Chapter Eleven

Isla was in serious trouble. Not just because she knew nothing about baseball and now owned a team. That mountain felt doable in comparison to her other challenge: not dropping her romantic heart directly into Liam Cruz’s hands.

Fortunately for her, she was well schooled in the world of having to show her game face even as her emotions tangled up inside. Though she’d never been in a situation quite like this before. The feelings bouncing around inside of her like a dozen rubber balls were completely foreign.

The buzzer announcing Talia filled her with relief. She honestly did not trust herself to be alone with this man—at least not until she wrapped her head around who they now were to each other.

She touched her hand to the pendant. It was more than thoughtful. It was generous and kind and so incredibly sweet, it was good she’d been sitting down when he’d given it. Otherwise, he would have swept her feet out from under her.

“I’ll get it?” he asked, like he knew she needed a minute.

When he left the room, emotions, a kaleidoscope of them, stole her breath. She was good at multitasking, but she’d never had to put so many things into separate little boxes to deal with one at a time. The boxes marked betrayal, grief, and anger simply had to go up on the shelf for now.

Grabbing her phone, she texted Addie once more to ask if she was sure. Liam had shared his plan and at first, she’d thought he was joking. Then she’d been overcome with gratitude because, not only did he mean it, he was bringing his sister in on it to maximize her comfort level. Calling Addie through Skype was not only efficient, it centered her.

Talia walked into the room just as Isla was grabbing her laptop from the shelf. She pulled Isla into a hard hug.

“A lot of stuff in one day. You give new meaning to the phrase go big or go home,” she said against her ear.

Isla not only accepted the hug, she returned it, so grateful she’d met these two people. “I didn’t mean to, but yeah, I guess I do.”

Talia pulled back. Liam stood in the archway between the dining area and the living room, holding two brown paper bags. “She brought food.”

“Now you’re my favorite,” Isla said.

Liam’s laughter rubbed over already sensitive skin. He had a really great laugh. “She’s fickle that way. This morning that title was mine.”

“You two can share,” Isla said, joining Liam by the table where he set out the food.

She grabbed plates and drinks and, despite the nerves still rolling through her, helped herself to the assortment of Greek chicken, roasted potatoes, hummus, and pita bread. Once her plate was full, she settled on the couch, bringing up the Skype app and dialing Addie. Her friend picked up on the third ring. It was an hour earlier in Colorado.

Addison’s face filled the screen. Her dark hair was pulled up into a ponytail, and she wore a pair of black glasses that she reserved just for home. Most of the time, she wore contacts, but Isla thought she looked quite chic with the frames.

“Hey. It’s so good to see your face,” Addie said.

“Back at you,” Isla said, wishing she could hug the screen. The computer sat far enough back on the coffee table that her friend could see Liam and Talia.

“This is Liam and Talia Cruz, the siblings I told you about.”

Addie laughed, immediately putting Isla at ease. “She did tell me about both of you. But I think there’s a little more to the story than she originally shared.”

Just like that, the four of them shared a few laughs and anecdotes. The pressure the day’s events had piled on seemed to ebb. Isla curled her feet under her, telling Addie about the meeting with the lawyers and who else was there.

“I thought my dad had a large management team, but we have nothing on the Slammers,” Isla said.

“Speaking of which, we need to teach you about baseball,” Talia said. She glanced back and forth between Isla and Addie. “This is going to be like baseball for dummies, not that y’all are dumb, but it’ll be a crash course.”

“Nice,” Liam said around a bite of pita. “I invited Talia because she’s so good with words.”

The women laughed, but Isla didn’t mind. She could admit her flaws. It was one more thing that separated her from her brother and father. She believed that knowing where your own weak points were allowed a person to strengthen them, fill the gaps. Pretending they didn’t exist was just poor planning.

Settling back into the couch, Isla was surprised by how relaxed she felt, and not just because she’d had a second glass of wine. She knew it was, in part, because her friend was sort of there, and she wondered about asking Addie to join her in Nashville. Selfishly, it would make everything feel more balanced. More possible. But not tonight. She’d call her again tomorrow and touch base, listing some persuasive benefits of working for a team.

Liam arranged himself comfortably on the floor in front of the coffee table, on the same side as Isla, though she remained on the couch. She felt a tug in her heart for what they wouldn’t have, but then Talia leaned forward, setting her plate down and reminding Isla they weren’t alone. This was business. Mostly.

Liam began drawing on the piece of paper, and she leaned in to see he’d drawn a diamond.

Laughter bubbled out of her. “I take it back. I do know that the field is shaped like a diamond.”

Liam laughed and nudged her knee with his elbow. Knee to elbow should not incite sparks. Hardly erogenous zones! Her body disagreed, clearly.

“I want to show you the nine positions. When you’re sitting in the owner’s box, I don’t want you wondering what a 6-4-3 double play is.” His tone was teasing like he expected her to at least know that.

When she just stared, he shook his head with an indulgent grin, but it was Addie who spoke. “I’ve watched a few games with my dad, but I guess I’m going to get schooled as well, because I’ve got nothing.”

Leaning closer, trying to focus on his words and not him, she tried to file away the basic facts he was giving her. Once he’d gone through the positions and even explained his role as a designated hitter for the team, she had a slightly better grasp of what was happening within his drawing.

Talia picked at the pita left on her plate. “Does she need to know all of that? I mean, she can have a basic understanding of the game, but isn’t that what you have twelve thousand managers for?”

Addie and Isla laughed, making eye contact through the screen. Liam sent his sister a mock glare. “Not quite that many but yes.”

Liam pushed up off the floor and onto the couch beside Talia, tossing the pencil on the paper. “No, you’re not going to be out there, calling plays or anything, but this way, you have a foundation. You can keep up with what’s going on when you’re watching. Speaking of…” he said, trailing off to grab her remote.

“We taking a television break?” When he turned his face, he caught her staring at him. Her cheeks flushed.

Talia jumped up from the couch. “Oh, this is my favorite part. Give me a second to top off my drink, though.”

Still unsure what was happening next, Isla continued to stare at Liam.

“You need to stop being so damn cute, Isla,” Liam told her, his voice trickling over her skin like she imagined fingertips would.

When she inhaled, it was his masculine scent that filled her senses, clouding her vision. “Um, sorry?”

His hand came to her cheek as the television came on. “I’ve been bottom of the ninth, two out with a runner in scoring position and yet, not kissing you seems like the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do.”

Her stomach and heart collided, knocking the air from her lungs. Her gaze shifted toward the kitchen, then back to him. “I’m guessing what you said there isn’t easy?”

Lips tilting, he lowered his hand, put some added, and necessary, distance between them. “Not even a little.”

Talia returned, oblivious to the tension between them, and Isla was about to breathe a sigh of relief at not being “caught.” Until Addie cleared her throat. Isla’s gaze locked on her best friend. The person who knew her best. The person who could definitely read the guilty expression she was hoping she hid.

“Well, I’m going to sign off. Isla, I will definitely be talking to you tomorrow.” She winked. Isla’s cheeks heated. “It was awesome to meet you both, Talia and Liam. Take care of my girl.”

“No problem,” Talia said, giving a wave.

“That’s the plan,” Liam said. Now why did his words sound seductive? Because you want them to.

She shut the computer and took her cue from her new friends. Friends. I can have friends. She turned to the television. He was logging into Netflix while she was trying not to snuggle in to him. It was getting late and she was tired. She had a full day tomorrow but didn’t want to see him go.

“What are we watching?”

Talia clapped her hands together and then gave a fist bump. “Bull Durham.”

Liam chuckled. “Not her first time.”

Isla smiled. “I have heard of that.”

Liam side-eyed her. “You’re hot, Red. Funny as hell and the sweetest woman I’ve known, but your baseball education is sorely lacking.”

Talia snorted through her laugh. “Subtle, bro. Real subtle.”

At least they could joke about it.

Settling back into the surprisingly comfortable couch cushions, her emotions still jumbled around inside her like a tray of mixed paints, but there was something else, something about being with the Cruz twins that put her at ease. It wasn’t a feeling she was used to with many people. So, maybe things were a bit of a mess and her life was about to become a storm, but she wasn’t alone. At least, not at this moment.