Page 1 of Crazy for the Coaches

Chapter One

Mandy

Oh, Eli. What have you done?

My brother bought into a new minor league team he couldn’t really afford. Being a partner in a small sports management company meant he was successful and had a comfortable income. When the deal to bring a new minor league team to Hopeton almost fell through when one of the potential owners passed away, he stepped in.

And stepped in it, I thought, getting an Advil out of my purse after the most recent owner and managers meeting. It was April, and we still needed to sign more players. This week, Eli’s firm locked down a couple of coaches, who promised to help find players. I couldn’t see how it was all going to happen.

I headed out to my used Honda in the stadium parking lot. Why did I agree to help him?

I’d graduated with my MBA in January and had planned to interview with companies in downtown Chicago and find a place to live down there. Eli begged me to spend a couple of years helping him with the team. So, I was on my way about an hour south to get the new coaches to sign.

When I found the diner they suggested for our meeting nearly in the middle of a cornfield, I began to seriously question my decision to stay in Hopeton with the team. I liked busy cities, action, companies, deals. I’d envisioned myself working in marketing or finance, my two areas of specialty for my MBA.

“Hi, we still have some seats at the bar.” A tiny woman with silver white hair in a bun and a pressed old fashioned server uniform looked around the crowded diner.

Where did everyone come from? I wondered. There were a few more shops in the strip mall, and the community college was down the road in a smallish town, but otherwise there weren’t many signs of life.

“I’m here to meet two men?” My heart stopped and started again, faster as I took in the two handsome men waving over at me. I’d let my blonde wavy hair hang down my back after the meeting, and wore a short-sleeved white blouse and pink jeans.

“I’m with them, but thank you.” I smiled at the woman.

She grinned. “Go girl! I’m hoping we will soon become like Hopeton.”

I puzzled over that for a minute, then realized what she meant. The town where I’d gone to college and grad school for the past five years was known for its menage and poly marriages. It was an actual industry in the town, with wedding venues, flower shops, and more.

“You must be Mandy,” a model-handsome African-American with a nearly shaved head stood up and let me slide in first into the seat.

“You’re Aaron.” I knew Aaron had injured his knee and shoulder playing baseball for a Texas team the year before. I could tell he kept his leg stretched out into the aisle of the restaurant.

“And I’m Steve.” Steve’s smile lit up his handsome face as he reached across the table to shake my hand. I nearly knocked over the water glass as I enjoyed the feel of his firm grip.

“Thanks for meeting me,” I said.

“We’ll head out there this weekend to move into our townhome. We want to be at practices starting next week.” Aaron said. He pulled out a tablet and I could see a checklist on it.

A man after my heart for sure, I thought, as I pulled out my tablet in its pink cover and opened to the same app.

He glanced at me and smiled. “A woman after my own heart.”

“Oh boy. Won over by your to do list. I don’t have a chance,” Steve said, his loud laugh booming through the restaurant.

It made me want to join in.

“So, that’s it then. Do you have questions for me? Or for Eli, that I could pass along?” I closed the files on my tablet after they added their electronic signature and I’d sent them off by email.

Steve leaned back and looked at Aaron for a long moment. “Are you busy tonight?”

An hour later, we were at a community college ballgame. I was still full from the amazing club sandwich and lemon meringue pie they’d talked me into at the diner, but they’d still bought me chips and a bottled water at the game.

“How can you watch a game without snacks?” Steve asked.

“You two don’t look like you snack too much,” I said, though Steve had nachos and Aaron had a hot dog.

I wasn’t sure what they’d meant when Aaron asked me if I was free, but my cheeks heated quickly when I thought they’d been asking me out. Both of them. Either I’d been reading too much erotic romance lately or I was seriously attracted to them. Both of them.

“Here he comes now.” Steve pointed.

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