by Megan Bryce
Mackenzie arrived at her first company picnic and instantly decided she shouldn’t have come. She tried hard to keep her real life separate from her work and had never wanted to get caught up in the culture that everyone else seemed to buy into.
She had coworkers she liked but she didn’t make friends. She never went out to lunch, never joined in for birthday celebrations, didn’t get into office politics, and never, ever went to outside functions. In the sales department, competition was taken to a whole other level and she tried to keep her focus on work. And to leave that work at the door at the end of the day.
Yet here she was. And all because one pretty boy had asked her to beat him at softball. Ethan O’Connor was a dangerous man.
But not as dangerous as the whispers being circulated about him. If anyone could have gotten him to lose his temper it would have been her the last few years. He wasn’t the kind of guy that hit women. He liked to persuade and charm people into doing what he wanted; using physical force would seem like an insult to his mental abilities.
Rob from marketing wandered over to her, looking glum. “You guys are going to whip our ass. There’s no way Ethan is going to be in top form today.”
She smirked at him. “That is just too bad. You shouldn’t have made that bet.”
“He was first-team All-Ivy for four years. He’s an all-star. We couldn’t lose.” He watched her take out her worn glove and plop a tattered UCLA visor on her head. He grimaced. “How much did you bet?”
“No bet. My pleasure is going to come in rubbing his face in it.”
“You’re a cold woman. Maybe you should go easy on him today.”
She laughed. “Uh-huh. How much of my team have you tried to guilt into losing today?”
A small grin peeked out before he hid it. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. He’s just going through a rough time right now. The press is going to go wild now that they know he hits women.”
“He didn’t hit her. And if he was somehow responsible for her broken nose, it was an accident. I would bet on that.”
“You can’t be sure. Especially with old money. What happens in private, stays private.”
She said, “True, but I’ve angered him, insulted him, and verbally abused him enough to know that when he gets mad, the charm starts oozing from him. He gets so sweet, you want to throw up. He doesn’t get physical.”
Rob nodded, looking thoughtful. “I’ve seen him come out of your office like that. And if he had cause to hit anybody, it would be you.”
“You’re a nice guy, Rob. Now go away and stop talking to my team.”
He laughed. “I’ll just have to remind Ethan how bad he needs to beat you.” He winked. “At softball, I mean.”
A frenzy of activity and a change in air pressure alerted Mackenzie that he had arrived. She refused to turn and watch him. Refused to even acknowledge that she wanted to.
He was a beautiful man. And a beautiful man you could admire from a distance was one thing, but a beautiful man who periodically waltzed into your office, sat in your chair, and ate your candy bars was another thing entirely.
He found her quick enough though.
“Hello, Mackenzie. You look ravishing in those yoga pants.”
She turned, bracing herself. He wore a faded blue Columbia t-shirt that outlined his chest and showcased his biceps. His forearms were sprinkled with golden hair and Mackenzie stared down at his bare arms. Then told herself to get a grip. They were forearms. But she stared at them anyway. Maybe it was the novelty. He was always in long-sleeved business shirts and jackets.
She looked back up to sparkly green eyes and flashing white caps and raised an eyebrow. “Are you sure you want to play when you’re this pissed?”
His smile dropped a centimeter. “I’m not pissed.”
“You look like you’re about to sing ‘It’s A Small World’. And I’ve seen that look enough times to know you’ve just about had it.”
His eyes stopped that annoying sparkle and his smile dropped another centimeter. “You would know.”
“I guess I would. Did you hit her?”
His smile disappeared completely. “No. I wasn’t even in the same state when she broke her nose.”
“Well, that’s what I told Rob when he tried to guilt me into losing to you. If you were the kind of guy that hit women you would have hit me a long time ago. And just to let you know, I’m still going to wipe up with you today.”
He stared at her for a moment before a grin started. “You can certainly try.”
She popped her fists onto her hips. “I don’t try, I do. And after I’ve skunked your sorry team I’m going to frame the score so every time you walk into my office you’ll remember Mr. All-Ivy lost to a girl.”
He mirrored her, leaning in her face just a bit. “And once I’ve won, I’m going to have it painted on your wall as a reminder that you need to respect your superiors.”
She snorted. “Superior? That would be a matter of opinion, and you would be wrong.”
He looked her up and down, leaning just a bit closer. “I’ve never had a complaint before.”
“Really? ‘Cause I could have sworn I read something just the other day.”
“She’s been without awhile, probably going through withdrawal.”
“It’s a wonder none of your exes have tried to kill you.”
“They just get upset when I won’t marry them. They don’t really want me dead.”
She laughed. “Could’ve fooled me. And I know my life would be a lot easier if one of them took you out–”
A shocked woman’s voice interrupted her. “Ethan?”
Mackenzie turned to find not one but two older women staring at her. Ethan chuckled and took a step back from Mackenzie.
“Mother, Grandma, this is Mackenzie Wyatt. She’s the top salesman in the L.A. branch and number one pain in the ass in the whole company.”
His mother gasped, “Ethan!”
She couldn’t get the shocked look off her face but his grandma looked amused. Mackenzie didn’t need two guesses to know who he took after most.
Mackenzie glanced at him. “I’m the top salesman in all the branches.”
“Any complaints about where I placed you in the other category? I didn’t think so.” He gestured to the two women. “This is my mother, Christine O’Connor, and my grandmother, Ellen O’Connor.”
Ellen shook her hand. “Nice to meet somebody who doesn’t fall all over my grandson.”
“It’s hard, but I manage.”
Ellen thought that was hilarious and slapped her on the shoulder. “You any good at softball?”
“Yes.”
“Excellent. I think I’ll go make a wager. Now who did you say was taking bets, Ethan?”
He pointed out John from finance to his grandmother and she grabbed Ethan’s mother. “Come along, Christine.”
His mother gave Mackenzie one last worried glance and then turned away.
Ethan watched them walk to the stands with a big smile on his face. A real smile, nothing charming about it.
He said, “I don’t think my mother likes you.”
“She looks like she’s worried I’m going to hurt you.”
He chuckled. “She’s always been a little protective.”
She looked up at him. He was at least six feet of hard, wily male. On the list of people who needed protecting, he was last.
“But my grandma really took to you. I’m pretty sure she’s betting on you.”
“She seems intelligent.”
He grinned. “We’ll see.”
The softball game was the main event and the players ate quickly. Everyone else wandered around talking, eating, and waiting for the show to start.
Mackenzie didn’t know what they expected. Oh, she liked to talk a good game, and she hoped she won so she could rub a certain someone’s face in it, but the teams were pretty well evenly matched. It would probably come down to luck.
Most of the time she wo
uld bet on her luck, but Ethan was a golden boy and had been since the day he was born. If anybody’s luck was better than hers it would be his.
And as soon as she saw him squat behind the plate she knew she was in trouble. Of course he was catcher. The one position where he could talk and screw her team’s concentration.
She got a little hopeful when his mother became concerned about his lack of gear.
“It’s just a friendly game of slow-pitch, Mother. I don’t need it.” He smiled at his mother, charmingly, and Mackenzie wondered how that could possibly still work on her. She had to be immune by now.
And then Mackenzie laughed under breath when Christine O’Connor looked right at her and said, “As long as it’s a friendly game.”
Ethan looked at Mackenzie and his grin was anything but friendly. She should have brought someone to watch her back as well.
Mackenzie turned to her team and gave them one piece of advice. “Don’t listen to anything that man says when you’re at bat.”
Bases were loaded when Mackenzie went up to bat. She loved softball, started playing on a league in middle school, made varsity in high school, and had been throwing the ball around with her grandfather since she was old enough to stand. She joined the city league every summer and spent an occasional weeknight at the batting cages. She was good and she loved it. And having Ethan O’Connor that close to her made her palms sweat.
But she was going to beat him anyway.
He squatted behind the plate. “My God, that field looks beautiful. They’re just waiting for you to send them all in. Are you that good, Wyatt?”
She stepped into the box without looking at him.
The first ball came sailing past her face and she tapped her cleats with the bat. “I guess we’ll see if your pitcher ever gets it over the plate.”
“He’s just playing with you. Seeing if you’ll bite.”
“I do. Hard. Maybe your mom was right and you should go find something soft to wrap your important bits with.”
“You better hope she didn’t hear you. It’s not wise to threaten a woman’s only child.”
Mackenzie nicked the ball, fouling it out in right field.
Ethan tsked. “Mm. Too bad. That would have been good if you’d actually hit it.”
She fought to keep her laugh back but she was afraid he knew how funny he was. She said, “You just love being catcher, don’t you? Get to talk all you want and no one can shut you up.”
He squatted, holding his glove out, and she stepped back in the box. He said, “It’s one of life’s greatest pleasures.”
“It’s not going to be too much fun when I’m sliding in getting you all dusty.”
Another ball thrown in a little too high and she shook her head at the pitcher. “What, am I an amateur here?”
Ethan threw the ball back with a laugh. “I’ve only got one thing to say before you hit that homer you’re waiting for. You slide into me with your cleats up and I’ll paint your backside red.”
“I’m sure the paparazzi would love a picture of that.”
“They won’t be invited–”
Mackenzie hit the ball, felt the sweet spot, and knew it was going to be a long run for the outfielder. If there’d been a fence, it would have been over it. But she ran the bases and headed home anyway. She heard Ethan cuss when she ran across the plate. And she couldn’t help but notice that his grandmother was very excited, and his mother wasn’t.
Mackenzie grinned at Ethan. “Sorry I didn’t get the chance to slide. Maybe next time.”
“Hell.”
Ethan hit a double at his turn to bat, and when he finally made it to third base, he said, “Why am I not surprised you’re on third.”
“I guess it’s the same reason I wasn’t surprised you were catcher.”
“Each to his own strengths. I like to play with people’s minds, you like to play with people’s balls.”
She blinked and turned to stare at him. For a second he just grinned at her, and then he figured out what he’d said and tipped his head to the sky and cracked out a laugh. She glared at him and when he saw her expression, he bent double, laughing uncontrollably. All the players turned to them, most of them concerned he’d hurt himself since he was clutching his stomach and couldn’t breathe.
“Is he okay?”
“Ethan, you okay?”
Mackenzie crossed her arms. “I think he’s choking on something. Maybe his foot.”
Out of the corner of her eye she saw his mother stand up, a worried look on her face. Mackenzie looked at her and shook her head. She said loudly, “He’s fine. He just thinks he’s hilarious.”
Ethan gave a thumbs-up sign but could not stop laughing, and everyone wanted to be let in on the joke.
There was no way in hell Mackenzie was going to repeat what he’d said, but shortstop gave a little snigger, and she closed her eyes. No one was ever going to forget this game.
“Oh God, Mackenzie. I’m sorry. I meant you liked to be in on all the plays.”
His apology left a little something to be desired since he was still laughing so hard he couldn’t stand up straight. And she could hear barks of laughter round the bases and bleachers.
He glanced up at her face and bit back another howl of laughter. He stepped off the base and hugged her. His arms wrapped around her, trapping her crossed arms in front of her, and he lifted her off the ground.
He said, “Aw, honey. I’m sorry. I’ve got to start thinking before I open my mouth.”
“Put me down, you idiot.”
“Not until you accept my apology.”
“Oh, I accept it. My lawyer, however, is going to have a field day with this.”
He set her down, grinning at her. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and walked her toward the pitcher’s mound.
“I am going to kill you, Ethan.”
He kept an iron grip on her shoulders and spoke loud enough that most of the players and crowd could hear him.
The laughter stopped slowly and everyone watched with cheery faces.
“I just want to apologize to Mackenzie and everyone here. Almost everybody knows that she and I have had an ongoing battle of wits since she started working for O’Connor Capital and we like to have fun with each other. We were just razzing each other at what positions we like to play and what I meant to say was she likes to be in on all the plays, and third base is a great position because a lot of balls get hit there.”
The crowd chuckled and Mackenzie said, “You’re not making this better.”
“And I want to let everyone, and especially my mother, know that even though she looks like she’s going to kill me, she has already accepted my apology–” Mackenzie snorted, “–and is going to make me lose so bad that I won’t be able to show my face in the L.A. office for a year.”
Everyone laughed again and Mackenzie muttered, “I’d prefer two years.”
“So, Stacy and Dan, wipe those worried expressions off your legal faces– she’s not going to sue me. And let’s go back to playing some ball.”
He chuckled again and walked her back to third with his arm still around her.
She said, “I’m really starting to sympathize with your ex-girlfriends. The society column seems a little tame to me.”
“But listen to how much fun they’re having. Isn’t it worth it?”
“I’m charging you a thousand dollars every time someone says balls to me in the next month. And you’d better pay me out of your own pocket, not the company’s.”
He turned them around and watched everyone laughing and having a good time. “I guess it’ll be worth it.”
Then he looked down at her and found her still frowning. He took his arm off her shoulder and patted her butt.
She elbowed him in the side. “Do you have a death wish, O’Connor!”
“It’s just so hard to get you all riled up and I want to keep you that way as long as possible.”
“You keep your hands to yourself or you’ll fi
nd yourself flat on the ground. And if you even use the word balls I’m going to deck you.”
He laughed, hard. “God, Mackenzie. This is turning out to be a great day. Who would have thought.”
Two
If anyone had told Ethan this morning that today would turn out this good, he would have told them they needed to fix their crystal ball. But he’d forgotten that wherever Mackenzie Wyatt was he was bound to have a good time. She cracked him up. She stood there with no expression on her face, but he knew she was laughing inside. He also knew he really would get a bill from her if anybody said balls to her. He just hoped it wouldn’t cost him too much.
And God knew he shouldn’t have patted her behind but it was right there, and when would he ever get the chance again? He hoped she was joking about that lawsuit because any lawyer could chew him up and spit him out for the remarks and touching. Not to mention the continued jokes from everybody else. She could probably retire a wealthy woman if she had a mind to.
And he’d never have as much fun coming to L.A. if she left.
She eyed him warily as she walked up to bat and he couldn’t help his chuckle. He asked over his shoulder, “Hey, Ref. You got any money on this game?”
Mackenzie glanced at Anderson, an accountant from the fourth floor, and said, “Of course not. That would go against rule number one for referees. Thou shalt not upset the players by placing money on a game you’re refereeing.”
Anderson crouched down and said, “I would never do anything to make either you or Mackenzie mad at me. Especially when there are balls flying around everywhere. A man could get hurt.”
Mackenzie stepped into the box. “That was the easiest thousand I ever made. Got any more balls jokes?”
The pitcher lobbed the ball way outside, into Ethan’s waiting hand, and Anderson yelled as loud as he could, “Ball one!”
The crowd hooted and laughed and Ethan smiled. Mackenzie pointed at the ball with her bat. “You have got to be kidding.”