by Caryl McAdoo
“Excellent, knock the rust off, but don’t overdo it. We have you penciled in for tomorrow night.”
“Yes, sir.”
He warmed up then pitched at about three-quarter’s speed until his moneymaker felt right; he twisted back and let one fly. The catcher made a big show of blowing on his mitt. Gij loved it. He nodded toward the coach. “I’m ready.”
“You get settled in? Any problems?”
“Oh sure, coming home. And no troubles. I’m good.”
“Excellent.”
Sammi Dan followed April into the belly of Globe Life Park in Arlington, made mental notes of each twist, and turned as her camera girl led her to the media room. Once signed in and properly badged and loaded with all sorts of handouts, she strolled out onto the field of her dreams, a bona fide sports reporter.
Hot fudge sundae!
And not just any old sport, but baseball. Finally where she belonged; should’ve gotten there a long time ago. Slipping into the stands, she took a seat behind home plate and studied on the pages of reports, between observing the players taking their turns in the batting cage.
“You Davenport?”
Sammi Dan turned. A middle-aged man she didn’t recognize stood at the end of the aisle. “Yes, sir.” She held out her badge.
The man stepped closer and extended his hand. “I’m Ellison with Fox Southwest; you’re a hard lady to find.”
She stood, shook his hand with a firm grip, then retreated a step. “Well, you found me. Now what’s up?”
“A job if you’re interested.”
“Doing what?”
Ellison smiled. “What else? On-air interviews.”
Wow. Just call her Trending. “Thanks, but I just signed a new contract. Didn’t study the fine print, but I’m sure it has a no-compete clause. Everyone I’ve ever signed does.”
The man backed up. “My loss. Have a nice day, Miss Davenport.”
Sammi Dan tried to focus on the next batter, but she couldn’t. So exciting to be wanted! At Fox Southwest, Ellison sat the big gun’s seat. Maybe that contract only covered the three months of probation. She’d have to check in the morning, see exactly what she’d signed.
Should find herself a lawyer? Or an agent?
Naw. She liked KBTL, and if the reality of sportscasting didn’t match the dream, she could always go back to being the weather girl. Yeah right, she’d do that when artichokes could fly.
“Hey! Girlfriend! We’re all ready. Johnson’s meeting us on the field.”
“Great.” She followed April out of the stands and went to checking angles. Before she decided on the perfect one, Gij strolled out of the dugout.
“Afternoon, ladies.”
She smiled. “Yes, sir, it most definitely is. A very good afternoon. Now come stand over here, so we’ll have some batting practice action for a backdrop.”
“Sure thing, boss.” He winked at her. “And I have a question.”
“What’s that?”
“Why didn’t you give me your number?”
No wonder he didn’t call.
“I’m sorry, I meant to, even though you didn’t ask.” She shot him a wink right back. “But then everything happened so fast, and…you were gone.”
“I called the station. Didn’t you get any of my messages?”
“No, I get tons, and…” She grimaced; someone should have told her he called. “Now I’m really sorry, and I feel bad. How about I take you to dinner tonight to make it up?”
“No, not allowed. Rule number four. You can pick the place, but I’ll pay.”
She grinned. “Deal, but you’ll have to take me home. I rode with April.”
“No problem.”
“Good, now what do you say we talk some baseball?”
CHAPTER
thrEE
The interview went great. Watching the game from the press box even better, except the Rangers lost, but Sammi Dan still loved it. Then like meringue on a chocolate pie, there she and Gij were chatting away for the TV audience in the press room. She’d seen herself before but never doing an interview.
One thing reading a teleprompter, another to ask semi-intelligent questions.
“Hey, girlfriend.”
Sammi Dan tore her eyes away from the flat screen and faced her producer who stood just inside the hall door. “Hey yourself, you line out tomorrow?”
April gave her a duh look. “Yes, don’t you check your phone? I sent you a text.”
“No, sorry. I had it off.” Sammi Dan pulled her cell from her skirt pocket and slid it open. “Here it is. So we’re meeting Joe at the station at noon?”
“Yes, but when he says twelve, he really means eleven forty-five.”
“He’s one of those guys.”
“What guys?” Gij appeared behind the producer and smiled that infectious grin of his. “You ready?”
She was. It had been a terrific evening, and hopefully, about to be a great night. She chose Julio’s Bar & Beanery on Maple not far from her apartment. He loved it, even though he didn’t seem to be as big of a pepper belly as she was. Next time, she’d insist that he pick and see what he liked.
Short of wanting to, she set her napkin on her plate. “I recorded tonight’s news. Want to come to my place and watch us on TV?”
“I’d like that.”
“There’s a C store on the corner before we get to my apartment, if you want some beer or anything. All I keep on hand is wine.”
“No, I’m good.”
Was she being too obvious? And what was with this guy? She’d never seen him drink anything other than water. Not even any soda pop. He opened the passenger door to his rental then eased it shut after she got in; she liked that, him being a gentleman.
Once inside her compact apartment, she regretted not having the place cleaner. Maybe with her new raise, she’d have someone come in once a week or so. She pointed the remote at the TV, clicked through several options, then stopped before hitting play and faced Gij who sat in the rocker next to the couch.
“Ellison with Fox Southwest offered me a job this afternoon.”
“I heard that. Also that you signed a new contract with KBTL today.”
“Yes, I was shocked.”
“They give you a good deal?”
Oh, so she couldn’t ask him about his private matters when they would soon enough be public, but fine for him to ask about her finances. “I think so, a twenty-five percent raise.”
“Ellison would have at least doubled it, maybe even more.”
“Sassafras! Are you pulling my chain?” Why, that would put her way on up there. She’d never have to worry about the bills again! Her daddy would be so proud. “How would you know that? And what makes you think he would do such a crazy thing?”
He smiled. “He told me, and I’m the reason.”
“You?” How could he be the reason?
Did he think she wasn’t worthy on her own merit? Joe said she’d made them proud in Mexico City. Could Gij possibly know Mister Yancy or Joe? “You’re going to have to explain to me how you could possibly have anything to do with me getting a raise or another job offer.”
“Well, if you had gotten any of my messages and called me, I would have advised you not to sign a new contract. At least not yet.”
Her faced warmed, and her chest tightened, but she forced her tone to remain as light as she possibly could. Not one reason of all the possibilities racing through her head made one lick of sense. “Okay, fine, I’ll bite. How are you responsible?”
“I put it in my contract.”
His contract? What did his agreement with the Rangers have to do with her? “Your Ranger contract? What’d you put in it?”
He shifted in the chair, and it creaked. His expression changed to one of horror. “Did I break it?”
“No, it does that all the time. If it were metal, I’d WD-40 it, but I don’t know what to do with wood. It’s fine. Let’s get back to your contract.”
“Well, I added a c
lause that I would only do on-air interviews with you and April.”
“You did? Really? Why?”
“Lots of reasons.”
“Oh, so you’re an onion man. Peel off one layer, and all a girl sees is more of the same. How about you share your number one reason?”
“I want to get to know you better. Plus I thought it’d make a great story, you being the ex-weather girl and all.”
She nodded as the idea settled over her. For sure, if he was as good as he seemed, he would take them to the moon, maybe even the stars! And she’d be hanging on to his coattails. Her facial temperature took a dive, and a smile formed on her lips. Could he take the Rangers to the playoffs? Even back to the World Series?
In all her days, she’d never seen a pitcher like him. Just maybe he could.
“It’s genius. Did your agent come up with it?”
He pulled back. He obviously had his poker face on, but she still saw a bit of amazement in his eyes. Or was it pain? “No, ma’am. All me.”
“What should I do? If they knew about it ahead of time, wouldn’t that be…”
“In baseball, it’s called stealing signs, but unless they held a gun to your head when you inked your name, you’ll need to uphold your end. How long did you sign for?”
“Three months, and it’s probationary.”
“For sure, don’t sign an extension without talking to me first.”
“You got it.” She pointed the remote at the TV and hit play.
Watching the interview again with Gij, her heart smiled. She really did a great job, and how awesome that he wanted to get to know her better, too. Although, he practically admitted to the good business aspects of his idea, but so what? He’d get to know her better, and she’d get to know him better.
Why shouldn’t she benefit right along with him on his ride to the top?
Dollar signs danced across her inner eye, or rather the lack thereof as they kept flying away. Had someone highjacked her messages on purpose? She needed an assistant, maybe April. And speaking of Miss What’s-her-name. She clicked the flat screen off. “Why’d you include Meadows in our deal? You want to get to know her better, too?”
“Rule number seven: never court two ladies at the same time.”
She scooted out and faced him. “So, is that what’s going on here? Are you courting me, Gij?”
“Yes, of course, but I haven’t got to the asking for your father’s phone number yet.”
Awe, that was so sweet. Hey, wait. Or was it? “Haven’t you heard that song?”
“I’ve heard a lot of songs, exactly which one are you talking about?”
“Cyndi Lauper’s ‘Girls Just Want To Have Fun’.”
He stood and walked toward the door. “Boys like having fun too, but…” He smiled. “I’m pitching tomorrow.”
She jumped up. “You don’t have to go yet, do you? It isn’t that late.”
“Late enough, and well…” His lips thinned, and the pain in his eyes proved contagious.
“Well what?” She pouted her bottom lip. “I thought you wanted to get to know me better.” Easing closer, she took his hand.
“I do, but I better go.”
She tugged on his hand, and pulled him to her. “Really, Gij. Stay a while; you haven’t even seen all my apartment yet.”
He raised her hand to his lips and gently kissed her fingers then smiled his infectious grin. “I’ve seen enough. Dinner tomorrow after the game?”
“Sure, but you pick the place this time.” She resisted the urge to kiss him. Either the guy had some weird girl phobia, or more likely a dumb pre-game rule he wouldn’t break. Either way, she wasn’t about to beg him to stay the night. “Oh wait. I just remembered. My car’s at the station. I was hoping…” She stopped short of blabbing.
A girl didn’t have to tell everything she’d planned.
“I can run by and take you to the station. What time you need to be there?”
“Eleven would be nice; Joe—that’s my new boss—wants to meet with me and April at eleven forty-five.”
“How about a late breakfast? Say I’m here at nine?”
“Perfect.”
Then he was out the door without even so much as a good night kiss. What was with the man?
Gij hurried to the car, temptation on his heels. He wanted to get himself as far away as fast as possible, before it got hold of the worst part of him and sent him back to beat her door down.
Mercy Lord, what were you and Pappaw thinking? She is so desirable and seems willing enough. Please give me strength, Father.
All the way home, he studied on Sammi Dan, went over every conversation and every smile and gesture. He couldn’t put a bulls-eye on any one thing, but the whole of her fascinated him like no other woman ever.
Then back in Irving, as he turned off MacArthur Boulevard onto Hunter Ferrell, it dawned on him what he needed to do.
By the time he parked the rental next to his Pappaw’s old truck, he was certain of it.
For the first two glasses of Chardonnay, Sammi Dan stewed over what went wrong. She clicked play for the hundredth time and watched the interview again. Studying every facial angle, every little grin and gesture he made. Banana pudding, he sure was handsome.
At first, she blamed him; then by the third goblet, realized it had to be her. She’d done just about everything but drag him to her bed. Why did she have to keep doing that with him? Being so forward...wasn’t he supposed to be the one trying to…and what was with that courting nonsense?
Nobody did that any more.
Maybe he was acting out one of those Jane Austen novels. What exactly did courting mean anyway? Seemed like it was more than just dating, like it led to marriage or something. But then dating did that, at least after a few years—at least to living together to see how things went…if he was compatible.
Did courting have a list of rules somewhere? She’d have to Google it.
And speaking of rules. Would she ever get around to knowing all of his? Why must he have to have so many? Never much liked rules. One thing was certain, she didn’t have red hair, so he couldn’t be Gibbs. Or maybe he wanted her to dye it. Humph. What if he could only love girls with red hair?
The possibilities were endless, and maybe she’d never know the truth of it, but without a doubt, she appreciated what he’d done for her. That was so sweet. Her eyes filled with tears. He was tiramisu, and all she wanted was to be his ladyfinger. Surely he knew he could have her if he wanted, but he obviously did not.
But he added that clause to his contract and made her dream of being a sportscaster come true? A bona fide sportscaster! She wiped her cheek and got up to fill her glass again. Her daddy didn’t even know yet. No matter how she’d got her break, probably needed to call him and share the good news. He’d be thrilled.
Maybe he’d seen her interview on the ten o’clock news. She flipped open her phone and saw the time. What was she thinking? He wouldn’t be awake at three in the morning. Sure was glad she’d caught herself. Besides, he’d know she’d been drinking, and he never approved of her taking even one little bit.
If only he could realize an occasional glass of wine helped her get to sleep.
Wait a minute. What time did Gij say? Ten? Or was it nine? She’d have to get up at least an hour before that to shower and get ready. If she went to bed and got to sleep right now, she’d only have five hours. Best head that direction and get some beauty rest. She drained her glass. Dark circles under her eyes at breakfast wouldn’t do.
Oh well, just like Scarlet said, tomorrow was another day.
Sammi Dan woke with a dull pain behind her left eye. She looked toward the alarm clock. At first, the red numbers wouldn’t come into focus. Stupid clock. Then after the fourth blink, she blurred her eyes and was able to make out eight-twelve. Oh no! How many times had she hit the stupid snooze? She made her way onto her elbow.
Her head pounded.
Okay. How much time did she have?
Her
brain had trouble figuring the simple math.
She played like it was eight-fifteen. Not too bad, she still had over three hours until the – Oh no! She jumped out of bed. Gij was coming at nine! She raced to her best kitchen friend, Mr. Coffee, and filled him up in record time, clicked the start button, then dashed to the shower.
Three cups of hot java and half her normal get-ready time later, a light tap sounded on her door. She hurried through the living room, but stopped short and put on her best what-took-you-so-long smile, then opened the door.
“Good morning, Samantha Danielle, you sure look beautiful.”
“Thank you, Gij. You’re rather dashing yourself.”
He nodded toward an oversized truck. “Shall we?”
Again he opened and closed her door. She hated having to climb in the thing, but at least it had a bar to step up onto. Without that, it might have been a struggle. “Where’d you get this monster?”
“I’ve had it for a while. It’s been in the shop. Got him out this morning. Traded that little rental for him.”
“I don’t understand. How’d your truck get from Las Vegas to here?”
“I moved back home last year when my Pappaw took sick. Sold my condo in Vegas.”
“Oh.” She leaned back. Once inside, it was actually quite roomy and plush. She clicked her seat belt. “So where are you living now?”
“Irving, same property I grew up on.”
During breakfast--or would it be called brunch--he sort of grilled her about her life. She told him some of it, but never took the bait on the more personal aspects of her history. Then much too soon, time came she needed to leave for her meeting. She didn’t want to go to work.
She wanted to call in and tell Joe to postpone his little conference, but Gij asked for the check and stood, so she quietly followed suit with no complaints. Didn’t want to give him a wrong impression.
He parked in the employee lot, hopped out and ran around the front of the beast and opened her door. He held his hand out and stabilized her climbing down out of his oversized truck.
She held on even after he relaxed his grip. “Suppose I could get an interview tonight before the game?”