Too Hot to Handle: A Boys of Summer Novel by Katie Rose

grand slam. Even Shaun managed to get his head out of the clouds and made a phenomenal catch. Although the season had just begun, when they won 4–0, it was as intense as if they were in the playoffs.
    After the game, reporters swarmed the field. There was an expectation after making it to the World Series last year that this was finally the Sonics’ time. The papers sensed a story, and Nikki made sure they got one. Discreetly, she managed to keep Shaun and Antonio away from the more aggressive reporters, while she encouraged Chase and Jake to do the talking.
    She felt like a proud mama watching over her brood. Chase spoke to the reporter for the local television news. He was not only handsome, but confident and articulate. There was nothing the reporters could ask him that would trip him up. He was the real deal.
    Jake entertained a writer from the
Trenton Times
. Jake was just as talented as Chase, but more adroit and personable. He knew how to evade a question, how to turn an insult into a joke, and wound up interviewing the reporter. Nikki was amazed at his dexterity. It was like a game to him; he fed the media what he wanted them to know and nothing more. And yet they felt they’d scored a scoop.
    For the first time since she’d taken this position, Nikki began to feel a sense of confidence. The press releases she had submitted about the pranks were beginning to pay off. The Jersey papers loved the story and repeated it in every edition. And the multicolored clown wigs made for great video. Nikki couldn’t have predicted that every news station wanted to show the Sonics playing ball with sapphire-blue hair.
    As she’d hoped, they enjoyed the joke. It also made the team seem human, and unafraid to have some fun. She juxtaposed that story with the hard work the Sonics were doing, showing clips of the extra batting practice, the base running, and the pitching. It was all very effective.
    The team was finally getting on board. While they still weren’t crazy about the clean uniforms, the haircuts, and the new rules, they were beginning to reap the benefits of a new image.
    And she felt she was finally beginning to be accepted. The attitude was starting to thaw, and she saw an occasional smile when she came onto the field. Pete, of course, was always friendly and supportive, but she was surprised when the pitching coach, Dick Dubell, went out of his way to introduce himself. When Brian asked her to join them for dinner to celebrate opening day, she was touched.
    As the conference ended and the reporters filed out, she saw Jake laughing with Cody, and then slapping his back. When he turned and his eyes caught hers, a slow smile followed.
    Nikki felt as if someone had just let the air out of the room. It was the first time she’d seen him in over a week, ten days since their night on the beach. She was hoping that the crush she had developed for him was gone, yet her heart was actually pounding as he made his way through the crowd to her. Squaring her shoulders, she held her clipboard before her like a shield.
    “You did well,” she said briskly, glancing at her notes as if something of extreme importance distracted her. “With the press, I mean. You gave a good interview.”
    Damn, she was stammering.
And she was hoping to come off totally cool, professional, to set the right tone.
    They were just teammates.
    Not pals.
    Not buds.
    Not
lovers.
    “I aim to please.” The smug smile grew hotter as his eyes traveled over her navy suit, pumps, and chunky gold necklace. His gaze lifted and settled on her mouth. She could almost hear his thoughts. “Did anyone ever tell you that no one wears a suit like you do?”
    Her breath stopped. Why, oh why did she find him so damn attractive? He was still in his baseball jersey, stained with grass from that slide he took in the eighth to steal second. His shoes were scuffed, and a brush burn showed on his arm. Yet she had to physically restrain herself from going to him, cleaning