Betting On The Rookie

There. It made perfect sense. A man could overlook scandal out of loyalty to the family. Sam hated that she had to set the narrative that way, that he had taken pity on her, but at least he would be perceived as squeaky clean despite her past.

“Are you at all worried about her questionable character and her collusion with her client to cover up an assault?”

Sam gritted her teeth. She had hoped for no follow-up, but this part was still scripted just in case. All he had to say was: I’m not here to talk about my agent’s past. I’m here to talk about my future in baseball.

A perfect line that would pivot everyone back to the game and him and away from her.

“She didn’t collude with her client on anything. She was lied to by a man she trusted to tell her the truth. And what really cranks my gear is that somehow it’s like she’s to blame for what that asshole did. This guy is a violent scumbag who hit his fiancée, tried to cover it up and then lied about it. Why is my agent to blame for that? I’m perfectly happy with Samantha Baker as my agent, and, no, I have no concerns about her character at all. Now, if we’re done here?”

Evan stood so quickly he almost toppled over his chair. A few reporters were still firing questions at him, obviously wanting to feed on the sound bite he had given them.

Sam closed her eyes and sighed. He was going to make the ESPN highlights tonight by calling Richard Stanson a violent scumbag asshole.

At least it hadn’t been douche bag. He’d at least taken her advice and avoided that one.

The door to the office where she was waiting flew open and then slammed shut behind her. Evan was already loosening his tie as he mumbled under his breath about more assholes.

“I’m not here to talk about my agent’s past. I’m here to talk about my future in baseball,” Sam said. “It’s a great line. You know how I know? I wrote it for you.”

He glared as if he were about to snap at her, too, then she could see he just released his anger in a woosh of breath. As if simply by looking at him, she had soothed the savage beast. She had originally thought he was a white-knight hero, but he wasn’t without a little temper, either.

“It’s not right. Calling out your character like that. And sorry, but I’m not going to stand for it. You’ve got to deal with that. Okay? You’re my agent now. I get to say what I want about you when I want to. Got it?”

At his intensity, Sam felt a swirl of something in her chest. Like she was being looked after and cared for and protected. It wasn’t an uncommon feeling.

Of course she’d always had Duff.

Then there had been Bob, her mother’s husband and Sam’s biological father. Something Bob hadn’t known for eighteen years of Sam’s life because he’d been stupid by dumping Sam’s mother when he thought he was doing the right thing by her. Bob had wanted to fight her battles, too, like any other father would, but Sam was an adult when she met him. She’d been able to take care of herself, even at eighteen.

Yes, Duff and Bob were two men with flaws. But they were also two men who’d had her back.

Now Evan stood in front of her, and with him, she had that same feeling. Like no matter what, he would guard over her, snarling at anyone who dared to take a swipe at her, no matter how many times she told him she could save herself. Hadn’t he called her terrifying?

Terrifying people took care of themselves.

She opened her mouth to tell him one more time he didn’t have to save her. That she wasn’t that kind of woman who needed rescuing.

Instead she nodded. “Got it.”

He was looking at her warily, like he was waiting for more of a fight, but the truth was there was no point in arguing. She wasn’t going to change his mind, and she wasn’t going lie to herself and say there hadn’t been some satisfaction in watching someone else defend her. Someone else besides her say she wasn’t a liar.

“I’m going to be on Sports Center tonight, aren’t I?”

“Yes,” Sam agreed. “Maybe that’s not such a bad thing. A little buzz never hurt anyone. And since you don’t have a Twitter account, you’re not going to know what all the horrible Richard Stanson fans are going to Tweet about you for calling out their boy.”

“The fact that he still has fans... I mean, seriously, how do people reconcile that? How can you root for someone who you know has no respect for women?”

Sam frowned. “Because he wins. Don’t get me wrong—we’ll call him out for it, we’ll talk about him for a couple of weeks, we’ll even discuss domestic abuse and ways to help end it. But at the end of the day, people don’t really care about their sports heroes’ lives. They care about their own lives, and when their team wins, they feel good. That’s all that counts.”

“Doesn’t make it right.”

Sam walked over to him and brushed a little lint off his shoulder. “I told you before. Welcome to the Bigs, my friend.”

They looked at each other, and Sam could feel a shift in the dynamic. She was standing too close. She had made an excuse to touch him. Had there been any lint really, or had she just wanted to get closer to him? So she could be near the man who wanted to rush to her defense.

The man who had made her pout.

He was looking at her now not as his agent but as a woman, and she could feel the answer to that look all the way to her toes.

Yes.

No.

She tried to be casual about how she removed her hand from his shoulder, but before she could fully escape, he’d circled his fingers around her wrist, trapping her.

“Are we going to talk about this?” he asked, his voice low and slightly gruff.

“Talk about what?”

Sam almost wanted to smile at how well she had pulled off that line. She was cool, casual and sounded completely unaware of anything he might be talking about.

“I want you.”

Sam’s jaw dropped. Who did that? Who just said the thing they were thinking despite the consequences?

“I get it. I know it’s messed up. You’re my agent and I want it to stay that way, but maybe it would be better, easier, if we talked about the elephant. Because I’m pretty sure this goes both ways.”

Sam managed a weak huff. “That’s awfully arrogant of you.”

Evan shook his head slowly. “Not really. You’re trembling, and where my thumb is hitting your pulse point I can feel your heart racing.”

Sam jerked her hand away, and Evan let her go.

“We need a plan. A way we’re going to deal with it.”

“I had a plan,” Sam said. “I was going to ignore it. You were supposed to do the same. It’s how adults deal with things they don’t want to deal with.”

“That seems silly, doesn’t it?”

He was smiling, which made him look incredibly endearing. She wanted to slap his face. Maybe that would cure him of his desire. “Look, Evan, what did you think I was going to say?”

“I want you, too.”

Like that was going to happen. Like she would just put herself out there and see how he reacted. Raw and vulnerable.

“I meant, what did you think talking about this openly would accomplish?”

He shrugged. Then sighed. “Honestly I don’t know. Like I said, I don’t want to lose you as an agent.”

“Then you must know we can’t possibly have any romantic entanglement. Ours is a business relationship.”

“Entanglement? You make that sound like a game of Twister. I’m not talking about just an entanglement. Yes, I get our business relationship makes things more complicated. And, yes, it makes sense to walk away from any kind of personal relationship.”

Sam felt physically relieved. He understood. That was good. That would prevent him from making any more ridiculous comments.

“But it doesn’t change the fact we still want each other.”

Comments like that.

“Evan.” Sam sighed. What in the hell was she supposed to do with a man like this? One who was just so out there with himself. Wasn’t he worried he was going to get hurt? Because it’s what she would most likely do. To protect herself she would lash out like a cat that has encountered an overfriendly dog who wants to play. A few swipes and the dog would walk away whimpering.

“Okay, look, I can see it makes you uncomfortable to talk about it. I’ll drop it for now.”

“Thank you,” she said, feeling for the first time since he’d started speaking she could take a deep breath.

“Here’s the thing, though, Sam. I’ve learned a lot in the last few years since I first met you. I’ve learned you don’t get anything in this world you truly want without taking some risks. While our situation might not be ideal, don’t think it means I’m not going to try for it. For you. Because now I know what it means to take that risk and win. I’m not afraid.”

He moved around her, and Sam turned to watch as he opened the door to the office and left. Happy that she’d been able to keep her mouth closed. Because what she had really wanted to say was...don’t go.

Which of course was ridiculous. They were having dinner that night with Jocelyn Taft Wright and her husband, Pete. A thank-you from Jocelyn for Evan having agreed to the interview.

Today was Evan’s off day, and really it was generous of him to give up his free time to do the press conference in the first place.

Sam took a few deep, calming breaths. All things considered, nothing too terrible had happened. Evan had confessed to wanting her, but she hadn’t really done the same.

She hadn’t been able to work up the steeliness to actually lie to him, so it was better she say nothing. Now she knew she would have to work much harder to keep a personal distance between them.

What made that so hard was that beyond wanting him, she actually just really liked him. She had an idea that maybe leaving Minotaur Falls was the smart choice. Distance would surely help the situation. Only it felt a little like cowardice, not to mention humiliating.

Hey, Evan, I want you so much I can’t be in the same town as you for fear I’ll give in and jump your bones.

No. Leaving was not an option.

“You’ll get over it,” she told the empty room.

* * *

KELLY LAWSON WATCHED from her car as the elegant blonde left the stadium and headed to her Mercedes. She couldn’t help but feel a twinge of envy at the cool, sleek business suit, slim high heels and sophisticated haircut. All things she had wanted for herself, but nothing she could ever afford.

Not that she regretted for a second where all her hard-earned money had to go.

“Mom, I don’t huh-understand why we’re here if there’s no game today. I huh-thought we were going to see a baseball game.”

Kelly looked at her son, and her love for him overwhelmed her. He took a hit of his inhaler, and she schooled herself not to wince. The humidity at this time of year wasn’t bad in upstate New York, but really they should be in the least humid environment she could find for him. Anything to make his breathing easier.

She reached over to ruffle his hair. “We are, Connor. Soon, I promise. I just wanted...”

I wanted to see him first.

“I wanted to make sure I had the right directions first. This is like a dry run.”

She hadn’t been prepared for the punch in her gut when he came out of the stadium. It had been so long since she had seen him, and now...now she was committed to doing this thing.

For Connor. For Connor she would do anything.

CHAPTER FIVE

“THIS WAS LOVELY of you to invite us to dinner,” Sam said as they entered the restaurant. Minotaur Falls wasn’t a mecca for fine dining, but this was by far the best restaurant in town.

“My pleasure,” Jocelyn returned. “You did me a favor today. Pete and I appreciate it. This is the least I could do to offer my thanks.”

“Not going to lie,” Evan said. “I’m not a fan of the interview stuff, but anything to help the team.”

Pete, Jocelyn’s husband, studied Evan with a skeptical gaze. As if it was hard to believe he was truly that honest. Although Sam was beginning to believe that’s simply who Evan was. What you saw was what you got.

I want you.

Yes, he was a man who felt very comfortable with the truth. Sam hadn’t been able to get those words out of her head since he’d said them.

The two couples settled into a booth, Jocelyn and Pete across from her and Evan. Not that she was in any way part of a couple, of course. It was just the situation, that she and Evan were here with Jocelyn and Pete. Another couple. That the four of them were having dinner.

Enjoying each other’s company. And laughing and having fun.

Not that you couldn’t have fun on a business dinner, of course. However, Sam needed to remind herself she was here only in a business capacity. Yes, she might have taken special care with the dress she picked out. Yes, she might have changed three different times before settling on the black jersey with the plunging back, and, yes, maybe she had been more than a little thrilled when Evan had called earlier and offered to pick her up.

This way she could have some wine and relax, as Evan didn’t drink during the baseball season. When she’d asked him why, he’d told her he didn’t like to have his senses compromised in any way.

Sam thought it sounded reasonable, but there had been something in his voice when he said “senses” that made her think of sensuality and that made her think of things she shouldn’t be thinking about.

Accepting his offer of a ride was in many ways a test for her self-control. Of course he could pick her up. Absolutely he could open the door for her. Yes, she could sit next to him in the cool confines of his truck without there being a hint of intimacy.

Yeah, right. Then how come you can’t keep from looking at how close his thigh is to yours in the booth?

“So, Evan, are you more nervous or excited for your debut start in The Show?” Pete asked as soon as the waiter had left with their drink orders.

Evan opened his mouth and then abruptly closed it.

Knowing instantly what he was afraid of, Pete held his hands up. “I’m not on the job right now—no notepad. This whole dinner is officially off the record. Tonight I’m just Jo’s husband.”

Evan nodded, and Sam wanted to praise him for at least realizing he needed to be cautious any time when speaking to a reporter. He was learning.

“Then the answer is nervous,” Evan said with a small chuckle. “Not about playing. I mean, that will happen. I’m nervous about my dad being there. Knowing he’s watching. I don’t want to let him down. He’s pretty excited about this whole thing.”

“Fathers can be terrifying,” Pete agreed.

“Tell me about it,” Sam said without really thinking. “I happened to have two. A baseball legend and a former Navy Seal. Maybe that’s where I get my ferocious side from.”

Evan looked at her quizzically, and she realized he didn’t know her particular story. Jocelyn and Pete did because of their relationship with Scout, and it wasn’t as if there was anything to hide anymore with Duff having passed.

“My mother and her current husband, Bob, knew each other many years ago,” Sam explained. “He left to go on a military mission and broke up with her before leaving. For her sake, of course.”

Jocelyn snorted. “Men can be so frustrating that way.”

“Anyway, my mom didn’t know at the time she was pregnant with me. Duff, when he met my mother, fell in love with her immediately. He stepped in and married her and accepted me as his own. It was only after Bob reconnected with my mom years later that I learned the truth.”

“Wow. That must have been a sucker punch,” Evan said.

“A little bit. I was eighteen and probably not as mature as I should have been about it,” Sam mused. “Duff had insisted on keeping it a secret from me, and that kind of created a rift between us. Fortunately we got over it before the end. And now I get Bob, who is pretty terrific, too, if just a little bit scary sometimes with the things he can do. Just ask Scout if anyone behind a locked door is safe when Bob is in the house.”

The group chuckled, and the somber mood was lifted.

“Speaking of one of your fathers,” Jocelyn said. “You know how hard I had to fight to get the statue of Duff Baker for my stadium.”

“Yes, and I’m glad you won.” Sam turned to Evan. “Two other teams wanted to honor Duff with statues. But we felt like this was home, and if there was going to be a statue, it should be here.”

“Without the Baker girls’ support I don’t know if I would have pulled it off, but it’s coming along really well. We’re planning the unveiling during the All-Star break in July. This way Scout and Lane will be able to fly back to the East Coast. It’s going to be a major event, and, best of all, the seats will be packed!”

“My wife, ever the sentimentalist.” Pete laughed and got an elbow to the ribs for his efforts, even though it was clear to see Jocelyn took no offense.

The food was delicious, and, after her second glass of wine, Sam thought how nice this was. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d spent an evening like this. Sure, they talked some baseball, but not really in the context of work. No, there was no getting away from the fact that this was just an enjoyable social night out. Last time she had a night like this...probably wasn’t since Donald.

Only now, thinking about her time with Don, did she realize she usually felt sick to her stomach anytime she remembered him. But she didn’t feel sick tonight. There was none of the shame and humiliation. None of the hurt.

It was like he was gone. Finally gone after all this time.

One hard crack of his hand against her face with an intent to inflict pain. Maybe it shouldn’t have meant so much. Or had such an impact on her life. Yet it did.

Sam would be thrilled if that night no longer held any power over her. That she was finally ready to let it go and move on.

“Hey there, did we lose you?” Evan nudged her with his elbow.

Sam blinked. “Sorry, woolgathering.”

“I was just wondering if you were taking on any more clients,” Jocelyn asked.

“That’s the plan, but for right now, Evan is my one and only.” In a somewhat spontaneous moment, Sam reached over and grabbed his chin to give it a little shake. “Look at this moneymaker. Is that not the face of the next Captain America?”

“Maybe that’s your opinion because you like it so much,” Evan murmured.

She did like his face, she thought, as she pulled her hand away from his chin, letting her fingers linger over the hint of stubble that had grown since he’d shaved.

She couldn’t look away.

Suddenly it was just the two of them in the booth, with the electricity arcing between them.

Sam forced herself to break from his gaze and smiled way too widely. “Dessert, anyone?”

She turned to look for their waiter, desperate for the distraction. Instead of the young man who had been waiting on them all evening, a woman Sam would put in her late twenties was heading to their table with a young child in tow.

Sam could hear the boy, maybe six or seven, wheezing a little.

“Kelly?” Evan said. As if she was the last person he might expect to be here in this time and this place.

Sam turned to look at his expression and she could read his confusion.

Kelly. Kelly Lawson. His college girlfriend?

“I’m sorry to do this to you, Evan. I’ve been trying to find you and ran into someone down at the stadium who said you were here with the owner and...”

“Kelly, what are you doing here? I haven’t seen you in seven years. My father said you called him the other day. I had no idea why.”

“I needed to find you,” she said again. Then she pushed the little boy in front of her. “Evan, this is Connor.”

“Hi, Connor,” Evan said with a small wave and a smile. Like the scene happening in front of all of them was completely normal.

It was when Sam looked over to Pete and Jocelyn to get their reaction that it started to click in. The couple was exchanging a look that said what was about to happen next was not going to be good.

But it couldn’t be bad, could it? After all, this was Evan Tanner. Kelly was the girlfriend Sam hadn’t been able to get in touch with. But Evan had said she would have nothing but good things to say about him.

Because he had loved her.

“I’m really sorry, Evan. I’m really sorry to do it this way, but I have no choice.”

“Spit it out, Kell,” Evan said, his voice a little flatter.

Kelly crouched down so that she was at eye level with her son. “Connor, could you go wait for Mommy in the lobby? Stay by that man with the menus. I won’t be long.”

The child did as instructed without protest, and Kelly clearly waited until he was out of earshot to say what she wanted to say.

“Connor...he’s your son. He’s your son, and he’s sick. I need your help.”

Yep, Sam thought. That sounded about right for her luck.

Captain America turned into a delinquent baby daddy right in front of her eyes.

“I think we’ll skip dessert,” Sam said in the void of silence.

* * *

“WHY ARE YOU doing this, Kell? You need help, I’ll help you,” Evan said, trying not to look at the kid who was sitting in the passenger seat of the cheap sedan Kelly said was her car. Equally, he was trying not to look over at Sam who was patiently waiting, leaning against the hood of his truck. He was, after all, her ride home.

“It’s the truth, Evan. Do the math. We were together that last semester in college at the end of May, and Connor was born in January. The thirteenth to be precise.”

“And that’s it? I’m supposed to believe, because the numbers sort of work, that you chose—after learning you were pregnant—to keep the baby, never tell me and wait seven years before dropping this bomb on me. Sorry, it doesn’t compute. First of all, you were adamantly pro-choice. If you didn’t want the baby, you would have aborted it.”

Конец ознакомительного фрагмента.

Текст предоставлен ООО «ЛитРес».

Прочитайте эту книгу целиком, купив полную легальную версию на ЛитРес.

Безопасно оплатить книгу можно банковской картой Visa, MasterCard, Maestro, со счета мобильного телефона, с платежного терминала, в салоне МТС или Связной, через PayPal, WebMoney, Яндекс.Деньги, QIWI Кошелек, бонусными картами или другим удобным Вам способом.