I whip around at the slow cadence, and when my eyes find the owner of the voice, I pause. Pro athletes knowing my name will never get old.
“Yes,” I choke out. “That’s me.”
“Hey, I’m Simon Godfrey. Second baseman for the Cleveland Dukes.”
Simon was not only a first-round pick, but he was called up to the majors during his first season. It’s nearly impossible to make it to the majors that quickly, but he did and was voted the starting second baseman for the All-Star Game.
“So, this is going to sound a little forward but”—Oh no. Please don’t hit on me—“I’ve been watching how you move for a while, and I’d love to talk.”
My brows lift. “About?”
“About having you as my agent. I’m looking for someone who matches the way I play. Smart, aggressive, and always three steps ahead. And everything I’ve heard about you shows me you’re that person. Garrett Blane was singing your praises today.”
A silent scream catches in my throat as I pull a business card from my pocket. “Then it sounds like we may be aligned. I’d love to have the opportunity to represent you.”
After exchanging contact information, he walks back to his friends, and I grip the edges of the sticky bar. If I get the intermediate agent position, I can add more clients to my roster. It feels crazy to have this much hope, but I think all my dreams are about to come true.
“Did I overhear a potential client conversation, Agent Shay? Looks like you’re getting a lot of attention tonight.”
Hazel eyes are sewed to my skin when I turn around, his chest only inches from mine. Too close, considering I’m technically on the clock and he’s my client, but his presence steadies me.
“Me?” I scoff. “I haven’t seen you without a woman trying to cling onto you all night. It doubles every time I look.”
Disgust spreads across his features. “No thanks. Attention from them means nothing to me.”
I lift my chin in the direction of the woman in gold with sun-bleached waves. She was Cade’s number one fan tonight, constantly trying to weasel her way into his orbit. “Why not her? She’s pretty.”
“Is she? Didn’t notice,” he murmurs, eyes locked on mine.
“Well, you should,” I say.
“I’d rather not. I like this viewsomuch more.”
The stupid butterflies in my belly come to life. I try to remind them what’s at stake, but the honesty radiating from Cade is enough to make me desperate to abandon my rules.
“By the way”—he steps back and I exhale—“Kenneth declared it was bedtime and corralled everyone into the minivan. They’re probably halfway to their hotel by now.”
Sadness washes over me. I know tonight was for work, but I wish I could’ve had a little more time with my friends.
Work always comes first, and tonight, I kind of hate it.
Recovering, I reach for my wallet. “Looks like my job is done for the night. Your people tapped out, which means I need to call acar—”
“Alone?”
I glare at him. “If this is your way of asking me if I’m going home with someone, you should be more subtle.”
“There’s nothing subtle about the way I feel about you, Shay.” He pulls his phone out of his back pocket and opens the rideshare app. “I’ll catch a ride with you. You’re staying at The Prescott on Arlington Avenue, right? Good, so am I.”
Sometimes I hate sharing a best friend.
I sigh. “Fine. Let me close the tab first.”
“Don’t worry.” Our hands brush. “I’m not going anywhere.”
For some reason, it sounds like a much deeper promise.
“What floor are you staying on?”
