Bottom of the Ninth Series by Jean Joachim

Fed up with cheating women, Dan Alexander, star pitcher for the New York Nighthawks, grew restless. Searching for something more than a bar babe, he zeroed in on a girl in the stands. He never expected to see a beautiful chick pushing frankfurters. But the hot dog girl looked as smokin’ as the food she was selling. Holly Merrill found a place to hide in plain sight, as a vendor at Nighthawks’ stadium... moreFed up with cheating women, Dan Alexander, star pitcher for the New York Nighthawks, grew restless. Searching for something more than a bar babe, he zeroed in on a girl in the stands. He never expected to see a beautiful chick pushing frankfurters. But the hot dog girl looked as smokin’ as the food she was selling. Holly Merrill found a place to hide in plain sight, as a vendor at Nighthawks’ stadium. Keeping her secret safe and simply happy to stay alive, she never considered finding love an option. After all, a bad girl doesn’t deserve a decent guy, does she? Coming off his best season ever, Dan went into the playoffs, hell bent on winning the pennant and playing in the World Series. But could he maintain his focus on the field, where everything was going right, when off the field everything was falling apart? less

Matt Jackson, clutch hitter, fielder extraordinaire, and team captain, is dynamite on the baseball field, but a loser with women. Or is he? He makes a show of coming on to chicks in bars, but always strikes out. Convinced being dateless is safer, Matt keeps his distance from women. Is he simply an insensitive chauvinist, or a crafty man hiding a secret? Everything he believes in is challenged the day he walks in on a beautiful woman in the locker room... moreMatt Jackson, clutch hitter, fielder extraordinaire, and team captain, is dynamite on the baseball field, but a loser with women. Or is he? He makes a show of coming on to chicks in bars, but always strikes out. Convinced being dateless is safer, Matt keeps his distance from women. Is he simply an insensitive chauvinist, or a crafty man hiding a secret? Everything he believes in is challenged the day he walks in on a beautiful woman in the locker room. Dusty, the sharp-tongued spitfire, cuts the all-star pro down to size. Unwilling to accept second-class status, she challenges everything he knows about women. Does a solo life make living with emotional pain easier? Drawn to the stunning, talented woman, Matt has a long way to go to win her trust. Getting close to Dusty is dangerous. Can he risk his well-protected heart? Matt faces a difficult choice -- will he make the right decision? Caution: locker room language. less

An off-season adventure, driving his expensive, new car from L.A. to New York, got Jake Lawrence’s motor running. Free from his snooty, Park Avenue girlfriend, the third baseman hit the highway, ready for anything. Or so he thought. Kate MacKenzie, aspiring musical theater star, sneaked out of her motel room after her mother had gambled away all the young woman’s money... moreAn off-season adventure, driving his expensive, new car from L.A. to New York, got Jake Lawrence’s motor running. Free from his snooty, Park Avenue girlfriend, the third baseman hit the highway, ready for anything. Or so he thought. Kate MacKenzie, aspiring musical theater star, sneaked out of her motel room after her mother had gambled away all the young woman’s money. In the middle of nowhere with less than four dollars to her name, the plucky actress planned to waitress her way to New York for a Broadway audition. All she needed was a job that paid enough for bus fare. Saving the beauty from a beating by the motel manager, Jake offers Kate a ride all the way to Manhattan. Leery of offers from men, Kate had no choice but to accept. She vowed to preserve her dignity and keep the sexy slugger at arm’s length. Mutual attraction couldn’t derail the pair from their goals. Kate’s dream of making it on Broadway collided with Jake’s of making it to the World Series. Will their road trip lead to love? Or to a lonely existence of separation, and insecurity? less