Page 3 of Scoring in Cedarwood

“Ah.” Good to know. He wasn’t looking for a boyfriend and preferred knowing Devlin wasn’t trying to hook him up. Still, he couldn’t shake his irritation with Devlin. Why hadn’t his friend told him about butting into the relationship with Phillip? Why keep his intrusion quiet for so long? He appreciated Devlin caring enough to get him out of a bad situation, but he could’ve said something.

“Well?” Devlin pointed to the tablet screen. “Tanner?”

“What do I have to do?” He couldn’t believe he’d capitulated. Then again, he hadn’t seen much of a reason to say no.

“Feed him, give him a place to stay and be supportive. That’s it. If you want, we have an app that shows you how he’s playing and when he’s in a game.” Devlin grinned. “He’s got his own transportation, so you don’t have to drive him anywhere.”

He should consider this decision longer with careful, thoughtful musing. He wasn’t one for snap decisions. “Sure.” Had he just agreed? So much for considering his options and thinking this through. According to Devlin’s widening grin, he’d not only agreed but must’ve looked pleased, too. Well, shit.

“I’ll give him your address and he’ll report to you tonight.” Devlin shook Dane’s hand. “You won’t regret it.”

“How can I? If this is as painless as you claim, I should be fine.” He stifled a groan. He’d just optioned to have a minor league baseball player live with him. He liked the sport and always wanted to play, but never thought he’d sponsor a member of the team. His fellow doctor at the medical group, McCormack Stevens, loved baseball. He should be the one sponsoring a player. He’d been the one to suggest the practice put their money and name into the team. He probably already had a player living with him, but still.

He shook hands with Devlin. “He’ll be at my house tonight?”

“Yes. I’ll send the information to you both. He’ll learn about you and you’ll know everything about him. Deal?” Devlin asked. “It’s a good pairing. You’ll temper him and he’ll bring you out of yourself.”

“Yeah.” Hadn’t Devlin said something about them not dating? If he was going to be good for Tanner and vice versa, there had to be more than just living together involved and that was off limits. Still, he couldn’t tamp down his giddiness. “I’ll look for the email.” He’d just opted to take in a baseball player.Swell.

* * * *

Tanner drove like hell. He had twenty minutes to reach the baseball complex before the offices closed for the evening.Jesus.Why had he been traded? He’d been just fine in Chicago. Okay, so he hadn’t gone to Chi town, but there wasn’t much wrong with Gary, Indiana, was there? He’d been happy. After a few more games, he’d be able to prove to the head honchos he belonged at the next level.

Instead, he’d been traded. He’d hit a skid in his batting average and his numbers had slipped. The downturn wouldn’t be forever. He knew that to his core. Baseball was his life. He couldn’t do anything else. His college degree had been worthless because he’d spent more time practicing than studying in the classroom. He should’ve been able to step into a broadcast booth and dissect the game, but no. He had no idea what to do once he got there. His coaches had him passed so they could keep him on the team. Not exactly ethical, but back then he hadn’t worried about ethics. Baseball was in his blood. But now the owner of the Yellow Jackets knew the only thing he could do was play ball.

What his former owner thought didn’t matter. Now he belonged to the Cedarville Wildcats.

Tanner knew nothing about Ohio. What was in the state? So far, all he’d seen were cornfields, barns and cattle. Oklahoma had all those things, too. What made this state different? Nothing. He groaned. The longer he spirited down the road, the more it felt like being lost in the middle of nowhere.

He spotted a sign in the distance.

Cedarwood, Crestline and Danbury. Exit 1 Mile.

He was close.Good.At the exit, he left the freeway and turned north in the direction of the sign for Cedarwood. He still had ten miles to go. He thunked his head on the seatback when he reached the stop sign.Christ.Ten miles seemed like an eternity. If he ever arrived in Cedarwood, he’d take a long nap.

His phone rang. He tapped the button on the stereo display to connect the call and set it to speaker. According to the ID, Devlin Chase was on the line. Devlin Chase owned the Cedarwood Wildcats and had his hands in every facet of the running of the team.Shit.He had to pay attention and be professional.

“Mr. Chase,” Tanner said. His hands shook on the wheel. “How are you?”

“I’m great. You?” Devlin asked.

“I’m doing well.” He turned right onto the two-lane road. “I’m about seven miles out. I should be at the offices soon.”

“Good. When you reach the outskirts of town, let me know. I’ve got directions for you,” Devlin said. “I’ve also secured you a sponsor.”

“You did?” He hadn’t expected that. He’d struggled to find a sponsor in Gary. No one wanted to open their home to a traveling baseball player. Instead, he’d spent the last six months lying about his home situation and working enough hours each week at an Italian restaurant to make the rent. He’d barely slept and all his money went to his housing situation or baseball. He snorted. His money and work situation had to be the root of his hitting issues.

“Tanner?”

Shit.He was still on the phone with Devlin. “Sorry. I’m driving. So I have a sponsor?”

“You do. He’s a doctor.”

“Doctor? An older guy?” The man had to be older. Tanner didn’t know any young medics. “Will he be a creeper?”

“No,” Devlin said. “I think you’ll like him. He’s a few years older than you, but not by much. He’s a silver fox, though, and I know him personally. You should get along without incident.”

Fuck me.He was going to hate this. “You know him. Are you kidding me?” The Fox with a silver fox? The pairing would never work. He’d rather be sponsorless than the object of ridicule on the team. “Maybe there’s someone better.”

---