Stopping Short: Diamond Brides, #6

By Mindy Klasky

A widow and a bad-boy hero with PTSD find healing in a fake engagement in this sexy stand-alone baseball romance!

 

Drew Marshall, the Rockets' bad-boy shortstop, is about to be cut from the team. In the middle of spring training, his baseball skills are slipping, and his recent scrapes with the law place him in hot water.

 

Drew's agent hires spin doctor Jessica Barnes to save the shortstop's career. Widowed Jessica knows nothing about baseball, but she's determined to rescue her client. Along the way, she needs to prove she's finally over the death of her risk-taking husband.

 

Alas, a well-intentioned teammate tells ravenous paparazzi that Jessica is Drew's secret fiancée.  Now the couple is trapped in the same hotel room, sharing one bed, a fake engagement, and a mutual attraction that's hotter than the Florida weather.

 

What could possibly go wrong?

 

The Diamond Brides Baseball Series:

 

Each volume can be read on its own, and the series can be read in any order.

 

Perfect Pitch (DJ Thomas and Samantha Winger)
Catching Hell (Zach Ormond and Anna Benson)
Reaching First (Tyler Brock and Emily Holt)
Second Thoughts (Nick Durban and Jamie Martin)
Third Degree (Josh Cantor and Ashley Harris)
Stopping Short (Drew Marshall and Jessica Barnes)
From Left Field (Adam Sartain and Haley Thurman)
Center Stage (Ryan Green and Lindsey Ormond)
Always Right (Kyle Norton and Amanda Carter)

 

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• Language: English
• Publisher: Book View Cafe
• Release date: Feb 25, 2015
• ISBN: 9781611384246

Mindy Klasky

Mindy Klasky learned to read when her parents shoved a book in her hands and told her that she could travel anywhere in the world through stories. She never forgot that advice. When Mindy isn't "traveling" through writing books, she quilts, cooks and tries to tame the endless to-be-read shelf in her home library. You can visit Mindy at her Web site, www.mindyklasky.com.

Book preview

1

It’s just like riding a bicycle , Jessica told herself, conveniently ignoring the number of times she’d skinned her knees falling off her old banana-seat Schwinn. This Monday Status Meeting wasn’t going to draw any actual blood. It probably wouldn’t even hurt.

She stretched a smile across her tight lips and pushed her way into the familiar boardroom. A year had gone by, but they still kept the coffee service in the same place. A stack of yellow legal pads still teetered in the center of the table. Black pens still bristled from their holder, each embossed in white: Image Masters LLC.

Jessica skipped the coffee, figuring her hands were already shaking enough. She collected paper and pen, though, and she took her usual seat, three chairs down from the head of the table.

She could do this. She was good at her job, had been for the four years she’d worked at Image Masters after graduating college. She took a deep breath and stared out the window at Central Park. She’d rather be out there, bundled up and walking down a snowy path on this sunny February day. She’d rather be just about anywhere.

But she wasn’t going to earn a paycheck walking through the Park. She wasn’t going to convince herself and the rest of the world that she was finally over Kevin’s death, that she was ready to resume her life, that she was a strong and independent working woman instead of just The Young Widow.

Image Masters was safe. It was comfortable. And even if she had to work like a dog now that she was back in the office, her job was a refuge until she could figure out what she was going to do with the rest of her life, however many decades that might be.

She glanced at the oversize watch wrapped around her wrist. Five minutes to nine. No one was ever late to an Image Masters meeting. The staff should be arriving just about now.

Jessica reapplied her smile as the door opened and half a dozen of her colleagues poured into the room. Caden: They were all thrilled to see her. Marnie: They were all so happy she was back in the office, couldn’t wait to catch up over coffee. Rebecca: Maybe lunch or wouldn’t drinks be great?

The chatter only died down when Chip Patterson took his seat at the head of the table. He plugged his tablet into the appropriate jack and reached down to loosen the hinge on his thousand-dollar ergonomic chair. Leaning back to his customary 120-degree angle, he gestured down the table, taking in the entire team with his perfectly-manicured hands. Welcome back, everyone. I trust you enjoyed Presidents Day weekend?

There were rueful noises of agreement. The office had been officially closed for the holiday, but that just meant the dozen associates at Image Masters had worked twice as hard, completing their own projects without benefit of receptionists, assistants, janitors, and the like. Chip, of course, had been at his mansion in the Hamptons, because that’s what fifty-year-old partners were expected to do. Nevertheless, he’d probably monitored every active case from his state-of-the-art home office. Because that was also what partners were expected to do.

Now, he narrowed his charcoal eyes toward Jessica. Welcome back, Jessica. We’ve missed you.

It’s good to be back. She made herself relax her grip on her pen.

And I hope you’re ready to jump in, because we’ve got a new client for the firm.

Buzz. It wasn’t a hum exactly. It wasn’t even really a sound. But Jessica recognized the hungry attention of every person in the room. She leaned forward herself, like one of Pavlov’s dogs summoned by the dinner bell. That was what an Image Masters associate did. That was how she’d already climbed the ladder to success, before her backslide during the past twelve months of mourning. And if she wasn’t feeling very successful right now, she’d damn well pretend, until all the old habits kicked in.

Chip flicked his fingers over a remote, broadcasting images from his computer to the whiteboard that filled the wall behind him. Meet Drew Marshall.

Jessica studied the photograph, an official publicity shot. Drew Marshall was a baseball player—at least that’s what she gathered from the blue R on his red baseball cap, from the well-fitting jersey with Rockets spelled out in old-fashioned script, from the baseball bat held at attention over his left shoulder.

And it quickly became apparent that Drew Marshall was a player of another sort.

Chip flipped through a handful of shots, each featuring the tall, buff man, with his sun-streaked hair and his butterscotch eyes. Drew Marshall at some sort of charity gala, his bow tie stripped open as he toasted a sleek woman with a flute of champagne. Drew Marshall in a white-tablecloth restaurant, his arms around two buxom blonds, all of them laughing across a mountain range of martini glasses. Drew Marshall in a dark bar, towering over a girl who wore stiletto heels, cutoffs, and a shirt barely knotted around her double-pierced midriff, while three other women looked on from a jealous distance.

Drew Marshall, a windbreaker pulled over the top of his head, a manila file folder covering half his face as he hustled down the white marble steps of some official building, warding off a thicket of microphones and cameras with his free hand.

Chip cleared his throat as he displayed that money shot. Mr. Marshall has a bit of a problem where women are concerned. Last week, within twenty-four hours of arriving in Coral Crest, Florida for spring training, he was arrested for statutory rape. Charges were dismissed once a witness recanted her testimony that she’d actually seen the parties go into a private room.

Jessica pursed her lips. Witnesses could be bought easily enough. Not that Image Masters did anything slimy like that—they came in after the fact and helped people rebuild their public personas after media disasters. If lawyers and investigators manipulated official proceedings in less than savory ways to get the results they needed… Well, Jessica was trained not to notice.

Chip elaborated: Mr. Marshall claims he was duped. He asked the young woman in question for ID prior to escorting her from the club where they met, and she presented him with a Florida driver’s license that clearly stated she was twenty-one. Under question from the local excuse for a newspaper, she admitted to fraud because ‘Who wouldn’t do whatever they could to get that big guy into bed.’

The conference room was filled with knowing laughter. Jessica caught herself grinning—she’d heard similar excuses in a dozen cases over the years. In fact, Chip’s backgrounder made her feel so comfortable, so at home, that she asked, So Marshall’s the one who reached out to us?

Chip pinned her with his inky eyes. No—his agent did. It turns out this year is particularly sensitive for Mr. Marshall’s career. He played poorly at the end of last season, and he was sent down to the minors. The Rockets brought up a kid to take his place, someone they didn’t think they’d be relying on for another three or four years. Now Mr. Marshall and Rafael Ordonez are in spring training together, competing to see who will play shortstop for the upcoming season. Mr. Marshall’s agent wants our assistance to make sure nothing distracts the team from evaluating his client solely on the basis of his baseball skills.

Sent down to the minors. Spring training. Shortstop. Jessica knew Chip was talking about baseball, but that was all she could parse. She’d never been athletic herself; she’d certainly never followed baseball.

Even when Kevin was alive, team sports had never been part of their life. Kevin had thrived on athletic competition, but he always preferred solo activities, the more extreme the better. He ran ultra-marathons and went kitesurfing in the Caribbean. He loved hang-gliding and whitewater kayaking. He skied down black diamond slopes even after the spring melt had begun, transforming an already treacherous path into an icy channel—

She tugged her thoughts back from the brink with the force of will she’d mastered during her year’s hiatus from the office. She barely needed to clear her throat before she could ask, So this is a standard media management gig?

Chip waggled his hand in a more-or-less gesture. "More like a media intervention. The reporters are going nuts for this story. We need to get them focused on good news for Mr. Marshall, on the message that he’s the best man to play shortstop for the Rockets now and for the future."

Chip was still looking at her, staring like he never needed to blink. Jessica nodded and said, Sounds interesting. Could be a good practical use for SCC Indexes. Sympathy, Competence, and Charisma—the three-fold system she’d been honing before she took her leave of absence.

Chip obviously agreed. She knew that smile—the perfect pearly teeth, the smooth taut lips. "Excellent, he said. Because we were all fully-booked before the holiday weekend, before this new case walked in the door. Welcome back to the working world, Jessica. And safe travels on your way down to Florida."

Jessica focused so hard on squelching her sudden nausea that she forgot to pay attention to the rest of the staff meeting.

Drew never thought he’d be wishing for a formal press conference after a game—an unsteady table at the front of a too-crowded room, shouted questions, a sound system that shrieked with feedback, and water pitchers so beaded with sweat they practically leaped out of your hands. But that’s what he wanted now—the safety, the distance, the formality of taking questions on home territory at Rockets Field.

Instead, he was stuck in the lobby of the Vista Linda hotel, staring at the reporters who’d turned on him like starved jackals. Come on, guys, he said. This is spring training. You know these games don’t mean anything.

Wrong answer. Ross Parker shoved forward like Drew had just thrown chum in the water. You’re saying you don’t care about a loss, Drew?

He tightened his lips into what he hoped was a smile, even though he wanted to kick the columnist’s teeth down his throat. "I’m saying we work on different things down here. You know that. We try different combinations. Mac wanted DJ to focus on picking guys off at first today so he threw over a dozen times."

Parker didn’t know when to shut up. "So what were you focusing on today, Drew? Overthrowing to second on the first leg of a double play?"

Asshole. Yeah, he’d blown two double plays that afternoon. What else did the guy want for the good folks back home in Raleigh? For Drew to explain why he’d struck out at the plate three times? It probably would have been four if Skip hadn’t sat him down, hadn’t given the last two innings to Ordonez.

It was a long way back from the minors to the big game. Drew’s timing was off, and there wasn’t any way to get that down but to practice. At least he was spared the need to reply to Parker when another reporter shouted out his question: Are you having trouble concentrating on the game, Drew? Still worried about Kaley Armistead?

Goddamn jailbait. He’d asked her all the right questions—demanded to see her driver’s license, made sure she was twenty-one. He’d felt like a goddamn bouncer, and the whole time she’d been all calm and understanding and reassuring, just like a grown woman would be. Kaley Batshit Armistead had known exactly what she was doing—when she’d invited him to sit next to her at that tiny table in Torrid and when she’d handed over her FBI-quality fake ID in response to his hesitation.

She deserved a goddamn Oscar for the way she’d invited him back to her room at that fleabag motel. If Greenie hadn’t been giving it to her older sister in the next room… But the center fielder had gotten laid, at the same time conveniently screwing the testimony of the only person who swore up and down that she’d seen Kaley arrive with Drew at that dump. So Drew was off the hook in the eyes of the law, if not at the hands of the press.

He tried to shrug like he didn’t have a care in the world. Hey, guys, I’m just playing the game, one day at a time.

And Jesus, that was the wrong thing to say, too. Parker jumped on him. ‘One day at a time’ is a phrase commonly associated with Alcoholics Anonymous. Do you have a substance abuse problem, Drew?

The only problem I have is that you guys aren’t letting me get upstairs to my room. There. That was a good answer—not too angry but to the point, getting across the idea that he’d worked hard for the day and was ready to kick back and enjoy a quiet evening.

Or maybe he was just lucky. Tyler Brock entered the hotel lobby, freshly-showered and shaved after a star turn at the park. The reporters turned toward the first baseman like a pack of wolves pouncing on fresh meat. Brock had hit a monster home run in the fifth, a grand slam that should have held up to win the game, would have held up, if a dozen things hadn’t gone wrong in the field—including Drew’s two errors.

Drew shook his head and slouched over to the elevators. Great. A woman was waiting there, all alone. He scanned her automatically, noting her short

Reviews for Stopping Short

[mimizane678 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

*I received a copy for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review* I accidentally requested this on LibraryThing from the August 2014 batch. As I was scrolling I must of pressed "request" because this isnt my type of book. But since I won a copy I gave this a try. I have to admit, this wasnt very predictable but I didnt enjoy it too much. I was surprised at how quickly the main character Jessica Barnes accepted the "fiance" idea when the first chapter is her complaining about how much she misses her dead husband. She told Drew to get it together and play along which really shocked me. But after that the story slowed down and I was losing interest very fast. This was a short read though and I did finished it which is why I am giving this two stars instead of one.

[riikkat_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Drew has a bad boy reputation. Unfortunately it's getting in the way of his work and his manager hires an image consultant firm to raise Drew's stakes in the draft. Recently widowed Jessica is signed on the case. What no one foresees is the two falling in love.I have read almost all of the Diamond Brides books so far and this one is by far my favourite. The characters felt very real to me and their problems real. The books themselves continue to be a bit formulaic but this time it didn't bother me that much.

[clogan19 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

This is my third book in the series and it fell short for me. I had a hard time connecting with the characters. Just ok for me, could have been better.

[schmapp_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I've been reading all the books in the series and this was my least favorite. I had a hard time connecting with the characters in this one. It was an ok read but did not enjoy it as much as the previous books in the series.

[clo456 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Fun well written romance. This is first book I have read by Mindy Klasky and enjoyed it enough that will look for more books by her to read in future. That they to know each other as people as well. Far more believable in a relationship

[krow134 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Another great book by Mindy Klasky. If you haven't read any of the diamond brides series, I suggest you do. They are wonderfully written and keep you wanting to finish so you can see how it turns out. Ms. Klasky reminds me of J. Lynn in her writing and I think that is why I look so forward to new releases of hers. J. Lynn is a favorite of mine, and so is Mindy Klasky. This book is another example of great writing and a great story to go with it.

[jessiep-2 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This was a cute but predictable story. The characters were well developed and believable. Some of the scenes and events seemed disjointed to me and I would have liked it better if it flowed together more, but overall it was an enjoyable story. It was good enough for me to be willing to read another book by the author in hopes that one will be better, but not something I'll have to rush out to read more of. Although Stopping Short is part of a series it works as a stand-alone.

[loribivens · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I have definitely enjoyed all of the books in the Diamond Brides series. This, however, was not one of my favorites. It is definitely good, and I would still recommend it to anyone who enjoys contemporary/new romance, but it just didn't impress me. Again, I still enjoyed reading it.

[stacey68-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This is the second book I read from this author. Im not sure how I feel about it. He is the ultimate bad boy and his manager hires someone to salvage his reputation. I did not like the main characters. They were both shallow. But since really enjoyed the first book will continue to give this author a try.I received a free copy of this book for an honet review.

[labrat35 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I received a copy of this book from the LibraryThing Early Reviewers in exchange for an honest review. This is the third book in this series that I have read and I have enjoyed them all. Well written, great characters, very good read.

[medavis66 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

With Drew's story, we finish the infield. All of the books have great score lines for me. I liked how this one started off with a teammate's blunder in an attempt to help and built from there. I liked the statistical strategies and all of the reporting mumbo jumbo. The end especially tugged at my heartstrings.ARC provided in exchange for honest review.

[lornajarkin · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This was my first book by Ms Klasky and I really enjoyed the story of Drew and Jessica. The story line want outrageous and I really felt drawn to the characters. The situation was comical only because I could totally imagine it happening. Drew and Jessica really earned their relationship and I hope everyone can read and enjoy their story.

[lms8esmith · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Stopping Short gets 3.5 stars!I have been enjoying the Diamond Brides series for a couple of months now and stopping short was no different. My only reservation about Stopping Short is that this story line seemed a little more far-fetched than the other story lines. I did like Jessica's character and the fact that she was trying to find herself. Drew's seemingly quick change of character was a little more unbelievable for me, but once I read the details of his past, I completely understood his change.

[ljtljtljt · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I really enjoyed Stopping Short by Mindy Klasky. This is the sixth book in her Diamond Brides series and the seventh was released just last week. Each book focuses upon one of the players from the Raleigh Rockets, a professional baseball team with its roots in North Carolina. The two main characters in this story are Drew Marshall, the shortstop for the Rockets and Jessica Barnes, a public relations guru.It is spring training and Drew is having some trouble with his game. In addition, his bad-boy reputation and recent shenanigans have left a sour taste with the team's management and the general public. So much so, that he is in danger of losing his position to an aspiring minor league player. Luckily, Drew's agent hires Image Masters, a top-notch organization that specializes in image revamping.Jessica has been out of the workforce since her husband's death. Now a year later, she is back at Image Masters ready to pick-up where she left off. She is one of the best spin-doctors in the business, and that is why Drew gets assigned to her. Jessica has her work cut out for her, and the situation only worsens when one of Drew's teammates tells a group of reporters that Jessica is his fiancee. Additionally, one reporter in particular has made it his mission to ruin Drew.Drew is an amazing character. His hardships during his childhood were incomprehensible and yet he believes what he went through was completely his fault. Ms. Klasky paints Drew to be a good-looking, talented and sensitive guy, who just needs a lucky break. I really liked him.Jessica is an extremely smart woman that knows her job really well. She can solve any problem that is thrown at her while maintaining an amazing strength and grace. She is beautiful both inside and out.This is a terrific story that kept me thoroughly engaged from start to finish. I loved the way Ms. Klasky developed the romance between Drew and Jessica, by taking baby steps. Their attraction evolved into a heated love affair with a wonderful ending that I will remember for a long time.

[blsfan68 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A well written story with well developed characters. Mindy Klasky had me hoping Drew would overcome all his history and come out on top. This was my first book in the series and even though it is a stand alone, I am adding the other books in the series to my TBR list. A very pleasant, quick read for anyone who enjoys a heartfelt romance.

[lulu150 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I think this might be my favorite one in the Diamond Brides Series so far, loved it! I thought it had a great story line and characters. If you are looking for a good romance series I strongly suggest this one and start from the beginning (even thought you probably do not have to). You also do not need to like baseball at all to enjoy these. Cannot wait for the next one!

[crazy4reading · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Another baseball player had some romance. Stopping Short is the 6th book in the Diamond Brides series. We meet Jessica and Andrew (Drew).Jessica works for an imaging company that improves clients images. Drew is a Raleigh Rockets ball player who had gotten into some trouble at spring training. Jessica is an associate that is sent down to Florida to work on Drew's image. The face of the Raleigh Rockets, Adam, introduces Jessica to the press as Drew's fiance. This is not what Image Consultants has in mind but that is what they have to work with. Jessica thinks of it as part of the job and goes head first into it.Drew has a past that he doesn't want to tell Jessica, even as they both start to fall in love with each other.

[kmt01_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I have read all the books in this series, and so decided to read this one when it came out. I just did not enjoy this one as much. Drew Marshall, a Rockets’ Short Stop, has a bad-boy image problem. Jessica Barnes is hired to help him change that image. The story provides the reader with the ins and outs of an image consultant, by tracking how and what Jess does for Drew. However, there is one slight catch to Jessica’s job. During their initial meeting one of the players, announces to the media present that Jess is Drew’s new fiancé. His fact adds a great deal of humor to the story. I guess I just didn’t feel the chemistry between the two. In addition, there were things in Drew’s background that he did not divulge to her that would have made her job easier, and I did not understand his reluctance. Obviously, he was willing to let his career with the Rockets go. I think that, after five other books, the author is starting to run out of steam with this series. The book was okay, just not as good as the others. The concept of announcing an image consultant as your fiancé was interesting and different, but the author just did not quite pull it off. Still, if you enjoyed the others or any of her books, I recommend you give this one a try. You might see things differently. I received this from Library Thing to read and review.

[malin0johanna · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I can´t really put my finger on what I didn´t like about this book but there was something that just didn´t feel quite right. It was a sweet story and a written in a true Mindy Klasky spirit, love is always in the air but still something was off.I was given a copy from the author for an honest review.

[ash_p-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This review was written for LibraryThing Early Reviewers.

This installment gives an insight into the "play dirty" side of Journalism & Public Relations. We may think that celebrities have everything their hearts desire but what they do not have is PRIVACY. They are treated as public property and Stopping Short highlights that effectively. Klasky has touched upon this issue in most of the titles in this series, it being about a baseball team and all but this one in particular shows how peoples' secrets are blatantly used to make one feel they have done a great service to the world by airing out other peoples' dirty laundry. On the flip side, its a story of hope and acceptance and of course love. 4/5 to Ms. Klasky