Extra Innings (A Married Couple Romance)

By Jess Bryant and Maren Lee

When Deacon Callahan asked his wife Lily to marry him when they were eighteen years old, he only wanted three things: Lily by his side forever, a career in professional baseball and a family. Now at twenty-eight, he’s a veteran in the league. He and Lily are married, but they haven’t been able to conceive and the stress has put a strain on their marriage that’s making it crumble.

When Lily Callahan said 'yes' to Deacon all those years ago, she couldn't wait to spend her life by his side, cheering him on and raising their family. But she didn't count on not being able to have children. And she didn't count on always coming in second to baseball. Deacon is rarely ever home and when they are together, they're just going through the motions. Lily is fed up and ready to call it quits when a surprise rocks her world.

Can Deacon show Lily that she's number one in his life before it’s too late? Can they save their relationship? Or are they just waiting for the clock to run out on their happily ever after?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jess Bryant
• Release date: Dec 26, 2018
• ISBN: 9780463626078

Book preview

Prologue

It was a perfect night. One of those nights that a girl remembers for the rest of her life. The kind that John Hughes made movies about – because it was just that kind of sparkling, sweet, once-in-a-lifetime kind of night .

Because a girl only graduated from high school, got engaged and had sex for the first time once.

Lily Brannon couldn’t stop smiling as she stared at the small gold band with the tiny speck of a diamond that Deacon Callahan had put on her left hand.

Her boyfriend. Her fiancé. Her future husband.

The absolute love of her life.

Deacon had thought of everything. He’d driven her out here to their favorite spot overlooking the city. He’d brought blankets to pad the bed of his truck and to keep them warm in the chilly night air. There had been a picnic basket of treats and a bottle of champagne that he’d stolen from his parents’ wine cabinet. He’d waited until she’d looked up, pointing out a shooting star, and when she’d looked back down he’d been holding the little velvet box with the ring inside.

He had proposed and she’d said yes and tonight was the first night of the rest of their lives together.

How many kids are we going to have? She grinned against his chest, continuing the conversation they’d been having for the past half hour. Planning their future. Planning their lives.

Two. Deacon answered firmly, his fingers tangling in her hair as he combed it off her face.

One boy and one girl?

Nope. Two boys. A pitcher and a catcher. He chuckled when she punched him in the ribs playfully. Okay, okay. Maybe the girl can play catcher for her big brother’s fastball.

Lily giggled loudly. You’re ridiculous.

It’s why you love me.

She let him pull her closer, their naked bodies keeping them warm beneath the blankets. I do love you Deke and I can’t wait to be your wife.

I don’t want to wait, he announced. I want to do it as soon as possible. I want to make it official before the draft. That way whatever team takes me they know we come as a package deal. It’s you and me first, and the team second. Always.

Always, she echoed.

Neither of them had ever doubted that Deacon would play ball professionally. He’d been a prodigy since he was old enough to hold a bat. He’d played in the Little League World Series. He’d had scouts at his middle school baseball games. Every college in the area had tried to recruit him, but they both knew he was going straight to the big leagues.

Deacon was a star. He’d always been destined for bigger and better things. But the only thing he loved more than baseball was her.

Lily had never doubted that, not for a moment. Not since the first time he kissed her on the playground when they were little kids. They’d been through everything together: growing up, learning about themselves and each other, learning the ways of the world.

Lily wasn’t just his biggest fan. She was his teammate for life.

She stared at the sparkling ring on her hand. They were going to get married, just like they’d always planned. He’d get drafted to an amazing team and hit the majors before they could blink an eye. Deacon would win awards and championships and she would be right there beside him, just like she always had, cheering him on and loving him with her whole heart.

Lily bit her lip. I don’t want to wait either.

Deacon shifted them slightly so that he could look down at her.The smile on his handsome face made her heart beat triple-time. You don’t?

No. Let’s do it. Let’s get married.

It was Deacon’s turn to laugh. What? Like, right now?

Why not? Lily asked. We live in a city with drive-through chapels and we’re both eighteen. What’s stopping us? You said you wanted to do it as soon as possible. Why not now?

Deacon’s eyes lit with excitement. You’re serious? You want to get married tonight?

Only if you do, she said, grinning back at him.

I do. I love you and I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Let’s get married.

"Let’s get married and start the rest of our lives together. Tonight."

Deacon pulled her close and kissed her long and hard. His lips moved against hers in a rhythm all their own, one that they’d created together so long ago. Lily kissed him back with everything she had in her. And when he finally broke the kiss they were panting, their foreheads pressed together and breaths mingled.

I’m going to make you the happiest woman in the world, Mrs. Callahan, Deacon promised.

You already have, Deke. You already have.

Chapter One

Ten Years Later

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Y o, Deke!

Deacon threw his duffle bag over his shoulder and shut his locker before he turned toward the voice.

What’s happening, Romeo? he asked his first baseman. Twenty-one years old and already the best first baseman in the league, Romeo also lived up to his name.

He was quite the ladies’ man. And the Las Vegas Heat had won on the road for the eighth straight game so he knew Romeo was asking him out to celebrate.

Fuck.

At twenty-eight, Deacon was one of the oldest men on the team. He’d been playing pro ball for ten years. The