King of Diamonds
An All About the Diamond Romance
Naomi Springthorp
King of Diamonds
An All About the Diamond Romance
Copyright © 2018 Naomi Springthorp
Published by Naomi Springthorp
All rights reserved
Digital Edition eBook ISBN 978-1-949243-02-4
King of Diamonds is a work of fiction and does not in any way advocate irresponsible behavior. This book contains content that is not suitable for readers 17 and under. Please store your files where they cannot be accessed by minors.
Any resemblance to actual things, events, locales, or persons living or dead is entirely coincidental. Names, characters, places, brands, products, media, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. The author acknowledges the trademark status and ownership of any location names or products mentioned in this book. The author received no compensation for any mention of said trademark. All references to the MLB are fictitious and there is no endorsement by the MLB.
Cover Photographer: Randy Sewell of RLS Model Images Photography
Cover Model: Chris Mayo
Graphic Designer: Irene Johnson [email protected]
Editor: Katrina Fair
Created with Vellum
This book is dedicated to everyone that loves the game of baseball and appreciates the players in those pants!
Thank you
Thank you to the romance writing community for being so supportive. Every single one of you is special in your own unique way. Your knowledge, friendship, and camaraderie is priceless.
Thank you, Bex Dane, for sharing your extensive knowledge and helping this newb through the process.
Thank you, Cassandra Robbins, for being a real live person when we need it.
Thank you, Katrina Fair, for putting up with all the crap I’ve sent you and not complaining about my text messages at all hours of the night.
Thank you, Irene Johnson, for pulling all-nighters and being my art guru.
Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Epilogue
Diamonds in Paradise
Muffin Man
Playlist
About the Author
Also by Naomi Springthorp
Chapter One
In the last couple months, my life has gone from being totally in control and an independent, self-sufficient entrepreneur to having my fantasy baseball boyfriend become real. Yes, a professional baseball player loves and wants me. And, it’s not just any player, it’s the catcher I’ve been fantasizing about for years, my boyfriend in my head. It’s utter insanity! I’m seven years older than him and he has women waiting for him in his room on road trips. I’ve seen it firsthand on more than one occasion. He can be with anybody he wants and he’s not interested in those women he finds waiting for him. No, he only wants me. Until it got all fucked up. Indirectly and accidentally, but fucked up nonetheless. We broke us and I’m not sure if we can ever be the same. When you break something fragile it shatters and there’s no putting it back together. When you break your favorite coffee mug you can glue it back together, but it’ll never be the same. It might still hold your coffee, but you can see and feel the cracks. It’s broken and you’re simply refusing to let it go.
I’m standing on the stage at the Batter Up. I just finished singing my final song in the karaoke competition and I’m overcome with emotion. The wild card round and I chose “Thinking Out Loud”. What was I thinking? That’s our song and he’s been in my head everyday since I left him in LA. It was less than two months ago, but it feels like forever. I wasn’t thinking. I was simply doing what he wanted. No matter what, I want to make him happy. Our song was one of the three options Mike at the Mic gave me and before I could consider the options, Rick was in the back of the room yelling out “Thinking Out Loud”. I had already decided I wanted him back, well, that may have been him helping me there, too. I can’t believe the things he does for me even though I left him, refused to talk to him, didn’t reply to his texts, and avoided him and everyone he knows for most of two months. I even avoided watching the games, except for my stupid moment when I had to see his face and wished I didn’t as I watched him get kicked out of a game. He was persistent with daily texts and voicemails, along with sending me flowers and having a limo service pick me up for the finals tonight. I pushed him away. I get it, now. He didn’t give up on me. I need to embrace my girliness that’s been driving me crazy and trust in him. It’s not weakness, it’s risking my heart. But, after being without him—I’ll give him my heart completely. Honestly, I’ll give him about anything he wants and be happy doing it. Anything to be with him. I didn’t expect him to be here tonight. I wasn’t sure when or if I’d ever see him again, other than in his catcher’s gear behind the plate. Now, I’m in a private hazy world with Rick pulling me down off the stage to him and I hope he never let’s me go…
Rick holds me tightly to his chest, breathing me into him as the music plays out. I missed him. His arms around me, his warm breath at my ear, and his words that cut straight through to my heart. “The only thing that matters is that I have you near me,” he whispers in my ear.
Mike with the Mic starts in, “Another outstanding performance from Sherry. She really has ruled this contest from the beginning.”
Rick whispers in my ear, “I don’t want to let you go,” as he sets me back down on the stage. I don’t want him to let me go.
I’m directed to go backstage and the rookie, Chase
