Page 23 of Sweet Spot

“That was against my will.” The salad went perfectly with the pasta. Why didn’t I make this more often?

“Tell me about the new job,” she sighed in defeat.

So I did. My NDA didn’t keep me from sharing that I worked for the Mantas or that I was helping the team adjust to new ownership. It was the specific details I had to keep under wraps.

“Mm. You know Shawn will want tickets. I can feel his jealousy and he doesn’t even know what you’re doing yet.”

Ellen nodded. “Dad is going to lose it. He loves the new coach.”

Allie sighed dramatically. “Cover your ears if you don’t want to hear this, baby girl, but that man is fine. I agreed willingly to watch the sports news twice this week.”

Ellen gagged.

I blanched. “Uh, yes. The new team manager is very good looking.” And the secret was out. In three, two, one…

“Oh my god! It’s him!” Her mouth hung open and her eyes turned into saucers.

I never could keep a secret after my sister put the details together. I could never, ever hide the truth when she said it out loud.

“Shawn is going to shit himself if you date Isaac Anson.”

Ellen’s eyes ping-ponged between us.

“Is it a crush? Is it mutual?” She dropped her voice to a stage whisper. “Have you kissed?”

“Yes. Yes. And no.”

She pushed her mostly empty bowl away and leaned closer. “Tell me everything.”

So for the next ten minutes I explained how we met, and then met again, how we shared dinner, and agreed to a friendly flirtation while we work together.

“You have feelings for him.”

I blushed. “I might. It feels crazy to think I might. How is that possible? We barely know each other.”

Allie tapped the table near Ellen’s hands. “Cover your ears if you don’t want to hear this, baby girl.” Then she flipped back to me. “I was so turned on the night I met Shawn. Like, whoa. Just standing near him I thought I might die. When we started talking it was clear right away we were compatible. When you know, you know.”

“I don’t think I want to come to girl’s night anymore,” Ellen whispered with a pained look on her face.

I patted her hand. “If you think this is bad, you might want to wait a few more years. Because this? This is nothing.”

“Mom,” Ellen huffed. “Why are you so weird?”

After I sent Allie and Ellen home I took a long, hot shower and began my nightly rituals of lotions, reading, and music. I really didn’t mind that Allie invaded my apartment. It was one of her quirks that made me feel loved. Especially tonight. Her reactions and advice made me realize my feelings for Isaac had been big since the moment we met. Maybe this was something special.

Time would tell.

As I slipped into bed I switched the music to a soft jazz playlist and turned the volume down low. My room was simple and tidy. It was my oasis from work so I was pretty strict about keeping the space clean and the ambiance chill. I never brought my work to bed. If I needed to work from home I did it in the kitchen or living room.

I loved to sleep, so I spent some of my hard-earned money on an expensive bed. I also spent a pretty penny on the heavy curtains that covered the windows of my room. Sometimes my sleep schedule got out of whack, depending on the requirements of the job, so it was important to me that I could close my door and curtains and sleep in the dark, day or night. Basically, my bedroom and attached bathroom were my version of a home spa.

What was Isaac’s room like? When I tried to picture it all I got was a vision of his spring training office: blank walls and dry erase boards. The chemistry between us was there, but the man truly remained a mystery to me. When I got to know him better, would the chemistry grow or would the truth snuff it out? The fact that I had no idea what would happen excited me.

Until my phone began vibrating on the bed beside me. All thoughts of Isaac vanished as I nearly jumped out of bed.

“Hello?”

“Is this Dr. Kate James by any chance?” Isaac asked.

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