Dropped Third Strike (Portland Pioneers #1) (4 page)

“I’m not surprised you landed here, in the front office,” Reid said. “You always did know your baseball.”

Kate smiled politely at the compliment and took a seat behind her desk, glad to give her shaky knees a break and put something of a barrier between herself and Reid. He sat down opposite her, folding his six-foot-four frame into the plush grey suede chair. He had filled out more since high school, unsurprisingly, but otherwise, Reid still looked like the same boy Kate had noticed on their high school diamond. And he appeared every bit as calm as she wished she felt.

“Thanks for coming out on such short notice,” Kate said.

“Not a problem. I’m technically unemployed, so I suddenly have a lot of free time on my hands.”

He said it lightly, but Kate didn’t miss the underlying hint of rejection and disappointment. The sympathy she’d tried to eliminate earlier in the day snuck up on her again. She did her best to keep it out of her face though. In her mind, he still didn’t deserve it.

“I’m sure you won’t stay jobless for long, which is why I insisted on bringing you here today,” Kate said. “As you know, I’m interested in seeing how you might fit in as hitting coach for our organization. Have you given much thought to the idea of coaching?”

“Sure, but I thought those days were a few years down the road,” he said. “I’ll be honest and tell you I’d rather be playing. But since that doesn’t seem to be an option right now, I guess I’ll be happy if I can just stay involved with the game. Baseball is all I know.”

“You have a degree in business though,” Kate said. “At least you have that to fall back on.”

Kate had been impressed that Reid held a degree. He’d had a chance to enter the draft midway through college, but he’d waited. By the time he graduated, he’d also raised his draft stock. Not many pro athletes put their education first, and it made her respect him more, despite her reservations.

“True, but I don’t want to fall back,” Reid said. “I want to move forward.”

Blunt. To the point. Typical Reid.

“Do you think being a hitting coach would qualify as moving forward?” she asked.

Reid paused for a moment, clearly considering her question. Kate waited as he appeared to weigh the option in his mind. This gave her more time to study him, which wasn’t necessarily a good thing, although it wasn’t wholly unpleasant. His dishwater blonde hair looked the same as it had in high school – buzzed on the sides and slightly longer on top. The ends were blonder than the roots, and Kate couldn’t decide whether it was obtained from a salon or the sun. His seemingly permanent tan complemented his eyes, which were a color that could only be described a hazel, though Kate thought that label failed to do them justice. Indeed, they did look hazel from a distance, but anyone fortunate enough to get close enough to him would see they were actually golden brown rings with the faintest flecks of green. She remembered the first time she had looked into those eyes up close. She was pretty sure she’d melted on the spot. And he had seemed completely unaware. That was a long time ago, but the youthful sparkle still seemed to be there as she looked at him now, and that surprised her. Knowing what he’d been through over the years – to say nothing of the professional setback that brought him to her office today – she would have expected that sparkle to be missing. She wondered how he kept it around.

“I don’t know,” he said, abruptly ending her study of him. “It’s not necessarily a step back. The position would be an honorable one, but playing again is going to be my ultimate goal.”

“If you don’t mind me asking, do you have reason to believe another team might pick you up right now?”

He shrugged. “I haven’t heard anything from my agent, if that’s what you’re after. In fact, when I told him about your call, he told me I should give it serious consideration. He thinks this would be a great move for me.”

“I believe it would be too,” Kate said. “But I also need to know why you would be a great move for this team and, specifically, our offense.”

“I’m glad you asked that,” Reid said. “I pulled last season’s batting stats and studied them on the flight. We both know stats don’t tell the whole story, but they can at least give an outline. I’m also familiar with your former hitting coach and his style. That fills in a few more gaps for me. He seemed to focus on a lot of power and big home runs. Your players embraced that, but they also struck out a lot. I would like to see if we can get them to take more walks and be more selective about the pitches they go after. Obviously, I say this without watching any film of the team, and it’s been two years since I’ve seen the Pioneers in interleague play, but I think it’s a good start.”

Kate nodded. Reid’s insights weren’t earth-shattering, but he had hit some very key points, which showed he had done his homework. Also, it wasn’t so much what he said, but how he said it. He had a confidence in his words and yet didn’t claim to know all the answers without further investigation. Kate knew from experience that Reid would take his research on the offense seriously. He hadn’t necessarily been at the top of his class in academics, but when it came to baseball, he was a top scholar.

The interview lasted a full hour, and Kate learned more about Reid’s work with the college players as well as the different methods he tried in attempt to repair his own batting woes. She could tell the latter was a tough subject for him and clearly something he thought about often. Maybe too often. Perhaps that was his problem, but Kate knew no one could tell a baseball player he was thinking too much; he had to figure it out and loosen up on his own.

Throughout the interview, Kate felt her calm returning, and she was all business. Discussing baseball had corralled her nerves and kept her thoughts from drifting to her history with Reid. Then again, baseball had always been a safe subject for them. As long as they both stuck to that, they’d be fine. Kate shook his hand to close the interview, and as they walked to the door, she told him she expected to make a decision quickly.

“Great,” Reid said. “And since I’m in town for the night, maybe we could get dinner.”

“Excuse me?” Kate said, caught off-guard by his suggestion.

“I know there’s a possibility that you’ll be my boss soon, but what would be the harm in two old friends having dinner?” he asked.

Talk about a loaded question.

The interview was one thing – but dinner for two was a completely different story. They were so much more than simply “old friends” and he knew it. She wasn’t sure she could keep her serene façade in check in a social setting, and she definitely didn’t want to unlock an emotional flood – a very real risk where he was concerned.             

“No harm,” Kate said, even though it felt like a lie. “But I have a lot to do. I need to go over my notes from our interview, make a few calls, and finalize some details for Fan Fest. I’m not sure I’ll get off work in time for dinner.”

Work was her standby out, always there to help her in uncomfortable situations. And this most certainly qualified as uncomfortable.

“I understand,” he said with a shrug. “With the time change and the travel, I’m pretty beat. I plan to catch a nap, so I probably won’t eat until around eight. If you change your mind, give me a call.”

“Sure thing,” Kate said, opening the door to let him out.

“It was good seeing you, Katie,” Reid said, offering his killer smile.

Kate did her best not to show how the familiar nickname shook her as she merely nodded in response. He waved to her assistant and continued on down the hall. Just before stepping into the elevator, he turned and smiled back at her. Kate struggled to make a quick retreat into her office without blushing or scurrying away like a scared mouse. Behind her closed door, she fanned her face, but the heat wasn’t due to his smile or even the warmth of his hand enveloping hers in greeting and departure.

He’d called her “Katie.”

There it was.

Katie.

No one called her that.

Except Reid.

What’s more, the familiar nickname rolled off his tongue with such ease, you’d never know he hadn’t used it in years. She sat down at her desk and stared down at his stat sheets and the notes she’d taken during phone conversations with his references, the closest thing to a résumé she had. With great effort, she tried to re-focus on why Reid had just been in her office. The Pioneers needed a hitting coach, and despite her personal issues with him, Reid would be a very good fit. With a sigh, she began drafting a formal offer to e-mail to Reid and his agent. The one-year contract was decent but the salary was nowhere near what Reid was used to making. It also included a clause about his alcohol use. The contract could be voided if he was intoxicated in public or behaved in a way that would embarrass the organization. The team’s legal counsel flinched a little when she added it but assured her it wasn’t illegal. As badly as they needed a hitting coach, she also wanted to protect the team’s investment. She hoped Reid wouldn’t balk at the stipulation.

James Scott was thrilled when he called to check in on Kate and learned of her progress. He had expected her to drag her feet on even contacting Reid, so he was surprised she was acting so fast. He had done a bit of his own research on Reid, and he believed the signing would be huge for the organization. Not only would Reid satisfy the hitting coach role, but he would also bring some publicity to the team, something James was always trying to generate. He didn’t even try to mask his excitement about the new hitting coach, and he kept Kate on the phone for even longer than usual. It was one of the more pleasant conversations they’d had recently though, so she didn’t mind one bit. She soaked in his praise, letting it make up for all the pressure he’d been putting on her in recent months.

By the time Kate finally hung up with the owner, Reid’s agent had responded. He was happy with the contract and had already conveyed his opinion to Reid. Now, Kate just had to wait for a call from the man, himself. This certainly wasn’t the first time she’d been in this position.

Not by a long shot.

Chapter Two

Reid Benjamin had caught Katie Marks’ eye with the ease of tracking down a routine fly ball. It just took a bit longer – and a bold move on her part – for him to notice her. A senior in high school with scholarships on the line, he was too busy working on his bat speed and keeping his grades above water to pay much attention to the quiet brunette who sat in the front row next to the dugout at every home game.

Even if he had noticed her sooner, Reid probably would have written her off as another jersey chaser. Sure, he’d enjoyed the attentions from a number of those girls, but he never let any of them get too close. He found them to be a distraction. Reid, and others, noticed that his batting average took a bit of a dip whenever he was involved with a female. Even in high school, he couldn’t afford that. His athletic talents would earn him the opportunity to be the first member of his family to go to college. Several college coaches had watched him and visited him over the last few years. A few pro scouts had come and gone as well. They all agreed he had talent, but the consensus was that a season or two of college ball would best benefit him, an opinion that pleased his parents.

Sam and Kathy Benjamin were certainly proud of their son’s athletic accomplishments, but they longed to see Reid earn a college degree. He knew it, and he felt an obligation to give them that since he’d been the reason neither of them had a degree. His parents’ educational journeys had been cut short when Kathy became pregnant during their junior year of high school. Thanks to night classes and help from their parents, they both finished high school, but medical bills from Reid’s premature arrival had eaten up every extra penny they had, eliminating their already dwindling post-secondary options. Both had worked hard to provide Reid a comfortable childhood, and a college degree would be the culmination of their dreams for him.

But school didn’t come easily to Reid. He had to work twice as hard as many of his classmates to pull a low B average. Early in the fall semester of his senior year, Reid found himself struggling in pre-calculus. The first few assignments took him all night, and he completely bombed the first quiz. He knew he needed help. Badly. He stared at his quiz with a frown for most of the class period, barely noticing when the bell rang.

Katie was in the same class, and since she was always watching Reid, she’d noticed his reaction to the quiz scores. Clearly, he hadn’t done well. The confidence she saw him exude on the field was not present in pre-calculus. She could only assume his prowess didn’t extend to math, which was one of her strongest subjects. When the bell rang, she hesitated only a few moments before doing something she’d never done before – she spoke to him.

“That quiz was pretty killer, huh?” she said, coming up beside Reid as the classroom emptied into the hallway.

“An average-killer for sure,” Reid grumbled, not even turning to see the source of the voice. “But someone must have done well, because I sure didn’t see any curve in my score. Even a curve wouldn’t have gotten me into passing range though.”

Katie blushed and bit her lip a little. Reid shifted his glance to look at her in attempt to read her silence.

“Let me guess - you got an ‘A,’” he said.

Katie nodded shyly.

“Math is pretty easy for me, I guess,” she said with a shrug. “I could help you if you want.”

She was working hard to keep up a nonchalant exterior as her insides quivered with anxiety. Katie had never approached any guy in school, and now she was offering to tutor Reid Benjamin. She had been watching him on the baseball field and in the school hallways for almost three years. He was one of the hottest guys in school, and he wasn’t lacking in female admirers, most of whom were far less subtle than Katie Marks.

“Really?” Reid asked. “I don’t know. I wouldn’t want to take up your time.”

“It’s no big deal,” Katie said. “Meet me at the coffee shop after baseball practice tonight. We’ll get started on tomorrow’s assignment.”

Not leaving him the option of telling her “no,” Katie walked away and disappeared into the crowd of students. Even as she left him behind, she could feel her heart pounding. It took the entire next class period for her to calm down, and as soon she did, she began questioning her offer. It was entirely possible that she had just made a fool of herself. Reid Benjamin was probably sharing the exchange with his buddies at this very moment and having a laugh at her expense.

By the end of the school day, she’d convinced herself he wouldn’t show up for help. She was certain he’d laugh it off and steer clear of her for the rest of their high school careers. But just in case, she went to the coffee shop anyway. If nothing else, it was an excuse to get her favorite latte and a quiet place to get her other homework done.

Even though she repeatedly told herself not to expect him, she looked up from her books whenever the bells on the door chimed. From her spot at a corner table, she had a clear view of the entrance. Her heart sank a little every time the new customer was not Reid Benjamin. Her history homework was largely neglected. It was hard concentrating on the women’s suffrage movement when she thought the school’s baseball star might be joining her at any moment.

By seven o’clock, she’d decided he definitely wasn’t coming. Ignoring her unwarranted disappointment, she was finally able to zone in on her reading.
It’s better this way anyway
, she thought. At least she would get some homework done in peace and quiet, two things that were hard to come by at her house with four younger sisters who were constantly chattering or bickering.

She was five pages in when she heard someone nearby clear his throat. She looked up and there he was – all 6’4”, 205 lbs. of him. (Well, that’s how the baseball program listed him, but Katie always suspected it was a tad generous.) For a few moments, Katie couldn’t speak. She could only look at him. His dusty blonde hair was still damp with sweat at the temples and his brownish eyes looked down at her with a bit of uncertainty, as though he wasn’t sure he should be there.

“Hi Reid,” Katie finally spit out. “I wasn’t sure you were going to make it.”

His shoulders appeared to slump in relief as he pulled out the chair next to hers and sat down.

“Yeah, I was in the cages, and I lost track of time,” Reid said. “Sorry about that.”

“It’s fine,” Katie said. “It gave me a chance to get some of my history reading done.”

She closed the book and pulled out her pre-calc book and notebook. Reid quickly followed suit, retrieving a bottle of water as well. Katie watched as he took a drink and then opened his materials.

“Alright, let’s get started,” Katie said, mentally shaking herself out of her reverie. She had offered to help him, not stare at him. She needed to deliver on her offer.

“First, I need to ask you something,” Reid said. “And I feel stupid asking…but what’s your name?”

She wasn’t at all surprised he didn’t know her name. Katie and Reid didn’t share any mutual friends, and although she hadn’t missed a single game in his high school baseball career, she knew she wasn’t on his radar.

“Katie,” she said. “It’s Katie Marks.”

“I’m sorry I even had to ask,” he said. “You must think I’m a jerk.”

“Nah,” she said, shrugging. “Why would you know it? Pre-calc is the only class we have together, and Mrs. K doesn’t take roll.”

“I still feel like kind of a tool,” Reid said. “On my way here, I hoped I would be able to recognize you since I didn’t know your name to ask for you.”

“Well, you did,” Katie said, smiling a little. “And now you know my name. Let’s see if we can introduce you to pre-calc too.”

Over the next few weeks, Katie and Reid spent three evenings out of every seven at that same table in the coffee shop. Occasionally, after they finished pre-calc, they would both linger to work on other assignments. Katie found herself looking forward to doing her homework, although she tended to still have plenty to do when she got home from the coffee shop. She had difficulty focusing with Reid around, but she wasn’t about to call an end to their study sessions. She enjoyed her time with him, knowing it probably wouldn’t last long. At least that’s what the realistic voice in her head told her. It was usually the loudest one. But that wasn’t always the case when it came to Reid.

Katie felt butterflies every time he spotted her in the coffee shop and smiled as he headed her way. When their arms would accidentally brush, she felt a tingle run all the way up to her brain. She’d never experienced anything like it before. At 17, she’d had crushes before and even a few adolescent “relationships” at summer camp, but none of them had shaken her like this. Until Reid, she figured those sensations were made up for romance novels and movies. Now that she knew they were real, she hadn’t yet decided if she was better for the knowledge or not.

Too often, she had to remind herself that she was just his tutor, and if it weren’t for pre-calc, he still wouldn’t know her name. He said “hi” to her in the hallways and gave her a thumbs-up gesture in pre-calc when he scored well on his assignments. But that was it. Even when they studied together, they didn’t talk about anything but school. Yet she somehow still managed to cling to this tiny hope that he might start to feel the way she did. At times, she felt foolish for having that hope, but as long as she periodically gave herself a reality check, she was certain she could avoid getting hurt.

After their next big test, Reid ran up to her in the hallway and gave her a hug. His warmth enveloped her and although it was only brief, it was enough to weaken her knees. Reality check shredded.

“I got an ‘A’! You are amazing.”

When he let her go, Katie smiled and adjusted her t-shirt, still reeling from the surprise of his action. She looked around to see if anyone had seen them embrace, but no one was paying attention.

“That’s great,” she said. “But don’t give me all the credit. You worked hard.”

“I know, but there’s no way I would have figured things out without your help,” Reid said. “We should get pizza or something to celebrate. How about Friday after I get done with practice?”

“Sure,” Katie said easily.

Meanwhile, her mind was racing.

Did Reid Benjamin just ask me on a date?!

“Great,” Reid said. “Let’s meet up at Valerio’s at seven. See you then.”

He rushed off without another word, but that was okay with Katie. She wasn’t sure she could keep a smile off her face much longer and she didn’t want to look foolish in front of him. She wore a permanent grin for the rest of the day and on through Friday as she rushed home from school to get ready for her date with Reid.

Dressed in a brand new shirt, her favorite jeans, and a pair of trendy boots, Katie arrived at Valerio’s a few minutes before seven. She looked around, but Reid wasn’t there yet. She went ahead and found a table, ordering water and looking over the menu as she waited. More than a few times, she checked her reflection in the silver napkin holder on the table. So far, her meticulous curls and makeup were holding up just fine. If only she could say the same about her nerves. As the huge clock opposite her ticked to seven and then to five after seven, she began to wonder if he’d forgotten – or worse, that he’d changed his mind.

Finally, nearly 15 minutes later, as Katie was convincing herself to leave, Reid rushed in. Any anger or disappointment she had felt melted away when he spotted her and grinned.

“Sorry I’m late,” he said. “Coach kept us a little longer than usual.”

Katie merely nodded. She wanted to be mad at him, but he made that impossible. Especially with that smile.

“Thanks for getting a table,” Reid said. “We’ll need a few more chairs though.”

She frowned in confusion. “Why?”

“Doug, Jake, and Lee are coming too,” he replied.

“Oh, they are?” Katie asked. “I didn’t know. I thought…”

“It’s no big deal. I got it,” Reid said, pulling over another table and more chairs. “They should be here any minute.”

As if on cue, three of Reid’s teammates entered and headed straight for their table. Wound up from a vigorous fall baseball practice, the boys were noisy. Introductions were mixed in with general conversation about baseball and pizza toppings, and Katie wasn’t even sure her name or presence registered with them. Once they ordered, baseball and other school gossip dominated the table. Katie tried to keep up, but the boys barely let her get a word in.

After most of the two pizzas were gone, Katie pulled some money out of her purse and set it on the table.

“Well, this was fun, but I have to get going,” she said, standing up.

Reid looked surprised, and for a moment Katie wondered if he’d forgotten she was there.

“Do you want to take any of the leftovers?” he asked.

Katie shook her head. “No, you guys split it up. I’ll see you in school on Monday.”

“OK, bye Katie,” he said.

She barely heard him as she pulled on her jacket and exited the pizzeria as quickly and nonchalantly as she could. She hoped no one saw the embarrassment on her face as she walked around the block to her car. She started it and pulled away from the curb, but she didn’t go straight home. Instead, she drove around aimlessly, analyzing the situation. After more than an hour and lots of emo songs on the radio, it all came down to one thing – she felt ridiculous.