Chapter Thirteen

What Addie needed, other than to refocus on her job, was a night with her friend. A girls’ night. Free of men. Good-looking, sports-playing, make-her-tingle, supposed-to-be-not-quite-friend guys. None of those allowed.

The knock on her door pulled her from the file she wasn’t actually reading. She stood and came around her desk, her smile widening.

“Dustin. Welcome. I’m so glad you’re here.”

“Hi, Ms. Carlisle. I’m excited to be here,” he said. His shoulders scrunched a bit as he eased his way into her office. His hair was slicked back and he’d worn a suit. He looked so professional, and a wave of pride washed through Addison. She thought of herself as a good judge of character. Dustin had impressed not only her, but Isla and Liam as well. He was going to fit in well at the Slammers headquarters.

“Please. Call me Addie.”

His youthful cheeks turned slightly red at the request, but he nodded. “Uh, so, when I interviewed with you and, uh, Mr. Cruz and Ms. Bennett, you weren’t entirely sure what I’d be doing.” He gestured to his clothes. “I didn’t know what to wear.”

Ushering him in, she pointed to the chair in front of her desk. She sat in the one beside it rather than in her usual one. His nerves were bouncing off him like jumping beans and she hoped to put him at ease.

He sat, went to run a hand through his hair, and then, as if he’d remembered it was full of product, put his hand on his lap.

“Dustin?”

His eyes widened. “Yes, ma’am?”

She laughed. “Addie. Please. Could you do me a favor and breathe? You already got the job.”

Letting out a deep sigh, his shoulders sagged. “Yeah. Sure. I can do that. I’m sorry. I just… I mean, I grew up watching baseball, you know? And now I’m working for the Slammers. The Yankees have played in this stadium. Oh, I mean, and of course the Slammers. They’re our home team—”

She cut him off with another laugh and by raising her hand. “It’s okay to be impressed by the Yankees.” She leaned forward. “I’m a Colorado girl so my heart is divided, too. I do understand what you mean, though. It’s daunting, to say the least. But we’re really impressed with your work ethic and your goals and I’m very happy you took the job. Mostly because, after discussing a number of possibilities, we decided that you’re going to be my assistant.”

His smile widened and finally lost some of the nervous edge. “Really? That’s great. What will I do?”

Crossing one knee over the other, she angled her body toward him, excited to share her ideas. “I mentioned that I’m heading a new division here as director of player and staff wellness. I’m trying to meet with each of the players and house staff but obviously with the playoffs, everything is being pushed back. You’ll help me conduct interviews, do research, create plans for different needs, and make some local contacts that assist us with what we can provide for our organization.”

Dustin ran a hand over his neck, his eyes thoughtful and his lips pursed. “That sounds really incredible. And challenging. Do the players know they’re all being interviewed?”

“Good question. As of the beginning of this week, yes. Isla sent an email to the entire organization to rearticulate the goal and what we’re after.”

When he straightened his shoulders and leaned in, she continued. “I have a list of the players I’ve met with. We’ll need to make a list of which players have responded favorably and work with them first.”

“What about players who are resistant?”

“Another excellent question.” She thought of Sawyer. “We’re going to have to work around their resistance and make them see we’re on their side.”

He gave a wide, toothy grin. “I’ll try to be cool around the players. My dad wouldn’t believe me when I said I got this job.”

That puzzled her a little, but before she could ask him about that, another knock came from behind them. They turned together, but it was probably only Addie’s heart that skipped a couple of beats.

“Sawyer,” she said.

“Hey. How’s it going, Dustin?” He came into the room and when Dustin stood, shook his hand.

“Mr. McBain. It’s awesome to see you again,” he said.

Sawyer shook his head. “Sawyer. Please.”

Addie stood as well. “That’s how I reacted, too. What can I do for you, Sawyer?”

His eyes found hers and she sucked in a breath. The man had a potent gaze. One side of his mouth tipped up. “I came to chat about my wellness.”

Dustin looked back and forth between them. “Uh, I can get started on something?”

Blinking rapidly, trying to come up with a professional answer, Addie went around her desk. “I’ll show you where you can work for now, and I’ll get you to contact this list of players.” She picked up the folder, checked it, and then handed it over.

Dustin opened it and then glanced up at Sawyer. “You’re on the list.”

Sawyer’s lips curved. “Addie’s got me covered.”

Now why did that sound sexual? “That’s true, but he can practice the interview on you.” She grinned at him and pressed her advantage. “Dustin needs the practice. Don’t be difficult,” she said.

The flare of his eyes and the way his mouth tipped up at one corner made her feel like a heart-eyed teen. Sawyer’s eyes moved over to her and he held her stare, one brow arched. “Just because we’re friends doesn’t mean you get to be bossy.” He leaned in. “At least not here.”

The air thickened, and it wasn’t until Dustin cleared his throat that Addie realized they were still holding a staring contest worthy of two sixth graders.

“Let me get Dustin settled. I’ll be back in a minute.”

Working up a somewhat genuine smile for the new hire, despite the whirlwind in her stomach, she showed him to an office down the hall that Isla had okayed for his use. She made sure he had what he needed—a laptop and phone—and that he knew where the coffee and bathrooms were, then headed back to her office. Outside the door, she pulled in a couple of cleansing breaths.

“Make yourself at home,” she said when she saw Sawyer leaning back in her chair.

“I like your office. It’s very you,” he said, folding his hands behind his head.

Trying to see it through his eyes, she glanced around. She’d added some vintage posters to the walls, a couple of plants, a shelf full of books, and the small, cozy chair in the corner had a throw her grandmother had made her years ago. She liked to feel at home no matter where she was.

“Thanks. But you didn’t come here to admire my office.”

She folded her arms across her chest and wondered why he inspired such a pendulum of emotions. Frustration. Lust. Back and forth.

Sawyer swung out of the chair. “No. You’re right. I’m at the ballpark for practice and I wanted to ask you about something.”

He came closer. Too close for breathing that didn’t illicit want. “I had an idea for later. After practice. Game three is the day after tomorrow so it won’t be late or anything.”

Before she could stop it, her brain came up with far too many ideas of what that something could be. “Oh?”

He grinned like he could read her mind. She started to make a sarcastic comment to offset the rush of adrenaline his words caused, but he stopped her with a finger to her lips.

“Besides, I think this friendship thing is growing on me.”

There was something in his voice. Tilting her head to one side, she studied him. “What do you really want?”

He stepped back and put a hand to his chest. “Nothing. Why are you so suspicious?”

“Sawyer?” She fought her grin.

“My grandmother roped me into playing poker with her and some friends later tonight. I love hanging out with Grams, but she and her pals get together once a month and generally I can avoid it, but she wore me down.”

Addie chuckled. “If you’re playing poker, you’re sitting down so your bottom should be safe from their grabby hands.”

He scowled. “You’d think. Come on, Addie. Don’t you want to meet my Grams?”

Oh, goodness. Her heart was going to explode from the adorable and endearing look on his face.

“I’m sort of working here.”

“It’s not until later and I’ll be tied up for hours anyway. You won’t be here all night, will you?”

She bit her lip and considered her options. She did want to meet his Grams. So far, she was the only family member he’d mentioned without a sneer. She also wanted to spend more time with him. As a friend. Making friends in a new town is very important. So is your job. “I’ll go if you agree to answer my wellness intake on the drive.”

“You’re already helping me out.”

She nodded. “Yes. But my intention is to help you in all areas of your life.”

“I don’t need help in all areas. But I’ll answer the questions.”

They both held their ground, waiting for the other to say something. Addie broke first. “I think this is the first time we’re hanging out on equal footing.”

His lips quirked and he let out a low laugh. “I guess we’ll see how it goes.”

She wasn’t normally good with that arrangement. Addie liked to have a plan and be able to see exactly where things were headed. Sawyer made her want to remove the life jacket and find out if she could swim on her own. That was either going to be a really good thing or something she might not bounce back from.

…

Addie looked over the list of questions Dustin had formulated for an email survey for each of the players. Considering timing, how busy the players were, and the reluctance of some to be interviewed, he’d suggested that a short survey might be more prudent.

They started easy with questions such as name, position with the company, goals and highlights. The survey moved on to physical health, mental health, support systems, family, and areas of need. She knew they were reluctant to say they needed anything. People didn’t want to appear weak.

Addie had seen, firsthand, the strength it took for her mother to ask for and receive help. Addie had grown up realizing that the ability to reach out and lean on others wasn’t a weakness but a sign of bravery and fortitude. Someone like Sawyer saw it as a chance for others to find the holes in their armor. She wondered if that made them too different from each other or a perfect complement.

By the time they finished up with the final question she’d created—What more could the company do to support you and your family?—she felt confident that the questions were a step in the right direction.

It had taken her mother years to get her MS diagnosis and then she’d had to fight for support from her employer.

“These are excellent. We’re going to send this out right away. Your first day was a complete success.”

“Thank you so much!” Dustin said with a smile. Then he checked his watch. “It flew by. Do you mind if I stay a little later? It might be easier to study here than in my apartment.”

She stood, discreetly stretched and realized she hadn’t eaten in too many hours. “Of course. This is your space. There’s food and coffee in the staff room. Help yourself. Do you have roommates?”

“Three.”

Addie winced. “Guess it makes it cheaper. No family close by?”

Dustin stood up and walked the few steps to his backpack. He didn’t look at her when he answered. “My dad. But unless I’m bringing him a six pack, he doesn’t want much to do with me.”

Her jaw went rigid and she watched as he straightened, turned slowly, his eyes wide with worry. “I shouldn’t have said that out loud. I’m sorry. That wasn’t professional.”

Addie pocketed her phone and walked closer. “The questions we asked on that survey? Some of the truths might be hard to hear, but it’s the only way to offer what people need. You’re part of the Slammers family now, Dustin. I’m sorry that’s what it’s like at home for you but you’re not alone. I’ll expect you to fill out the questionnaire too. Okay?”

He nodded and she knew he needed a moment. Gathering her things, she left him in his office. When she returned to her own, what struck her as worrisome was how much she wanted to talk to Sawyer about the conversation. She had a feeling the two of them—Dustin and him—had more in common than they thought. But first, she pulled out her phone. Dialing a familiar number, she packed up her things, telling herself it was okay to be almost thirty and still take comfort in her mom’s voice.