“I take it your son loves baseball as much as you do? We need to get him hooked up with some of the new Thunder merch.”
I can’t hold back my laugh at that as I realize Charlie was wearing a Vancouver Tridents hoodie when I introduced him. “I’m sure he’d love that.”
“Does he play?”
I bite my lip, struggling to decide how to respond. “He hasn’t before, because of his arm. He was born that way and struggled to find a prosthetic that would work for him. But he wants to try one now. I guess the Little League here in town offered to help adapt things for him. Do you know much about the league?”
Luca offers me a small smile. “Yeah, I played with them when I was a kid. And the current head of player development is a former player for the Tridents. We’ve chatted several times about collaboration opportunities. He’s a good guy, I’m sure he’ll do what he can to help Charlie.”
The drive to the gala only takes about twenty minutes, and the conversation between usflows the entire time. I try not to let it show how giddy I am to be in a limo, my first time ever. But when we pull up at the hotel, a part of me wishes the drive was a lot longer. Partly because of the limo, and partly so I could have more time with just Luca.
He exits the limo first, and I take his hand to get out. Even through my warm coat, I shiver when he slides it to the small of my back as he escorts me inside the Devereaux Hotel, where tonight’s event is being held.
“Rafe said we have three of the players here tonight. They’re on strict orders to smile and talk up the team alongside the animal shelter,” Luca whispers to me.
I nod, even though he’s not saying anything I didn’t already know. My mind is still struggling to catch up to the look of him, the feel of his hand in mine earlier, and the close proximity of him to me.
He takes my coat and hands it to the staff manning the coat check, then offers me his arm with a crooked smile. “Shall we?”
Part of me feels like I’ve been transported to another world. A world where Luca Calloway is flirtatious and charming, and I’m free to respond in-kind.
“We shall.” I slide my arm through his. To hell with professional boundaries. Just for tonight, I want to feel like Isla Forrester, a woman who is more than a mom, or an employee, or a marketing expert. I want to feel like someone who is beautiful and deserving of his flirting and charm. It’s not as if anything bad will come of a few smiles and my arm looped with his. And if it does, I’ll face the consequences of giving in to temptation later.
Luca collects a glass of champagne for me and a soda water for himself at the bar.
“Don’t you want a drink?” I ask after thanking him for my glass.
“I don’t like alcohol, never have,” he replies with an easy smile. “I see Rafe and the guys, shall we go and say hi?”
I file away his admission as we make our way over to the head coach, or rather the manager as Charlie corrected me. I’ve only spoken to him once or twice but he seems quite nice. He’s standing with three men who are clearly the players, seeing as I recognize one of them.
“Luca, Isla, good to see you,” he says warmly. “Isla, have you met these three?” He gestures to the other men. “Griff, Foxxy, and Cal have all been playing for the Thunder for several years.”
“Hey Cal,” I say, smiling at Juniper’s friend. “Good to see you again.”
Luca interjects with a chuckle. “Is Cal how you knew so much about my plans at the interview? Insider information?”
I lift my shoulders. “Maybe.” He shakes his head with a soft smile as I turn and take the hand of the first player, who gives me a charming smirk.
“Griffin Voss. You’re the marketing boss, right? Didn’t realize you knew Pretty Boy.” He tilts his head at Cal and I smother my laugh.
“Pretty Boy?” I look at Cal, who rolls his eyes.
“Don’t tell Juniper.”
I smirk. “We’ll see.” Then, looking back to Griffin, I nod. “To answer your question, yes, I’mthe marketing consultant. Thanks for coming tonight. It helps to have you three here, putting a face to the team.”
“Happy to oblige.” The other player I don’t know steps forward with a grin. “I’m Denver Foxx, but everyone calls me Foxxy.” He jerks his thumb at Griffin. “I pitch, and Griff tries to catch my strikes when he can.”
“Whatever,” Griffin scoffs, but my smile grows warmer at their easy friendship.
We chat with the guys for a few more minutes before sending them off into the crowd to mingle. Luca stays by my side, escorting me around the room as we meet a few more people, including the mayor of Dogwood Cove, a man named Ethan, who’s surprisingly young for someone to have been mayor for as long as he has. His wife, Summer, a stunning blonde, tells me she runs a beachfront resort. A romantic weekend getaway for two is up for auction, and she looks between Luca and me with a knowing smile.
“I think you’d really enjoy it.”
Before I can correct her on our relationship, Luca cuts in smoothly. “We’ll check it out, thank you.”
We move on, meeting more Cedar Creek locals. I’m pleasantly surprised by how many people seem excited to hear of Luca’s plans for the Thunder.
