Chapter 25 Luca
LUCA
“Fine, I admit, this was worth the money,” Dom grumbles from beside me as we sip whiskey and watch the entire team and staff enjoy the holiday party we surprised them with.
“I’m glad you approve,” I reply sarcastically, smirking into my glass.
He fought me on the open bar, and on the gifts I wanted to provide for everyone employed by the Thunder, but I pushed back.
Every single person in here has worked their asses off to make my crazy plan a reality.
Spring training will be here before we know it, and then the season.
We might not be the big leagues, but it feels big all the same.
The excitement for the Cedar Creek Thunder is growing every day, with more people following our social media accounts, advance ticket sales being far more successful than I anticipated, and community interest is climbing.
I’ve been recognized several times when I’ve been out running errands, and while awkward at first, I fucking love that people seem happy with what I’m trying to achieve.
Gone are the days of a run-down stadium with less than half the seats filled at each game. Well, the stadium part is true. The seats being full? Time will tell.
And it’s all thanks to one woman. The woman I’m trying to not be too obvious about searching the crowd for. I haven’t seen Isla yet today, haven’t had a moment alone with her in almost a week, and it’s driving me fucking insane.
“If you think you’re being subtle, you’re not.”
I turn and glare at Dom. “What?”
“You’re glaring at every person who walks in the room that isn’t Isla. Why don’t you go and talk to some people instead? Distract yourself?” He gestures to the room filled with groups of players and staff mingling and chatting, while canned Christmas music plays in the background.
“I’m not glaring,” I grumble under my breath, but when someone else walks through the doors of the room and it’s not her, I feel myself deflate. Fuck.
“Sure, buddy.” Dom claps me on the shoulder and sets his empty whiskey glass down. “You stand here and glare, I’m gonna go get some food.”
I drain my tumbler and set it down as well, hating that he’s right. I do need to mingle more and obsess over my missing marketing consultant less.
I make my way over to a cluster of players, including Griff, Foxxy, and Brady Dixon, the new pitcher we finally secured. “Gentlemen, having a good evening?” I ask and am met with cheers and slaps on my back.
“Absolutely. This is awesome. I’ve played for the Thunder for a bunch of seasons and we’ve never done anything more fancy than burgers and brews at a bar for a holiday party,” Griff replies with a grin.
“Getting all dressed up and fancy? Shit, it’s kinda fun.
And I look good in a suit.” He spins on his heels as the other guys all laugh.
“Glad you’re enjoying yourself.” I grin back. “We’ll have to sell out lots of games if we want to make it an annual thing, or Dom might have a heart attack.”
Griff lifts his hand out to bump my fist. “You got it. Sold-out seats, here we come.”
The other players all chime in with their agreement. Turning to Brady, I put out my hand. “Welcome to Cedar Creek, Brady. Sorry I haven’t had a chance to connect with you. How are you settling in?”
He gives me a nod and a polite smile. “Good, thanks. This place reminds me of the town I grew up in, only better.”
“Dixie’s from Manitoba.” Foxxy slaps him on the back with a smirk. “Didn’t you say it was some tiny town full of sheep?”
Brady, or Dixie, I suppose I should call him, chuckles. “Yeah, that’s about right. Cedar Creek’s got a lot more going for it.” This time, the smile he sends my way is much more relaxed. “I’m happy to be here.”
“Good to hear. We’re glad you joined us.” Rafe still hasn’t said what the reasons were for Dixie not wanting to join the major league, but their loss is our gain, I suppose. And if anyone understands secrets, it’s me.
“Yeah, and you joined at the right time,” Griff adds.
“Before Luca stepped in, things weren’t so great around here.
Those of us that have been on the team for a while had kind of accepted the truth that we stuck around just for the fun of playing baseball.
I mean, the stadium was a disaster. Our gear was ancient.
There was nothing enticing about watching us play in those ugly-ass old uniforms. It’s no wonder we never had people in the stands. ”
“Dude, the uniforms were the worst! The new ones make my ass look awesome,” one of the other guys, whose name I can’t remember, chimes in, earning a laugh from everyone, myself included.
“It was weird. People in town knew we existed, but that was where it ended. It was like the town didn’t really have any reasons to care.
Not gonna lie, it fucking sucks to play to an empty home stadium, then go to an away game and see it packed to the rafters.
” Griff takes a sip of his drink, shaking his head.
“But it’s different already.” This comes from Foxxy.
“We haven’t even played, or opened the doors to the public, and I can tell, this season will be better.
The guys on the search and rescue crew Griff and I work on have bought tickets for the home opener, and I’ve seen people wearing Thunder merch walking around town. Fuckin’ merch. We never had that.”
It baffles me how the previous owner let things slide. I make sure they’re all paying attention when I say, “Listen, if any of you think of more things that could help make things better for you as players, or for the team, or for the town, please tell me, and I’ll do whatever I can.”
They all nod their agreement, but my attention is stolen by the woman who’s just walked in.
More than my attention, Isla steals my very breath.
The dark silver dress she’s wearing has a subtle shine to it as it clings to curves I dream about every night.
Her hair is swept over one shoulder and my chest aches with a longing to press my lips to the skin bared there.
To feel her shiver and rest her cheek against my chest.
Fuck it.
“Excuse me, gentlemen. I see someone I need to catch up with. Enjoy the evening.” I barely register their replies as I weave my way through the crowd, intent on reaching her side. What will I do then? No fucking clue. But I have to be near her.
“Luca. Hold up.” Dom’s voice is the only thing to bring me up short, partly because of the hint of warning I can hear. I turn to him with my jaw clenched.
“What?” I say in a clipped tone.
“Take a breath, man. Remember what I said about subtle? You’re about as subtle as a fucking dump truck right now, crashing through everyone to get to her.”
Thankfully, my friend is tactful enough to keep his voice pitched low, but I hear him loud and clear.
“Shit.” I exhale. My hand grasps the back of my neck as I force myself to look at Dom, and not in Isla’s direction.
“She’s got you bad,” he comments wryly. “Are you sure you can handle keeping this secret?”
“We have to. Until she’s ready.”
He nods slowly. “Alright. I’m guessing you need a minute to catch up with your marketing consultant on the community open house that’s coming up, right?” he says just loudly enough for those around us to overhear.
“You’re the fucking best,” I reply in a whisper, full of gratitude. Dom gives me a nod and a subtle eye roll.
“Go.”
I don’t need to be told twice. Pivoting on my good leg, I resume my quest to get to Isla. Only now, it’s not just to be near her. Dom gave me the perfect excuse to get her alone.
It takes a second to find her, but I do, standing by the bar, chatting with a few of the other admin staff.
I make my way there, feeling the anticipation build.
Dating in secret is not for the faint of heart.
Add in her responsibilities as a mother, and it’s proving to be a huge challenge to find time together, even with working in the same office. The need I have to kiss her is insane.
Finally, I reach the group. “Evening, everyone. Sorry to be rude, but I need to borrow Isla for a minute.” I put on an apologetic expression. “I know it’s mean of me to talk shop at a party, but something’s come up with the open house.”
Isla’s eyes widen but she remains silent. Thankfully, the other two people standing with her seem to buy my ridiculous excuse. I gesture toward the hall with my hand. “It’ll just take a few minutes.”
“Sure, that’s fine,” she says quietly. Then, giving the others a smile, she follows me out of the banquet room.
We walk down the hall without talking, keeping a respectable distance between us.
The first empty room I find happens to be some sort of storage room, judging by the stacks of chairs and folded-up tables.
But I don’t give a fuck. My need for her is borderline desperate at this point.
The second the door snicks shut behind us, I press her up against it, my hands gripping her waist tightly as I push my lips against hers.
She whimpers, looping her arms around my neck and holding me just as tightly.
Her fervor matches mine, and for a second, my mind ponders whether I could do more than just kiss her in here.
But reality intrudes. Between my leg and the fact that there’s a room full of people waiting for our return, a few stolen kisses is the best I can hope for.
Better make it worth it.
There’s no space left between us as I lift one hand to cup her jaw, my thumb grazing her soft cheek.
I do what I wanted to back in the banquet hall and rain kisses down her neck, finding the bare skin of her shoulder.
Her fingers curl into the back of my neck, anchoring me there.
I take a deep breath in, letting the soft scent of her fill my senses.
Moving back to her mouth, I tease the seam of her lips. They part, ever so slightly, and I feel the invitation, the desire curling even deeper between us. I deepen the kiss, letting it say all the things I know deep down I’m feeling, but equally know I can’t yet say with words.
Voices filter in through the door, and we break apart, both of us breathing heavily. I look into Isla’s eyes and see the same thought written across her face.
“Just one more,” I whisper, and she nods eagerly before pressing her mouth to mine.
But one more will never be enough. I’m not sure anything will be.