This is only my second time seeing him up close. In the last meeting, he looked tense.
Today, he looks tired.
Neither day he looked happy.
My heart beats faster, anxious desire rabbiting in my chest. What would it take to make him happy? I want to do that, whatever it is.
“I’m so sorry,” I whisper. A good start. “I wanted to catch you real quick to talk about a promo idea. And you’ve been hard to get ameeting with.”
“We’re a week away from spring training, Polly.”
“Molly.”
“Sorry.” He says it like he’s not, though. Like he couldn’t care less what my name is and I’m in his way.
Which is true, but he’s blocking the door, so he’s also in my way.
Instead of trying to push past him, I settle my hips against the edge of his desk.
His gaze drops to where my body is resting.
Heat ignites low in my belly, which is deeply inconvenient. He doesn’t even know my name.He doesn’t deserve an adoring crush, Molly.
But that stare is heavy, and it sucks all the oxygen out of his quiet office.
Nobody else is around. I knew he was working out in the gym, so I stayed late and waited for him to circle back to his office.
I’m committed to helping this man, even if he doesn’t want it.
“Mr. Rosehill?—”
“Jeff.”
“Sorry?”
“My name is Jeff. Or Rosie, in certain situations.”
“This isn’t one of those situations.” It’s a guess, but I know I’m right.
“No.”
“I know I’m young, but I’m not inexperienced.I’ve worked in media and online marketing since my first year of college.”
“And how many years ago was that?”
“Four.”
“Okay, Millie. Listen, I’ve been a coach in this league for more than a decade. I played for almost twenty years before that. I’ve had all the ups and downs. I know you have some eager enthusiasm to get butts in seats, and there are a lot of people in the organization who can and will help you with that. But my entire focus right now is on getting a team on the field who won’t embarrass those butts who do show up. So if you wouldn’t mind?—”
“Molly,” I say gently. “Please don’t disrespect me by pretending you don’t know my name. You famously have the best memory in the league, so the first misnaming worked to put me on edge. The second one revealed itself, though.”
He swears under his breath. “Great. You’re fucking smart as well as being annoying.”
I smile. “I will take that as a compliment.”
That surprises him. He blinks and looks at me, really looks at me. And there’s something in his gaze, something I can’t name and don’t recognize exactly, but it feels… familiar. It feels like Ishouldknow what this is, this spark of recognition as he holds my attention.
Finally, he breaks the eye contact and scrubs his hands over his face. “What do you want, MollyHenderson?”
