Page 20 of The Bad Boy's Homecoming
“You don’t sound at all convincing,” Levi said.
“Why don’t I bring you a copy of the contract and we can talk about it.We can meet for drinks.”
“Unless you feel like enjoying a five-hour drive, I suggest you email me a copy.”
“Five hours?Where’d you go?”
“Home.”
“But you live downtown.”
“My hometown, where my family lives.Just send me the contract and if it’s not more of the same I’ll call you back.”
With that he hung up.Stewart had been his well-paid agent for nine years, but he could tell when he was being fed a load of BS.And he knew his agent just wanted him to play his part as baseball’s Bad Boy, and stay with Atlanta.The problem was that to his agent and the team negotiator he was just another number, another contract for them to make money off of.
After nine years, Stewart didn’t remember Levi’s hometown was along the coast in Georgia, and he didn’t care why he was now disappointed in his team.Levi realized his allegiance to Atlanta was really his love for the memory of his father.The best parts of his childhood were spent with his dad rooting for this team.He’d dreamed of playing for Atlanta one day.But he wasn’t going to pretend to be a bad guy anymore.He was positive his father wouldn’t be proud of that.
And then it dawned on him that he’d let his own reputation and drama color how he treated Missy.She was right—if his brothers trusted her why couldn’t he?Just because he’d been dealing with schemers and the type of people who used him for their own benefit, like Sara, it didn’t give him the right to assume Missy was like that.Embarrassment over how he’d behaved washed over him.Now he could add apologizing to his list of things to accomplish: find a new team, get a new contract, and eat crow by admitting he was wrong to expect the worst out of Missy.
He made his way downstairs to find his grandmother, but she was snoozing in the living room.And then his phone dinged with the notification he had a new document to review, his contract.Instead of reading it, he found himself standing in the middle of the sunroom art studio filled with new paintings.Missy must have been working on these while she was hiding out at her cousin’s the last two days.
The most interesting aspect was how different the feeling was that each piece carried.Like he had a view into her emotions throughout the day.One painting was covered in little kids’ hand prints over an old fence in the background and a rose bush with a few large, delicate blooms.Next to it was another smaller work of the ocean at night with a sky full of stars and a moody moon.Then the two pieces from the beach where he’d almost kissed her cast an initial facade of calm, but hinted at a storm brewing.And finally his red fire painting was now hung above a table where several pieces of wood sat in various shades and sizes.
“Snooping is unbecoming.”Missy’s voice sounded from the doorway.
“Do you make your own frames too?”he asked, taking the time to study the tools on the table.
She shrugged.“It’s not that hard when they’re precut to fit the canvas lengths.And they help protect the paintings when I ship them.”
He studied her.In her fresh loose-fitted dark sweater and jeans, she looked cozy and huggable.Something he couldn’t remember thinking about a beautiful woman before, but it was an undeniable craving he had every time he was around her.She looked like a woman he wanted to know better.But she turned to walk away from him before he could think of something interesting to say.Leaving him no choice but to trail after her into the kitchen.
He stopped and stood on the opposite side of the island and rested his hands on the cool butcher block.
“I want to apologize for how I’ve behaved.I shouldn’t have been so suspicious of you and I’m sorry.”
Missy was pulling things out of the fridge, then grabbed a cutting board, and a large pot, but didn’t respond.
“Will you accept my apology?”
“Sure, Mr.Hart,” she said, retrieving a peeler from the drawer by the sink, and still not looking at him.
“That doesn’t exactly sound convincing, and please don’t pull that Mr.Hart nonsense with me.”
“I’m not sure what you mean, I’m just being respectful.I’m not trying to cause any problems during your visit, and I technically work for your family.I was just going to get this soup started for your grandmother and then I’ll be out of your way.”
“You’re not in my way,” he said exasperated.“I’m trying to call a truce.”
“Okay,” she said and began peeling carrots.
“Okay.Can I help you?”
“No thank you.”
“You’re not going to relax around me?”
“I’m perfectly relaxed.”
“It doesn’t seem like it.”
