At first, I thought it was crazy and that he was talking out of his ass. However, as the night wore on and she kept glancing my way but didn’t approach me, I was shocked and relieved. It’s not her blond hair that I imagined splayed out on my pillow. Instead, it’s a brunette, the same one, in fact, who has had me in knots since the first night I laid eyes on her. I considered that I just needed to get laid, but as I took in the woman with long blond hair and the tight little body, I felt nothing. No stirring of desire below the belt, and that’s when I realized that Parker had broken me. I need to get her out of my system so I can move on.
“You coming, Bailey?” Cameron asks.
Shaking out of my Parker-induced fog, I see he’s now standing outside of the elevator holding the door for me. “Yeah. Zoned out there for a minute.”
“I get it. New team, new teammates, but we’re a chill group,” he assures me. “Coach Drummond is damn good at what he does.”
“Helps to have the talent to back that up.” I nod in agreement as we make our way down the hall.
“That it does.” He turns to face me, pushing the door open with his back. “Welcome to the Blaze, Bailey,” he says, before turning and walking into the room.
I catch the door with my hand as my eyes scan the room. I immediately spot Sonny, Wade, and Tucker, my fellow Tomahawks, or should I say former Tomahawks who were traded with me. There’s a seat left next to Wade, who is a third baseman. Sonny and Tucker are a part of the farm team and are both outfielders. I’m surprised they’re here today, but maybe Coach Drummond wanted to give them an official welcome. The farm team is just as important as the Blaze professional team. If one of us gets hurt, they’re our backup. I like that he included them. It says a lot about him as a coach.
“Hey,” I say to Wade. I look past him to nod at Sonny and Tucker. They’re both twenty-one and right out of college. That’s just two years younger than me, but it seems like a lifetime ago after two years in the majors. Their eyes are wide as they take in the room. I can remember being them. I was one of the lucky ones who went straight to the professional team, but that didn’t make it any less overwhelming. I was rubbing elbows with some of my favorite players because I was suddenly one of them. Talk about dreams coming true. It’s a moment I will never forget, and part of the reason I was so upset when I was traded. However, the Blaze is a solid team, and if I was going to be traded, I’m glad it was to here.
Coach Drummond stands in front of the room, and we all go quiet. “Welcome. We have some new faces and plenty of old,” he greets us. “I’m not going to bore you with strategies. Today is informal and a way for everyone to meet the new members of the Blaze. When I call out your name, stand up.”
I feel like I’m back in high school, and I’m the new kid. However, I can admit that bringing the new people into the fold, making them feel as if they are a part of this team is a good move on Coach’s part. Hell, he even included Sonny and Tucker, knowing they're on the farm team. Something inside me eases just a little more. I love the Tomahawks, but maybe this move is going to be what I needed.
Parker pops into my head, and I shake off the thought. The last thing I need is to get lost in my thoughts of that woman while I’m surrounded by my new teammates. Turning my focus back to Coach, he ends his pep talk, and Drew Milton, the Blaze General Manager, steps up.
“Welcome.” He smiles. “I’ll leave all the pep talks to Coach Drummond. I’ll start by saying I’m glad that you’re here, and I’m looking forward to an amazing season.” Everyone in the room cheers and claps, including me. Drew raises his hand, telling us to pipe down, and as soon as we do, the door opens with a loud clink, and all heads turn.
My mouth falls open when I see it’s her. It’s Parker. She’s dressed in a pair of leggings and a sweater that falls just above her knee, and her hair is cascading in curls down her back. What in the hell is she doing here?
“Ah, there she is.” Drew smiles at her. She hands him a stack of papers. “Most of you know my niece Parker,” Drew introduces.
“My sister-in-law!” is called out, and I turn in time to see Cameron Taylor smile and wink at her.
His sister-in-law?
“What’s up with you?” Wade Hoffman, my fellow Tomahawk that was a part of my multiplayer trade, asks.
“That’s the girl.”
“What?” He turns to look at Parker.
“The girl who keeps turning me down at every turn. That’s her.” I nod toward where Parker still stands at the front of the room, talking to Drew and Coach Drummond. I’d told the guys about her when we were at Shorty’s the other night. I had a few beers and ended up spilling my beans about the beauty who continues to baffle me.
“Hold on. Drew Milton’s niece is the girl you’ve been chasing?” Wade asks.
“I haven’t been chasing her.” Lies. Lies. Lies. I have been chasing her, and I don’t understand why I can’t just let it go. She clearly isn’t willing to give in to what her body wants, so I should move on. However, no matter how many times I tell myself this exact thing, I keep going back to that coffee shop to hopefully get a glimpse of her.
Today is the first time I’ve seen her since that day at Cup of Joe, and like a jolt to my system, she’s as beautiful as ever. I wish I could explain this intense pull I have toward her. And the chemistry we have, it’s palpable.
“Dude, she’s out of your league,” Sonny chimes in.
“Fuck off,” I grumble. “I could have her if I wanted her.” More lies. She’s resisting me.
“Keep telling yourself that, buddy.” Sonny laughs.
“You’re just pissed off someone finally told you no,” Tucker taunts.
He’s not wrong. “She will be mine.” The words are out of my mouth without thought. The truth is, that’s not the truth. It’s a lie. I do want her. I’m finding that I want her more than even I first realized, but she’s not budging. Hell, she’s been avoiding one of her favorite spots just to keep from seeing me. Sure, I don’t know that for certain, but I’ve spent a hell of a lot of time at Cup of Joe, and I’ve only seen her the one time.
“I call bullshit,” Tucker fires back.
“Boys, I sense a wager,” Sonny says, rubbing his hands together.
“No wager. It will be satisfaction enough to prove you assholes wrong.” Not only that, but if I end up failing, I’m not at the losing end of a bet. Besides, I can’t help but think that Parker deserves better than some bet. “I wrote the playbook, boys. Trust me, Parker will be screaming my name before opening day.”
“He’s afraid he’s going to lose,” Sonny quips.
“Fuck off,” I say, my eyes going to the front of the room, once again landing on Parker.
“You’ve got it bad, Bailey,” Wade says.
I don’t bother to reply. We both know I don’t chase, and I barely know this woman. I’ve had my hands all over her and my tongue in her mouth, but I don’t even know her last name. Wait. Cameron said she was his sister-in-law. Pulling my phone out of my pocket, I google Cameron Taylor and his wife. I click on the first article, and my mouth drops open. Parker is Parker Monroe. As in Easton Monroe’s middle daughter, according to this article. My girl, well, she’s not mine, but you know what I mean. She’s baseball royalty.