My daughter's new nanny is the curveball I never saw coming.



My whole life's been spent in stadiums—watching, playing, coaching. Baseball isn't just what I do, it's who I am, and I'm damn good at it. What I'm not good at? Raising my three-year-old daughter alone. So when a coworker tells me he knows the perfect nanny, I don't hesitate hiring her.



Hailey Shea is everything I didn't know I needed: beautiful, intelligent, and incredible with my daughter.



She's also eleven years younger than me and now on my payroll. My instincts tell me to keep my distance, but the more time I spend with her, the less control I seem to have. Our late night conversations, lingering glances, and secret touches have me rethinking everything I thought I knew, and reevaluating what I want.



But falling in love isn't a part of the game plan this season, and if I mess this up, I'm not the only one whose heart will be broken. My daughter has already watched one woman she loves walk out of her life, and I don't know if either of us could survive losing another.



Is Hailey destined to be my second strike? Or is she the home run I didn't realize I was waiting for?



Contains mature themes.