I consider Mike’s words as we finish our beers and move on to talk of baseball and lighter topics. He’s right about all of it. I do miss the game. I should be more involved. It’s not just the coaching staff that needs help—the front office does too. I’m not as involved as I should be in the team because I’ve been scared to fully commit to baseball again. Maybe that’s exactly what I need to do. Recommit to the thing I loved before I met Taylor, and then once I’ve found my footing again, I can chase after my wife.
I’ve already made the first move without consciously knowing it. Getting Preston Fields to Nashville moved her one degree closer to my world since he’s dating her best friend. NowI just need to prove to her we are meant to be together and make it impossible for her to believe this separation was anything more than a temporary speed-bump in our relationship.
“You’ve got a deal.” Holding my hand out to Mike, I wait for him to shake on it. Others can deal with the money and the logistics of getting him out of his contract with Tampa and into the role as the manager for the Music City Troubadours. My job here is done.
“Nice doing business with you,” he says with a smirk, knowing he got the best of me in this negotiation. But having Mike in my corner will only work in my favor.
I leave the bar feeling lighter than I have in a while. My purpose is clear, the path laid out in front of me. For the first time since hearing Taylor’s voice again last year, I feel like there might be a chance for us. It’s only a matter of time before we come face to face again, and when that happens I’ll let the chips fall where they may.
When that happens, I’ll know if she feels the same as me.
Present Day
Thank god for this phone call. Tensions were high—too high—and I need to remember why this needs to be nothing more than a dinner between colleagues. It was too easy to fall into old habits and get lost in Grant.
“Taylor, are you listening to me?” my assistant’s annoyed voice interrupts my rogue inner diatribe.
Clearing my throat, I step deeper into Grant’s living room. “Sorry, Allie. What were you saying?”
“Where are you?” Her inquisitive tone puts me on edge. I love my assistant, but she sees too much sometimes.
I look back at Grant on the patio, trying to decide how much information to divulge. Part of me wants to keep this a secret, protective of any time I get to spend with Grant for reasons I don’t have any desire to delve into at the moment. “I’m at dinner.”
“Oh, okay. Well the brand deal with Cameron is on the fritz. We need you in LA to handle it.”
Shit, that’s one of the biggest brand deals we’ve worked on for one of our athletes. I thought it was all a done deal which is why it didn’t matter if I was in Nashville for an extended period of time this visit.
“Fuck, okay.” I sigh, already thinking through the logisticsand making a plan. “I’m with Grant now, so I’ll talk to him about heading back for a few days. The press conference today was a success, so Mary’s team should be okay with the next steps. We’re lining up the horse patrol night, so I’d like to be back for that, but I can help remotely if needed.”
“Rewind. You’re at dinner with Grant?” she shouts, excitedly.
“Yes.” I hiss as if he can hear her. So much for keeping this a secret. I pinch the bridge of my nose at my stupidity.
“Eeep,” she squeals, and I have to pull my phone away from my ear at the high pitch of her voice. “Oh my god, tell me everything.”
“Allie, you’re fangirling.”
“Of course, I’m fangirling. Have you seen the man?”
Yes, I’ve seen him. When I saw his slutty little chain under his dress shirt, I almost jumped him. Seeing the gold against his tan skin and the smattering of chest hair was almost my undoing. Why must this man be so damn attractive? He was hot as hell when he was in his twenties, but Grant at almost forty? It should be a crime against humanity how sinfully delicious he is. Gone were the days of him in a T-shirt and jeans. In their place was a suited Adonis that had me begging to say “yes, sir.” I needed to stop that train immediately. It could not leave the station. Once it did, I had no hope of returning back to safe ground.
“He was on the forty under forty list multiple times and has been named one of the sexiest men alive. I know you saw that cover. I saw it on your desk one day.”
Ugh, I did. It was three years ago after the fated phone call asking to borrow the Long Caye house while Ivory was trapped in Belize. As if the universe knew I was already down from hearing his voice for the first time in five years, they put him in fuckingPeople Magazineas one of the sexiest men alive and the most eligible bachelors. They must not have done much digging because marriage certificates are public records and there’s no divorce on file.
“He’s just a guy,” I say, trying to convince myself just as much as I am her.
“Sure. A very hot, very rich, very suckable guy.”
“Allie Marie!” I choke.
“Oh come on, don’t tell me you haven’t noticed. Plus, you’ve been working closely with him now that you’re consulting on the Bennett scandal.”
“We’re not working that closely together.”
“Yeah? Then why are you having dinner with him?”
Because I’m helpless when it comes to him.
