“Do you like chips and guacamole? What type of salsa? Soft or crunchy tortillas?”
Her stomach growled. “I guess I’m hungrier than I thought. Um?.?.?. yes, mild, and soft.”
“Okay, the delivery app says twenty minutes.”
Tim placed his phone on the dash. “I’m sorry again for the nightmare tonight is shaping up to be.”
More silence elapsed.
“It wasn’t too bad until now.” Gemma drew her hoodie tighter around her body. “So, uh?.?.?. how did your wrap-up meeting with the lads go? Did you find enough people to invite to Scottsdale?”
Tim relaxed. “It went well. We have a short list of ten contenders, but it sounds like they’ll need a lot more than that. When I met with the team owner, he mentioned his plans to expand exhibition baseball to the East Coast.”
“Oh, that sounds exciting. Did the owner have anything else to say to you? I mean, it’s rather curious he wanted to meet with you alone.”
“Who, Mike? Nah, he’s already met with the rest of the guys, and he just wanted to touch base on a couple different ideas with me for the new team, the Bridgeport Banana Slugs, but we ended up spending most of the time talking about my teaching.”
Does that mean he wants Tim for the expansion team? Or for the Scottsdale team?
“He must really value you.”
“We’ve always had a good working relationship.” Tim stared out the window. “Mike is a good guy.”
Suddenly, a pair of headlights started to drive toward the car, temporarily blinding them as it slowed. They shaded their eyes.
Tim’s voice grew tense. “I’m just going to see who it is. Lock the doors just in case.”
Gemma nodded. Her pulse began to race as she touched the lock button with an audible click, wondering who it could be.
Chapter 19
As the engine turned off and the lights dimmed, Gemma let out a sigh of relief as she watched Tim clap a guy in a neon-green satin bomber jacket on the back.
Tim circled back to the driver’s side door and she clicked the unlock button. “It’s my pal Frank. He offered to wait with us until the tow truck arrives. I don’t want to cancel the request. I’d rather try and get a new battery now. The good news is that if there’s a problem, Frank can give us a jump.”
She exhaled. “What a relief. I’ll get out and come meet him properly.”
“No, it’s freezing out there. He’ll be fine if you just wave through the window. I’ll introduce you to him for real after we’re squared away.”
“Are you sure?” She glanced out the window. “I don’t want to be rude.”
“Positive. Frank would say the same thing.”
“Do you need a jacket?”
“I have one in the back seat.” Tim slid open the back door and retrieved his own matching neon-green jacket. “If you need anything, just yell, or text me. I’ll just be right over there. Is there anything else I can get you? Blanket? Water?”
“No, just keep Frank company.”
“Will do.” Pecking Gemma on the forehead, he slipped the garment on and closed the doors.
Alone, Gemma unlocked her mobile screen and noticed a red number one glowing under voicemails. She frowned, wondering why she hadn’t heard her mobile go off earlier. Tapping the mailbox, she clicked the speaker button and let the message play aloud.
“Hello, this message is for Gemma MacLeod. My name is Ryan Gilcrest. I’m one of the casting directors with the Connected Hearts Network and I was hoping that you might be able to give me a call back at this number as soon as you get this to discuss yourCupid’s Arrowapplication. It’s about eight-ten. I’ll be in my office until nine. If you don’t reach me tonight, leave a message and I’ll get back to you on Monday. Thanks!”
Grabbing her mobile, she looked at the time. It was eight forty. If she called Ryan back now, she might still be able to catch him! She clicked on the number in the voicemail.
Ring. Ring. Ring.
