Chapter Five

Trey

The pilot announced we were safe to exit the plane and Mason unlocked his seat belt. I stayed glued in my seat, my shoulders pressed against the back of the seat. Mason eyed me as he packed up his computer. “You coming?”

I flicked another look out the window and watched the plane get swarmed by the reporters gathered on the runway. I hated reporters. “Do I have a choice?”

Mason laughed. “Nope. Not a one. Come on.”

I unbuckled my seatbelt and heaved up from my chair. I stretched my arms over my head and then twisted, releasing the tense muscles in my low back.

“Remember, be nice, polite, professional. Smile, don’t snarl. Give them the ‘new leaf’ or ‘fresh chapter’ bull. Throw in something about the current team and winning the division. I guarantee, if you do that, you’ll have the whole city eating out of your hand.”

“And that’s…good…?”

Mason scoffed and shook his head. I heard him mutter something that sounded a lot like ‘asshole’ under his breath. I laughed and clapped him on the back. “I’ll behave, Mase. Don’t worry so much.”

He gave me a shocked look. “Worry? Why would I worry? Maybe because the last time you met a reporter, you smashed their camera and had to fork over twenty grand to replace it.”

“They caught me on an off night,” I argued. I’d been coming out a club and a freelance reporter—which was usually code for paparazzi—came rushing up to me and stuck their camera right in my face.

“I’m not having this argument with you again. Keep it together. For my sake—and yours.”

I nodded, set my jaw, and followed him down the aisle of the plane. The flight attendant smiled politely at me as I passed by. She was old enough to be my mother. I was sure Mason had requested her over the handful of hotties that usually worked the chartered flights. He obviously didn’t want to give me any leeway to veer off the perfectly planned path he was laying out for me.

But as soon as I stepped out of the plane, before my feet even hit the first step, I found myself zeroed in on a girl that had trouble written all over her delectable body.

“Damn!”

Trouble was standing shoulder to shoulder with the other reporters, a camera man on her right, and I spotted the mic in her hands. I locked onto her blue eyes and smiled as her lips parted. My heart dropped into the pit of my stomach as she nervously licked her lips but couldn’t tear her eyes off of mine. She had long, wavy, auburn hair. Redheads are always a good time, I mused to myself as I drank her in. She stood out because she was drop dead gorgeous, but also because she wasn’t dressed like every other reporter in the crowd. She was wearing a black tank top that showed off a healthy tan and a nice side of cleavage. I descended the stairs, keeping my eyes locked with hers.

Before I could get to her, I had half a dozen microphones in my face. Mason tried to make sense of the noise, ushering me off to one side, and then calling forward the reporters so that I wasn’t backed up against the side of the plane.

“Trey, how do you feel about the trade?”

“What do you think about relocating to Oklahoma City?”

“Can we get your take on the Warriors team and how you’re going to fit into the rotation?”

On and on and on.

“Ladies, gentleman, Mr. Delgado will be happy to answer your questions, but we need to keep this orderly!” Mason hollered over the chaos.

I winced against the flashing lightbulbs on the dozen cameras and tried to keep myself together. This was the part of being famous that I hated more than anything. Cameras with their fucking flashes in my face, dumb and repetitive questions—and worst of all, the pushy asshole reporters.

This was what got me in trouble and made people think I was a dick.

I found the redhead again, she was damn near swallowed up by the crowd. I smiled as she elbowed through the mess of people and made her way to the front of the pack.

“Her,” I told Mason. I jutted my chin in her direction. “I’ll talk to her.”

Mason glanced over at her and gave a halfway roll of his eyes. He knew me too well. He stuffed down any comments he would have liked to make and called the girl forward with a flick of his wrist. “Go ahead, Miss. Channel Six?”

She looked startled at the sudden shift in attention as the rest of the reporters gave her scorned glares. “Um—yes—thank you. Josie Crawford, Channel Six news. Mr. Delgado, can you tell our viewers what you think of our Warriors?”

She flushed and then pointed her mic over toward me. “I think they just got a helluva lot better,” I drawled, flashing a winning smile to the crowd as they chuckled.

Beside me, Mason groaned.

“No, no. In all seriousness, Miss. Crawford, I think what the team is doing is admirable, unexpected, and I’m looking forward to joining the team and seeing how my skills can help the push to the playoffs this year and for many years to come.”

Mason straightened and I smirked at him. See, I can be the PR monkey too. It’s just more fun not to be.

Josie nodded. “Well, we could use a little of that home run magic here, for sure. You and Cody Wright will be a force to be reckoned with.”

I arched an eyebrow. So she knew her way around the sports world. And that made my cock harder than before.

“What do you think of our city? In trips past, did you have much of a chance to sight see?”

“Regrettably, no. But if you’re offering, I’d love a tour guide.”

Josie bristled and the crowd of reporters around her chuckled and laughed like it was some kind of inside joke. The people in the crowd shifted and I got a glimpse of the rest of her. My heart slammed up into my throat and every muscle in my body went tense. She was a fuckin’ stunner. A clingy tank top, suctioned to her sexy body, a pair of denim cut offs that were short enough to show off the pocket lining, and a pair of cowboy boots.

Damn, girl. Take me to the rodeo. You can hog tie me anytime you want.

“Aha. You don’t look much like a tour guide though. You’re like a cowgirl. Ya know, I’ve never ridden a horse before. So, maybe I need some riding lessons,” I added, not breaking eye contact with the flustered woman.

Damn, she’d look sexy, riding me, wearing those boots.

And nothing else.

Josie frowned and the crowd around her continued to laugh. “Actually, Mr. Delgado, I don’t give riding lessons. In case you missed it, I’m a reporter.” She paused to hold up her media credentials clipped to the lanyard hanging around her neck. “My only interest here is finding out how you’re going to refocus your sorry ass and get in to shape to keep up with the rest of our team.”

A sputter of awkward laughter followed her spicy retort and I just grinned all the more.

A firecracker in cowboy boots. I knew what I’d be dreaming about for the next month.

Mason stepped in before I could reply to her. “Trey is excited to be here in Oklahoma City—and to be playing for the Warriors. He’s looking for a fresh start and hopes that this trade will bring the team a championship! Thank you everyone for your time. We’ll be putting together a more official press conference before his first game as a Warrior. Thank you.” When he concluded his speech, he grabbed me by the shoulder and turned me away before I could shoot my mouth off anymore.

What could I say? He had trust issues.

“Thanks everyone!” I waved at the crowd and started to turn and follow Mason to the waiting town car. At the last moment, I turned and locked my sights on Josie. “And, Miss Crawford, if you’re serious about that tour, give me a call.”

She flushed and I gave her one last grin before letting Mason lead the way off the tarmac.

Things in Oklahoma were looking better by the minute.

* * * *

After a sleepless night in my downtown hotel room, I found myself in an early morning meeting with the Warriors’ management and the coaching staff, including head coach, Phil Robinson. I settled into my chair beside Mason and tried to keep my mouth shut, waiting for the onslaught of advice, which would undoubtedly be thinly veiled threats that if I didn’t keep my shit together, I’d be riding the bench for the rest of my career.

Instead, what I was met with was a thorough pitch about the future of the Warriors and how I would be an instrument in taking the team to the World Series. No one mentioned the grand slam at the beginning of the season that embarrassed their asses or any of the off-season drama I’d whipped up before that. Not even the paternity suit splashed all over the tabloids. It actually felt the way a pitch was supposed to feel, instead of a lecture. It was clear that the Warriors organization was happy to have me on board and ready for me to go to work.

When the meeting concluded, I shook hands with everyone and followed Mason out of the boardroom. He directed me to an elevator and waited for the doors to slide shut before he turned to me. “So, what do you think?”

“Seems legit. I’m happy they didn’t bring up all my personal shit.”

Mason grinned. “I’ll bet.”

“Any progress on the endorsement deals?”

Mason shook his head, his smile slipping away. “Not yet. Like I said, Trey, this needs to be a fresh start. Let’s leave all that for the lawyers to sort out. You need to get your head in the game. Starting tomorrow, it’s practice every single day, and I would encourage you to get to know your new teammates. Let them know what you’re all about. They know you hit that ball out of the park. They know you’re a kick ass hitter and an all-star player. They also know you’re a dickhead in a baseball uniform. So, give them a chance to see your less…abrasive…side.”

I nodded slowly. I knew he was right, but it didn’t make it any easier to swallow. I was still pissed the Coyotes traded me, and wasn’t in the mood to put on a happy face.

“Maybe invite some of the guys out to dinner, or, if you would let me set you up at a rental, you could throw a dinner party.”

“Mase,” I sighed. “I don’t want a rental, okay? I’m fine at the hotel. Besides, my suite has a dining room. Same as if I was in some rental house. I can throw a damn dinner party there.”

Mason nodded, but he worked his jaw like he was struggling to hold back his real opinion. “It just doesn’t send the right message,” he finally said.

“I just got here, Mase. I haven’t even been here twenty-four hours. I’m sure they’ll understand if I’m not camped out in some mansion just yet. Okay? End of story.”

It might’ve been stupid—but I was going to hold on to my old life as long as possible.

“All right, Trey. I’ll get you some local caterers contact info. Do you want me to line up some interviews for an assistant? I fly out the day after tomorrow.”

I cringed. As much as he might drive me crazy, Mason was my friend, and the only person I could trust to handle my business. Hell, to handle me. I didn’t want him leaving my side so soon. Not now, I was still too disoriented. But there was no point in bitchin’ about it. He had other shit to do. So did I.

I shrugged, trying to tamp down the overwhelm. “Just pick whoever you think is best.”

Mason nodded as the elevator settled in place on the lobby floor and the doors slid open.