wishing they would.
There was no risk of falling for him anyway, because she had her memories of Wes.
But people will think I’ve forgotten him.
The corners of the newspaper fluttered in the breeze, drawing her gaze to the picture
of her and Cole in the Washington Post. The word was out. Even before the picture and the article showed up in the paper,
there were tweets about their date—from BADD, and Paige, and others. Although it wasn’t
true, it already looked like she’d moved on. Her heart knew better, and that’s what
mattered. Right? If she did this, she’d be doing it for BADD, and for those boys who dreamed of playing
college baseball and just needed a chance.
“I thought you were a shrewd dealmaker,” she said. “But now I’m not so sure.”
Frank looked amused. “Why’s that?”
“You can’t negotiate people’s emotions.”
He nodded. “Unless you’re pretty sure—and I am.”
“What about Cole?”
“Don’t tell him,” he said sternly. “This stays between you and me.”
“That’s not what I meant.” She couldn’t believe what she was about to say. “What if
he really does fall for me?” Could I resist him then? And if she could, she certainly didn’t want to hurt him, as far-fetched as the possibility
might be.
“Then you’ll be one lucky lady.” His tone told her that negotiations were closed.
He pulled an envelope from between the pages of the newspaper and handed it to her.
“Here it is in black and white.”
She opened the envelope and pulled out two identical official-looking documents detailing
Frank’s offer.
I, Liza Sutherland, agree to:
—Date Cole Collins through the end of the current baseball season, which includes
attending Nationals games when asked, and functions when invited.
—Be myself. No games or manipulation.
—Keep this arrangement confidential.
If I adhere to the aforementioned and do not fall in love with Cole Collins, Frank
Price will immediately donate $500,000 via Liza Sutherland to the BADD Athletes Foundation.
Frank had signed both copies, and there was a space for her to sign as well, with
her name typed beneath it.
Liza grimaced and folded the papers. “BADD really needs that money, but I can’t do
something sleazy like this to get it.”
Frank raised one eyebrow. “It’s not sleazy to raise money for a charity that’ll send
poor kids to camp. Did you think it was sleazy for Cole to donate a date to BADD’s
auction? There’s really not much difference in that and what I’m asking you to do.”
He kind of had a point. Even so, she felt like she needed a shower, and not just from
being sweaty.
“I still can’t do it,” she said.
He gave her a wry smile. “Can you really afford not to?”
BADD could use the money, and she really did want to see Cole again…but she’d never
admit that to Frank.
“It’s really counterintuitive, though. I don’t fall for Cole, and you donate the money
to BADD.”
“Sounds like you’ve got it figured out.”
“I think I do.” Don’t I? She risked considering what would happen if she did fall for Cole—a long shot that
no sane person would bet on. She’d end up empty-handed for BADD, which was no worse
off than she was right now. But what about her heart?
“Then have we got a deal?” He reached in his pocket, pulled out a Montblanc pen, and
handed it to her.
She pressed her eyes closed for a few seconds. Could she really say no? Her hands
trembled a little as she unscrewed the cap from the pen and signed her name on the
papers. She kept one for herself, put the other back in the envelope, and gave it
to Frank along with his pen.
“Nice doing business with you.” He smiled again, flashing lots of big, white teeth.
“Now run in and get yourself dolled up.” He tossed his coffee cup toward a nearby
trash can, and it bounced off the rim and went in. “You’ve got a ball game to get
to.”
Chapter Six
Cole
There was no risk of falling for him anyway, because she had her memories of Wes.
But people will think I’ve forgotten him.
The corners of the newspaper fluttered in the breeze, drawing her gaze to the picture
of her and Cole in the Washington Post. The word was out. Even before the picture and the article showed up in the paper,
there were tweets about their date—from BADD, and Paige, and others. Although it wasn’t
true, it already looked like she’d moved on. Her heart knew better, and that’s what
mattered. Right? If she did this, she’d be doing it for BADD, and for those boys who dreamed of playing
college baseball and just needed a chance.
“I thought you were a shrewd dealmaker,” she said. “But now I’m not so sure.”
Frank looked amused. “Why’s that?”
“You can’t negotiate people’s emotions.”
He nodded. “Unless you’re pretty sure—and I am.”
“What about Cole?”
“Don’t tell him,” he said sternly. “This stays between you and me.”
“That’s not what I meant.” She couldn’t believe what she was about to say. “What if
he really does fall for me?” Could I resist him then? And if she could, she certainly didn’t want to hurt him, as far-fetched as the possibility
might be.
“Then you’ll be one lucky lady.” His tone told her that negotiations were closed.
He pulled an envelope from between the pages of the newspaper and handed it to her.
“Here it is in black and white.”
She opened the envelope and pulled out two identical official-looking documents detailing
Frank’s offer.
I, Liza Sutherland, agree to:
—Date Cole Collins through the end of the current baseball season, which includes
attending Nationals games when asked, and functions when invited.
—Be myself. No games or manipulation.
—Keep this arrangement confidential.
If I adhere to the aforementioned and do not fall in love with Cole Collins, Frank
Price will immediately donate $500,000 via Liza Sutherland to the BADD Athletes Foundation.
Frank had signed both copies, and there was a space for her to sign as well, with
her name typed beneath it.
Liza grimaced and folded the papers. “BADD really needs that money, but I can’t do
something sleazy like this to get it.”
Frank raised one eyebrow. “It’s not sleazy to raise money for a charity that’ll send
poor kids to camp. Did you think it was sleazy for Cole to donate a date to BADD’s
auction? There’s really not much difference in that and what I’m asking you to do.”
He kind of had a point. Even so, she felt like she needed a shower, and not just from
being sweaty.
“I still can’t do it,” she said.
He gave her a wry smile. “Can you really afford not to?”
BADD could use the money, and she really did want to see Cole again…but she’d never
admit that to Frank.
“It’s really counterintuitive, though. I don’t fall for Cole, and you donate the money
to BADD.”
“Sounds like you’ve got it figured out.”
“I think I do.” Don’t I? She risked considering what would happen if she did fall for Cole—a long shot that
no sane person would bet on. She’d end up empty-handed for BADD, which was no worse
off than she was right now. But what about her heart?
“Then have we got a deal?” He reached in his pocket, pulled out a Montblanc pen, and
handed it to her.
She pressed her eyes closed for a few seconds. Could she really say no? Her hands
trembled a little as she unscrewed the cap from the pen and signed her name on the
papers. She kept one for herself, put the other back in the envelope, and gave it
to Frank along with his pen.
“Nice doing business with you.” He smiled again, flashing lots of big, white teeth.
“Now run in and get yourself dolled up.” He tossed his coffee cup toward a nearby
trash can, and it bounced off the rim and went in. “You’ve got a ball game to get
to.”
Chapter Six
Cole
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