Chapter 12 Isla #2
I file away his admission as we make our way over to the head coach, or rather the manager as Charlie corrected me. I’ve only spoken to him once or twice but he seems quite nice. He’s standing with three men who are clearly the players, seeing as I recognize one of them.
“Luca, Isla, good to see you,” he says warmly. “Isla, have you met these three?” He gestures to the other men. “Griff, Foxxy, and Cal have all been playing for the Thunder for several years.”
“Hey Cal,” I say, smiling at Juniper’s friend. “Good to see you again.”
Luca interjects with a chuckle. “Is Cal how you knew so much about my plans at the interview? Insider information?”
I lift my shoulders. “Maybe.” He shakes his head with a soft smile as I turn and take the hand of the first player, who gives me a charming smirk.
“Griffin Voss. You’re the marketing boss, right? Didn’t realize you knew Pretty Boy.” He tilts his head at Cal and I smother my laugh.
“Pretty Boy?” I look at Cal, who rolls his eyes.
“Don’t tell Juniper.”
I smirk. “We’ll see.” Then, looking back to Griffin, I nod. “To answer your question, yes, I’m the marketing consultant. Thanks for coming tonight. It helps to have you three here, putting a face to the team.”
“Happy to oblige.” The other player I don’t know steps forward with a grin. “I’m Denver Foxx, but everyone calls me Foxxy.” He jerks his thumb at Griffin. “I pitch, and Griff tries to catch my strikes when he can.”
“Whatever,” Griffin scoffs, but my smile grows warmer at their easy friendship.
We chat with the guys for a few more minutes before sending them off into the crowd to mingle.
Luca stays by my side, escorting me around the room as we meet a few more people, including the mayor of Dogwood Cove, a man named Ethan, who’s surprisingly young for someone to have been mayor for as long as he has.
His wife, Summer, a stunning blonde, tells me she runs a beachfront resort.
A romantic weekend getaway for two is up for auction, and she looks between Luca and me with a knowing smile.
“I think you’d really enjoy it.”
Before I can correct her on our relationship, Luca cuts in smoothly. “We’ll check it out, thank you.”
We move on, meeting more Cedar Creek locals. I’m pleasantly surprised by how many people seem excited to hear of Luca’s plans for the Thunder.
“Isla, Luca, I want you to meet someone.”
We both turn at Griff’s voice. He’s walking up with an older gentleman at his side.
“This is Harold Moore. He lives in the same building as me and Foxxy and has a lot of stories about what the team used to be like.” He turns to the older man. “This is Luca, the new owner, and Isla is the head of marketing. They need to hear your stories.”
He shoots us a wink, then steps back as Luca shakes hands with Harold.
As they talk, Griff piping in here and there, I take mental notes of the elements that make both of them chuckle with nostalgic memories. In-game events, fan interaction, and theme nights.
“You know, Harold,” I interject with a smile, “we could use someone like you to head our voluntary advisory committee.”
We don’t have an advisory committee and judging by Luca’s raised eyebrows, he’s wondering what the hell I’m up to.
But I forge on. “Luca’s goal is to energize both the team and the community.
What better way to do that than have a group of community members who still hold fond feelings and memories for the Cedar Creek Thunder to work as an advisory committee for our upcoming season?
All it would take from you is a few meetings to discuss ideas on what to bring back to the ballpark, what changes to make, and you’d have a say in bringing the Thunder back to the team you remember, only better.
There’s a pair of season tickets in it for you, if you’re willing? ”
Luca turns his winning smile on the older man.
“Isla’s right. We need the right person to head up this project.
I don’t suppose you know of anyone else around town that might be like you, a baseball fan who wants to watch the game in his hometown and know he’s going to have an excellent experience. ”
Harold puffs up with obvious pride. “Well now, I’d be honoured.
I think it’s great what you’re trying to do, and I’d be happy to talk to some buddies down at the Legion.
There’s a few of us that used to play ball when we were your age, you know.
And I coached the Little League for a few seasons when my kids were younger. ”
I slip out my business card from my clutch and hand it to him. “Please give me a call next week and we’ll set a time to chat. I’ll take you and your friends to lunch, on the team, of course.” I give him a wink, and next to me, Luca chuckles. Harold walks away with Griff after agreeing to call me.
Luca takes my elbow, turning me to face him, an amused smirk on his face. “So quick to give away my tickets and my money, wonder woman?”
I lift my shoulders and wink. “Whatever works. You’ve got a fan for life now.”
He studies me, his smirk softening into something deeper, warmer. “Dance with me, Isla.”
Without another word, he leads me out onto the dance floor where a few other couples are. I go into his arms without protest.
Only for tonight.
His large hand splayed on my back radiates heat through my body.
I let him pull me in closer, my fingers brushing the back of his neck.
God, he’s all thick, corded muscle. We settle into a simple swaying movement, our feet stepping in a small circle.
His gaze travels over my face, and I can’t drag mine away from his.
The song ends far too soon, and the emcee asks everyone to take their seats for dinner.
For the rest of the evening, there’s a charged tension between us.
An energy, thrumming, waiting to be set free.
It’s there in every touch of his hand against my back or my shoulder.
It’s there when he dips his head down close to me when he helps me into my coat at the end of the event.
It’s there when he takes my hand and walks me to my door.
And it’s there when he doesn’t let go.
Neither one of us speaks as we walk hand in hand up the path to my front door.
“Thank you for everything. The dress, the limo, it was a wonderful night,” I say quietly, the words feeling flat and nowhere near encompassing how I feel. Something about spending this evening with him, both of us letting down our guard and allowing our attraction to peek through, was enchanting.
He was enchanting.
Luca turns to face me, his free hand coming up to cup my cheek.
“Don’t thank me, I’m the one who had the honour of having you on my arm tonight.
You are incredible,” he murmurs. “I’m in absolute awe of you, Isla.
You’re so stunning, you make it hard to focus on what I need to do most days.
You’re fucking brilliant at your job, kind, intelligent, just…
you’re amazing.” The reverence in his voice has me swooning.
My lips curve up as I lean into his touch. My pulse is racing, my head is spinning, and not from the two glasses of champagne.
“What’s your rose and thorn from tonight?” I whisper, staring up at him.
He smiles, his thumb stroking my cheek softly. “That’s easy. Rose is dancing with you. Thorn is the fact that the night is over. You?”
I don’t think about it. I just speak the truth. “My rose was also dancing. But my thorn is the fact that you haven’t kissed me yet.”
I’ve barely whispered the last word before his lips land on mine.
Softly at first, but quickly he pushes in firmer.
His hand on my cheek holds me in place, as his lips explore, igniting every nerve in my body.
My arms thread around his neck as I give in to what could be the greatest mistake of my life.
Or the greatest kiss of my life.
Or both.
When our lips finally part, we’re both breathing heavily.
“I’m changing my answer for my rose,” Luca whispers before kissing me again, softly and quickly this time. “Kissing you is definitely my rose.”