“Cade! What a nice surprise. I thought you’d be on your way to California with the Pilots. It’s going to be a fun series.”
“Sitting out this series.” I extend my hand. “Thanks for meeting me on such short notice.”
To my astonishment, Winston’s office is on the first floor. It’s not what I expected from a place that screams executive status from the tile to the fresh air in the vents. The interior of his office is grounded too, with framed photos of his family on the bookshelves. There’s no ego wall or oversized throne. The view of the parking lot through normal-sized windows makes him feel so much more human.
“Your office is so close to the door.”
“Easier to greet everyone when I can pop my head out the doorway.” Offering me a room-temperature water bottle, he takes a seat. “I’m guessing this is about your recent contract switch to Andy. Is everything going smoothly?”
My nod is immediate. Andy’s as good as Shay promised. His charming demeanor hides a fire that I’m sure will be great when it comes to contract negotiations.
I may not understand salary arbitration, but he does.
“He’s great. I’m actually here to talk about Shay.”
Genuine sadness fills Winston’s eyes. “I was very sorry to hear about her leaving Permian. It was such a surprise. Trevor was pretty upset about the whole thing when he let me know.”
Just hearing his name pisses me off. “Did he tell you why she quit?
“Trevor mentioned she took the loss of Garrett Blane hard. I still remember my first big loss. To this day, it still haunts me.” He folds his hands on the desk. “How’s she doing?”
I force myself not to think about her puffy, red-rimmed eyes. Or the way she longingly looks at her phone that has been unusually quiet. “Not well, and I want to discuss the real reason she quit because it has nothing to do with Garrett.”
Winston’s brow arches. “Does she know you’re here?”
Averting my eyes, I shake my head. “She didn’t want me to come.”
After showing up on her doorstep with all the flowers I could carry, she fell asleep in my arms, worn out from crying. I had half a mind to drive to Permian and speak to Trevor myself. That desperation only slightly faded when she told me she’s at peace about her decision to quit. It may have been impulsive, but she knows it was the right thing to do. Losing her clients is the hardest part.
But I promised not to speak to Trevor, so I’m talking to Winston.
I leap out of the leather seat when the door bursts open behind me and bangs against the wall. Standing in the doorway is Andy, looking frazzled in his wrinkled dress shirt.
“Sorry I’m late,” he says, straightening his tie. “I brought backup.”
Four familiar faces smile at me from behind him. Holly skips into the spacious office first, with Brett, Lionel, and Victoria behind her. They look like they’re ready to go to war as they stand behind me.
I’m not sure what made me call my agent as I sped to Permian to meet with Winston, but he dove into action and reached out to the people who spent the last year and a half with Shay. The people who love her.
Winston’s eyes shift nervously between the six of us. “Can someone please explain what’s going on?”
Taking a deep breath, I lean into the support of the people around me and dive in.
“We want to discuss the blatant discrimination Trevor Caldwell exhibited during his time working with Shaylene Turner. Starting with how he never submitted her letter of intent for the promotion.”
Sizzling bacon is my third favorite sound. The second is the crack of a bat making perfect contact with a baseball. But number one will forever be Shay’s laugh, soft and surprised, like it caught her off guard.
Which is exactly what fills my ears when she walks into the kitchen.
The only thing covering her body is the blue button-down I stripped out of when I got back from Permian. It looks way better on her. Partially buttoned, sleeves rolled to the elbow, and falling to the middle of her strong thighs.
“Not that I don’t enjoy a nice strip of crispy bacon, but I’m still confused about why you’re here when your team is in California for one of the most anticipated series of the season.”
Clicking the oven light on, I check on the bacon. “I thought you’d be happier to see me.”
Rolling her eyes, she sets her laptop on the counter. “Of course I am, but I know what you’re doing.”
I shrug. “Making my girlfriend breakfast for dinner before we watchLegally Blondein bed until she falls asleep on my lap? You’re right. That’s exactly what I’m doing.”
