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Amanda tried to push out of Brad’s arms but he held her steady. “Whoa. What’s wrong?”
She stared at his chest. “Our circumstances are different. L.A. Woman offered me a job. I might take it.”
“But then you wouldn’t travel with the team.”
“No, but I’d work from home and have the freedom to cover any story I wanted to.”
“You wouldn’t have an excuse to be around the team.”
“We wouldn’t have to hide.” She went on to explain the offer in more detail.
When she’d finished, Brad studied her several seconds. “We’ll work things out no matter which job you choose. Promise me you’ll base the decision on what you want, not on what you think best suits our relationship. This is your dream. I have mine. We’ll work out the rest.”
“Brad—”
“Promise me. We will find a way to be together no matter what.”
Amanda didn’t know what to say. She’d never been with a man who didn’t put his needs first. That Brad worried over her career mattered more than she could find the words to say. “Thank you, Brad.”
“For what?”
“For caring.”
“Don’t thank me for that because I can’t help myself.” He pulled her close, his chin settling on her head. “Ah, baby, you don’t get it yet. But you will. I’m going to make sure you do.”
23
THE LAST-MINUTE press conference inside the airport was winding down. Amanda, Jack, Tony and his coach had fielded questions from about forty reporters and cameramen. Amanda was often pitted against Jack, questioned about their conflicting stories printed in that morning’s papers.
Tony’s negative test results in her feature had offset the demand Jack had made in his piece for more drug testing. Her feature had been picked up in some of the biggest cities in the United States. She’d saved Tony’s career and made her own.
A voice over the intercom announced the Rays’ flight would leave in fifteen minutes. Weather delays had grounded their flight for several hours past their scheduled departure. Amanda was more than a little glad she was taking a later flight.
She worked her way through the crowd toward Reggie. She found him chatting with Brad. Under other circumstances she would worry about these two coming in contact. Today she was riding a career high and couldn’t be bothered. Let people find out about her and Brad.
Brad’s gaze touched hers as she approached. In his favorite faded jeans and a Rays’ shirt and Windbreaker, he looked good-ol’-boy yummy and she couldn’t wait to get him alone and strip him naked.
Eager to whisper her naughty thoughts in his ear, Amanda quickened her steps, only to be cut off by Jack. “I guess we both won this one.”
“How’s that, Jack?”
“Fox News called. They want us both on their show. The two competitors battling for victory.”
“I’m not interested,” she said. It was true. She didn’t want to fight him. She wanted the job at L.A. Woman. “You can have the glory all by yourself.”
He arched his eyebrow. “I see. You want the spotlight all by your lonesome or not at all.” He shrugged. “You’ll never beat me, Amanda. You might keep up, but you’ll never take the lead.”
“I don’t want the lead. You win.” She started walking, focused on reaching Brad’s side.
“Amanda!”
She looked right to see Tony approach. He held out his hand and she shook it.
“Thank you,” he said. “What you did saved my ass.”
Amanda grinned. “This didn’t exactly work out badly for me, you know.”
“Hey, Amanda.” Casey joined them.
Though the rookie still got on her nerves, after interviewing him she’d decided he wasn’t all that bad. He talked big but she suspected that covered insecurities, rather than representing true arrogance.
“My agent got a call from Sports Illustrated,” he said. “They read your feature and took interest. Looks like I might just make the cover.”
“That’s huge,” Amanda said, excited for him. “Congratulations.”
“Yeah, man,” Tony added, patting the kid’s back. “We’ve had our words, but you have talent. Good things come when it’s time.”
“You think I have talent?”
“Of course, I do. We all do, kid. But you gotta give respect where it’s earned.”
“I deserve respect, too,” Casey said. “You guys act like Brad is the only pitcher on this team.”
Amanda and Tony both answered at the same time. “That’s not true.”
Casey made another smart remark and Amanda decided she’d had enough. “I need to go.” She turned to walk away.
“Damn, she’s hot,” Casey said. “I’d want her even if I hadn’t bet Rogers I’d get her first.”
Amanda stopped dead in her tracks, her gut balling into a tight knot. She rotated on her heels and faced him. “What?”
Tony touched her arm. “It’s not what you think.”
Amanda ignored Tony, focusing on Casey. “Did you make a bet with Brad over me?”
“No. Of course not.”
His expression said he was lying. She felt as though she would be sick. Brad used her to win a bet? “You did,” she said. “I heard you. You said you bet Brad who could get with me first.” She didn’t wait for an answer as she searched for Brad.
