Chapter Twelve

Isla jolted awake, blinking away the fog of sleep as she listened for what had woken her. Another knock. Glancing at Liam, who’d fallen asleep on the other end of the couch, the night before came back to her. Talia was curled up in the chair beside the patio doors. Isla couldn’t help but grin. They clearly both slept heavier than her. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d pulled an almost all-nighter. Not since college, and those hadn’t been much fun.

The third knock cleared her muddled mind, and she went to answer the door. There was a doorman during the day, so whoever it was had approved access.

Opening the door, Isla was greeted by a bearded man in what looked to be an extremely expensive suit. His facial hair was expertly trimmed, and his dark brown eyes were far more awake than her own. The takeout cups of coffee in his hands made him her new best friend.

“Hi,” Isla said, her voice scratchy. She resisted the urge to snatch one of the cups. The scent of dark-roast goodness woke her the rest of the way up.

“Good morning, Isla. I’m Ethan Ramsey. I handle PR for the Slammers and, more specifically for the next few weeks, you.”

“Does that mean you have to give me one of those coffees?” She slapped a hand over her mouth.

Ethan laughed, a deep chuckle that involved throwing his head back. If there wasn’t a gorgeous and sweet baseball player sleeping on her couch who pushed all her buttons, she’d be worried about the fact that, despite his appeal, Ethan did nothing for her. She doubted most women would feel that way. But they don’t have Liam asleep on the couch.

Neither do you—not in that way. Not anymore.

She realized that just like all-nighters, she couldn’t remember the last time she’d woken up with a man two mornings in a row. Relationships weren’t a high priority for her in the past. Now, when there was someone she’d consider making room for, it couldn’t happen.

But at least there’s coffee.

Ethan handed over a cup and was about to say something. She saw his mouth move to form words as her hand circled the cup. Instead, his jaw dropped and all that came out were four letter expletives.

She stepped back, holding the coffee close, arching her brow. “That’s not a very nice reaction to sharing,” she said just as her back hit a solid wall of Liam.

Isla winced. So much for first impressions.

“Oops. Behind you, Red. Morning, Ethan. Why don’t you come in and shut the door so Isla’s neighbors don’t have to listen to your sailor mouth?” Liam’s gravelly morning voice slid over Isla more enticingly than the coffee.

Isla turned to see Liam as Ethan shut the door. “Morning,” she whispered.

“Morning. We’re probably in trouble,” he whispered back.

“I figured.” Why did she feel like laughing? This was not how she wanted to meet her employees.

“Stop whispering. What the hell are you doing here, Cruz?” Ethan handed his coffee over to Liam despite the deep frown on his lips.

Talia stumbled—there was no other word for it—into the kitchen, her hands holding her head. “Who is yelling and why? Do I smell coffee?”

“Talia?” Ethan’s mouth dropped open.

She froze. “Ethan. Did you bring coffee?”

“You know each other?” Isla asked.

Talia and Ethan’s gazes bounced off of each other and then they looked at Isla. Tal spoke first. “Of course. Lots of the Slammers frequent the bar. Even if they aren’t players.”

Ethan’s head whipped back and forth among the three of them, and Isla was sure they made quite a picture. All rumpled, still half asleep, and pretty greedy when it came to caffeine.

Ethan’s shoulders finally dropped and he sighed. “Maybe someone could explain what’s going on?”

Liam gave his coffee to his sister, which made Isla’s heart feel very unprofessionally mushy. Thank goodness Talia was here. Ethan’s anger seemed to have evaporated.

“Tal and I met Isla when she came into Salvation. Pretty crazy coincidence, but we hit it off and hung out before she found out who her grandfather was.” Liam glanced at her, his lips pursed a moment before he added, “And before she knew who I was. We’re friends.”

Isla’s heart tweaked uncomfortably at the label. It’s how it has to be. And thank goodness you have them both.

“You just happened to meet your new boss at the bar before she was your new boss,” Ethan said, crossing his arms over his chest.

Isla appreciated Liam filling in the gaps but knew it was time, bedhead or not, to speak for herself. “We did. Life is funny that way, sometimes bringing the people you need into your life before you even need them. I’m grateful to Talia and Liam. They’ve both been very kind to me. I was a stranger who’d lost her grandfather, and they gave me a place to stay, and last night, when I had no one else, they both took time out of their own lives to check in on me and help me process what’s happened. So really, there’s no need for you to look so grumpy over it.”

Liam smothered a laugh as he fiddled around with the coffee machine, and Ethan’s eyes popped wide.

“Jesus. Mary Poppins owns the Slammers,” Ethan muttered, and Liam full-out laughed.

Talia choked out a giggle and boosted herself up onto the counter near Ethan, clearly comfortable in her own skin, or wrinkled clothes. “That’s actually a good description. Mary Poppins with a side of whatever female heroine is kicking ass in the box office right now.”

Ethan’s mouth dropped open, and he stared at Talia. She shrugged, sipped her coffee. “What? I don’t know what movies are out right now.”

Isla wasn’t quite sure what to do with that description, but it wasn’t terrible. She just hoped she could live up to the kick-ass part.

Grabbing the milk from the fridge, she added a splash to her coffee, making a list of things she needed to do today. She didn’t have to meet with the management or team until tomorrow. Her father and Ian were in town now, which meant she needed a game plan. But first, she needed to get out of her freaking pajamas.

“I’m going to shower and change. Please make yourselves at home. I wasn’t expecting to have a meeting today, Ethan, but you must be here for a reason. I won’t be long.”

Without waiting for a reply, she took her coffee and walked away. Once she was refreshed and dressed in something more appropriate, she’d have a better shield in place. As much as she felt herself slipping down a dangerous slope for Liam, she knew she had to put it aside. She wanted this opportunity to prove herself.

From the moment Josiah had told her she’d inherited the team, she’d felt this…seed of hope. Something had blossomed inside her, and she knew this was her chance to make her own mark instead of following after her father trying to gain approval.

She could do this. But not until she’d showered and finished her coffee.