They chatted for a few more seconds and then ended the call. She spun in her chair, her arms over her head expecting to celebrate with Ashley, only to find Julia was the one who had come in. She had a Cheshire cat smile and her hands were clasped in front of her. “Rev-Aide is our new sponsor?”
“No contracts have been signed,” Sheila cautioned. She splayed her hands on her desk, wondering how many of the notes Julia had read while her back was turned.
“And the mascot?” she prompted.
Sheila glanced down at the dirty folder, which was thankfully closed. “Will be announced at the first round of tryouts.” She couldn’t risk the info leaking even three minutes before the image went up on the big screen. She smiled. “Thanks, though, for all you’ve done to spread the word. The guy at Rev-Aide already knew about the competition, and he’s in Oregon. That made the conversation that much easier for me.”
Julia lifted her chin. “You’re welcome. Oh, there’s something at the front desk for you. They couldn’t get through on your line, so they asked me to let you know.”
“Thanks.” Sheila mentally waved off the urgency. She constantly received packages at work. It was probably the mock-ups for one of their promotional items.
Julia left just as Ashley was coming back in. She had half a bagel smothered in cream cheese in her hand. Sheila filled her in on the conversation with Greg.
Ashley nibbled at her breakfast. “Do you think they’ll go for it?”
“I think so. He sounded optimistic. I thinkhewants to; it’ll just come down to the numbers.” She chewed on the inside of her cheek. Maybe she should have gone with half the budget instead of two-thirds. Of course, Greg had no idea what their budget was or that the smaller number had been on the table. “He might come back with a counteroffer.”
“Then we look at that.” Ashley lifted a shoulder. She polished off her breakfast, and they went back to work. “The grounds crew is worried about the stage on the grass.” She scanned her screen.
“The grounds crew is always worried about the grass. Heaven forbid we disrupt the mowing schedule or put a divot in the outfield.” Okay, a divot would be bad. She didn’t want Brock tripping as he tracked a fly ball. “Send a note to the company we’re renting from and ask that they provide some sort of protection for the field. Plywood sheets might work. Check with the grounds crew, though, before you send it off.”
Ashley nodded.
There was a knock at the now wide-open door, and Candace stood there with a gift wrapped in Redrocks wrapping paper. “I know you’re busy, so I thought I’d bring this up.” She laid the gift on Sheila’s desk.
“What is it?”
Candace lifted both her hands. “It came wrapped, so I don’t know.”
Sheila lifted it and heard things shift inside. Ashley was now watching with as much interest as Candace. She carefully lifted a corner and then tore the paper off to reveal a chess set. She laughed. Across the top of the box was the word “Rematch.” A swarm of butterflies flew through her stomach and made her skin tingle.
“Since when do you play chess?” asked Ashley.
“Since last Saturday.” Sheila ran her fingers over the top of the box. “Brock taught me.”
She felt her ears grow warm with embarrassment. Keeping her and Brock on the DL was important for many reasons. She didn’t want the whole organization to know about them in case things didn’t work out. Call it her marketing brain butting into the relationship, but she preferred to avoid labeling what they had until they decided on a label together. Since they were several dates away fromthatconversation—they hadn’t even kissed yet—it was better to fly under the radar.
Candace giggled. “You’reblushing, which explains whyhewas blushing when he dropped this off.”
Sheila set the box on her desk, her eyes going back and forth between the two women who were pleading for information. “This was really sweet of him, but it was just a date.” Using more willpower than a chocoholic on a carb fast, she pulled her hands off the gift and threw away the wrapping paper. “I have several phone calls to make.”
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Ashley and Candace exchange disappointed shrugs. Just as Candace was about to leave, Sheila stopped her. “Please don’t say anything about this.” She nodded to the chess set. “I’d like to keep it confidential.”
Candace cocked her hip. “My middle name is confidential.”
Sheila smiled. “Thanks. I knew I could trust you.” She could. Candace was one of the few people who didn’t have a wagging tongue. She probably knew all sorts of secrets.
When they were alone, Ashley rounded on her. “We are going out to lunch and you are telling me everything,” she hissed.
Sheila laughed. “I was planning on it.”
“Good.”
The rest of the morning flew by, and before she knew it, Sheila had recounted every minute of her date with Brock. “The more I talk about him, the more I like him. He justsoundsgood.”
“I noticed.” Ashley sipped her diet soda. “Plus, he’s yummy.”
“I know!” Sheila sighed happily, thinking about the way Brock’s sleeves stretched across his muscles. His strong arms were so very capable of holding her up. “I hardly thought about work the whole weekend.”
