Chapter Twenty-Nine

Liam stormed into Ethan’s office, ignoring his secretary’s complaints. Ethan covered the phone and glared at him.

“What the hell? I’m on a call,” he said.

Liam was done playing around. He hadn’t talked to Isla in two days, and he was losing his mind. “Get off the call now.”

Ethan’s brows rose, and he spoke into the phone. “I need to call you back… Yes. Okay.” Disconnecting, he tossed his phone on the desk. “What do you want, Cruz?”

“Tell me what’s going on.” His breaths heaved in and out. His skin was too tight; his chest felt crowded.

“Don’t know what you’re talking about.” Ethan glanced down at the desk. He’d played poker with this man. He was lying.

“I’m going to The Spot tonight,” Liam said.

Ethan came around his desk so they were standing almost toe to toe. “You don’t like bars. Especially ones notorious for hookups and hangovers.”

Liam crossed his arms over his Slammers T-shirt. “Might get drunk, too. A hookup and hangover sound pretty good to me right now.”

Ethan’s jaw tightened. “You’re an example for the younger guys on the team.”

Shrugging, he walked away, made a show of checking out the books on Ethan’s shelves. “Didn’t ask to be that. I’ve been wasting opportunities to show Nashville I’m here to play.”

“You’ll screw things up with Isla. Don’t look at me like that. What am I, stupid? I know you’re head over heels about her. You’re telling me you’re going to risk that for a hookup?” He rubbed his hand over his beard. Another tell.

“Isla won’t return my calls. Guess I didn’t mean that much to her after all. I’m a free agent. Again.” God, he hoped that wasn’t true. He didn’t know what he’d do if it was.

“Don’t do this. I have enough to deal with.”

Done skirting around the issue, Liam stalked over, got in his face. “Tell me what the hell is going on, or tonight and every night until you tell me, I will make it my mission to cause so many PR nightmares for this team, you’ll have to get me traded just to make it go away.”

Ethan’s jaw dropped. “Jesus. You’re in love with her.”

Liam’s breath caught. “Tell. Me.”

Shoulders sagging, Ethan moved around him, shut the door. When he turned back, faced Liam, he sighed. “You’re going to be pissed.”

…

Liam let himself into the press conference room. The room had seen almost as much media action in the last month as it did during the season. He tugged his ball cap lower on his head and stood at the back, keeping his head lowered, but he caught sight of Isla at the front. Her father, the smug bastard, was chatting with Bruce.

Even from so far away, it was like she could feel him. His heart beat heavy in his chest. Their eyes connected and held, and air whooshed from his lungs. He’d missed her to the point of aching. And as soon as things got sorted, he was going to make sure she knew walking away wasn’t an option. Maybe from baseball, even from Nashville if necessary. But not from them.

She’d been willing to sacrifice everything for him, so he knew he wasn’t alone in his feelings.

“Okay. We’re going to get started,” Ethan said into the microphone. “Thank you for coming out again. I am truly hoping that tonight’s announcement is the last one until spring training starts.” He glanced back at Isla. “However, I’m learning to expect the unexpected with our new ownership, so never say never.”

The crowd laughed. Cruz expected her to speak, but instead, she kept her eyes locked on his as Josiah approached the microphone.

“Thank you for coming tonight. It’s been a rocky start for Isla Bennett, but we’ve been working hard, behind the scenes, to pave the path and make it smoother. I worked with her grandfather for years, and I am very pleased to say”—he paused, looked at Isla—“he’d be very proud of you. For your strength, your humility, and…excuse my language…your balls.”

The crowd laughed again, and Isla covered her mouth, smothering her smile. Liam couldn’t wait until this was over so he could kiss that mouth, feel her lips against his. It felt like it’d been a lifetime. In less than two months, this woman had turned his world upside down and made it more meaningful. He hadn’t even known that was possible.

“At the last conference, Ms. Bennett mentioned a letter of intent. You may or may not know that this is not a legally binding document. If there are circumstances preventing a proper transaction, say, a deal made through extortion, the agreement becomes null and void. Ms. Bennett will not be selling her team to her father.”

Henry Bennett puffed up, his chest expanding, his skin going a mottled shade of red like a cartoon character. “What are you talking about? I warned you!”

When he stepped forward to go to Isla, Liam’s hands balled into fists. If he touched her… A security guard and Ethan stopped her father from moving. Isla took the mic.

“You did warn me.” She looked out at the audience. “He warned me, you guys. That’s about the only thing he hasn’t lied about. He warned me that I didn’t know how to play dirty, and I don’t. He told me I was too emotional for this game and for business in general. But he was wrong. And so was I. Because I was right there with him, not believing in myself.”

Her eyes came back to Liam. “This city and the people in it have shown me more kindness in six weeks than I’ve ever known. I’m going to admit that baseball is not my forte, which I think I proved quite publicly.” The crowd laughed again as murmurs rumbled through.

She took a deep breath as Liam edged his way along the side wall, closer to the front. She tracked his progress.

“I’m very excited to tell you that the Nashville Slammers will be partnering with Conroy Hotels to create affordable getaways that offer tickets to see the Slammers, in whichever city hosts these hotels, as part of the booking. In addition to this, we’ll be partnering with the school districts to create a Baseball Buddy program. I have several other things in the works, and while I might not know much about the sport yet, I believe in it. I believe in the Slammers, and I believe in myself. Effective immediately, Bruce Gains is being dismissed. Mickey Sarola has agreed to step into the General Manager position.”

Chaos exploded. Bruce started yelling to the point that security escorted him out. Her father pushed past Ethan and took the mic, shouting over the fray of reporters launching questions.

“She’s sleeping with one of the players. She and Liam Cruz have been carrying on an affair since the beginning. I have proof. She isn’t interested in running a team; she just wants access to her own roster of playboys.”

More questions erupted as her father was pulled back by security, forced off the stage. Isla came back to the mic, her gaze locked on Liam. It took a few minutes, but the press realized she wouldn’t speak until they shut up.

She huffed out a breath. “Okay. Part of that is true. But I don’t want the whole team—well, professionally I do, but not personally.”

Liam laughed. Adorable. She was killing him here, and the press was eating it up.

“Liam Cruz offered me kindness before we knew who the other was. I think I fell in love with him the minute he offered to help me with my gloves.”

The press started launching more questions, but a few people had noted the direction of her stare. He kept making his way to the front even after they realized it was him. Stepping up on the stage, he closed the distance between them, ignoring the many onlookers.

“You love me?” His heart was too full. How the hell was he supposed to talk when just looking at her stole all his words?

“I do,” she whispered. “I’m sorry for everything. There may be some further complications that we need to iron out, but Josiah assured me Bruce can’t trade you.”

“He can’t.”

“I just said that.”

Liam laughed, yanked her close, but didn’t kiss her yet. Once he did, he wasn’t sure he’d be able to stop. “No, I mean, he can’t. I’m here to tell you,” he said, pausing and turning toward the mics, keeping Isla tucked in to his side, “I’m retiring. I’ve played my last season.”

He barely heard Isla’s questions with all the noise coming from the crowd. He did see, from the corner of his eye, Ethan drop his head into his hands. With a smile, he turned back to Isla.

“You can’t give up baseball,” she said, her arms coming up around his neck, like she could transfer her urgency if they were closer.

“I’m not. I’m going to apply for a job with the Slammers. Pretty sure they have some spots opening up in various positions.”

“But you wanted to play in Nashville so badly. This is your dream.”

Pressing his forehead to hers, he shook his head. “I wanted to be in Nashville, because I knew I was winding down. I wanted to come home. And now I’m here,” he said, pulling her as close as he could in front of an audience, hoping she understood the dual meaning in his words. “And I’m exactly where I want to be. For good.”

The bridge of her nose scrunched up. “But…you’re our power hitter.”

Liam laughed, his chest expanding with happiness. “Don’t worry, Red. I’ll help you replace me.” He leaned in. “At least on the team.”

They stared at each other, and if her father thought he had photographic evidence of their relationship before, it would be nothing compared to the pictures Liam was sure would surface all over the internet within minutes. The Nashville Slammers’ former heavy hitter grinning like a love-sick fool while staring into the eyes of the team owner.

Ethan approached them. “Thank you for this disaster. How about we end this so I can start batting cleanup?”

Liam laughed. Isla bit her lip. “That’s a baseball reference,” he told her.

She giggled but caught Ethan’s irritated scowl and tried to hide her amusement. “I got that.”

His name was being shouted along with Isla’s. Raising a hand, waiting for silence, he spoke into the microphone.

“One question. I’ll answer one question, and everything else will be summarized and shared in a statement I’ve already prepared. It’ll release tomorrow morning.”

Dozens of people shouted their questions, but there was one woman at the back of the room, hand up. He’d recognize those eyes anywhere, because they mirrored his and their mom’s.

“Woman at the back,” Liam said, grinning.

Talia spoke loudly despite someone shoving a microphone close to her mouth. “My question is, do you love her back?”

Surprise caused him to say “What?” into the mic.

“She said she loves you. You asked her if she did. Do you love her back or not, you dork?”

Turning, he looked down at Isla and saw she was staring up at him. He touched the necklace he’d given her, and the smile she wore warmed him inside and out.

“I do,” he said, not speaking into the mic. “I love you, Isla.”

She sniffled and threw her arms around him and he lifted her off her feet. Ignoring everyone other than the woman wrapped around him, he spun once and carried her right out of the room.

In the hallway, he took a brief second to kiss her because he couldn’t wait a minute longer. He could hear people coming and knew they had only a second.

“We need to get out of here,” he said.

She glanced around and tugged on his hand, pulling him into a supply closet and closing the door just as a rush of voices came into the hallway. It was dark, and they stood, muffling their laughter in the blackness.

“I’m sorry about the last few days,” she whispered when the noise started to lessen.

Pressing his hands into her lower back so they were locked together, he found her lips and kissed her softly. Quietly. “We’ll talk about that. We have a lot to talk about, but right now, I just want to make out with you in this supply closet.”

He felt the quiet laugh against his skin. “Are you sure about retiring?” she asked.

“I am. I think I needed to know the choice was mine to make. I didn’t want to be pushed into it, but these last few months, I’ve started seeing things differently. I still love the game, and I’m happy to be home. But I feel ready. I feel happy with the decision. And what I am sure about is you. Us. The only time I’ve ever felt this kind of sure was the first time I held a bat in my hand. I’ve had a great career, Red. Now I want more. I want a life. With you. Baseball will still be part of it.”

“A big part, seeing as I wanted to talk to you about something,” she said.

His eyes were adjusting to the dark. A tiny sliver of light came from the hallway. “What’s that?”

“I need an advisor. And another investor. I’d still like to be part owner, but I was thinking maybe we could make a deal.”

He smiled, buried his face in her neck. “You gave Conroy fifteen percent?”

Liam felt her nod. “What were you thinking? Sixty-twenty-five?”

“Actually, I was thinking we split the rest fifty-fifty.”

He sucked in a breath. “An equal partnership.”

“What do you think?” He heard the uncertainty in her voice.

“I think you’re a hell of a negotiator, but as the party buying in, I should ante up.”

“What do you mean?” Isla’s heartbeat was going crazy in her chest. Or maybe it was his.

“I mean, I should bring something to the table aside from money.”

“Oh?” The squeak in her voice made him smile.

“Don’t worry. I have something in mind.”

“Are you going to tell me?”

“One day soon, Red. One day real soon.”

She pulled back. “Think we can leave yet?”

Liam pulled her back. “Better stay a bit longer, just to be safe.”

He closed his mouth over hers, swallowing her sigh as he tunneled his fingers into her hair. It didn’t matter if he was walking through the streets of his hometown, in his oversize house, or in a broom closet with her.

Isla Bennett made him feel like he’d won the World Series.