Me:Seriously.
Me:Thank you for the ride home. And for making the trip last night. And for the rest of last night. And this morning. And everything.
Silas:It was all my pleasure, Slugger.
Silas:And just the beginning.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
SILAS
“Photographers are over there,”Kent said as we settled into the bleachers at the softball field.
I nodded, holding back a groan. We’d always planned to attend a softball game to show support for the team we sponsored, and it was a given that we’d pose for pictures later, but I didn’t think a photographer would be on the sidelines documenting our every damn move.
We’d only brought Nate and Adrian with us. Kent had wanted the entire team here since they had a day off, but I told him that would just make us all a spectacle and not only take attention away from the girls, but distract them. Even though a few of them kept looking in the stands at us anyway.
No matter how many times I’d repeat to myself that PR was part of the deal of any team, and being a young organization, we needed to trade on whatever popularity we had, I was fucking exhausted. I just wanted to do my job without feeling like a show pony all the damn time.
While everyone was glancing back at us, I was scanning the crowd for Rachel. I’d wanted to surprise her, and even though it had only been a week since the last time I’d seen her, the needto see her again was driving me out of my mind even worse than before.
Before, I’d wanted to see her but hadn’t thought I could have her, so I’d tried to view any distance between us as a good thing. Now that I did have her, I wanted her all the time. But work for both of us and this stupid secret thing we had to go along with for now made that more difficult than it ever should have been.
I’d been watching Taylor since we’d come. Poor kid didn’t know how to react to me when their coach brought us over before the game to say hello. I couldn’t blame her as I was also clueless about what to do. I’d met the team before but couldn’t act like I knew her better than the rest of the girls, and she probably was scared to let on that she knew me better too.
“The girls are good,” Nate noted as he leaned forward.
“They are,” I agreed. Nate wasn’t exactly warm toward me, but he’d stopped snapping back whenever I made a comment or suggestion. We’d never had words, but I did give the team an overall talk about appreciating their cooperation in avoiding any defiance or disrespect since I wouldn’t tolerate that, at all.
None of the guys were like that, but Nate had had the decency to look away, most likely knowing that I was speaking directly to him. I wouldn’t call him friendly, but it wasn’t a battle to talk to him after that.
“That was a good double play.” Adrian nodded toward Taylor as she was smoothing her hair back into her ponytail, and she slipped her hat back on.
She had a great arm, throwing bullets from her spot on third base. She’d swung at some far-off pitches, but once she made contact, the ball had sailed with a shit-ton of distance. Maybe I could help her get a better eye when she was at the plate, as long as no one was around.
Because any time I spent with Rachel and her sister would have to be in secret.
Fuck, I hated this.
“That’s one of the PR people, right?” Adrian pointed to where Rachel was settling onto a bench behind the team. She whispered to one of the parents next to her as they pointed toward us.
She was a field away, but my eyesight was perfect enough to spot her freeze up for a moment. Fumbling around Taylor was uncomfortable but not noticeable since I still hardly knew her.
But when Rachel came over, I’d have to watch myself. I couldn’t touch her or kiss her hello or head over to where she sat to be next to her.
If my gaze lingered on her, as it was doing now since the rest of the field and anyone else faded away once I’d spotted her, people would talk, and she couldn’t afford that now.
I leaned back and rubbed at my neck, the tension in my jaw giving me a pounding headache.
I reached into my pocket to grab my phone. I’d sent an email to my lawyer to see if the rule at Rachel’s job about fraternizing with clients was legal. Even though I knew that companies could make whatever rules they wanted, I hoped for a way to fight it if we ever got caught, and I was hoping the buzz I felt against my leg was good news.
The message on my screen was a text from Rachel instead.
Rachel:I didn’t expect you here today, Coach.
Me:I wanted to surprise you. Not that I can come near you right now.
Rachel:It’s a good surprise! But yeah, this blows.
