Chapter 13
Looking out the window of my office, I see the crowd already forming at the right field entrance where the meet and greet will be hosted before tonight’s game.
The team has worked tirelessly to make it a smashing success and if the excitement of the fans gathered is anything to go by, they all deserve a bonus and a special gift.
I make a note on my desk to have Teresa arrange something.
She’s better at it than me. I’m merely the face attached to the credit card.
A knock at the door steals my focus, and when Taylor steps into my office, my heart skips a beat. She looks like the girl I once knew in her wide leg jeans, white sneakers, and a Troubadours shirt.
“Hey.”
“Hi,” she whispers and her cheeks flush. Putting her bag down on the table on the opposite side of my office, she pulls her phone out and turns to me. “Should we get going?”
I motion for her to lead the way and follow her down to the tunnel connecting the office building with the stadium. When we exit the tunnel onto the concourse, the crowd I saw from above looks even bigger up close.
“Do we need to go over the plan again?” Taylor asks Chase as we join him near the outfield lawn.
“Don’t think so. Smile. Talk to fans. Take pictures.” He pauses when Gabby walks up and chats with the officers representing the horse patrol unit tonight. “Seems pretty straightforward.”
Taylor goes over the plan again, but Chase isn’t paying her a bit of attention. His single-minded focus is on Gabby. She told me there was a history between them, but if I were a betting man, I’d say there’s a future too. He watches her the way I watch Taylor—like there’s no one else in the world.
“He’s not listening to me is he?” Taylor asks.
“Nope.” I rock back on my heels to keep from leaning into her.
She checks her watch then signals to the staff milling around. “Let’s get this show on the road.”
The gate is unlocked, and the attendant directs the line of fans into the concourse where Chase stands with Herbert the horse and his fellow officers.
The fact they named this horse like he’s an old man cracks me up.
I look on as Chase diligently meets fan after fan, signing autographs, taking pictures, and engaging with everyone on a personal level.
We made the right choice calling him up.
I still stand by that decision. He’s proven in the last month that he meant the words he told me during the initial meeting after his arrest. Chase has shown up early for practice every day, he’s put in extra work with the training staff, he hasn’t missed a community service event and he’s contributing in a meaningful way to the team.
The event tonight is another step in the right direction, and despite it being a dog and pony show, he’s taking it seriously and making the team look good.
I couldn’t ask for anything more. He’s fast on his way to becoming the face of our franchise, which is good considering I don’t know how many seasons I have left in Fields and Miller.
The thought of them retiring hits a little too close to home.
I retired almost ten years ago, but we’re close enough in age that the idea of them retiring feels like I’m playing my last game all over again.
“Those two just need to fuck and get it over with.”
I choke out a startled laugh when Taylor stops beside me. “What?”
“Gabby and Chase,” she says. “They’re making me all hot and bothered with all that sexual tension.” She motions to Gabby and Chase standing by Herbert, but I’m too distracted by the idea of Taylor being turned on and the desire to be the one to get her there.
A shriek from Gabby draws my attention. The horse sprayed water all over her by the looks of it, and Chase is transfixed on her chest as he removes his hoodie and shoves it in her direction.
When he pulls her towards the side entrance of the clubhouse, Taylor spins back to me with a shrug. “See? Maybe they’ll bang in the supply closet and then we can all take a breath.”
“Taylor,” I groan. Now, I’m sweating and I have a hard-on at work.
“What?” She grins like she knows exactly what she’s doing to me.
“I’ve got to go.” I take two steps away when she grabs my hand and stops me.
Flames lick their way from my fingertips up to my neck.
My cock twitches in my pants, begging for her to touch him next.
I will him to stop before I break and push her up against the nearest wall to show her just how much she affects me.
She drops my hand like she touched an electric fence by mistake.
“Want to get dinner?” Her words surprise me, and I can’t stop the genuine smile that follows.
“What about the game?” I regurgitate the words she gave me the last time I invited her to dinner. Taylor simply shrugs.
“Did you drive?” I ask.
“That fancy new car? You bet your ass I did.”
My smile widens. I’d buy her a new car every day if it meant making her happy. “Since you asked me to dinner, you get to drive.”
I spin on my heel and walk towards the parking lot.
“Where are you going?” She asks as she chases after me.
I turn to grin at her over my shoulder. “Dinner. It was your idea.”
“I need to grab my stuff. It’s still in your office.”
“What’s in there that you need for tonight?” I stop just outside the gate and look down at her. She’s tall, but the top of her head still hits at my chin. Suddenly, I have the urge to pull her in and rest it there like old times.
“My computer, wallet, keys.”
Huffing, I redirect us towards the office building instead of the parking lot, hoping the pit stop to get her stuff doesn’t make her change her mind.
I want this night with her more than anything.
I’ve missed her since she’s been gone and the idea of going another two weeks, hell a day, without having her in my space feels like losing her all over again.
“Would you slow down? I have long legs, but they’re not that long.”
“Keep up. We’ve got places to be and you’re lollygagging behind.”
“I am not lollygagging.” She pushes me as we reach the entrance to the building. I hold the door open for her and fight the urge to touch her in some way as she passes. Her round ass in those jeans is a temptation all its own as I follow her to the elevator.
“Do I need to change?” she asks, holding her arms out and looking down at her outfit.
I take my time examining her. The waves in her hair as it falls past her shoulders.
The Troubadours shirt tucked into her jeans.
The sneakers on her feet. I’ve always loved that about her.
One minute she can be dressed to the nines, ready to hit up a gala, and the next she can look so relaxed.
Either way, she could give a model a run for their money.
“You’re perfect.” This is the woman I met and fell in love with. Sporty, cute, and carefree.
She blushes and ducks her head, leaving the elevator and making her way down the hall to my office. Once inside, I discard my jacket on the back of the chair then untuck the dress shirt I’ve got on, suddenly wanting to dress down for her. To be who she once knew too.
She catches me unbuttoning my shirt and her eyes widen. “Uh, what are you doing?”
“The place we’re going to is a bit more casual.”
“I didn’t know Grant Davenport could do casual anymore,” she teases.
“I can do just about anything for you.” I wink at her and let the shirt fall off my shoulders.
Tilting her head, she asks, “Why do you wear a three-piece suit, or any suit for that matter, but never wear a tie?”
“Too stuffy.” I’ve always hated the feel of a tie. It reminds me of boarding school and the pretentious events my parents dragged us to growing up. They’re suffocating. “Plus, fashion.”
The laugh that follows is uninhibited and tightens the cord around my heart—the invisible string tying us together.
“I would hate for you to be unfashionable.” Shaking her head, she grabs her bag and leaves the office.
“Gotta keep up with you,” I call after her and she hits me with a smile over her shoulder.