Too Hot to Handle: A Boys of Summer Novel (6 page)

More confused than ever, she dropped the curtain and made her way to bed. She had to get some sleep. She’d spoken truthfully when she said she didn’t know what to expect in New Jersey, and she needed a clear head to deal with whatever the team sent her way.

And whatever else Jake had in store.

When she arrived at the ball field the next morning, Nikki saw a group of sullen players reluctantly jogging the bases. The others were taking extra batting practice, while the pitchers worked closely with the coach.

Pete,
she thought gratefully. They say you can’t teach an old dog new tricks, but he showed how meaningless that proverb was. The older man was encouraging his team and supporting her, promising them that the discipline and additional work would help them win. She’d gotten lucky with him as the head coach. At least she wasn’t fighting everyone.

Fetching a cup of coffee, she walked slowly toward the offices, hiding a yawn. She hadn’t gotten much sleep the night before; the room seemed too hot, too close, and her body was tense from lack of release. She’d lain awake for hours, staring into the darkness of the hotel room, tossing and turning and trying to ignore the green light of the digital clock. She tried reading, then watching TV; nothing helped. Her body craved a man, and Jake was the one she wanted.

The printer, she noticed, was out of paper, and the admin was nowhere to be seen. Venturing to the closet in her office for a new ream, she opened the door and a deluge of baseballs tumbled onto the floor.

There must have been hundreds of them. Nikki stared in stunned silence as the white orbs bounced and rolled in every possible direction. She tried to close the door, but they continued to pour onto the floor like a keg of Morton’s salt until finally, after what seemed like an eternity, the shelves were empty except for office supplies.

Chagrined, she realized this was another communication from the team. Jake had been right when he told her that just because she was a woman, she wasn’t protected from their practical jokes.

Standing ankle-deep in baseballs, she got the message.

She had just started cleaning up the mess when Jake walked in. His lazy smile turned into a grin as he surveyed her on her hands and knees, scooping up the evasive orbs.

“Don’t say a word,” she warned, surprised by the awareness she felt in her body upon seeing him. Her pulse quickened and she became self-conscious of her position. “I haven’t had my coffee yet. It could definitely get ugly.”

“Need some help?” The note of sympathy in his voice was masked by barely restrained laughter.

“No.” Straightening, she gestured to her surroundings. Her office looked like a ball pit in a children’s playground. “I know you have to maintain a relationship with the team. It’s not going to do you any good for them to see you consorting with the enemy.”

“They’re just acting out.” Jake shrugged and began to assist in her efforts whether she wanted him to or not. “It will blow over.”

Fetching a box from the closet, she scooped up as many balls as she could and tossed them inside. “I do believe things will change once they see some results. Have you ever noticed how differently some teams are treated by the umpires than others?”

Jake dumped a handful of balls inside and nodded. “Yes. Some guys like Cliff Lee, Derek Jeter, they get the calls. The umps know their reputation and give them the benefit of the doubt.”

“Whereas the Sonics are considered bullies, and are treated as such.” Nikki deposited a batch of the baseballs into a metal cylinder. “That’s what I’m hoping they’ll see,” she continued. “Not only does the game get easier when you are a team that’s respected, but even the media treats you differently. And then the fans follow suit.”

“You don’t have to convince me. I’m a believer.” Jake put the last of the balls into the rubbish bin, and his eyes met hers. His smile was slow and deliciously lazy, and his hand brushed the hair on the side of her neck.

“I had a great time last night,” he said.

It was back. The sexual tension was, if anything, worse now. That kiss was a prelude to what the sex would be like.

With him.

“Yeah, it was fun.” The wall she was trying to build between them had developed a chink. She wasn’t prepared to feel an even deeper attraction, and it made what she had to say that much harder. “We had a good time. Let’s leave it at that.”

“What are you talking about?” Jake looked amused.

She took a deep breath. “I don’t think we should see each other again.”

“Why not?” A knowing smile danced on his face. He didn’t look at all surprised, as if expecting her reaction.

That infuriated her. Thankfully, her years of PR work had trained her to keep her emotions in check. “It’s the perfect time to begin fresh,” she said practically. “I am leaving tomorrow to go back to New Jersey, you and the team will follow in a couple of days. We can take a break from each other, recalibrate, and start over as teammates.”

The blue eyes twinkled. “Seriously? Teammates?”

Her eyes narrowed. “I thought if we got together, did the deed, we could then move on and work together without this tension between us. But that didn’t happen, so I think it’s best to reframe this relationship.”

There. That sounded good. Detached and professional. But the look on his face dashed those hopes.

“ ‘Reframe the relationsh
ip’?” He couldn’t hide a chuckle as he took a step even closer. “Do you honestly think that would work? If it’s like this now, what do you think would happen once we, as you said, did the deed? When we know how good we could be together?”

Nikki glared at him. “This isn’t funny!”

“No, it isn’t,” he agreed. He tipped her face up to his, his hand slipping dangerously into her hair. Her toes curled in her high-heeled pumps and her heart thudded at his nearness. “Do you really think we can ignore what’s happening between us?”

He was going to kiss her. And God help her, she was going to let him. Her eyes started to close as he pulled her up against him, his hand sliding deliciously into the small of her back. He lowered his head, but before his lips met hers, Pete entered the room, followed by John Palmer and Jeffrey Caine, the Sonics’ owner. Quickly, he let her go and stepped back.

“Ms. Case,” Jeffrey began. “Do you have a few minutes? I want to discuss a few things with you.” His eyes shifted to Jake as if sensing the current between them, and his expression changed to a frown. “Is everything all right here?”

Nikki moved her chair in front of the trash can of baseballs. “Everything’s fine,” she said, positioning herself so its contents would not be revealed.

“I was just going,” Jake said as his eyes met hers, and she saw a promise in them.
This isn’t over. Not by a long shot.
He left the room, closing the door behind him.

Nikki exhaled the breath she didn’t know she’d been holding.

“So Ms. Case, why was the team wearing those ridiculous wigs?” John asked, not even bothering to hide a smirk.

“It was just a prank,” she explained. “This team has a reputation for pulling practical jokes.”

Jeffrey looked like he was about to burst. His face was flushed red, and his nostrils were as wide as the Holland Tunnel. “But this is exactly opposite of what we planned! I don’t want the Sonics portrayed as jokesters. I want us to be seen as a first-rate team.” He slammed his fist on the desk.

She had to reposition her chair again to hide the bin full of baseballs. “I think we can use this to our advantage,” she said smoothly, handing him a folder. “Here is my press release regarding the incident.”

“Ms. Case,” John said condescend
ingly, “I don’t think a press release is going to help.” He seemed more than a little pleased to see her squirm, but she managed to keep her cool.

“I think this one will. I’m focusing on the team’s good nature. Pranking is actually a very healthy way to release stress, and for the team to bond as a cohesive unit. And everyone in America loves a good joke. I’m focusing on the angle that this team is working and playing harder than ever, using social media and YouTube to get additional exposure.”

Jeffrey perused the sheaf of papers, then looked up and gave her a look of undisguised admiration. “This is good. John, if you are interviewed, you should take the same stance. This could work out well for us. I really like the tone of this article. But there are a couple more things we should consider…”

Nikki hid a sigh of relief as Jeffrey and Pete discussed their strategy. John had stormed out of the room, obviously annoyed. She didn’t care. It had taken her days to come up with a way out of this mess, but when she realized that even she thought the wigs were funny, maybe so would everyone else.

“Ms. Case.” Jeffrey paused in his deliberations and stared at something behind her. “Why is your trash can full of baseballs?”

“Ah, I’m thinking to use them in a photo shoot,” she managed. “Maybe have Ryan toss the ball in the air, and then crack the hell out of it while doing his interview. Thought it would give an interesting visual.”

She never was a good liar, but to her disbelief, Pete and Jeffrey nodded together in approval.

“Great idea,” Jeffrey said, picking up one of the baseballs. “I love that.” Nikki wasn’t sure, but she thought Pete winked at her. Jeffrey was oblivious. “What else have you got?”

Leaning down to open her filing cabinet, she gasped when she looked inside. In addition to the folders, notepads, and pens, two beady eyes stared back at her and a row of jagged teeth lined the grin of the baby croc.

“I’ll just…get you the other releases later.” Quickly she closed the door with her foot, her heart beating as if trying to escape from her body. “I’m still working on them.”

“That’s fine,” Jeffrey said, placing the other folder on her desk and turning to leave. With his hand on the door, he glanced back at her with a sincere smile. “I’m really pleased with your efforts. I know it’s been a tough week for you, and this team can be a little rough around the edges. None of the other PR reps worked out for us. But I think the boys are beginning to cooperate with you.”

He left her office and she nearly collapsed on the desk. But Pete remained, a twinkle in his bright blue eyes.

“Crocodile?”

Incredulous, she nodded. Pete grinned, blew a huge pink bubble, and then snapped it.

“I’ll have a man come in and get rid of it.” His smile turned into a grin. “Consider yourself lucky. The last PR rep got tarantulas in her powder room.”

Nikki shuddered, reminding herself to use the public bathroom at the end of the hall.

“You boys need to treat the little lady a little better than you have been.” Pete masticated his gum as he stood in front of the team, his eyes moving from one player to the next to make sure they understood his message.

“Why, did she go and tell on us?” Brian McCauley swung his bat in disgust as he gazed toward the office from which Jeffrey had just exited.

“She’s a royal pain in the ass,” Ryan said hotly as he stretched his hamstrings.

Pete kicked at the dirt. “She covered for you. Jeffrey saw the baseballs and she made up a story about using them in the media clip for visual support.”

“No shit.” Ryan appeared shocked, and his eyes met Jake’s. “I thought for sure she was a Goody Two-shoes who would rat us out.”

“Nope,” Pete said again. “In fact, she found your little present in her filing cabinet when Caine was in the office. Could’ve created a hell of a ruckus if she had reacted and Jeffrey found out. But cool as a cucumber, she just slid the door shut and told him she’d give him the press releases later.”

This time the players were even more astonished. Not a man could speak.

“There’s more.” Pete chewed his gum contentedly. “Jeffrey wasn’t real happy about that little stunt with the wigs. But instead of feeding into that, Nikki wrote a press release praising you clowns for your ability to have fun and not take things too seriously. Jeffrey loved it.”

Ryan looked dumbfounded, and Brian appeared completely bewildered. The uptight Ms. Case had been given an opportunity from heaven to get even and she hadn’t taken it. They were stunned.

Only Jake didn’t look surprised. He and Chase exchanged a glance and he shrugged, as if expecting nothing different. The other ballplayers appeared a little embarrassed when they realized their enemy had some real class.

“So I think from now on you boys need to consider what you’re doing. Nikki Case is trying to help this team. I know y’all don’t like some of the rules, but you got to hand it to her. She’s got grace under pressure. And that might be just what we need.”