Billionaire's Contract Engagement (Kings of the Boardroom #3)(41)

“I meant to invite you to the Tide season opener. I have tickets. Good tickets. Are you interested?”

He looked a little surprised, and for a moment she wondered if she’d overstepped her boundries. But then he smiled. A genuine, warm smile that told her he was pleased with her invitation.

“I’d love to go. It’s Thursday night, isn’t it?”

She nodded. “I could pick you up and drive us over.”

His eyes gleamed, and for a moment she could swear he looked victorious. Over what, she hadn’t a clue.

“Just tell me what time, and I’ll be waiting with bells on.”

“It starts at seven, so I’ll be here around five-thirty.”

“I’m looking forward to it already.”

She relaxed. Things were shaping up perfectly. She’d take him to the game and introduce him to Noah afterward. Then she’d wow him the next morning with a kick-ass presentation. The deal was hers. In the bag. She couldn’t contemplate any other outcome.

Golden Gate and Athos Koteas might be coming on strong, but they didn’t have Noah Hart, and they damn sure didn’t have her ideas. Ideas she knew were perfect for Evan and his company.

This was hers.

Evan reached out to wipe a smudge from the corner of her mouth. She glanced down to see his food gone and most of hers, as well. And the way he was looking at her, she had a good idea what was for dessert.

“Give me two seconds to clear this away and roll the cart out into the hall and we’ll get on with option two, although I’m thinking that option three should be significantly delayed.”

She raised an eyebrow and her heart started tripping double time.

“Oh? How delayed?”

“Very delayed,” he said silkily. “I’m thinking option two could be divided into options three, four, five…”

In response, she untied her robe and tugged it away until she sat naked on the bed.

Fifteen

Celia pulled into one of the reserved parking spaces at the stadium and cut the engine. She glanced over at Evan. “Ready?”

He looked out the windshield at the proximity of their space and the stadium entrance and whistled in appreciation.

“These must be some tickets you have.”

She smiled. “I told you they’re good.”

They got out and Celia led the way. Normally she would have gone in through the players’ entrance, but she didn’t want to tip her hand just yet, so they headed through the main gate just as everyone else did.

Evan waited for her while she went through security and had her bag screened and then they had their tickets scanned and walked in the direction of the field.

Since she’d handled the tickets, she knew he hadn’t seen them and she couldn’t wait to get his reaction to the behind the home plate VIP tickets she’d scored from Noah.

Several minutes later, and after navigating two entrances, they entered the field above the home plate.

She flashed her tickets and an usher led them down the steps to a box of seats directly behind the batter’s box.

He motioned them into the row and Celia settled in the seat four rows up from the bottom.

“Wow,” Ethan said as he took his seat beside her. “I mean, wow. How the hell did you get these tickets? They must have cost a fortune. Not to mention they’ve been sold out. I know because I’ve tried to get them.”

“I know people,” she said smugly.

He eyed her curiously. “I’m beginning to get the impression you do.”

They caught the tail end of batting practice and then settled back as the field was watered and prepared for the start of the game.

Evan relaxed in his seat and knocked his shades down over his eyes. It was exceptionally sunny today and there was absolutely no cloud or fog cover. It was a perfect day for baseball.

In typical business-geek style, his gaze roved over the fans, looking for those who wore Reese designs.

If Celia had her way, a lot more normal, everyday people would want to wear his line of sportswear.

He turned when he heard Celia talking to a hot dog vendor. She twisted to look at Evan. “You want something?”

“Whatever you’re having,” he replied.

He dug into his wallet to pay the vendor, but the older man smiled and waved him off.

“Our Cece is taken care of. No charge for her.”

Evan watched the banter between Celia and the vendor in utter bemusement. They chattered about batting averages, who to watch in the coming season and the travesty that had occurred the previous season when the Tide had finished one game back from the division leader.

“They’ll win the pennant this year,” Celia consoled. “Noah is in top form. He was only warming up his bat last year.”

The vendor nodded enthusiastically. “I believe you’re right, Miss Cece. He got hot and the season ended.”

Celia turned and made an expression like she’d forgotten something.

“Oh, my manners are horrible. Please forgive me. Evan, this is Henry Dockett. He’s worked here since the stadium was built thirty years ago. He knows everything there is to know about everything around here. Henry, this is Evan Reese.”

Evan extended his hand to shake the older man’s and Henry’s face lit up.

“You’re the Evan Reese from Reese Enterprises?”