by Jody Holford
She smiled, wrapping her arms around his neck. “Also, Addie and I were talking about ways to generate more ticket sales. I have an idea, and I think it’s a good one.”
Grinning, he wondered if she was thinking the same thing he was.
“If we partner with Conroy Hotels, we could do all sorts of marketing things with booking a room in whatever town the Slammers are playing in and getting tickets along with it.”
Liam’s fingers flexed against her hips. He’d forgotten the mention of that guy’s name, and they’d had other things drowning out whatever jealousy he’d felt at the moment. Another unfamiliar emotion until Isla came into his life.
“That name is familiar,” he said, working to keep his voice steady and his hands loose on her hips. “They said it on the news.”
She smiled so innocently he wondered how he could feel the twinge of envy that poked him. “He’s an old friend. Despite my father downplaying it, the merger with his hotels and our fitness centers was a huge deal. I think he’d be interested in this.”
Liam dropped his hands, ignored the buzz of his phone in his pocket. “So, he’s just a business associate?”
He wasn’t looking at her when he asked, so he didn’t see her expression, but he heard the surprise in her voice. “Yes. What’s going on, Liam?”
Turning back to face her, hating the physical distance between them, he decided that they had enough to deal with. They didn’t need cat-and-mouse games. He’d never played them before, and he wasn’t about to start with the one who actually mattered.
“I just wondered if there was more between you and him. I don’t like feeling jealous. It’s not something I’m used to. If it’s all business, cool. I get that and respect it. But if you’re looking for a guy to turn to for anything else? I want to be that guy.”
Isla pulled in a shaky breath. She put her hands on his cheeks and smiled. She was so sweet it was going to undo him completely.
“How on earth could a man like you, one who, may I remind you, has his own group of Cruz Cuties, be jealous of anyone?”
Irritation pulsed inside him, but he couldn’t not touch her, so he pulled her close again. They had too much to discuss in the little time he had left today, but they needed a few things cleared up.
“Those are groupies, Isla. It’s not the same thing. I’ve never committed to a woman for a reason—the life I live makes it too hard. Not that other guys don’t make it work, but I always felt like if I couldn’t give a relationship everything I had, it wasn’t fair to the other person. But really, I hadn’t met the person I’d be willing to compromise for until you. And as stupid as it might sound, I’m jealous of any guy who’s owned a piece of your heart.”
The look on her face, the dreamy satisfaction, and the small hum that left her throat had him thinking about pushing back his call time. If she pressed her gorgeous body any closer to his while she was looking at him like that, he might forget he had a call time.
“There’s room for only you. Anything in the past is just that. Jonathan is nothing more than a business partner and one of the few men in my life who’s treated me as an equal.”
He ran a hand down her hair. “I would never treat you as less.”
She shook her head. “I don’t doubt that. It’s one of the things that made it so easy for me to fall for you. Swallowing down the fact that there’s an entire group of women dedicated to you isn’t easy, either. But if we’re going to make this work, especially below the radar for now, we have to trust each other.”
A buzz of happiness whipped through him. “So, we’re doing this? We’re not going to fight what’s happening between us?”
Her smile was so wistful, it tugged his heartstrings. “We need to keep it quiet for both our sakes. But I don’t know how to keep pretending. At least now, when I have to do it in public or when we’re in a room together, I’ll know that I have something to look forward to.”
Liam pressed his mouth to hers. “You can trust me. I know I can trust you. I didn’t mean to suggest otherwise.”
“So? What do you think?”
Stepping back, he shrugged. “It’s an idea. There are a ton of people who’d invest. Even with the team in a slump, owning a piece of it would appeal to a lot of people. Even players.”
Isla took a deep breath. “I haven’t even met most of the players yet. It was just an idea.” She pulled her phone out of her pocket and glanced at it. “I should get going. My dad is meeting me at the arena.”
He felt like a jerk. “It’s a good idea, Red. I wasn’t trying to shoot it down.” Other people did that to her all the time. “Just think about other possibilities of who could invest. You need someone who understands the kind of magic people feel when they watch a game.”
He meant it, but the back of his neck prickled, and he realized that the someone he was describing sounded an awful lot like him.
Whoa. Hold up. We’ve just decided to commit to each other under the radar. Owning a freaking team with someone is bigger than putting a ring on their finger. Right?
What did he know? He’d never done either. Still, the idea grew on him. One step at a time. He hadn’t even taken her on a proper date. And probably couldn’t for a long while. But while they were waiting, he could, and would, talk to some of his own people.
“Magic, huh?”
Liam shook his head, grinning. He kept forgetting she didn’t understand the magic. That was something he could change.
“I’ll be late doing the shoot tonight. This stuff takes forever. Can I meet you at the stadium when I’m done?”
Isla pulled her lip between her teeth. His stomach tightened, and he used his thumb to pull her lip free so he could kiss her.
“Is that a good idea?” She whispered the words against his mouth.
Probably not. It was bad enough he couldn’t take her out the way he wanted to. There had to be a way to work around it. She was worth finding a way.
It was the off-season, and she had a lot of eyes on her right now, but he could still get into the stadium without any fuss. He worked out there sometimes. It wouldn’t seem that unusual.
“It’ll be fine. I’ll see you tonight,” he replied.
Losing himself in kissing her again, he silenced the nagging voice in his head that told him they needed to be careful. That she had a lot going on and didn’t need more. But for the first time in his life, he was having a hard time keeping his focus on anything but the woman in his arms.
Chapter Twenty-One
Liam was surprised to see Ethan and Bruce on the set when he arrived. Their heads were together, people moving around them with booms and lights. A woman whipped past him with a clipboard in hand, chatting into a mouthpiece. He recognized the director and the model he’d be working with.
Normally, he didn’t mind this stuff. In addition to bringing in a good chunk of change, he’d made sure, during negotiations, that he endorsed only products, investments, and ideas he believed in.
His parents had taught him early on in life that he had an example to set. Not as a ballplayer but as a person. He and Tal were expected to take the higher ground and make choices that, while they might not feel good, were right. Sure, they’d screwed up. They’d been teenagers. But their expectations had been high, and neither he nor his sister wanted to disappoint. Even after he’d gone pro, his parents had reminded him he might be a big shot in this world, but to them, in their world, he was Liam Cruz, son, brother, and man they could be proud of.
He joined Bruce and Ethan, the back of his neck prickling when they stopped mid conversation. Ethan’s smile was tight. Bruce didn’t bother, which was another red flag. When Bruce had come to him while Liam was with the Dodgers, there’d been a lot of wining and dining. Which was unnecessary. But still, he respected the man and knew he loved the game.
“Cruz,” Ethan said, holding out a hand.
Liam shook it. “You guys come to watch? Nothing better to do?”
“Wanted to talk to you, act
ually. Ethan said you were here today.”
Not exactly the place to talk, since he had things to do. A woman wearing jeans, a flannel shirt, and sneakers approached him. She had on a headset and what seemed to be the standard on-set clipboard.
“Mr. Cruz?”
He smiled. People had all sorts of reactions to meeting celebrities. Most likely because they never knew what kind of response they’d get. He held out a hand. “Liam.”
She shook it, her shoulders dropping with her exhale. Clearly, she’d figured he’d be a jerk. “Nice to meet you. I’m supposed to ask if I can get you anything before we start. You’re needed in makeup in ten minutes.”
“I’m good. What’s your name?”
“Janelle. I’ll be your personal assistant, for lack of a better term, for the day. If you need anything, I’m your girl.”
He smiled, but immediately, his brain conjured an image of Isla. He’d never wanted to label any woman his girl. Until Isla. Damn, he was in big trouble. And he didn’t even care.
“Thanks, Janelle. I’m fine right now.”
She nodded, gave him a hesitant smile, and walked away. Lara, the model who’d shoot the commercial with him—one he’d worked with before, caught his eye. All curves, which she liked to display. She sent him a finger wave.
“I think she likes you,” Bruce said.
Liam turned back, said nothing.
Bruce smiled like they were old friends. “How are you feeling about our new leader?”
Ethan cringed. “Subtle, Bruce. Listen, Liam, Bruce wants to run some ideas by you. He wants you to go with him to Arizona and check out a couple players on the farm team.”
“Liam,” a voice said behind him. Douglas Marks clapped him on the shoulder. They’d met before, as the guy had directed a couple other commercials Liam had been in. “How’s it going? You ready to get started?”
Shaking Doug’s hand, he nodded. “Just need a minute and I’ll head back to makeup. You’ve met Bruce, the Slammers’ GM? And this is Ethan. He runs our PR.”
Doug nodded, shook both of their hands. “Usually, people just bring their agents or their own PR person. But whatever floats your boat, man. Nice to meet you guys. We’ll be ready to start shooting in twenty minutes.”
Doug left them, and Liam turned back to Ethan. “Why would I go with him? That’s his job.”
“You’ve got a good eye. I want your opinion,” Bruce said.
Liam turned to face him. “You want my opinion or you don’t want Ms. Bennett’s?”
He couldn’t figure out Bruce’s angle. Yes, Liam was a big part of the team and had high expectations for the next season. So was Bruce trying to bring a united front to Isla when he presented her with some new options? Or was he trying to shake things up to make it difficult for her to find her feet?
“Come on, Cruz. You know as well as I do that Bennett doesn’t know what she’s doing. So fine, she can be the face of the organization. But behind the scenes, we want to bring in people to win. I want your opinion because you’re who they look up to.”
It seemed like a legitimate reason, but something about the entire conversation rubbed him the wrong way.
“How about we put this aside for now? We have time.”
Bruce shrugged. “Whatever. We need to stick together. That’s all.” He turned and walked away.
Liam rotated his jaw, trying to relax.
Ethan slapped him on the back. “He’s just worried about the team. And is grieving his friend. I think part of him feels at loose ends,” Ethan said.
“He shouldn’t be looking at cutting Isla out of any decisions when she’s made it clear she wants to be in the loop.”
Ethan leaned in close. “Back to Isla, huh? Tell me there’s no reason to remind you that absolutely nothing should be happening between you two. Not only would it put you at odds with your teammates and you damn well know it, starting something with her would wrap so much legal tape around you, you wouldn’t be able to stand. Bruce is worried about his team. That needs to be your priority, too.”
Liam stepped back. “I’ve been in charge of my life and career since I was eighteen. I told you when you met her that we were friends. I’m not about to let the media, or you, or anyone else from the Slammers dictate who I can have in my life.” Whatever rebellious side he’d tamped down in his earlier years wanted to rear its head right now in response to these people.
Lara appeared at his side, ran her hand up his arm, a friendly smile curving her lips. “Long time, no see, gorgeous.” She didn’t have to go up on tiptoes to kiss him, like Isla did. She caught him off guard, leaning in and pressing her mouth to his. Before he could back up, shut her down, he saw Ethan snap a picture on his phone.
Liam started to say something, but Ethan’s smile went wide. “Slammers fans are going to love knowing they’re getting another commercial from you two.”
“Ethan,” Liam growled.
Ethan shrugged. “Already tweeted it. Don’t worry. I didn’t put the location. Though maybe that’d be fun. We could have fans waiting when you finish. We could use any good publicity we can swing.”
Lara rolled her eyes and scoffed. “Like Cruz needs any more publicity.”
Liam stepped back, away from both of them. “I’m due in makeup. I’m not sticking around after, so unless you want disappointed fans, which I’m guessing isn’t the kind of publicity you’re craving, I wouldn’t go that route.”
He walked off, fingers curled, wanting to call Isla. He’d spent his whole life turning to baseball when things wound him up, and for the first time ever, he wanted to turn to someone instead of something.
He didn’t want to make either of their lives more complicated, but he’d tried putting his feelings on the back burner. They’d only caught fire.
Somehow, he needed to figure out how to make things okay for them to be together without it undermining her and her position, pissing off his teammates, or making himself look like an idiot. She worked so hard for everything she’d achieved, and he knew she’d do right by this team. She deserved a solid chance at it. If this blew up, he’d still have baseball and his fans.
Why did that no longer feel like enough?
Chapter Twenty-Two
If possible, the room felt small. Isla stared at her father, and his lawyer, across the conference room table. The first time she’d stepped into this space, right after she’d inherited the team, and every time after, she’d felt like it was too vast, too large, even when it was full. Now, she wished it were bigger so she could breathe without feeling like she was choking on her father’s cologne.
“Be reasonable, Isla,” her father said.
Isla tapped her fingers on the table, refusing to toy with the pen in front of her. Show no weakness. Mr. Newn, one of the Bennett Fitness lawyers, simply sat, his lips pressed together in a perpetual pout.
“I’m not sure why you brought a lawyer,” she said. Again.
Her father glanced at Mr. Newn. “Aaron is here to show you we’ve taken the time to create an offer you should be more than pleased with. I’m not trying to swindle you. I want to legally and legitimately purchase the team from you, Isla. You know nothing about baseball, nothing about your grandfather, and I’d really rather do this in a way that doesn’t involve dragging you through court.”
She inhaled deeply. He would. For no other reason than to prove he could. “Putting aside the team for now, which I can’t understand why you even want, what about that? You kept him from us. Why? Make me understand.”
She held his gaze, wondering if she held it long enough, if the father in him would lose the shield, let her in. Instead, he scoffed. “Because it’s my job to protect you.”
She slapped her hands down on the table. “You can actually look me in the eyes and say that? And who protected me from you?”
“This is exactly why you can’t run this team. You’re too emotional.”
That was his fallback; when all else failed, it came down to her being to
o “soft.” She knew he was wrong, that there was a way to build a strong business and keep compassion at the forefront. But it still hurt.
“Why wasn’t he part of our lives? Why do you want this when you hated him so much?”
Pushing back from the table, her father strolled around the room, looking at the pictures on the wall. He stopped in front of one of his father, clasped his hands behind his back. His suit jacket bunched at the shoulders. He wasn’t facing her, but his voice was clear.
“My father ended my career and our relationship. I didn’t take it well. I don’t think anyone would have.” He turned and stared at Isla. “I blocked it out, put it away, because it was easier to move forward and build my own empire than think about what he stripped away from me.”
Since taking up the owner’s office, Isla had read a bit about her father’s past. Addie had been able to dig up more information than she had, but none of it explained the long-term hatred. Why she’d never wondered enough to push before, she wasn’t sure. Probably because she’d been too focused on pushing to build her own future, or show him she could, to take a look at the past.
“From what I understand, it’s not atypical to move an injured player back to the farm team. Did you talk to him?”
His face scrunched and he brought his hands around, shoved them in his pockets. “There was nothing to say. When my father made a decision, that was it.”
Isla leaned back in her chair, holding the pen between both hands. “I have some experience with that.”
Now he frowned. “This is different. You’re a very talented and smart businesswoman, Isla. But you’re that way because I groomed you. Just because you closed a big deal, with my guidance, doesn’t mean you can drop yourself into this world and pretend to understand it. You will get eaten alive.”
The thought was more appealing than going back to work for him. Anger made her clothes feel tight, made the room airless. “You didn’t groom me. You overshadowed me, diminished me. Kept me under your thumb because you didn’t—don’t—have faith in me. I’m not giving you, or selling you, this team. I’m sorry, because I don’t want more friction between us, but honestly, I’m tired of proving myself to you. Tired of having to. This is mine. For whatever reason, my grandfather didn’t want you to have it. And it matters to me that he wanted me to. I’m going to honor that.”