Chapter 19
Reese
“Is there anything else that you or your department needs?” I ask Kennedy.
Sitting in the chair on the other side of my desk, she scans the notebook in her hand, bulleted with all the points we discussed over the last hour of this meeting. “Not that I can think of at the moment.”
“Your staff is being respectful of your position? Has everything been okay with the transition?”
“They are and yes, it’s been smooth. I think taking over as lead doctor in the final few months of last season helped with taking over the role officially this year.”
“And the players. Are they being good to you and your team?”
She hesitates for a long moment. “Most of them, yes.”
Kennedy doesn’t have to explain. I’m Harrison’s direct superior and he can’t even find it in him to respect me. I’m sure she’s been on the receiving end of his patronizing comments a time or two.
“I’m taking care of that,” I attempt to reassure her without being too descriptive of my plan.
She nods in agreement.
“And Natalie, is she doing okay in her new role?” I ask, referring to the new athletic trainer Kennedy hired to replace her former position. “Is there anything I can do for her?”
Kennedy gains this proud smile on her lips. “She’s doing well. She’s a hard worker. Smart. Driven. And the boys are officially giving her shit in the training room when they come in for treatment, which means they like her.”
“She sounds a lot like you.”
“Well, I think we both know it takes a certain personality and . . . backbone to be a woman in this industry.”
“That it does.” There’s a hint of exhaustion in my tone.
She cocks her head to the side, studying me. “And how are you doing?”
“I thought I was heading up this meeting, Dr. Rhodes? I’m supposed to be the one checking in on you.”
“Yes, but if you’re in charge of everyone else, then who are you supposed to vent to? Just because you’re the boss, doesn’t mean you can’t bitch every once in a while. So let’s hear it.”
Sitting back in the chair, she wears this cheeky, knowing smile that reminds me far too much of the one I always see on her husband.
She has a point. They don’t say “it’s lonely at the top” for nothing, but that’s what I signed up for with this career.
You get a lot of criticism simply from being a team owner, but then you add in my being the first woman in the role.
Even more so, you add in that I’m running the baseball operations of this franchise too, and it’s just been a lot of hate. Or at least, that’s what it feels like.
The hateful ones are always the loudest.
But Kennedy is still my employee, and as much as I believe she’ll understand having to deal with some of these same sentiments herself, it’s still my responsibility to shoulder. I don’t want the criticism I receive to affect anyone working under me.
“It’s been . . .” I search for my words carefully. “Loud.”
Loud headlines. Loud naysayers. Loud doubts that come creeping into my own mind sometimes.
“I get that. I see the headlines online. Try your best not to listen to them. The only people who truly know how this club is operating and how well you’re doing are the ones who work for you.”
She hasn’t been in the advisory board meetings to know that not everyone who works for me thinks I’m doing all that great.
“Thanks, Kennedy. I appreciate that.”
“Well, thank you for the meeting.” She stands from her seat. “It’s nice to have these monthly catch-ups.”
“Of course. But if anything comes up before the next one, you know where to find me.”
“Thanks, Reese. Will I see you at the team potluck next weekend?”
“No,” I quickly answer. “I’ll let the players have their fun.”
“I’m not a player and I’m going. My entire staff is going. You should come. It’s always a good time and a nice way to get to know people outside of the office.”
I offer her a thankful smile. “It’s a little different for me.”
As in, no one wants their boss, the person who signs your paycheck, the person who determines the fate of your career, around when you’re just trying to have a good time with your friends.
“Well, if you change your mind, you know where we’ll be,” she says on the way out of my office, passing the still-empty receptionist desk. “Have a good day, Reese.”
I haven’t made too many public moves yet, mostly just been working on cleaning up things on the back end. But promoting Kennedy Rhodes to lead doctor last season was my first big decision, and I’m happy to say I haven’t second-guessed that choice once.
I can only hope to make future decisions with as much confidence as I did that one.
Speaking of decisions I need to make, I have a couple of receptionist interviews lined up for this afternoon. Grabbing my bag, I loop it over my shoulder and leave my office for a conference room on the second floor that will feel less intimidating than interviewing in my office.
It’s a quiet day around the offices, so I don’t see too many people on the way to the elevator, and it opens on my floor immediately after I press the button for it.
As soon as I step inside, I’m instantly hit with a flashback of last Saturday night.
My back against the wall.
Legs wrapped around Emmett’s waist.
His lips on mine, trailing down my neck, over my collarbone. How close he was to pulling down my bra and wrapping his mouth around—
“Can you hold that for me?”
Oh God. I’d know that voice anywhere.
I hold a hand out to keep the doors from closing, giving my grandfather time to come around the corner.
I love the man, but unfortunately, he’s the very last person on Earth I’d like to see right now, while I’m busy replaying every second of what I did with my employee last weekend.
“Oh, there’s my girl,” he says brightly, taking his time getting into the elevator next to me.
Gathering myself, I pop a kiss on his cheek as the doors close with only us inside. He pushes the button for the floor directly below us while I choose the second level, right above the clubhouse.
“Are you feeling okay?” he asks, the back of his hand meeting my forehead. “You’re awfully flushed right now, honey. A bit warm.”
If he only knew.
“I’m fine,” I lie. “Just a warm day out.”
“Don’t worry. I’m not here to check up on you. I was just saying hi to some old friends in the ticketing office. Thought I’d make my rounds and see who else was here today.”
My grandfather, like me, loves this place. This was his life for more than four decades. He spent as much time here as I do now. I can’t imagine how strange the transition has been for him, regardless that he was ready to call it quits.
So, I’m never surprised when I find him lingering in the halls every other week or so.
“You know you’re welcome here any time,” I tell him. “If you ever want to come sit in my office while I’m working or if you need me to make up an excuse for why I need you at the field, so Grandma doesn’t give you a hard time, you just let me know.”
He chuckles. “That’s why you’re my favorite.”
The doors open on the floor he needs and the one person I both long to see and also need to avoid is standing on the other side, waiting for the elevator.
Emmett’s eyes are downcast on his phone as the doors slowly open, but he finally looks up once they’re fully ajar.
There’s the smallest hint of surprise on his face when he meets my eye, but that look slowly morphs into this sweet smile that sets every inch of me on fire.
I find myself giving him a mirror grin in return.
We’ve barely seen each other since that kiss.
Not entirely intentional, just being busy with our work.
And the times we have seen each other have been across a crowded room or in a congested dugout.
Which is purposeful. We’re both doing our part to stay away as best we can. To keep a healthy distance.
“Hi,” he breathes out, eyes locked on me.
That warm fever my grandfather was so worried about? Yeah, it’s back.
I open my mouth to say something, but my grandfather beats me to it.
“Monty!” he bursts, taking a step to get off the elevator. “So good to see you. How have you been?”
Emmett tries to bite back his laughter as he looks at me, both of us clearly having something else on our minds.
“Hey, Arthur. I’m good. How are you?”
“I’m great. Enjoying retirement.”
“So that’s why you’re at the field today?” he teases. “Enjoying your retirement?”
“What can I say? This place is like a drug.”
Emmett uses his arm out to keep the elevator doors open, allowing for my grandfather to take his time getting off. “That it is, Arthur. Have fun today.”
My grandfather’s smile is boyish and excited because he gets to make the rounds and see some of the people he misses from his daily life.
“Love you, Reese’s Pieces!” he calls out over his shoulder.
Emmett steps into the elevator next to me, but doesn’t select a floor, clearly going to the same level as me. The doors close and an instant wave of déjà vu crashes over me again, even stronger this time now that the man at the center of those memories is standing next to me.
Alone.
For the first time since we kissed.
Through the reflection in the metal doors, I see the way my body involuntarily leans in his direction. Like a flower finding the sun. But it’s not one-sided. Emmett is doing the same, his arm brushing mine, his fingers skating the backs of my own.
The silence is suffocating. The knowledge of where we are now and where we were the last time we were alone sits heavy in the air between us.
“Well, so much for staying away from one another,” I say, trying my best to break the tension.
It doesn’t work, so Emmett gives it a shot.
“This uh . . .” He looks around. “This looks awfully familiar.”
I huff a laugh and through the reflection, I see the smile he’s wearing as he looks down at me. His fingers find the spaces between mine, dangling there but nothing more, and something about that small point of contact takes the edge off.
“So, Reese’s Pieces, huh?” His tone is all tease.
“No. Don’t even think about it.”
“Ironic nickname, if you ask me. Named after a candy when there’s nothing really all that sweet about you.”
I try to bite back my grin. “Thank you. That’s the way I like me.”
Looking up, I find him watching me, his voice all soft. “That’s the way I like you too.”
I’d really like to kiss him again right now.
The string keeping us apart is pulled too tight, tempting to snap at any moment, but thankfully, that tension is relieved when the doors open on the second floor.
Taking a deep breath, I inhale some of the new air that wasn’t stuck with us in this elevator, that hasn’t been laced with not-so-innocent touches and soft-spoken words.
Emmett’s fingers leave mine, his palm finding the small of my back, and even that touch, which is seemingly normal and appropriate, feels anything but. It pricks my skin with acute awareness, sensing the pad of every one of those five fingers pressing into me.
His other hand gestures for me to exit first. “After you.”
Swallowing, I gather myself and take a step forward, needing to get to these interviews and just hoping like hell I don’t come off as flustered as I feel right now.
“Where are you headed?” he asks, stepping off the elevator with me.
We both stop just on the other side of the doors before we’ll separate for our destinations.
“I have interviews. I’m finally going to hire a receptionist.”
He hums this disappointed sound.
“What?”
“I’m going to miss being able to barge in there any time I want, is all.”
“Even more of a reason to hire someone as soon as possible.”
He smiles.
I smile at his smile.
We’re both just really fucking smiley today, aren’t we?
We linger there, him rocking back on his heels, me shifting my weight from foot to foot. Having absolutely no reason to continue this conversation but also not wanting it to end.
I throw a thumb in the direction of the conference room. “So, I should—”
“Are you coming to the team potluck next weekend?”
“I’m not,” I quickly answer for the second time today. “That’s a team thing.”
“Exactly.”
“I’m not sure the guys would want the person who holds their careers in her hands to attend their team-bonding event. Can’t imagine that’d be very relaxing for them.”
“They would want you there. They do. You’re a part of this team, Reese, and it would be good for you to start seeing that.”
I notice the way he says it would be good for me, not them. Because I’m the one who needs convincing.
I’m tempted to give him a quick and sure no. The way I did when speaking to Kennedy about this same subject. But something about Emmett asking me to join is tempting me to do so.
It’d be much simpler for me to keep some boundaries in place when it comes to the guys on the team. To try my best to view these players as pieces of a puzzle and not people. Because that’s what I should do. Remain detached. Keep things strictly on a business level.
And naturally, I’m not good at that at all. Instinctually, I probably care too much.
But then I think about all the teams I grew up around as a little girl and how much fun I had with them. How so many of my best childhood memories are from simple events just like this one.
“I . . .” I hesitate. “I don’t know what I would bring.”
Not a no. Not a yes.
Emmett’s lips tick up in a small smile. “Anything. I’m a terrible cook so I’m making Miller bring a second dish for me. Buy something premade at the store. Show up empty-handed. It doesn’t matter. Just show up.”
Just show up. I could maybe do that.
“I’ll think about it.”
“That’s all I’m asking for.” He nods in the direction of the conference room. “Good luck with those interviews. Make sure you hire someone that won’t make me wait forever when I want to meet with you.”
Emmett turns back to the elevator, pressing the button for it to come pick him up.
My brows furrow in confusion. “You didn’t need to get off on this floor?”
“No. I’m headed down to the clubhouse.”
The elevator doors open and he steps inside.
“Then why did you get off here?” I laugh.
“I haven’t seen you in a few days. I figured it was a good way to steal a couple extra minutes of your time.” The doors begin to close on him, but I watch the way his eyes trail down my body. “You look good today, boss.”