Worth the Trade (More Than A Game) (19 page)

“She’s been a part of this team since she was a little girl,” Javier said. “And she’s had her hand in running things since she finished college. But she kept it quiet. I think she’s been the real brains behind this team for some time.”

“No. She’s the heart of this team.” Marco watched her greet each of the players on her way to Javier’s office. She smiled and looked each man in the eye. She wasn’t like some owners who smiled and shook hands with their players only on signing day.

Javier acknowledged Marco’s comment with a small nod and moved toward her and their impending meeting.

“Good game tonight, Santiago.” She never used his first name in public. “You, too, Luis.”

“Thanks,” both players said at the same time.

“Damn,” Luis said as Hunter and Javier walked away to the manager’s office. “I never realized how hot she is.”

Marco gritted his teeth to keep from saying something he’d regret. Or slamming his catcher into a wall.

“But who am I kidding? Not like either of us would stand a chance.”

“You’re married.” Marco didn’t think he’d need to point that out.

“Yeah, but even if I wasn’t”—Luis shook his head, making little noises of appreciation and disappointment—“she’d never end up with guys like us. We’re just players. Latino players. Nah. She’ll end up marrying some rich, white bastard.”

Marco qualified on two out of the three. He could be considered rich, an eleven and a half million dollar contract was nothing to sneeze at. And since his father had abandoned his mother, leaving her pregnant and alone… He was indeed a bastard.

“So what do you think she’s worth? Probably billions,” Luis kept talking. And Marco was doing his damnedest to stay neutral.

“Her billions pay our salary.” He didn’t want to think about how much money she had. Not when it reminded him he wasn’t good enough for her. Not really. Yeah, she saw his worth as a player. But he wondered, not for the first time, what she was doing with him off the field.

Slumming? Flirting with her wild side before settling down with someone her daddy would have approved of? Maybe even arranged for her. He thought of Annabelle and her filthy rich husband. She’d been perfectly happy to sleep with a guy like Marco, but she’d never in a million years stoop to marry someone like him.

Was Hunter the same way? She’d grown up in that mansion on the hill. Instead of a pony, her daddy had bought her a baseball team. Was the team just a plaything? Something to keep her from getting bored while her interest compounded? Was he just a plaything?

No. He looked around the locker room. At the guys who remained, just hanging out, bullshitting with each other. They were more than just a collection of millionaires. They were a family. And Luis was acting like an obnoxious cousin, trying to goad Marco into giving something away, trying to push his buttons until he admitted that yeah, he was hopelessly in love with Hunter.

“No use buying her a diamond necklace, she probably got one for her seventh birthday.” Luis kept at it, putting Marco in the uncomfortable position of wanting to defend the woman he was secretly sleeping with and keeping the clubhouse chemistry intact.

“You wanna know how Miss Collins celebrated her seventh birthday?” Sully, the clubhouse manager, had overheard their conversation and decided to butt in. “She got a front row seat at her mother’s funeral, then she was picked up in a limo to go live with a man she barely knew. A man who was too busy making money to even attend his ex-wife’s funeral.”

That finally shut Luis up.

“Henry Collins didn’t have the first clue how to deal with a little girl,” Sully continued his story. “Until he took her to a baseball game. He was entertaining clients and brought her along. She loved it. And the two of them finally found some common ground.”

“Baseball does have a way of bringing people together.” It had brought Marco and Hunter together. But would it be enough?

“All it took was one smile on that little girl’s face, and Henry knew he’d do anything to keep making her smile,” Sully kept talking. “He bought the team for her a year later. It worked out for all of us, huh? They were thinking of moving to Florida. He saved the Goliaths, but more importantly, he saved his relationship with his daughter.”

“Excuse me.” Luis had a little catch in his voice. “I gotta go… I gotta call my little girl. Let her know that Daddy misses her. And her Mama, too.”

The catcher was pulling his phone out of his pocket on his way out the door.

“I’ve been with this team since 1962. I’ve seen it all.” Sully wasn’t finished with Marco yet. “I’ve watched that little girl grow up in this clubhouse. She’s more than family to me.”

Marco waited, sure there was more.

“I’ve never seen her so happy.”

“Her team is playing well.” Marco didn’t want to let the other man see him sweat. “She’s worked hard for this.”

“It’s not the team’s record that has her glowing.” The older man placed a hand on Marco’s shoulder. He knew. “I hope you’re not taking advantage of her.”

“No sir.” Marco felt sixteen, getting
the talk
from his date’s father before he could take her to the movies.

“Hunter may know more about baseball than you and me combined”—Sully’s voice held fatherly concern—“but when other girls her age were going to clubs and dating, she was taking care of her father and this team. Secretly running this organization while covering for Henry.”

“She’s been in charge all along?” Marco’s respect for her grew.

“Since she graduated from Stanford,” Sully told him. “Henry didn’t want anyone to know about his condition. He thought he could beat the cancer.”

“I can see why this season means so much to her.” Marco wished he could go to her right now. Take her in his arms and just hold her. “Believe me when I tell you I will give her everything I’ve got. On and off the field.”

* * * *

“This is the list of players I’m bringing up September first.” Hunter pushed the piece of paper toward Javier. They’d been having a heated discussion for over an hour. Her temples throbbed, her back ached, and her cramps were killing her. All the more reason to stand her ground. “Your job is to get the most out of the guys I’m giving you.”

“You really think Davis is a better choice than Swift?” Javier tapped the list, toward the bottom. They had been in agreement over the top seven names. They were just at odds over one player.

“Yes. I do. On paper, Swift is a more obvious choice.” Hunter wasn’t going to back down. She had faith in her manager, but she wasn’t going to let him bully her into giving in. “But he’s not ready. Bringing him up too soon will mess with development. Besides, Davis is more versatile. Plus, he’s been here before.”

“He does have some serious speed.” Javier was letting up. “And if you think he can help the team, I’ll find a way to use him. Besides, you were certainly right about Santiago.”

“You had doubts about him, too?”

“Not at first. I was excited when you brought him here. He’d always played well in this park. Kicked our ass a time or two. But then he got off to a slow start.”

“I think he was putting too much pressure on himself.” Hunter hoped she could keep her feelings for Marco from her manager. “He just needed to settle in and relax a little.”

“I think he had some help.” Had Javier discovered their relationship? It was probably only a matter of time before it came out. “Baxter’s on one hell of a streak. Scottsdale and the rest of the pitching staff have kept the games close. Santiago figured out he didn’t have to hit three run homers every at bat.”

“Let’s hope they can keep it up through September.” Hunter kept her focus on the team. “I think I’ve selected the right guys to help that happen.”

“I think you’re right,” Javier finally conceded. “You know more than you give yourself credit for.”

“‘Than I give myself credit for?’” Her defenses were up. “I’ve never had any doubt about my knowledge of the game.”

“Really?” Javier leaned forward, as if he was going to reveal a great secret. “If you’re so sure of yourself, why did you spend an hour and a half trying to convince me you were right? Why didn’t you just tell me that this was who you were bringing up, and if I didn’t like it I could look for a new job?”

“Because I want everyone on this team to buy into what we’re trying to accomplish. If I’d told you to take this team or shove it, you’d fight me. You’d set Davis up to fail, even if you didn’t realize it.” Hunter leaned forward, knowing that if she backed down now, if she showed any sign of weakness, she could forget about leading this team anywhere. “If I didn’t at least ask for your opinion, even if I didn’t accept it, you would fight me even when you knew I was right.”

Javier gave a deep, from the heart, belly laugh.

“Woman, you are wise beyond your years.” He shook his head, beaming with pride. “I am honored to work for such a smart cookie.”

He extended a hand and she gave him her firmest handshake.

She watched him walk out of his office, still shaking his head, and muttering to himself.

As soon he was out of the clubhouse she let herself sink back against his desk.

She’d proven herself to her manager. He was old school. A throwback to the way things had always been done. Having his support meant a lot.

Now if she could convince her partners that she knew what she was doing. As soon as the season ended, she would have the difficult task of re-signing free agents, including Marco. She knew she wanted him back, but the line between professional and personal reasons had become quite blurry.

His numbers were right where she’d want them to be. His batting average was up, his RBI totals were good, and he was currently on a fourteen game hitting streak. Plus, he roamed the outfield with a single determination to catch every ball hit within the same zip code.

If he remained healthy, there was no reason to believe he wouldn’t put up the same kind of numbers next year. The only uncertainty was how she’d be able to deal with seeing him in a Goliaths’ uniform once he grew tired of having her in his bed. She was pretty confident he’d keep her around for the rest of the season. A player on a hot streak was reluctant to change anything about his routine.

It was almost midnight when she made it out of the ballpark. She could slip across the street, pull into the parking garage, and take the elevator up to Marco’s apartment. But she was exhausted. Besides, she’d gotten her period that morning. The birth control pills were doing their job.

And she had to do her job. Marco wasn’t the only free agent she hoped to re-sign. Johnny Scottsdale had a one-year deal, but she’d heard rumors he wanted to retire at the end of the season. Bryce Baxter had one more year on his contract, so she’d have to think about extending it. And then there were the flashy free agents coming on the market that Clayton was drooling over. He wanted the power hitter who would be asking for a huge contract. A gamble Hunter wasn’t willing to take.

Nor did she feel it a necessary risk. She had enough pop in her lineup to contend. And she had depth in the farm system to fill holes. She just needed to plug in the numbers to make a spreadsheet kind of guy like Barry take notice.

Then again, when she won the bet, he’d have to comply.

The Goliaths would enter September with at least a tie for first place. Best case scenario, they’d have a three game lead. Then they’d start looking at the postseason. They were four wins away from at least a wild card berth. But she wanted the division. And she felt strongly that it was within reach.

Marco was a big reason they were in the position they were in. And keeping him was going to be her first priority.

She just had to make sure she didn’t lose her heart in the process.

Chapter 13

On the last game of the home stand, Marco went hitless and he was caught stealing. To make matters worse, he’d blown a play in the outfield that cost them the game. The official scorer ruled it a double, but he should have caught that damn ball. If he hadn’t been thinking of Hunter at the time.

She hadn’t come by after her meeting with the manager. It was late, and she’d sent a quick text saying she was too tired. But because of her absence, he didn’t get much sleep. And he’d let it interfere with his performance.

After the game he texted Hunter, asking her to stop by the clubhouse before he left for the airport. He needed to see her. To talk to her and assure her that he would come through for her.