice thundered, and Andi flinched. Sloane had crossed so many lines, and I can’t let this one slip without rebuking her. “If you will not stop threatening Andi. I will sue you for trespassing.”

“Beckett-” for the first time. Andi looked at me. Her eyes were still wild with anger, but she was begging me not to make this bigger than it already is. I squeezed her waist.

I got this. Andi, my gaze implied.

“Tres…. Trespassing?” Sloane stuttered. “Me? I am your girlfriend, and I am the one trespassing?”

Here were go again with the narrative she created in her mind of a romantic relationship between us. I don’t know when she started assuming she was my girlfriend. I only see her as a little sister, nothing more. An annoying little sister.

“You are not my girlfriend, Sloane,” I sighed, my hold on Andi tightened. “I am holding my girlfriend right here.”

Sloane stared at me as if I’d spoken another language. “You can’t be serious. Those rumors online, I came here to ask you about that, and here you are, claiming this maid as your girlfriend? What has gotten into you, Beck?”

“You better stop calling her my maid because she’s not. You just assumed that,” I said, setting the record straight. If we were to sell this relationship, I’d better start with Sloane. She needs to believe me, and once she does, it will be easy to make the whole world believe.

Her laugh was brittle. “What the hell is happening to you? Did this woman put you under some kind of spell? You’re choosing her over me!”

The word choosing echoed louder than it should have.

I looked at Andi then. At the faint scratch on her cheek. At the way her hands were still trembling, knuckles raw, pride bruised but intact.

“Yes,” I said, and I had to mean it for Sloane to believe it. “I am.”

Shock rippled through the room. Through Sloane and through Andi.

Sloane’s face twisted, rage and disbelief warring for dominance. “After everything? After all I’ve done for you?” 2/4

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Chapter 76

“After all you’ve done to her.” I corrected.

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She took a step back, as if slapped. “You’ll regret this.” She wasn’t addressing me, but Andi, but I still offered a retort.

“Maybe,” I said calmly. “But if you don’t leave her alone. I promise you’ll regret pushing me.”

I had to say those words to make Sloane believe this lie, and it broke my heart to watch Sloane’s face turn from blazingly mad to utterly pained. My words were meant to hurt her so she could move on, but the opposite happened.

Sloane stormed out of the estate with a promise of vengeance and the echo of her heels cracking against marble, but I didn’t follow. I didn’t call after her. I didn’t apologize. She needed to process what had happened so she could move on.

The house fell quiet as soon as the door closed. The dogs calmed down and returned to their spot on the French door, lounging.

Only then did I let myself feel the dull ache in my shoulder. I released Andi and rolled my shoulder, face pruning as the pain fired up.

I went to the bathroom, grabbed the first–aid kit, and returned to find Andi sitting at the counter, staring at nothing.

“Hey,” I said softly.

She flinched, then looked at me. Really looked at me. The fire in her eyes was gone, replaced by fatigue and weariness.

I cleaned the scratch on her cheek gently, my fingers careful, reverent. Her skin was warm beneath my touch, and we were too close; I could feel her breath on my face.

She watched my mouth as I worked, eyes narrowing slightly.

“You’re smiling,” she said quietly. “Why are you smiling?”

I didn’t bother lying.

Because.” I said, taping gauze lightly in place, “I liked seeing you fight back. I mean, I don’t want you fighting anyone soon, but it was nice to see you stand up for yourself.”

Her eyebrows shot up.

“Like a wildcat,” I added, unable to stop myself, and laughed. “All teeth and claws.”

She scoffed weakly. “You’re insane.”

“Maybe,” I admitted. My thumb brushed her lips. She didn’t have any bruises there, but I had longed to kiss her again. She was so close to me, but I knew I had to keep my hands to myself. I dropped my hand and started cleaning the counter as 1 added. “But you’re my wildcat.”

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