Spencer (The Ninth Inning: Season Three #8)

by Lindsay Paige

My eyes land on Spencer, and he’s smiling. His coal black hair is still damp from his shower and his steely-gray eyes are bright. He’s not mad.

  “Hi, guys,” I smile.

  “Finally, we have a hot owner.” Leave it to Tanner to cut up first.

  “Shut up before she trades you.” Trent slaps him on the shoulder.

  “No one is getting traded, yet,” I joke. Hell, I have no clue if they are or not. “However, I’m really excited about this, and I hope you all are too.”

  “Question.” Tanner raises his hand. “Does this mean Blake and Sofia owns us too?” It had been all over the media when Dad retired how the company had been split up between the three of us.

  I glance over my shoulder at them and then back to Tanner. “In a way, yes, but I own more of your ass than they do.”

  “Harmony, you can do whatever—” Colby covers Tanner’s mouth before he can finish, making us all laugh.

  “Well, I’m sure Ms. Gardner is a busy little woman and needs to shove off,” Prickface speaks for me, and I hear Spencer say, “Oh no.”

  “I don’t need to shove off anywhere, nor am I a little woman. I want to talk to my team. Alone.” I cross my arms and get right in his face. This guy isn’t going to mess with me. I will not allow it.

  With another stare down starting, I know how it’s going to end, and I’m right when I watch his back leaving the locker room.

  “Prick,” I mutter and turn back to the team. “Colby, we need to talk, and we’re going to Sofia’s office.” I know it’s attached to the locker room.

  Colby looks worried, but I tell Blake, Sofia, and Claire to follow me. We all go into her office. Colby leans against the counter as Blake and Sofia rest on the desk with Claire near the door.

  “Colby, I know you and your family well,” I start off.

  “Yes, Harmony.” He smiles.

  “I’m sad to hear about your upcoming retirement.” I truly am too. “But, since you’re such an established player and someone I can trust, I need to let you in on a secret: I’m not experienced owning a baseball team, and I need to surround myself with good people.”

  Colby nods.

  “So, could you help me for a moment?”

  “I can try my best.”

  I hand him the three files. “These contract are about to expire, and we need to negotiate them. I want you to pretend you’re the GM of the Angels; what would you do with these?” I hop up on the massage table and wait for him.

  “Really?” He looks up.

  “I’m serious. I want the truth as if you’re the GM,” I repeat.

  Colby takes a deep breath and looks a little nervous. “Okay, Tanner’s is first. He’s currently making one million a year and is now asking for three.” He studies it for a few seconds longer. “Tanner is young, but he already holds the record for most stolen bases in a season, and it’s not over yet. He can hit, get on base, and he’s the fastest runner I’ve seen.” He talks through the points. “Tanner’s downside is he’s impulsive and likes the ladies. A lot. However, I’d offer him two and half million with a clause that his off-the-field behavior needs to be pulled back a bit.” He looks over at me.

  Sound good to me. All his points are valid and true. “Okay. The next one.”

  “Spencer.” He flicks his eyes at me, but moves back to the file. “He makes two point seven five million a year, but is the lowest ranking player on the Angels.” Colby is mumbling now, and I’m certain he’s aware what Spencer and I have been up to, but he’s a professional and keeps going on. “But, the past two months, he’s really been coming around, and he’s had no errors in right field.” He pauses again. “He’s asking for four million, but I wouldn’t give it to him. I’d do three million but only for two years and make sure he steps up or he’ll be…traded.”

  I hate to hear this about Spencer, but right now I’m an owner and not his fuck buddy or friend. “And next.”

  “Oh man.” He groans and shifts from side-to-side. “Harmony, do I have to?”

  “Yes,” I answer.

  “Colby, go on,” Blake encourages him.

  “Blake is asking for eight million a year and currently pulls in four.” He studies the file again and sighs. “I’d start at five and a half and go all the way up to six and a quarter. Blake is number one in home runs and hits in the entire league. He’s worth it.”

  He seems extremely knowledgeable about the contracts, and I think they sound fair. I smile and hop off the table. “Colby, I hate to lose you as my third baseman, but I can honestly tell you I really hate that Mr. Bowman.”

  Colby smirks. “He’s a character.”

  I roll my eyes. “Sure, a character. Anyway, I’m going to fire him, and I want you to be my new GM.”

  His mouth drops. “What?”

  “I’m going to fire him, find someone to stand in his place until the end of the season, and then announce you as the new GM.” I smile. “If you need to talk to Ariella first, I understand. Just let me know your answer as soon as you can.”

  “Colby, you’re a great guy, and I trust you. You’d be a great GM, and I want you to take the job,” I say lower.

  “I’ll talk to Ariella tonight.” He clears his throat. “Thank you, Harmony.”

  I smile. “You’re welcome and we’ll keep it between us until you’re ready to tell everyone.”

  He nods.

  “All right. We’re all done here and ready to move on.” Which really means I’m ready for this new chapter in my life.

  ***

  “DID YOU KNOW about Harmony buying the team?” Roman whispers to me.

  I nod. “She told me yesterday.”

  The team seems to be shocked more than anything else. I don’t think it’ll be an issue. Everyone loves Sofia and Blake when he’s being Blake. Harmony will be the primary owner, though. I’m sure the team will welcome her with open arms. Our GM is another story by the looks of it. Maybe I should warn Harmony that she’ll have her hands full with him. She probably already knows it by now.

  The guys quiet as Blake and Colby enter the room. We’re all wondering what was discussed, but no one asks. Until Tanner opens his mouth.

  “Since today is about bomb dropping news, are you retiring or not, Sugar Daddy? We’ve all heard the rumor going around and the reporters asking you about it.”

  I don’t even know how the rumor got started or how the reporters caught wind of it, but it’s been making the rounds. I wouldn’t be surprised, considering how he was rubbing his leg a few weeks ago. The only thing that would make Colby retire is his leg or his family. It’s most likely both that are contributing. If he’s retiring, that is.

  The room is deathly silent. It’s as if even the air conditioner shut off to allow for complete silence. Colby looks around the room at our expectant faces before nodding.

  “I was planning to tell y’all soon, but yes. It’ll be announced at the end of the season. My leg just isn’t up to par anymore, and at least this way, I can spend more time with my daughter and go out on my own terms.”

  “Well damn,” Jordan mutters.

  Colby cracks a smile. “Don’t cry, Jordan. I’ll still be in Memphis.”

  Chuckles sound around the room, breaking the tension, as Jordan throws a towel at him. Since we’re done for the day, we finish gathering our things. Guys stop by to slap Colby on the shoulder, even though he isn’t leaving yet. It’ll suck not to have him around next season, but I’m sure the team will still meet up with him every now and then.

  I can’t imagine retiring, not even in the future. What the hell do you do in retirement? Sit around all day and do nothing? Not play baseball? Not exercise as much and keep up my routines? Retirement almost sounds as elusive as a romantic relationship. Harmony texts me, asking me to come over; it’s still on my mind.

  “Hey,” she says with a grin.

  “Hey. Your dad’s retired, right?”

  Harmony tilts her head at my odd question. “Yeah. Why?”

  “What
the hell does he do all day?”

  “Are you thinking of retiring, Spencer?” she teases, taking my hand and pulling me into the living room.

  “No. Colby told us what I’m sure you already know. I can’t stop thinking about it. The day I retire is going to be a sad, sad day. It’s one of those things that baffles me. What are you going to do when you retire?”

  “Travel,” she answers quickly. Harmony suddenly moves to straddle my lap and kisses my neck. “Do you want to talk about what we’ll do in the future or what I want to do right now?” Her hands are at the hem of her shirt, waiting for my answer.

  “Right now.”

  Not a second passes before she’s lifting her shirt and unhooking her bra.

  “In a rush, darlin’?”

  “It’s been too long,” she says, leaning forward to kiss me.

  That it has. My hands are roaming, cupping her breasts, and playing with her nipples. She’s more eager than I thought. Her hips start rocking in my lap, so I wrap my arms around her and move us so she’s lying flat on her back, and I’m hovering over her.

  “No games, Spencer,” she says as if she can read my intentions. “Hard and fast this time. We can play later.”

  “Whatever you say, darlin’.”

  I finish stripping her of her clothes and then mine. She’s slick and wet already. Sinking into her is the best thing I’ve felt all week. This is where we’re our best. When we’re fucking or keeping conversation light. She threw me for a loop when I found out she was the new owner, especially after she explained again about what happened that night at the club. All I wanna do is be sort of friends, but mostly fuck buddies.

  After round two of sex, we’re in her bedroom and taking a few minutes to recover. I turn my head to look at her.

  “Anything else you want to give me a heads up on?” I prop up onto my elbow. “Hey, tell me something. I can make a bet with Roman and finally win.”

  Harmony laughs. “Tell me what you’d want to bet and maybe I’ll help you out.”

  I think about it for a moment. “I could say it’d take you a week or less to fire our GM. He pissed you off good today, didn’t he? How many times did he stick his foot in his mouth?”

  “Shouldn’t you speak well of those above your head?” she asks with a raised eyebrow.

  “If I was speaking to the owner, maybe. But I’m speaking to my favorite fuck buddy, Harmony. You wouldn’t expect Blake to hold back, would you? Same thing. How does that work anyway?”

  “What? Like with contracts? I’ll most likely monitor, but it won’t be me making the actual decisions. Can’t let anyone have any reason to say I’m showing favoritism. I’m the owner, not the GM. I won’t be a hands on type of involved. More like a big brother type of involved. Watching, but not doing the dirty work. And if you want, make your bet.”

  “So you are going to fire him?”

  She shrugs with a smirk. “Do you think Roman will make a bet with you when he could suspect you have insider knowledge?”

  “Damn it. You’re probably right.” I sigh.

  “You and your gambling habits are cute.”

  “Glad you think so. Mom thinks I’m an addict.”

  “Are you?”

  “What? No. I can stop. I just don’t want to, and it’s not like it’s a problem. I’m not gambling away all of my money. Only a small portion.”

  Harmony barks out a laugh. “I don’t think anyone would think that buying two hundred dollars’ worth of lotto tickets at one time is a small portion.”

  I shake my head at her. “Do you know what I’d rather talk about?”

  “What?”

  “The night you came to my apartment drunk? You wanted to suck my dick.” I lean back and motion down my body with a grin.

  “You just better be glad I like you, Spencer.”

  The very next day, before I even have a chance to see if Roman wanted to make a bet, news spread that on Harmony’s second day of ownership, she fired the general manager. The news is going crazy, wondering if this means she’s cleaning house. There’s speculation that something shady is happening within the organization again. Questions like was the team sold so quietly because Mr. Ricker couldn’t stand another scandal.

  It pisses me off that they question the integrity of the Angels. Mostly because what it comes down to is that they are questioning us. The players. Me. Yeah, I could work harder, and probably should, but there is a big difference in saying I need to work harder and saying I’m working around the system.

  Harmony wasted no time replacing him either. She must really hate him to work so fast. Our interim GM spends time meeting with each of us. My contract is due to be renewed and while we don’t discuss it in depth yet, he tells me it would bode well for me to work harder. Maybe I was too distracted and not on top of my game. I definitely want to stay in Memphis, with this team and organization.

  I stay late after practice, hoping to put in more work and make a new habit. The results won’t be immediate, but it’ll be worth it. That night, I make another late night visit to Harmony’s after having dinner with Roman and Carissa. She ends up keeping me for a bit and we talk between sex. I take my leave as usual, though.

  Prior to our game, I hear from my mom. She’s for sure coming soon, and she’s bringing her soon-to-be-husband with her. She wanted me to talk to him over the phone, but I wasn’t having any of that.

  “Are you still seeing your fuck buddy?”

  I groan. “Her name’s Harmony. Can you stop using language like that with me? Please?”

  “Fine,” she laughs. “Are you still seeing Harmony?”

  “Yeah.”

  “And it’s nothing serious?” Mom sounds hopeful. She’s always wishing her baby boy could find his soul mate. She’s going to be wishing for a long, long time.

  “Nothing serious at all. She even owns the Angels now.” Then I have to explain Harmony’s job and how she acquired my team.

  “So, you’re sleeping with your boss? Are you sure you should be doing that? What if she starts having feelings for you and you end things?”

  That seems highly unlikely. “We’re adults. She’s a businesswoman. She’s not going to let it interfere with her work. Besides, Harmony doesn’t want a relationship, so she’s not going to start having feelings for me.”

  “You know nothing about women, Spencer. You’re such a catch and, whether you want to believe it or not, a woman is bound to get attached with she’s regularly sleeping with someone.”

  “Not Harmony. I’m serious. She’s so career driven, and she doesn’t want a relationship, much less have time for one.”

  “But she can make time for you? She could be your soul mate, Spencer.” Her voice gets all whimsical as she imagines this.

  “Mom,” I say with a warning in my tone. “She’s not trying to make an honest man out of me. We’re having fun. We’re friends. That’s it.”

  “Fine. Whatever you say.”

  I talk to her for a few more minutes, jotting down the dates she’s coming, and then hang up. I turn off my car. I am sitting in the parking lot at the stadium. It’s too hot to turn off my car and sit in the heat, but I wasn’t about to talk to my mom where ears could be listening.

  In the locker room, Roman seems a bit stressed, so I walk over to him.

  “What’s going on?”

  “Carissa’s parents are coming to town for a week.”

  “What’s the problem? You won’t be here for half of it.” We have some road games coming up.

  “Because she’s the love of my life and it’s her parents,” he says as if it should be obvious.

  It’s not, but whatever. “My mom’s coming to town soon. Think you and Carissa can make time to meet her? She’d love to meet you.”

  Roman grins. “Have you been talking about me with your mom?”

  I throw my glove at him. “She asks about my friends, so yeah.”

  “Is your mom going to meet you know who?” he asks as Tanner takes a s
eat next to me.

  “You’re introducing someone to your mom? I thought you were single?” Tanner interrupts my answer.

  “I am single. I’m just letting her meet some friends.”

  “Am I included in this?” Tanner frowns like it would be terrible to meet my mom.

  “No.” Tanner has been navigating to older women, and I know Mom is considered a good-looking woman. No way am I letting him around her for him to make some crude comments or to hit on her.

  “Thank god,” he mutters.

  Roman laughs. “You’re going to regret that.”

  “Why?” he asks confused.

  “His mom’s hot.” My head snaps toward Roman, who has seen a picture of her before. “Sorry, man. Just sayin’. Not every day you run into someone with a hot mom.”

  “Stop calling her hot!”

  “I want to meet her,” Tanner says.

  “No! She’ll be a married woman soon, and I’m not subjecting my mom to you and your Tanner lovin’.” He’s still stuck on that phrase lately.

  Tanner knows he’s hit a button and he wants to push it today, apparently. He throws an arm over my shoulders. “Just imagine if we hit it off. I could be your stepdad. What do you think, son?”

  I shove him away from me, ignoring his laughs. “Go to hell.”

  “Now, son, don’t be like that.”

  I have to hear shit like that throughout the entire warm up and into the game when we’re in the dugout. I’m able to tune him out and focus on the game for the most part. It starts great, getting the nine strikes and three outs within the first five batters and not a one makes it home. Tanner, the damn kid, gets a triple on his second swing. He just keeps getting better and better.

  Then, there’s me. Striking out. Maybe he’s getting in my head or something. Competition is both a good and bad thing, depending on the circumstances, and right now, I don’t think I should be competing with anyone other than myself. After all, when it comes time to battle out the details of my contract, it’s based on my performance.

  We’re out in the field in the fifth inning, leading by three runs, and we seem to level out. It’s even more important now to keep our lead. I catch a ball, hearing the heavy thunk as it lands in my glove, and give myself a mental pat on the back for getting an out. If only I can do better than earning a single every time I bat. There’s a lot of work ahead of me. On the bright side, we win the game.