Page 11 of Off the Hook

Abbey held Luke’s hand as they rode in the stretch limousine to Stryker Field. Luke’s grandfather Bradford had started the Chicago Cobras in 1927, and one day, Luke would own the entire organization. It was crazy to think about. He’d be a billionaire, but was most likely already well on his way.

Darren sat across from them reading the Wall Street Journal. While she and Luke had been getting ready, Darren had let himself in and had started preparing breakfast. He’d been nice and hadn’t asked about what they’d done the night before or their sleeping arrangements. She’d appreciated that.

At Luke’s insistence she’d called her father to assure him she was fine and she’d see him after dinner. Out of respect, so her parents wouldn’t worry, not because she was a child. He’d been so grateful that she’d felt bad for not wanting to call in the first place. She vowed to be more considerate of her parents’ feelings from now on. They were doing their best. Their kids were growing up, and they were trying to adjust. She needed to give them a break.

Darren folded his paper and regarded Luke seriously. Luke squeezed her hand. She wondered if Darren was upset with them after all and was waiting for the right moment to yell at them.

“Son, I need your best on the field today. We’ll make decisions based on what we see from you,” Darren informed Luke.

Butterflies raced around in Abbey’s stomach. This was it. Career make or break time for Luke. It was both scary and exciting.

“You’ve always had my best. Since Little League. You know that,” Luke assured his uncle.

Darren smiled warmly at his nephew, showing off the Stryker family dimples. “And this is truly what you want? Arealmajor league baseball career, taking it to the next level. And then after you retire from baseball, you inherit the entire organization, including the real estate holding company. The family legacy.Yourlegacy.”

Oh my God.She couldn’t imagine what Luke must be thinking or feeling. Her heart raced two hundred miles an hour. So much pressure and he was only twenty years old. He squeezed her hand assuredly and rubbed his thumb along the top, sending shivers up and down her spine. Luke seemed as calm as could be.

“Yes, sir,” Luke replied without hesitation.

Pride shone on Darren’s face as he nodded. “All right. Let’s make it happen.”

Twenty minutes later, Abbey sat right behind home plate, vibrating with excitement. Darren and Luke had given her a quick tour of the stadium. They had modernized the facility with new seating, restrooms, outdoor lighting, and the works. At capacity it held forty thousand fans, not including the VIP box seats.

It was a lovely late June morning. The sun was out, the grass was freshly cut, the birds were chirping, and there was a light breeze coming off Lake Michigan. She’d been given a Cobras cap and jacket to wear. Darren had left her alone for a few minutes while he took care of some business.

Some creepy guy with a briefcase, a bad comb-over, and Cobras jersey that was too tight took a seat near her. “Who the hell are you?” he barked out.

Abbey stiffened. Where was Darren? She had a bad feeling about this guy. “I’m Abbey. I’m Luke’s woman,” she replied, owning it.

The creep’s mouth fell open, and his face turned beet red. “You’re shitting me. Did you fuck him? You better have used a fucking rubber. Christ, this is all we need. We don’t have time for this shit. Fuck!” He dug around in his briefcase and produced some kind of document and shoved it at her along with a pen. “Sign this NDA.”

What was wrong this guy? And who was he? Abbey looked down at the paperwork, unsure of what to do. Non-disclosure Agreement was clearly indicated at the top.

“It means when it comes to Luke or anything to do with the Cobras organization you keep your fucking mouth shut. Got it?” the creep said.

“Don’t sign that, Abbey. What the hell is wrong with you, Earl?” Darren asked, appearing suddenly in the row behind her with another man wearing Cobras’ gear.

Abbey shoved the paperwork back at Earl, relieved Darren was back. She trusted this Earl guy as far as she could throw him.

“I’m doing my job, Darren. That’s what you pay me for,” Earl, the creep answered back, shoving the NDA back in his briefcase and slamming it shut.

Darren and who she believed was the Cobras’ team manager sat down behind her. “Abbey dear, don’t signanythingrelated to Luke or the team unless Luke or I arewithyou. Understand?”

Abbey nodded. She understood completely. Earl the creep couldn’t be trusted.

“We’re letting Luke practice a bit. Then we’re playing an entire game, with Luke pitching. We brought in some recently retired players and our best from the Windy City Rattlers in Vegas,” Darren explained.

Abbey nodded and moved so she sat beside Darren. He winked, his bright blue eyes sparkling, so similar to Luke’s. He’d suffered such a loss, losing his parents when he was ten, but he was also lucky to have his uncle.

She was breathless with excitement as the players took to the field. She grabbed Darren’s hand, and he squeezed, not seeming to mind. Suddenly AC/DC’s “Thunderstruck” began to play as Luke strutted onto the field, looking gorgeous in his Cobras’ uniform. Like a star. He took her breath away.

From Luke’s confused expression, he wasn’t sure what to make of it at first, but when his face broke out into a huge smile, Abbey jumped up from her seat and waved. Luke waved back and flexed his bicep. She giggled and shook her head.

“We don’t have time for this shit, Darren. What’s with ‘Thunderstruck’? Not that I mind. It’s a great idea, actually,” Earl conceded.

“Shut up, Earl. Luke’s girl is here. Give him a break. Giving Luke an intro song was Abbey’s idea,” the team manager replied smugly.

Earl grunted.Screw him and his crappy attitude.Abbey sat back down, and Luke and the team got down to business. Two people were in place to monitor and record Luke’s pitching speed.

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