Page 33 of The Perfect Catch

Cal stopped again. There was no way the guy would go to that level of trouble unless he knew full well he’d be running his own team again soon.

“Meaning he might lobby his new general manager to sign me if he firms up a deal with a team.” Many teams didn’t allow the manager to make those kinds of personnel decisions, but sometimes wily veterans made those picks part of their negotiations for the job. It wasn’t uncommon for a new manager to lobby for assistant managers or trainers so they could surround themselves with a staff they knew would work well together.

But it was less likely Dusty would have that kind of sway for anyone in the lineup.

“I’m sure he’s already solidified an agreement with a team if he made that call to me—it just hasn’t been made public yet for whatever reason,” Dex confirmed, the siren in the background fading. “My guess is that he’s headed to Oakland since I can see that front office giving him a little more wiggle room to make suggestions for the lineup.” Dex delved deeper into the West Coast team’s inner workings, but Cal was already thinking about what a move like that would mean for him personally.

A whole hell of a lot.

There was a chance his career wasn’t ending this season. An opportunity to make a difference to a team with the only real skill he possessed. He took another bite of his peach, already committing himself to a longer run. He could still keep his word to make Josie a late breakfast. Only now, he’d have good news to share.

“So what does your gut say?” he asked Dex, a new spring in his step as he walked through the quiet old orchard. “How soon do you think we’ll hear the news that Dusty signed on to manage a club?”

He didn’t ask the other question that he really wanted an answer to—how much longer would it be until Dusty’s new team contacted Cal’s agent?

“I would think we’ll hear the announcement within a few days—a week at the very most.” Dex hesitated. “After that, I would hope we’d hear from the new management within twenty-four hours.”

Right. Which meant if three days went by with no word from the team, Cal wasn’t getting an offer. He appreciated the agent’s candor.

“Thanks, Dex.” Cal was ready to disconnect when the next words stopped him.

“One more thing, Cal,” Dex added, lowering his voice as the background noise faded completely. Perhaps he’d stepped indoors. “This probably goes without saying since you’ve never been outspoken with the media or inclined to get into trouble, but you’re aware Dusty is a very straight arrow who doesn’t appreciate bad publicity, right?”

“Very aware.” Cal laughed, remembering the way the old-school manager ran a team. “As someone raised under the Clint Ramsey school of discipline, that won’t be a problem.”

Cal had learned early not to put a toe out of line with his father. Dusty had been vocal about appreciating what Cal brought to the clubhouse the last time he’d played for the manager. He was a stabilizing influence for the younger guys. He’d never minded that role since it was the same one he’d always had in his own family.

Ending the call, Cal put his earbuds back in and continued his run, more optimistic than he’d been in a month. But even as he looked forward to hearing from a new team, he selfishly hoped that call wouldn’t come for two more weeks.

Because as much as he wanted to get back to his game, he wanted Josie too. It surprised him to realize just how much.

*

Waking to thescent of bacon from the kitchen, Josie stretched sleepily, thinking a woman could get used to this. Great sex with a thoughtful, caring man, followed by sleeping late and having breakfast prepared for her. She jumped in the shower before padding back to her own bedroom to find clean clothes.

By the time she went downstairs, Cal was pouring them both coffee, two places set at the table in the breakfast nook. The simple white farmhouse china was pretty against a gingham tablecloth, reminding her how little energy she’d put into feeding herself for the past two months. Between trying to live frugally, and not wanting to use too many of Hailey Decker’s things, Josie had tended to eat fresh fruit and vegetables at the bar. But clearly, Cal wanted to have a nicer meal than that. His hair was damp, his broad shoulders filling out a well-worn T-shirt. A pair of faded jeans rode low on his hips.

A thrill shot through her as their gazes connected. Distractedly, she greeted the dogs as they circled her, tails wagging.

“Good morning,” Cal greeted her, setting down the coffeepot to pull her against him.

He kissed her thoroughly, long enough to make her forget about breakfast.

“I hope you’re hungry,” he said into her ear before he pulled away.

“Definitely.” She couldn’t hide the pleasurable shiver that went through her even as she remembered some of the things she’d been worried about last night.

She’d been so focused on the scent of bacon and the happiness of going to sleep in Cal’s arms the night before, she hadn’t given any thought to the fact that her cover might be blown in Last Stand. What if someone from her hometown had seen the image of her with Cal? A knot of worry pulled tight in her belly as Cal pulled out her chair for her and then took the seat across the table.

“I had some potentially encouraging news this morning,” he told her, passing her the platter of scrambled eggs while he helped himself to the bacon.

“Really?” She wondered what it would be like to have a normal relationship with a good man like Cal Ramsey.

Did other people sit across the breakfast table and talk about what was going on in their lives? It must be nice to have someone to share things with. To not feel like there were too many secrets to keep all the time.

Josie had spent so much of her life hiding the ugliness of her mother’s landlord practices from the tenants and—conversely—hiding all the work she did for the tenants from her mother. She hadn’t realized how thoroughly the stress had exhausted her until she’d come to Last Stand and had time away from it. Her stomach hadn’t stopped churning for two weeks.

“My agent called to let me know one of my old managers—a guy who thought well of me—is being hired by one of the major league teams.” He exchanged his platter of bacon for the eggs and kept filling his plate.

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