Betting On The Rookie. Stephanie Doyle

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СКАЧАТЬ the middle of the baseball season, Scout.”

      “And you’re my sister, Sam.”

      Right. As important as baseball was to the Bakers, family was even more important.

      “Understood. Really, it’s not like I’m curled up in ball crying my eyes out.” She had been, but that had been over a month ago. Now she was back.

      She hoped.

      “The only thing I need from you is prospects.”

      Up-and-coming baseball players were Scout’s bailiwick. Sam figured she only needed one solid prospect to sign with her to show everyone she was down but not out.

      Someone who would be okay signing with an agent who had loudly and fervently supported a man who’d turned out to be an abuser.

      Sam’s stomach rolled, and she wondered when the self-disgust would stop. When she might consider forgiving herself for trusting Richard Stanson.

      No one had believed her, of course, that she’d actually trusted him.

      Then again, no one had thought she would be so stupid as to stand in front of a room filled with reporters announcing that her client was the victim if she’d known there was video proof.

      Richard had known about the video. He’d seen the camera and had paid the hotel security person two hundred thousand dollars to erase it. Apparently that hadn’t been enough.

      She’d lost all of her female clients first. No one wanted to be associated with someone who would support a man like him. She couldn’t blame them. Then, her male clients had started to drop her, one by one. Some had been afraid of guilt by association. Others had simply had a concern about her judgment.

      In the end she’d been left with Richard, who she’d severed ties with immediately.

      He and Juliette were in counseling now. The wedding was still planned for late August.

      “I’ve got one, but I’m not sure how you’re going to feel about this.”

      Sam focused on what Scout was saying. She needed to start putting the past behind her and work on her future. This was about rebuilding, not tearing herself down just because she’d made a mistake and believed a man who lied to her.

      Twice. You’ve made that mistake twice.

      “Who? Give me a name,” Sam said, not acknowledging her own thoughts.

      “Okay, remember Evan Tanner?”

      The name sent a bolt to Sam’s stomach. It wasn’t disgust. Not fear or anxiety. If she had to label it, the closest she might have come was lust, but even that didn’t seem right.

      She’d met Evan two years ago when Scout had picked him out as a draft prospect for the New England Rebels. At the time, he’d been a twenty-seven-year-old former college football player who had just taught himself the game of baseball so he could coach a high school team.

      Evan Tanner had cost Scout her job with the Rebels; he’d been such an unlikely pick. But there was one thing Scout knew better than anyone, and that was baseball and baseball players. He’d ended up being drafted in the third round, but that was the last Samantha had heard about him. Which made sense if he was bouncing around in minor ball.

      Players didn’t make it on to Sam’s radar until they hit the majors.

      “Vaguely,” Sam said, because she in fact remembered him vividly. There had been something about him that made it hard for her to look away. It wasn’t just his straight-up good looks or his golden brown eyes. There had been something so nice about him. And when she’d given him her full ice princess shutdown when he’d flirted with her, he hadn’t seemed the least put off or intimidated.

      Everyone quaked at her ice princess face.

      “Well, guess what? He just got traded to the New England Rebels organization. He’s going to play for the Minotaurs, and while that’s just their minor league team, the talk is he’ll be playing in The Show by the All-Star break.”

      That made Sam’s jaw drop. “You’re kidding me. The team that fired you over even suggesting this guy, and they traded for him?”

      “Please, you know baseball. A lot of short memories when it comes to this kind of stuff. Especially given Evan’s talent. I’m sure Reuben had no problem spinning his way out of that even a little bit. And it’s not like Evan has a say in where he goes. He’s got to take his chances as they come. He’s blowing it up big-time in the minors, hitting over .350. Once they call him up, he’s going to need an agent. Someone ruthless, too, if he’s going to negotiate with Reuben.”

      Great, Sam thought. Her first shot at a real client, and it had to be Evan Tanner.

      “Plus, Evan owes me. I put in a good word for you, and it’s a done deal.”

      “No word!” Sam snapped. “First, I’m going to investigate the hell out of this guy, and when and only when I decide he’s worthy of my services, then I’ll do the work of landing him. It has to be that way, Scout. I can’t be taking on pity clients. That won’t accomplish anything.”

      “Okay,” Scout said, relenting. “No word from me, but it’s not like he doesn’t know who are you. You can’t help that.”

      Would he even remember her? Nearly two years seemed like a lifetime ago. A few conversations, some flirting on his part. Ice princess on hers.

      Of course he would know her by name. He would certainly know about the scandal. But that was an obstacle she was going to have to overcome with any potential client.

      I made a mistake. I believed a man. But give me one more chance, and I swear I’ll never make that mistake again.

      She was going to have to work on her pitch.

      “The Minotaurs are traveling now, so he’ll join the team on the road. But he should be back in the Falls by the end of the week. That should give you plenty of time to do your research.”

      “Thanks, Scout. This could be the break I need.”

      “No problem, and if you do sign him, please, give the New England Rebels hell for me. Take every penny out of their pocket you possibly can.”

      Sam smiled. “That I can do.”

      Sam ended the call and suddenly felt a thrill of excitement. This was it. She was back in business and on the prowl for a new client.

      Maybe she would get lucky. Maybe she would see him again and realize he wasn’t as remotely nice to look at as the last time she’d seen him. Because it wasn’t the greatest idea to be attracted to a potential client.

      Yes, she was sure her memory was exaggerated.

      After all, at the time, she thought he’d been one of the most handsome men she’d ever seen.

      That had to be wrong.

      * * *

      EVAN TANNER СКАЧАТЬ