Saving Maverick Read Free Page A

She laughed.
    â€œâ€” and how you handled the drama between the Carell sisters was brilliant. I need your expertise in handling this situation. Besides, you owe me and I know you too well. You’d never turn down a friend in need.”
    â€œI. Owe. You. Really?” Kelsey loved a good sparring match, and it’d been years since she and T.S. had gone a round. “If you’re referring to the infamous double date, I’d say the statute of limitations has expired on that one. Sorry.”
    â€œActually I’m referring to three years ago when that Italian businessman wouldn’t take no for an answer. I think I played a very convincing jealous lover, don’t you?”
    Kelsey snickered. T.S. did save her from an embarrassing situation, but she’d never let him know that. “If you want to convince me to help you out and take a job I’d normally never consider, you need to do better than that.”
    T.S. did better than that. He used his old standby move from their childhood.
Dammit.
    â€œ All right, all right. Stop flashing me those puppy dog eyes. Jeez, I’m hoping this isn’t how you are in the boardroom. Charming the pants off your adversaries. Eww, just the thought of it gives me the heebie-jeebies.” She shivered for effect and watched him squirm at her teasing.
    â€œSo, dazzle me with your pitch, Mr. More-money-than-God.”
    T.S. switched back to corporate mode and guided her toward the elevator.
    â€œWe can talk in the car and during the party. I need you to jump right in and get this situation contained—as in yesterday.”
    â€œNow there’s the all-business, no-bull billionaire CEO I know and love. Oh, and just because I’m going to this event with you doesn’t mean I’ve agreed to anything. And, my rates will be double what they usually are—if I agree.”
    T.S. ignored her comment and continued as if she hadn’t spoken. “I’ve put a lot of my personal money behind this team, but I have investors to answer to, so getting Maverick back on track in the public’s eye and on the pitching mound is my number one priority. My goal, after tonight, is that it’ll become yours as well.”
    â€œT.S., based on the video, I think it’s going to take more than a few days to contain the public outrage over Maverick’s remarks. Plus, there are the rumors that his problems are deeper than losing his pitching control. Any truth to his drinking getting out of hand?”
    â€œMaybe. But I believe there’s no one better than you to get my star player back in the good graces of the league and the locals. More importantly, the ticket buyers,” T.S. said.
    â€œThanks for the confidence, but until I can spend more time following every lead on his past, I won’t know if it’s possible to fix his reputation. Don’t let our friendship overrule your good business sense.” Kelsey knew he wouldn’t, but this was a negotiation and she rocked at negotiations.
    He continued to stare her down. Like when they argued over who was better, Superman or Batman. Superman, of course.
    â€œT.S., I’m concerned that he fired his agent and hasn’t taken any steps to respond on social media to the video. It’s been ten hours since this thing exploded. And there’re a dozen other questions I have that I don’t think you can answer right now. More importantly, I need to figure out if your ballplayer is worth my talents and my time. So, let’s get to this party you didn’t tell me about. I need a drink.”
    T.S. flashed her a crooked smile. “I dare you,” he challenged.
    Dammit, he knew her too well. She never could turn down a dare. Secretly though, she wasn’t so sure she was up to dealing with the Bad Boy of Baseball. She liked the sport, but not always the men who played it.
    Kelsey ignored his dare and followed him toward the waiting limo. “So,