{"product_id":"all-wound-up-isbn-9780425276808","title":"All Wound Up","description":"\u003cb\u003eIn the latest Play-by-Play novel from the \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e bestselling author of \u003ci\u003eQuarterback Draw\u003c\/i\u003e, a sexy baseball player is done striking out...\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eTucker Cassidy is going through a slump—both with his curveball and in his dating life. After having a painful altercation involving his ex-girlfriend’s knee, the professional baseball player is convinced things couldn’t get worse…until a gorgeous doctor comes to the rescue at his most embarrassing moment.\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e As the daughter of the owner of the St. Louis Rivers major league baseball team, Dr. Aubry Ross has been around jocks all her life. She knows the ins and outs of all their games, and she isn’t interested in playing. \u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e When Tucker repeatedly lands in the hospital where she’s working, Aubry starts to think he’s getting injured just to see her. Tucker is both funny and sexy, and Aubry is pleasantly surprised to discover he actually respects her job. \u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e But when her father disapproves of their relationship, will Tucker let threats of a trade get in the way of a game-changing love?\"Jaci Burton's stories are full of heat and heart.\"\u003cbr\u003e—\u003cb\u003eMaya Banks\u003c\/b\u003e, #1 \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e bestselling author\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e“Jaci Burton’s books are always sexy, romantic, and charming!”\u003cbr\u003e—\u003cb\u003eJill Shalvis\u003c\/b\u003e, \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e bestselling author\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Jaci Burton is a stalwart in the romance genre.\"\u003cbr\u003e—\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eUSA Today\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"A wild ride.\"\u003cbr\u003e—\u003cb\u003eLora Leigh\u003c\/b\u003e, #1 \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e bestselling author, on \u003ci\u003eRiding the Edge\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"One to pick up and savor.\"\u003cbr\u003e—\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e, on\u003ci\u003e Surviving Demon Island\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003e \u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Jaci Burton delivers.”\u003cbr\u003e—\u003cb\u003eCherry Adair\u003c\/b\u003e, \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e bestselling author\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e “Captures everything I love about a small-town romance.”\u003cbr\u003e—\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eFresh Fiction\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e, on \u003ci\u003eHope Burns\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cb\u003eJaci Burton\u003c\/b\u003e is a\u003ci\u003e USA Today\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eNew York Times \u003c\/i\u003ebestselling author who lives in Oklahoma with her husband and dogs. She has three grown children who are all scattered around the country having lives of their own. A lover of sports, Jaci can often tell what season it is by what sport is being played. She watches entirely too much television, including an unhealthy amount of reality TV. When she isn’t on deadline, which is often, Jaci can be found at her local casino, trying to become a millionaire (so far, no luck). Burton is the author of  the Play-by-Play series including \u003ci\u003eThe Perfect Play\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eChanging the Game\u003c\/i\u003e,\u003ci\u003e Taking a Shot\u003c\/i\u003e,\u003ci\u003e Playing to Win\u003c\/i\u003e,\u003ci\u003e Thrown by a Curve\u003c\/i\u003e,\u003ci\u003e One Sweet Ride\u003c\/i\u003e,\u003ci\u003e Melting the Ice\u003c\/i\u003e,\u003ci\u003e Straddling the Line\u003c\/i\u003e,\u003ci\u003e \u003c\/i\u003eand \u003ci\u003eQuarterback Draw\u003c\/i\u003e, and, with Lora Leigh, co-author of the anthologies \u003ci\u003eNauti and Wild\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eNautier and Wilder. \u003c\/i\u003e She’s a total romantic and loves a story with a happily ever after, which you’ll find in all her books.\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eChapter One\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003eIt was cool, dark and—most importantly—private in Clyde Ross’s wine cellar, which was why Tucker Cassidy had brought Laura, his girlfriend, down here.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eShe’d had a lot to drink today, and when she drank, she got loud and obnoxious.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eShe was also pissed at him at the moment.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eLaura angry, drunk and loud? Not a good combination, especially not while they were at the house of the owner of the St. Louis Rivers. Clyde Ross was Tucker’s boss, and the last thing he needed was his girlfriend making a scene. He had enough of a bad boy image without Laura making things worse by screaming at him in the middle of Clyde’s very nice, very fancy party. .\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“I don’t think there’s anything more to discuss, Tucker, about why you keep dragging your feet about the two of us moving in together.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eYeah that so wasn’t happening. “We can talk about this when I take you home tonight, Laura.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHe’d brought her to the wine cellar in the hopes of cooling her down. Plus, they were alone here and no one could hear them. Okay, mainly no one could hear Laura, since she was the one who was doing all the talking. Loud talking. She was like a dog with a favorite bone once she got on a topic.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“We’ve been dating two whole months, Tucker. Don’t you think it’s time we make it official?”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIt had been the most awful two whole months of his entire life. Okay, maybe not at the beginning. Laura was a knockout. Tall, with long dark hair, curves that just didn’t quit and the best ass he’d ever seen. She was a cocktail waitress and they’d met one night when he’d been having drinks in the bar where she worked. They hit it off right away and had gone out, had a night of hot sex and had started dating. She’d been fun, adventurous, great in the sack and they had a lot in common.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePlus, she liked baseball, and he played for the Rivers. Not that it was a deal breaker if a woman he dated wasn’t a baseball fan, but it didn’t hurt if she was. She’d come to watch him play and she actually knew the game, as opposed to other women he’d dated who claimed to but in fact didn’t know balls from strikes or a curve from a fastball. In his mind, that was a goddamned crime.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBut as the weeks progressed, he’d noticed she didn’t hold her liquor well, and when she drank, she was not a fun drunk. She was loud, obnoxious and she insulted his friends. Whenever she allowed him to be around his friends. Which lately wasn’t often because she’d also grown more demanding of his time. Whenever they weren’t together, she wanted to know where he was and how soon he was coming over. In other words, when he wasn’t playing ball, she wanted him with her. Only with her. And she wanted him to account for every minute of his time.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHe didn’t need a mother—he had a pretty great one already.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAnd now the past few times they’d been together she’d thrown down hints about the two of them moving in together. He was so not ready for that.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSo now he had to redirect her and calm her down before things got out of hand.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“How about we check out Clyde’s awesome wine collection?”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eShe pushed at his chest. “I don’t give a shit about Clyde or his wine. I want you to make a commitment to me.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHe sighed and raked his fingers through his hair. He didn’t want to do this here, but she hadn’t left him much of a choice. “That’s not gonna happen. We’ve only been dating two months and I’m not ready to live together.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eShe poked at his chest. “You know what? You’re a sonofabitch. I thought we were heading somewhere. You led me to believe—”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHe was going to have to stop her there. “I never made promises to you, Laura.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAnd now the tears. He’d seen a lot of those lately, too. Especially when she’d been drinking.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“I thought we were in love, Tucker.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“I never said that, either.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eShe broke down then and sobbed.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWell, shit. He walked over to her and pulled her into his arms. “I’m sorry.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Sorry my ass. You’re not sorry at all.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHe didn’t know how a woman could be so drunk, yet so accurate, but her knee hit his crotch at just the right angle, and he went down like a fighter who’d just been blasted by a perfect punch.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eLights out. Only instead of a hit to his jaw, she’d KO’d him right in the balls.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHe vaguely registered her slurred words. “You’re a prick. We’re done, Tucker. I’m calling a taxi to take me home.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHe heard the click of her heels on the stone floor as she walked away.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHe couldn’t even breathe, let alone care that she’d just fucking left him on the ground.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eJesus Christ, that had hurt. His balls throbbed like someone had—\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWell, someone had shoved a knee into them.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHe lay there for what seemed like hours, but he knew it was only minutes before he managed to stagger to his knees. He found the wall, still struggling to catch his breath.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn a minute. He’d be able to stand in just a minute.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Oh, my God. Are you okay?”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHe heard a female voice.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eGreat. Just what he needed. A witness to his humiliation.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThen cool, soft hands swept across his forehead.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Are you hurt? Did you fall?”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHe shook his head. “I’m fine.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“You are not fine. You’re sweating and practically hyperventilating. Tell me what happened.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHis eyes were still closed and he concentrated all his effort on trying to determine if his balls were still attached to his body. He did not want some woman being nice to him.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eActually, he wanted nothing to do with any female. Possibly ever again.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHe managed to stand—with the woman’s help, unfortunately.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Tell me where you’re hurt,” she said.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHe shook his head. “I’m not hurt. Just go away.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“I am not going to go away. I’m a doctor and I can help you.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAwesome. This night was getting worse by the second. “I don’t need a doctor.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“How about you let me be the judge of that?”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHe opened his eyes and looked over at his unwanted savior.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eShe was, of course, gorgeous. Which made her immediately untrustworthy, since he’d just vowed to never again fall for a beautiful woman.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eShe was average height, with short blond hair and the most intense blue eyes he’d ever seen. She also had the most perfect mouth—\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eNot that he was ever going to think about a woman in a sexual way again. Thoughts like that only led to trouble, and crushed testicles.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHe leaned against the cool wall and tried to think about anything but this humiliating situation.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eShe slipped her fingers around his wrist.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“What are you doing?” he asked.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Shhh.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFine with him. Maybe if he didn’t say anything, or look at her, she’d disappear.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBut she didn’t. She kept holding onto him.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Your pulse rate is a little high.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHe opened his eyes and looked down at her. “Not surprising since I just got kicked in the balls.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eShe pursed her lips as she met his gaze. “Literally or figuratively?”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Literally.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Ouch. I can’t speak from experience, of course, but that must have been painful. What did you do to deserve that?”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFigures she’d think he was deserving of a knee to the groin. “Nothing. I had a drunk girlfriend who had it in her head we were supposed to move in together. When I tried to let her down easy,, that was her response.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Ouch again. Sorry.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHe shrugged. “Not your fault.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eShe rubbed her hands together. “I should examine you.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHe let out a laugh. “Honey, no offense, but the last thing I want is any woman near my balls tonight. Or possibly ever again.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eShe smiled. “You say that now. You’ll change your mind once they feel better. And you need to let me take a look and feel them to make sure your girlfriend—”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Ex-girlfriend.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Okay. To make sure your ex-girlfriend didn’t seriously injure you.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Uh, no. I’m okay.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eShe put her hands on her hips. She had nice hips, showcased in a white lacy sundress, which was attached to one very cute figure. Not that he was into noticing that kind of thing at the moment. “Who’s the doctor here? Me or you?”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“You. Or so you say. This could be some conspiracy. You could be a friend of Laura’s setting me up for round two of let’s-destroy-Tucker-Cassidy’s-manhood night.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eNow it was her turn to laugh. “I can assure you I have no idea who your girlfriend—”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Ex-girlfriend.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Right. I can assure you I am not in league with your nefarious ex-girlfriend.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“I like that.” He finally had something to smile about.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Like what?”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Nefarious. It fits her. But you’re still not getting in my pants.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Playing hard to get, Tucker?”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHe looked her over. “I’ll show you mine if you show me yours.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“I see you’re starting to feel better. That’s a very good sign. But no, I’m not showing you mine. I am going to look at yours, though. And in your weakened condition, I’m pretty sure I can get into your pants.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHis balls still throbbed. What if Laura had broken them? What if he was unable to have kids? Not that he wanted any—right now. But someday . . .\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Okay. Fine. You’re really a doctor?”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“I really am. So drop ’em and let’s take a look at the goods.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHe reached for the zipper of his pants. “If I had a dollar for every time a woman said that to me . . .”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eShe snickered, moved in closer, and he caught a light citrusy scent. He breathed it in, the best thing he’d smelled all night. It smelled like renewal, like starting over.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhich was ridiculous because he didn’t even know the doctor’s name. But if she fixed him, she’d be his savior.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eShe cradled his ball sac in her hand, then examined his dick. There was something about having a woman so close to his goods that should be exciting as hell. But he wasn’t getting hard. He hurt too damn bad.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“It’s inflamed, but she didn’t break your penis.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Well, hallelujah.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eShe tilted her head to the side and gave him a wry smile. “Right? She hit you pretty hard, though. Your testicles are swollen and red.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eShe took a step back. “You can pull your pants up now. You’ll be sore for a couple of days, but you’re going to be fine.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Thanks.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“You’re welcome.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHe zipped up. “I hope your husband or boyfriend doesn’t mind you inspecting my stuff down here in the wine cellar.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“No husband. No boyfriend. I’m a resident at Washington University here in St. Louis, and way too busy for that.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“I see. So who are you here with?”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Oh, my father is Clyde Ross. I’m Aubry.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eShit. Shit, shit, shit. The boss’s daughter. This night couldn’t get any worse.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“I didn’t know that. I mean, I knew he had a daughter in medical school or something. I don’t know why I didn’t make the connection.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“No reason for you to. Nice to meet you, Tucker. I’ve seen you pitch. You’re pretty damn good.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“So are you, Doc. Thanks for the once-over.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“You’re welcome. I actually came down here to grab a bottle of wine for my dad.” She obviously knew what she wanted, because she made a direct beeline for a spot on the far wall and plucked a bottle from the rack before turning to face him. “Got it. Shall we go upstairs, or do you need more time to reflect on your evening?”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“No, I think I’ve spent enough time…reflecting down here.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHe led her toward the stairs, hoping like hell Aubry was discreet enough not to tell her father what had happened to him.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eStill, he stopped and turned to face her. “One question.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Sure.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Did you make me drop trou because it was medically necessary, or because you wanted to get a good look at my dick?”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOne side of her mouth curved up in a sexy-as-hell smile. “Tucker. I’m surprised you’d ask that question. I am a doctor, after all.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eShe turned and headed up the stairs.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhich wasn’t an answer at all.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe night was starting to look up.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBut his balls still hurt like hell. After the debacle with Laura, and given the fact that the doc was Clyde’s daughter, he should definitely avoid Aubry Ross.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOr . . . maybe not.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Berkley","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46301938974949,"sku":"NP9780425276808","price":16.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1842\/7735\/files\/9780425276808.jpg?v=1767721318","url":"https:\/\/k12savings.com\/products\/all-wound-up-isbn-9780425276808","provider":"K12savings","version":"1.0","type":"link"}