Page 30 of Reckless Love

Chapter 11

It was Charley Culpepper’s big day so Leo wasn’t able to put any of his football players in an interrogation room. It was frustrating but expected. I tried to concentrate on my work but ended up spending most of my time in my office Googling ideas and scribbling in mynotebook.

Don’t worry, I write in code. If anyone found it they wouldn’t be able to decipher it unless they were a really talented code breaker. When I asked about Claudia sitting with us tonight I was informed that she had finally ended things with Seth Butler. I was happy for her but sad for me. I enjoyed going to games with her.

And yeah, I liked the nice seats.

But Leosaid he’d make it up to me. That’s all he said. I wasn’t sure if that meant I was getting an orgasm, chocolate, or box seats. When I arrived at the Mantas stadium Leo met me at the players entrance and walked me in.

“Here, put this around your neck.”

It was a new badge for tonight’s game that gave me access to just about anywhere in the stadium. “Have I mentioned how much I enjoythe perks of being your girlfriend?”

“I don’t think you have.” He grinned, waiting expectantly.

“Well I do. Very much.” I kissed his cheek and gave his ass a nice squeeze.

“Come on. Let’s see if we can distract Charley with your beauty.”

“He’s still nervous?”

“I’ve never seen anyone get it this bad.”

We found Charley puking in the locker room with Sethwatching him from a safe distance.

“I’m not a puker. I don’t know what to do with this. Chris is a puker. You want me to get him?”

I was pretty sure Seth was going to keep shrinking backward until we said yes. “That would be great if you could?”

“Yep. Yep. I can do that.” And then he ran across the locker room.

“Who’s Chris?” I was trying to keep everyone straight andlearn as much as possible in the process.

“Pitcher,” Leo said over his shoulder as he got Charley a fresh glass of water. “He pitched last night so we’re in luck.”

“I’m sorry Mr. Hancock. I just...can’t get it under control.”

Poor kid was white as a sheet and looked so very young still. He had one of those baby faces you knew was going to be drop dead gorgeous in aboutfive to ten years, but for now you kind of wanted to pinch his cheeks and give him a lollipop for good behavior.

“What have you tried so far?”

Charley blinked a few times as he focused on me. “Wow.”

Leo grimaced. “Charley this is Esme. My girlfriend. I told you about her, remember?”

I rolled my eyes and shook Charley’s limp hand. “Ignore him. He’s just marking his territory.You’re not looking so good. How can I help?”

“Stand there and smile until I have to go out there? You’re very distracting.”

Leo looked like he wanted to strangle Charley but I glared at him. “This is what you wanted isn’t it?”

“I changed my mind.”

A very handsome man in a Mantas sweater and pants sauntered up with a smile. “I hear our new kid is having some nerves.Hi, I’m Chris.”

Charley turned even whiter. “You pitched the World Series winning game,” he whispered.

Talk about star struck.

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