by Beth Ehemann
“You should be. That’s a big win for the company and an even bigger win for you.” His blue eye twinkled. He leaned in to give me a hug, wrapping his arms around my shoulders. I closed my eyes again, tucking my arms under his as I let the smell of his cologne invade my senses and rule me for just a second. His back muscles flexed under my hands, surprising me. Except for the one night in the bar, I’d always seen Andy in a suit, and from the outside he appeared to be lean but not very muscular. What I just felt under my hand told me an entirely different story. He let go and I did, too, reluctantly. He turned and walked back to his office, but something was bothering me.
“Come in!” Andy called out after I knocked on his door.
“Hey,” I said nonchalantly, closing the door behind me. “I wanted to talk to you real quick. I kinda owe you an apology.”
He frowned and leaned back in his chair as I sat across from him. “An apology? For what?”
“Because I’m a total jerk.”
“You’re not a total jerk,” he scoffed. “Not even kind of a jerk.”
“Out there.” I pointed back toward the door. “Before I met with Kyle, I came out of my office and saw you guys talking. I assumed you were trying to steal him from me, then when he told me what you had been saying to him, I felt really bad.”
Andy let out a quick laugh. “No need to apologize. We both know what kind of business this is and can think of lots of agents we know who would do something like that. But I would never steal clients from you, Dani. You’re my coworker, not my competition. You’re also very damn good at what you do, and I would never take that away from you.”
I pressed my lips together and nodded. “Thank you for that. I never got validation from the Leighton brothers . . . ever, so you saying that really means a lot to me.”
“Well, I’ll gladly validate you as often as I can as long as you promise not to go anywhere.” He leaned forward, resting his forearms on his desk as he laced his fingers. “The office is different with you in it.”
“Different?”
“Yeah. I don’t really know how to explain it, but everything is just . . . better. Ellie is happier, Ethan is—well, he’s still Ethan.”
“And you?”
That tiny, two-worded question shifted something in the room.
The corner of his mouth pulled up into a sexy smirk as his blue eyes softened. “I’m much happier.”
Heat crept up my neck to my cheeks. “Well, I have a feeling Ellie has always been happy, and I know Ethan has always been Ethan, but . . .” I paused and swallowed quickly. “But you’re the one that matters. I mean—you’re the one who I want happy. Like . . . happy to have me here.” I stopped rambling because I was only making it worse.
Did I just hit on my boss?
“Sorry . . .” I stammered awkwardly. “I didn’t mean for that to sound the way it sounded. I just meant . . . never mind.”
He let out a loud laugh as I sighed and stood, making my way quickly to the door. I closed it behind me without another word.
As I stalked across the office, past Ellie’s desk, she lifted her head and looked at me. “What happened? Why is your face all red?”
“Shut up,” I said playfully without stopping.
Within a couple of minutes, there was a quiet knock at my door. Praying it wasn’t Andy coming to tease me again, I hollered, “Come in!”
Ellie popped her head in and handed me a large white FedEx envelope. “This just came for you.”
“Thanks.” I stared down at the envelope as she stepped in and closed the door behind her.
“And you owe me an explanation, by the way.”
“For what?”
“You went into his office a normal person; you came out a love-struck sixteen-year-old.”
“Oh, stop it.” I waved her off. “You’re imagining things.”
“Mm-hmm.” She eyed me skeptically, raising one eyebrow. “We’ll see.”
I rolled my eyes and turned my attention back to the envelope. Ripping the pull tab open, I was surprised to find just one piece of paper inside.
As I pulled it out and stared down at it, my mouth went dry and my hands started trembling.
CHAPTER 15
Andy
“Can we go now, pleeeeeeeeeease?” Logan whined as he jumped up and down on my bed.
“I’m coming.” I laughed. “You all ready to go?”
“Dad.” He stopped jumping and stared at me with a deadpan expression on his face. “I’ve been ready to go since I woke up this morning.”
Being a sports agent definitely had its perks—like scoring tickets to sought-after games, being able to stand on the sidelines at certain things, locker room exclusives, things like that. It just so happened to be All-Star Weekend in major league baseball, and Target Field was lucky enough to be the host this year. I’d known for months that I would get passes to all of the events, but I hadn’t told Logan that we were for sure going to the Home Run Derby until that morning. And I was so glad I hadn’t. I swear he’d asked me every two minutes if it was time to leave yet.
But finally . . . it was time to go.
“All right you goofball, let’s go say good-bye to Becca before we leave.”
“Do we have to?” he whined again.
I reached out and smacked the bill of his Twins hat. “Be nice.”
An hour later we were at Target Field but had yet to actually make it inside the ball park. Logan was too busy dragging me to the statues of Kirby Puckett and Rod Carew so he could take fake action shots with them.
“Okay, can we be done playing paparazzi and go inside please?” I teased him as he lifted the arm of his T-shirt and flexed his puny bicep muscle next to the Harmon Killebrew statue.
“I’m done, I’m done.” He grinned toward the ground shyly. “I can’t wait to get inside, Dad. We seriously get to go down on the field?”
“Not only do you get to go out on the field, I didn’t tell you one thing.”
His blue eyes grew wide as could be and shot to mine. “What?”
“Remember how you argued with me when I told you to bring your glove?”
He nodded excitedly.
“Well, you get to go stand in the outfield and shag fly balls during the Home Run Derby.” I watched for his reaction out of the corner of my eye. His face went pale, and his mouth hung open in shock. I couldn’t help but laugh. “Unless you don’t want to?”
He nodded his head up and down as fast as it would go. “I definitely want to.”
We walked toward the aisle that led down to the field and past a security guard who held a hand up, stopping us. Logan proudly lifted the plastic tag hanging from the red, white, and blue All-Star lanyard around his neck. The man took a close look, then smiled down at Logan and waved us through.
It was a hot July night, and the air was thick and muggy. I wasn’t sure how many balls were going to be leaving the park with that humidity, but I don’t think there was a thing that could’ve dampened Logan’s spirits. His eyes gleamed as they bounced all over, looking from the Jumbotron to the dugout to the All-Star logo painted on the grass.
“Pretty cool, huh?” I wanted to take in everything like he was, but I was too busy staring down at the look on his face, which was a thousand times better than any Christmas morning we’d ever had.
“So cool, Dad!” Quickly he lifted his arm and pointed. “Look! There’s Justin!”
I followed his pointed finger and cupped my mouth with my hands when I saw Justin. “Yo, Sutter!”
Justin whipped around at the sound of his last name, grinning when he saw me and Logan. He said something quickly to the person he was talking to and walked over. “What’s up, buddy?” He raised his hand high in the air so that Logan would have to jump to high-five it.
After Logan smacked it, Justin clapped a hand over my shoulder. “How’s it going, boss? You guys just get here?”
“Yeah, a little bit ago. Let me see these jerseys.” I pulled the fabric on his
chest out a bit. “These are sharp.”
“They’re pretty badass, aren’t they?” He spun in a circle so we could admire his red #9 jersey, special made for the Home Run Derby. The short sleeves were black and had red, white, and blue stars along the hem.
“That’s awesome,” Logan blurted out.
“You think so?” Justin grinned down at Logan after shooting me a quick wink. “They’re selling replicas over there for only like two hundred bucks. You should tell your dad to get you one.”
Logan’s face shot to me. “Can we, Dad?”
“Anything you want, big guy,” I answered Logan before glaring at Justin, who was laughing hard behind his hands. “Thanks a lot, asshole.”
“All right you two, we’re gonna warm up soon, so I’m gonna get going. Cheer for me, okay, dude?” Justin gently smacked Logan in the chest.
“Before you go, have you seen anyone else?” I asked Justin.
“Yeah, I saw Brody and Viper for like five minutes, and I also saw Danicka.”
“You did?” I was surprised. She’d been really quiet at work all week and then said she wasn’t sure if she would make it, so I assumed she wasn’t feeling well.
“Oh, yeah.” His eyes widened and he bit his lip as he looked down at Logan, who wasn’t paying attention, then back up at me. “I saw her. We all saw her. Wow, dude. Wow.”
I rolled my eyes and waved him off. “Get outta here.”
Justin trotted off toward a bunch of the other guys, one of them being Kyle Keegan. That poor tall, lanky kid stood a few inches above everyone else in height and worlds behind them in maturity. After I studied Kyle for a minute, he stepped to the side, and I noticed Danicka was right behind him, looking down at her cell phone. Wow was an understatement. Except for that first night when she was setting up her office, I’d only seen her in skirts and button-down shirts at the office. Tonight she was wearing cut-off jean shorts, a white Cubs jersey with blue pinstripes, and a red tank top underneath. Her long, dark, wavy hair flowed down her back as she turned her head to talk to people, and all I could think about was running my hands through it and grabbing a fistful.
“Sir?” I jumped at the weird close-talker who was standing next to me, leaning in way too far.
I took a step back, glaring at him as leaned in close and repeated himself. “I said that’ll be twenty-three dollars.”
“Twenty-three dollars? For wha—” I caught myself as I looked down at Logan, who’d found a seat and was happily munching on a hot dog, nachos, and a bag of peanuts. He grinned at me with cheese in the corners of his mouth as I groaned and took out my wallet.
“Oooh, whatcha buying me?” Danicka walked up, flashing that million-dollar smile as I counted out thirty bucks and gave it to the vendor. He reached in his pocket for change, but I gently stopped him. “Just keep it.”
“Big spender.” Danicka wiggled her eyebrows up and down.
“Yeah, not quite, but I’m a sucker and can’t tell the kid no.” I put my wallet back in my pocket, stealing a glimpse of the tan, soft skin just below her collarbone as I looked toward the ground. I wanted to touch that skin so damn bad.
She tilted her head. “What kid?”
I took a step back, waving toward the always-hungry miniteenager behind me. “My son, Logan.”
Danicka let out a small gasp, and her eyes grew huge as she looked from him to me. “I’ve never met your son.”
“Logan, stand up. Don’t be rude.” I pulled the shoulder of his T-shirt as he scrambled to stand and not drop any of his food in the process.
“Hi, Logan. My name’s Dani, and I work with your dad.” Danicka leaned forward and pinned her hands in between her knees so that she was down on Logan’s height. I knew exactly what that looked like from his angle, and for just that one moment, I desperately wished I could switch places with my son.
“Hi.” He grinned back, clueless that he was having one of the best moments in his entire life at nine years old.
“You’re seriously the cutest thing I’ve ever seen,” she cooed at him.
His cheeks grew red and his chin dipped down. “Thanks.”
“You look just like your dad.” Her gaze caught mine, then bolted away quickly as she cringed and realized what she’s just said.
“He does look like me. Little baller.” I held my fist up and he bumped it.
“How old is he?”
I sighed and tilted my head back and forth. “His birth certificate says he’s nine, but if you go by the way he eats and what I pay in groceries every week, he’s seventeen.”
The stadium lights sparkled in Dani’s dark eyes as she giggled. “I bet.”
“Danicka!” someone called from behind her. She turned around and held up one finger before turning back with a sigh. “People keep trying to steal me tonight.”
“Can’t say that I blame them,” I mumbled, louder than I meant to.
“What?”
“Nothing,” I lied.
She narrowed her eyes at me as she turned her head to the side just a tad. “Mm-hmm. I don’t think I believe you, but for the sake of Logan not hearing my sailor mouth, I’m gonna let it go.” She looked down at my son. “Logan, it was very nice meeting you, and I hope I get to see you again sometime.”
“Nice meeting you, too,” Logan responded, spraying her leg with taco chips and tiny pieces of peanut.
I sighed loudly. “Oh my God, sorry about that. Logan!”
“Stop.” She reached out and grabbed my arm as she lifted her leg onto the seat to wipe it. “It’s not a big deal. You forget we work with jocks for a living. That’s probably not the worst thing I’ve had running down my leg.” She winked at me and strode off.
As she walked away, I couldn’t help but stare.
“Oooooh, Andy’s got a girlfriend!” Viper sang loudly as he walked up next to the other side of me.
My eyes dropped quickly down to Logan and back up as I punched him in the arm. “You wanna shut the hell up, please?”
Viper pinched his eyes shut tight and grimaced when he realized Logan was sitting right behind me. “My bad, dude.”
Brody strolled up next to Viper, smacking him hard on the back of the neck. “Isn’t it usually your bad, you moron? What did you do this time?”
“Uh.” Viper panicked as he rubbed the back of his neck. “Our friend Andy here was just looking real close, trying to see what brand jean shorts Danicka Douglas was wearing, and I commented on it . . . loudly.”
Brody peeked around the side of Viper and noticed Logan sitting in the seat. “What’s up, L-Dawg!” he called out, holding a fist out to him. Logan rolled his eyes and punched it back.
“What was the look for?” I asked, annoyed with my son’s manners.
“I’m just ready to start. When’s it gonna start?” he whined.
“Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. Could we have your attention for just a second, please?” a man announced over the loudspeaker. “We’re going to need all the kids who are catching in the outfield to please report to home plate now. We’ll be starting in just a few moments.”
My eyebrows shot up. “Look at that, they must have heard you. Get out there!”
Logan jumped up from his seat, pushed his garbage into my arms, and ran past us, out onto the field.
“Wow. Nice timing,” Brody said.
“Dude, I really am sorry,” Viper apologized again. “I didn’t even see him sitting there.”
“It’s fine.” I crossed my arms as I looked out over the field, trying not to lose track of Logan, who was sprinting out to center field in a sea of other kids.
“You were checking her out, though.” Viper chuckled.
“No I wasn’t,” I lied.
Viper frowned at me. “Hell yeah, you were. Big-time.”
I squinted my eyes, looking for Logan’s red shirt and baseball cap. “Enough,” I said sternly.
“Oooh, I do believe you hit a nerve, Sir Lawrence Finkle,” Brody teased.
“I ce
rtainly did.” Viper’s eyes were huge. I’d given him just enough fuel to keep the fire going, but I was doing my best to avoid eye contact, hoping those idiots would go sniff around somewhere else. “So what’s the deal? You like her?”
“No.” I sighed, hoping he’d get the hint and stop pushing the issue.
“Whoa,” Viper said drily. “Did you hear that sigh, Murphy? He totally likes her. Andy wants Dani.”
“I think you’re right. Andy does want Dani,” Brody teased.
Viper slapped Brody’s chest playfully. “Do you know if they got together, their relationship name would be ‘Dandy’?”
Brody pressed his lips together, trying to contain his laugh.
“Seriously, enough,” I snapped. “I don’t like her. Not like that.”
Brody rubbed his chin, eying me suspiciously. “Not like what?”
“Not like in the way you guys are thinking. She’s just my coworker,” I barked back.
Brody and Viper stared at me with the same deadpan expressions on their faces.
“What?” I barked.
“She’s just a coworker in a you-want-to-throw-her-down-and-fuck-the-hell-out-of-her kind of way?” Viper chuckled.
Brody shook his head. “No, no. I think what he’s saying is that she’s just a coworker in a he-wants-to-make-her-scream-his-name-in-bed type of way.”
I inhaled sharply through my nose. “I think what he’s saying is that his friends are assholes and he’s going to walk away now.”
“Wait a minute, let me get this straight. If I watch you walk away, like you watched her, does that mean I’m interested or not interested?” Viper called out, getting one more jab in.
CHAPTER 16
Danicka
All-Star Week was long and exhausting, and I was actually glad when it ended. It still took a few days to recover after all was said and done, but by early the next week, it was business as usual.
“You know what today is?” Ellie squealed as she snuck up behind me.
I whipped around. “Jesus, Ellie!” My heart was thumping so loud I could hear it in my ears.
“Sorry, I got excited.” She giggled. “But seriously . . . do you know what today is?”
