Authors: Debra Elise
“Yeah, in the afternoon. The party's in less than an hour.”
“Shit.”
He'd forgotten about the event their new owner had set up to introduce his players to the city's movers and shakers. The one bright spot of the evening would be meeting the directors of the Children's Club. The Outlaws had chosen the organization to work with as part of their commitment to community outreach.
“
Jeez, Mav. You really need a keeper. Plus, you have to come up with an explanation for T.S., the USBL . . . oh and, let's not forget the tens of thousands of local community members who'll be buying tickets.”
“Fuck me.”
“Thanks, but I'll pass.” Luke grinned.
“You're a real comedian, Luke, but right now you're the only one still speaking to me, so help me out and call room service for some decent coffee while I shower and try to come up with a plan. Otherwise, we both might be out of a job by tomorrow.”
“Wait. What? Why would I be out of a job?” Luke asked. His Oklahoma drawl held a hint of panic.
“Because, cowboy, your mug is in the background of that video, and you're grinning like a fool.”
Kelsey Sullivan waited in the stark white executive reception area of the almost finished Idaho Outlaws' stadium. She stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows and drank in the dramatic view of the choppy surface of Lake Coeur d'Alene directly behind the newly built facility in Pineville.
It was late January and the sky was full of dark clouds ready to burst. She thought about the man whose viral tirade had brought her back to her hometown. She'd bet her last dollar that he was also ready to burst right about now. And if he wasn't, then there'd be little hope even she could fix the mess he'd created.
Her thoughts turned to team owner Thomas Scott. He didn't do things halfway. He'd spent millions to bring his boyhood dream to reality. Some of that money had gone to bring a star pitcher to his team . . . a star who was now ignoring all offers of help. Even when they were kids, Thomas had never settled for less than the best. T.S., as he was known to family and friends, had been her childhood crush at the ripe old age of ten for all of five minutes. When all they did was giggle when they experimented with first base, a close bond soon formed between the lonely rich boy and the girl from the wrong side of the tracks.
But she was only here today as a favor to T.S., and he was running late.
T.
S.'s secretary answered yet another phone call. This time instead of the “No he's unavailable at this time” reply Kelsey had heard at least a dozen times in the last half hour, she heard “Yes, she's still here.”
Before the secretary hung up, the massive mahogany door opened and in strode the uber-successful, uber-rich and sometimes uber-obnoxious Thomas Scott. Good thing she loved him or she'd rip him a new one for keeping her waiting.
Tall and imposing at six three, he towered over her petite frame and most everyone who dared to duel with him in the boardroom. Before she took two steps, she was enveloped in a huge bear hug.
Laughing, Kelsey pinched his side and exclaimed, “T.S. I can't breathe.”
He took a step back and gave her one of his dimpled smiles followed by a squint-eyed once-over. Aw, the lethal look she remembered well. “Yup, you're still gorgeous. Anyone I need to keep in line for you? A new boyfriend? Some guy who isn't treating you like the princess you are?” That was T.S. in a nutshell. Always looking out for her even if they hadn't seen each other in ages.
“No, T.S. There's no one at the moment. But thanks for the offer.”
“Thanks for coming on such short notice.” He gave her another quick hug. To the outside world he was as tough as they came, but with her, he showed a softer side and was the big brother she never had.
“T.S., you don't have to thank me. You call, I'm there.”
“And I really appreciate it, Kels. Now, are you ready to go?” Just like that, he was back in business mode.
Confused
by the question, she noticed his expectant look as if she were the one keeping him waiting. “Um, you mean into your office? Yes, I'm ready anyâ”
“No, I mean to attend the party with me?” he said.
“Party? Um, I think you're confusing me with one of your many girlfriends. I wasn't aware this was a date,” Kelsey teased.
“I'm sure I told you on the phone that my schedule was tight and we'd be attending the reception the city council set up. It's a fund-raiser for a local charity, the Children's Club.”
Kelsey looked down at her business suit and sighed. “If you had told me, would I be wearing a button-down jacket and matching skirt? Dang it, T.S., I don't have time to change into cocktail attire.”
“Hey, you look great to me. Besides, you always outshine the other women in any room.”
“Flattery will get you nowhere, buster.” Damn. Why hadn't she thought to pack more than business clothes? Men rarely gave a woman's need for appropriate attire a thought when it came to attending parties.
I wonder if I have time to . . .
“Look, I'm sorry, Kels. With everything going on and the stadium's construction, the relocation of the team, and now this viral video . . .”
“Right, the infamous Bad Boy of Baseball himself has gotten into yet another tight spot. I've checked out the video. He definitely isn't doing you or the team any favors. Maybe you should just cut your losses, let him out of his contract? I mean from the little bit of research I did on him during the plane ride, he's injured and lost his edge.”
“You know how I hate to disagree with you, Kelsey, but I will anyway. Maverick Jansen may currently be a thorn in my ass, but he has talent, lots of it. He's coming off a rough end to
the
season and the death of his kid brother. I'm willing to ride this out, for now, but I need your super PR powers to help him. And me. What do you say?”
T.S. flashed her what she was sure was the cheesiest smile in existence.
Should she
. . .
Through the open door, his secretary cleared her throat. Twice. Kelsey sighed. Saved by the secretary.
“Yes, Lois?” T.S. turned toward his stylish, fifty-something employee.
Hmm, I wonder if she has anything I could borrow?
But her hopes were dashed when Lois answered her boss.
“Mr. Scott, Henry is waiting for you down in the garage. He has the car ready to go.”
“Thanks, Lois. Please let him know we'll be down shortly.”
“How late are we?” Kelsey asked.
Lois answered for T.S., “Thirty minutes. The reception began at five thirty. They've been expecting you for fifteen. I've had a phone call every five minutes asking for your status.” She sent them both a stern look over her glasses.
Kelsey had to turn her head away. She concealed her laugh with a pretend cough.
Good for Lois
. T.S. needed someone to keep him in line.
T.S. thanked Lois again, but before he could finish sweet-talking Kelsey into taking on his star pitcher, she cut him off.
“Listen, I appreciate you giving me this opportunity, but as I said on the phone I'm slammed with high-maintenance clients and I'm breaking in a new partner. If it was anyone else, T.S., I would have hung up the phone. So, I'll hear you out and weigh the pros and cons and then turn you down. Probably.”
She had no room in her schedule for a self-absorbed athlete who refused to help himself.
“
Kelsey, you're killing me here. I need you on this ASAP. Send Lois your invoice for the flight and I'll cover it for you. Oh, and your Social Security number. She'll set you up on the payroll tonight.”
“I haven't said I'd take the job.”
“But, you will.”
“We'll see,” she countered.
“Kelsey, name your price. I need you on this. Despite our friendship, you're the best public relations consultant I knowâ”
“I'm the only one you know.” She laughed.
“â and how you handled the drama between the Carell sisters was brilliant. I need your expertise in handling this situation. Besides, you owe me and I know you too well. You'd never turn down a friend in need.”
“I. Owe. You. Really?” Kelsey loved a good sparring match, and it'd been years since she and T.S. had gone a round. “If you're referring to the infamous double date, I'd say the statute of limitations has expired on that one. Sorry.”
“Actually I'm referring to three years ago when that Italian businessman wouldn't take no for an answer. I think I played a very convincing jealous lover, don't you?”
Kelsey snickered. T.S. did save her from an embarrassing situation, but she'd never let him know that. “If you want to convince me to help you out and take a job I'd normally never consider, you need to do better than that.”
T.S. did better than that. He used his old standby move from their childhood.
Dammit.
“
All right, all right. Stop flashing me those puppy dog eyes. Jeez, I'm hoping this isn't how you are in the boardroom. Charming the pants off your adversaries. Eww, just the thought of it gives me the heebie-jeebies.” She shivered for effect and watched him squirm at her teasing.
“So, dazzle me with your pitch, Mr. More-money-than-God.”
T.S. switched back to corporate mode and guided her toward the elevator.
“We can talk in the car and during the party. I need you to jump right in and get this situation containedâas in yesterday.”
“Now there's the all-business, no-bull billionaire CEO I know and love. Oh, and just because I'm going to this event with you doesn't mean I've agreed to anything. And, my rates will be double what they usually areâif I agree.”
T.S. ignored her comment and continued as if she hadn't spoken. “I've put a lot of my personal money behind this team, but I have investors to answer to, so getting Maverick back on track in the public's eye and on the pitching mound is my number one priority. My goal, after tonight, is that it'll become yours as well.”
“T.S., based on the video, I think it's going to take more than a few days to contain the public outrage over Maverick's remarks. Plus, there are the rumors that his problems are deeper than losing his pitching control. Any truth to his drinking getting out of hand?”
“Maybe. But I believe there's no one better than you to get my star player back in the good graces of the league and the locals. More importantly, the ticket buyers,” T.S. said.
“Thanks for the confidence, but until I can spend more time following every lead on his past, I won't know if it's possible to fix his reputation. Don't let our friendship overrule your good business sense.” Kelsey knew he wouldn't, but this was a negotiation and she rocked at negotiations.
He
continued to stare her down. Like when they argued over who was better, Superman or Batman. Superman, of course.
“T.S., I'm concerned that he fired his agent and hasn't taken any steps to respond on social media to the video. It's been ten hours since this thing exploded. And there're a dozen other questions I have that I don't think you can answer right now. More importantly, I need to figure out if your ballplayer is worth my talents and my time. So, let's get to this party you didn't tell me about. I need a drink.”
T.S. flashed her a crooked smile. “I dare you,” he challenged.
Dammit, he knew her too well. She never could turn down a dare. Secretly though, she wasn't so sure she was up to dealing with the Bad Boy of Baseball. She liked the sport, but not always the men who played it.
Kelsey ignored his dare and followed him toward the waiting limo. “So, where's the party being held?” she asked.
“At the Lakeside Resort in Coeur d'Alene. It's a short drive and after we arrive and get some drinks, we'll talk more about what I have in mind. I'll introduce you to some of the city leaders. Maybe you could field some of their concerns with Maverick blasting the city and its inhabitants?” T.S. settled back in the rich leather seat of the late model SUV. He was definitely a man used to getting his way.
Within ten minutes they'd arrived at the resort. “Thank you, Henry. I'll call you when we're ready to return to the stadium.” T.S. walked over to her side of the car and placed his hand lightly on her elbow. They began walking toward the revolving glass doors leading into the lobby of the luxury hotel.
“
You know this is plain weird, right? We've never worked together. What if it ruins our friendship?”
“We won't let it. Short of posting childhood pictures of me on Twitter, there's nothing you could do to end our friendship,” T.S. assured her.
They skirted the tiered fountain in the lobby. Kelsey noticed others on their way to the charity event in cocktail attire. She tugged at her suit jacket and wished again she'd been able to change into her favorite armorâher little black dress from Chanel.
“Well, the evening's just begun. You shouldn't have planted the idea,” Kelsey teased. “I'll help you with the locals tonight, as a friend, but that doesn't mean I've agreed to anything.”
“This isn't a job interview, Kels. As far as I'm concerned, the job's yours. I need to get you to agree to take it, friendship notwithstanding.”
“Are you sure he even wants to change? From what I've read, he quite enjoys ticking off the league and providing plenty of talking points for the news media. Not to mention his revolving stable of women.”
T.S. chuckled and placed an arm around her shoulder.
“Glad I amuse you.” Kelsey sidestepped his hug and punched him. Not as hard as she wanted, but enough to let him know she was serious.
“You know, I expected you to be equally upset with Maverick. After all, he went after you in the video too. Yet, not once have you said anything derogatory about him. Why is that?”