He batted away her offer. “I wanted to experience this like a fan.”
She pointed to his souvenir cup and box of Cracker Jacks. “I think you’re doing a great job.”
He laughed. “I guess so. Did I ever tell you I played ball?”
She folded her hands in front of her. This was excellent news. A fan was a much easier sell than someone who didn’t have baseball laces on their heart. “No, I didn’t know that.”
“All through high school. I wasn’t good enough to play in college.” His gaze traveled over the field below. “This game gets inside of you, though.”
She nodded sagely and took a deep breath through her nose as if memorizing the scent of baseball. “I know what you mean.” An idea hit her. “Come with me. I think it’s time you were on the field again.” She started down the stairs, paused to wait for him, and when he caught up, she continued.
Her parents smiled as she went by, but they didn’t interrupt her. Mom winked. Sheila silently groaned. She probably thought Greg was the one who had kissed her lipstick off.Geez. She sent her mom a quick text:It wasn’t him.
Her mom sent back a winky-face emoji.
What did that mean? Probably that Mom didn’t believe her. Oh well. When Greg didn’t come to Sunday dinner, she’d know.
Security let them onto the dirt.
“There’s a whole different energy down here,” Greg commented. He rubbed his palms together.
“There is.” In the stands were concrete and plastic chairs, shouting, laughter, and the smell of hot dogs, onions, and sugar. Down here, the world was calmer, the grass cooler, the dirt absorbed footfalls, and you could hear someone talk without having to strain to hear their answer. The ball field looked huge, but it was only 350 feet deep. That was shorter than the 17th hole at Pebble Beach. The field was … friendly. Intimate, even. A whole different world separated by a fence, white lines in the dirt, and four bases.
Small lines appeared around Greg’s eyes as he smiled, almost involuntarily. It was like there was something in his soul that felt complete when it was down here; she could see it in his face as the years and stress of running a growing company faded away. He was definitely a baseball fan, but she needed him to be a Redrocks fan. A fan so devoted to the team that he was willing to shell out big bucks to be a part of the family.
“Let me introduce you to some of the main players around here.” She took Greg on a tour behind the scenes. They talked to David and the general manager, Jeff Hickman. While they chatted, she quietly checked for the owner and coach. Harper and Coach had left the building. That didn’t bode well. A rock formed in her gut. Heavy storm clouds couldn’t have put a bigger damper on her day.
Finally, she brought him around to Brock. “And this is our star for the day.” She brushed her hand down the back of Brock’s arm, unable to be close to him and not touch him. There were a lot of unanswered questions stirring in her head about him and Kelly. They’d have to wait until they were alone together to resolve the doubts that hung like a pop fly over the infield.
Julia popped over, a broad smile on her face. The bridge of her nose was red from the sun, and her eyes were hidden behind bug-shield glasses. She thrust her hand out. “Well, hello there, stranger. And who might you be?”
Sheila reared back at the way Julia thrust her chest out in front of her. Greg’s eyebrow lifted in amusement, though he dropped Julia’s hand faster than a fumbled third strike. Sheila made the introductions, leaving out the part about Rev-Aide’s possible sponsorship.
Brock stepped back to do an interview on camera with a contestant wearing a bacon costume and a superhero mask. He angled himself so he could brush his fingers against Sheila’s lower back without anyone noticing.
She noticed. She noticed big time. Butterflies filled her stomach and her mouth went dry, all while her body screamed at her to jump into his arms andcatch up.
“Well, I can see why you’re garnering all of our event coordinator’s time.” Julia looked Greg up and down like she was trying to find the sticker price on a sports car.
“Greg’s an old friend.” Sheila tried to downplay any rumors Julia cooked up in her cauldron of mischief. “We met a while back at a conference. In fact, we should find Ashley. I’m sure she’ll want to say hello.”
Greg nodded eagerly—knowing an out when he saw one and being willing to take it. “I’d like to see her too.”
“We’ll go through the locker room.” Sheila smiled to herself. It wouldn’t hurt to give the guy a tour of the facility on their way. The more he fell in love with the Redrocks, the easier the sell would be. This time, her trip through the dugout was completely platonic, and she was with a man she had no intention of getting to know outside of the office. That didn’t stop her entire body from singing praises in memory of the stolen moments with Brock. Heaven help her, she’d never be able to walk through the locker room without blushing.
She only wished that she didn’t a past that had her looking over her shoulder when it came to Brock. If Kelly was as in love with Brock as her mother claimed, then kissing him may have cost her a sister.
Chapter Fifteen
Brock
Brock watched as Sheila showed Greg down the dugout steps. They paused, and her arms moved about like she was giving him a tour. They both laughed.
Brock took two steps to follow, the need to interrupt their happy moment storming around inside of his chest like a territorial bull. The microphone slipped in his slick palm. He’d gone to the locker room with Sheila and had the best kiss of his life. Watching her walk in with someone else didn’t bring up healthy emotions. In fact, they were destructive emotions—as in, he wanted to deconstruct the guy.
He shook out his shoulders and rolled his head from side to side to relieve tension. Sheila wasn’t the type to go around throwing her lips at guys, was she?
He didn’t really know her all that well. They’d had one date. Which he’d had to convince her to go on.
