2


Grace Fitzpatrick crawled out of her car in the parking lot of Time’s Up Publications. She had a slight headache; but then again, she usually did so early in the morning. One of these days she would slow down her cocktail consumption. Today she would spend getting all of her background information on the newest pitcher that the Sunray’s had acquired from Ireland, of all places. He was a 22 year-old firecracker who was discovered quite by accident when one of the Sunray’s outfielders went on a vacation to visit friends in Dublin. She reached into her purse for her cell phone. Shit, she must have left it at home. As she passed through the front entrance of the building, her editor, Justin, accosted her.
“There’s a baseball player waiting for you in your office, and man, is he gorgeous! I might have to take up baseball games this summer…anyway, you might as well do the interview now and get your background research together later.” Great, she wasn’t remotely ready for an interview with Danny today. Why was he here today?
“You know, if you think this guy is so great, why don’t you entertain him for the rest of the morning? You never know, maybe he’s gay…that would put a whole new spin on my story.” Grace blew past Justin into her office and stopped in her tracks. Nick Blake, center fielder extraordinaire and hottest player alive was leaning against her desk with his ankles and arms crossed as if expecting her. She, for the first time in her life, was totally speechless.
“See, the craziest thing happened last night, I was gathering my friends up after you left the bar in such a rush, when a phone rang. At first I thought it was mine, but my phone doesn’t ring to the theme song from “Sanford and Son.” Charming, by the way… Anyway, I decided that it might be a good idea if I answered it. Your friend Nell is quite a gal. She’s funny! I should’ve asked her out.”
Justin drew a deep sigh, showing his disappointment. Nick continued as if he hadn’t noticed.
“Thanks Justin, but I think I can take it from here. So, Grace, is it? Yeah, we met the night of your little birthday celebration, but I sincerely doubt that you remember. And no, I’m not gay. Bye Justin.” Did he just dismiss her boss?!? Justin turned to leave, and Grace told him that she would meet him in his office in five minutes. “So here, princess, is your phone. You should really keep better track of it.” He handed her the phone, and Grace took it, never taking her eyes off him. Damn, she loved that smile! It was purely evil the way his scowls turned into teeth and lips and all of the things in between. She tried to convince herself that he wasn’t her type after all.
“Thank you so much, but you could have just left it in the lost and found. Nell would have told me.” She reminded herself to kill Nell as soon as she could. Why wasn’t she warned about this? “I’m sorry; I didn’t quite get your name?” Smooth. Don’t let him know that you’re dangerously close to being his stalker.
“Uh-huh,” he paused and raised one brow inquisitively. “Are you sure, you being a sports writer and all, that you don’t know my name? Nick Blake? Center field? No? I’m sorry; I must be too old for you to notice me. I hear you have Mick stopping by to see you tomorrow. Like ‘em young, huh?” He grinned again, and she thought she noticed a bit of cynicism in his tone.
“I’m sorry, who?”
“McNeil… Danny?” Was she stupid?
“Oh! Yes, I do indeed have an interview with him tomorrow. Speaking of which, I need to get to my editor’s office. Do you mind seeing yourself out? Thanks for bringing my phone; you really didn’t have to. It was nice to meet you, Mick. I mean Nick. I happen to be new to Seattle by nine months. I’m new to the sports world; I’m a poet, really. I’m actually a football fan, not baseball, so I’m sorry that I didn’t recognize you. I know how your major league ego must be bruised…” Did she actually just say all that? Oh my God, she had no self control! “Good day, then.” She had to get out of that office! She grabbed her laptop on the chair and left him standing there leaning against her desk, totally unaware that his smile had turned into one of his famous scowls.

Upon entering Justin’s office, she really thought that she was going to throw up. Justin stood up and smoothed his tie. She headed for his wastebasket on the side of his desk.
“Hangover, my darling?” He laughed. “Well, well, well, what have we here, a case of mistaken identity? Really, Nick… McNeil, I can never keep them straight, so sorry about that. Anyway, what a doll! Have you been a bad girl with him yet? Do tell Uncle Justin.” He was impossible. He had deliberately lied to her about who, exactly, was waiting in her office.
“Why did you do that? You know that I can’t function in front of attractive men! Why did I even bother confiding in you? Did Nell call you about this?” She wanted to punch him in the jaw, she was so mad.
“Actually, no. He did. I’ve known Nick since junior high school, silly. When you told me that you had seen a hot baseball player at Frankie’s I knew exactly who you were referring to. I just wanted to see how you would play it out, that’s all. Nell told him where you worked, so he called me to find out when you’d be in. If it makes you feel better, I’ve seen him naked, and he’s definitely worth it.”
“Worth what?”
“The hurt you’re gonna feel when he inevitably breaks your heart. Nick is a hopeless bachelor, Grace. He likes ‘em young and dumb, and quite frankly, sweetie, I’m surprised that he even seems remotely interested in you. No offense.”
“What in the hell is that supposed to mean? What do you mean you know him? Shit, Justin, you’re a bastard! I just pissed him off in there, and now he’ll never talk to me, let alone let me interview him!”
“I didn’t know you were scheduled to interview him. Listen, you’re a beautiful independent woman. You’re not his type, that’s all. And I’m deeply wounded by your remarks. By the way, you’ll never get an interview with Nick Blake. Don’t you have another story to prep for? Bye now, sweet cheeks. I’m very busy. I’ll see you at the boat at 5:30. Baby, it’s Friday night, and my newest lusty young man is going with us, so don’t be late.”
Of all the rotten things, this took the cake! How could he have played her like this? She never should have let him convince her to take this job. She knew working for him could get dicey; he was one of her best friends, after all. But how could he have hidden the fact that he knew one of the most notorious ball players in the league? He knew that if she could interview Nick, she would move up in the ranks! Sports Illustrated would take notice. At the least the local newspaper! She turned into her office and sat down to call Nell when she noticed that Nick had left his keys on the desk. Damn it. That meant he had to come back for them. She needed to get out of here. She would skip on over to Nordstrom for that make-up. That should give him enough time to grab his keys and leave the building. On the other hand, she could apologize for her earlier behavior, and ask him for an interview.

As Nick walked down the street to his car, he silently swore to himself. What the hell had just happened in there? She couldn’t possibly have shrugged him off like that! Who did she think she was, anyway? She’s the one following him with her eyes every time he moved! Oh, God, had he imagined that? He was going to have to call Justin and get the skinny on this one. No one treated Nick Blake like that. And what kind of a sports writer didn’t recognize him, anyway? Sure, Time’s Up was just a local independent entertainment magazine, but still. Was she for real? He reached into his rain jacket for his keys, and realized, with dismay, that they weren’t there. Great, he must have left them on her damned desk! He pulled his phone out to call Justin, and noticed with horror that he still had Grace’s phone. He had given his phone to Grace! Shit. The last thing he wanted to do was see her again. Damn, he was angry now. He turned into Nordstrom to see if Liz, his most recent fling, was working. She was a 24-year-old art student who loved to live on the edge of the world. She was great in the sack, and that’s really all he needed to take the edge off. He wondered if she was willing to have a quickie in a back hallway somewhere. He decided to call his cell phone to see if Grace would answer it and make arrangements to swap back through Justin. That way he wouldn’t have to see her face to face again. What did she mean “major league ego”? God, she pissed him off. He dialed his phone number. Then he heard his phone ring. In the store. As he turned, he saw her unmistakable profile at the Lancôme counter. Shit. Liz was applying lipstick onto Grace, and for a moment, he was caught up in a fantasy involving those lips somewhere else. She grabbed the phone, looking puzzled.
“This isn’t my phone…oh, great!” She looked at the incoming number and realized it was her cell number. “Hello?”
“First of all, don’t ever make insinuations about my so called major league ego, and second of all, who do you think you are, anyway, talking to someone you don’t even know like that, who, out of the kindness of his heart was doing you a favor to begin with? You really piss me off, Miss Fitzpatrick! I need my keys and my cell phone. Now.”
The now somehow seemed to brush against the back of her neck, and her hair felt like it was standing on end. She slowly turned her head around and was face to face with the man himself, and he didn’t look real happy.
“Nick! Hi! I was hoping you would come by to see me today! You want to come by my place a little later on? I have chocolate sauce…” Nick cut Liz off as if brushing away a fly.
“Not now, Liz. I need a moment with your experiment, here. Could you give us a second?” Then he realized how rude he was being, and gave her a kiss on the mouth to pacify her. Grace stared in awe. He was a pig! She was half his age! Almost.
“Here’s your stupid phone, and your keys are on my desk. Go over and get them, and please don’t come back again. You are a vile disgusting excuse for a man, and I cannot, for the life of me, understand why I was ever attracted to you in the first place. Now, before you make another scene, kindly give me my phone and leave before I yell for security!”
“Are you kidding me? You’re a real piece of work, Grace! You have this uncanny ability to piss me off at the drop of a hat, and I’ve only seen you twice! How do you do that, I wonder? It must be that hard, bitchy exterior of yours. Apparently the only way to break out of it is to have a few too many cocktails. I’ll tell you what, you keep my keys, I’m not going back to your office. Meet me at Cutters by the market at five. Bring my keys, and lighten up your attitude, would you? I need to leave now; I’m contemplating whether or not to smack your ass so hard you won’t sit for a week! That’s the least of what you deserve.” Before she could reply in disgust he turned and marched out of the store, and it was then that she realized everyone in Nordstrom was staring at her. Her cheeks flooded with heat and she shakily walked out.
Little did she know, ahead of her Nick couldn’t help but grin. He had known she was attracted to him! She probably didn’t even realize that she had blatantly let that cat out of the bag. Score a point for the man; the lady can’t beat Nick Blake. He was too good. He would charm her tonight and she would become putty in his hands, even though she is annoying as hell. He felt like he was back in Upper School. Back when he was just Nick, before the major leagues and before the so-called glamour of fame and fortune. And he liked it.