“How will that work, Garrett? I can’t be your therapist and your girlfriend.”
He cocked a brow. “Why not? There’s no rule that says you can’t work for the team and have a relationship with a team member, is there?”
“Of course there is. It’s in my contract with the team.”
He took a step back. “Seriously?”
“Seriously. How can you not know that? I just assumed you did, or that it’s in your contract, too. I can’t fraternize on a personal basis with any team member without losing my job. Why do you think I was so freaked out when the other players caught us kissing?”
“You have got to be kidding me. Why didn’t you tell me this sooner?”
She shrugged. “Well, first, and again, because I thought you already knew. And second, because I thought what you and I had was a fling, a temporary thing. I figured as long as we hid it well, no one would ever know. Now . . .”
She was elated by his declaration of love, and miserable at the same time.
He sat on the sofa. “This sucks.”
“Yes.”
“And it’s unacceptable.” He pulled his phone out of his pocket and punched a number, looking at her as it rang. “Victoria, it’s Garrett. We have a problem.”
THIRTY
ALICIA CHEWED HER BOTTOM LIP AS SHE WAITED IN the team conference room with Garrett, his agent, Victoria Baldwin, and Lucas Birdwell, an attorney Liz had hired to represent Alicia in this matter.
Her boss, Max, Manny Magee, and the team’s attorneys were all present as well.
Alicia’s throat had gone utterly dry. That night when Gavin had told his agent he wanted to be traded, she’d nearly collapsed on her living-room floor.
“Now that we’ve outlined the issue, I’m sure you can see why Garrett has asked for this trade,” Victoria said, looking so well put together in her stylish navy blue suit and gold stacked heels that Alicia felt frumpy in comparison in her simple black dress and black high-heeled pumps. But the last thing she wanted to do was call attention to herself. She’d pulled her hair back in a low ponytail and hadn’t worn any jewelry. It was much better for Victoria to have all the attention, and that she did with her hair smartly cut in a short bob, her perfect manicure, and her expertly applied makeup. The woman was utterly stunning and completely confident as she addressed everyone present.
“Wouldn’t it be simpler for Miss Riley to secure another position?” asked one of the Rivers’ attorneys whose name Alicia couldn’t remember since there were five of them present.
“Simpler, yes. But Garrett has requested the trade, so Miss Riley doesn’t lose her job. As we’ve discussed, the two of them are in a relationship and determined that Miss Riley doesn’t lose a job she’s so well qualified to perform. She enjoys her position with the Rivers and doesn’t want to compromise it.”
“Wait,” Manny said, with a frown on his face. “So Garrett and Alicia have fallen in love, have I got that part right?”
“You have, Manny,” Victoria said.
“And this is a problem, how?”
“Miss Riley’s employment contract specifies she can’t personally fraternize with any of the players,” Alicia’s attorney explained.
“What a crock,” Manny said. “Why don’t you just rewrite her contract then. She stays, Garrett stays, and everyone’s happy.”
Victoria looked over at the attorneys. The one whose name Alicia couldn’t remember said, “If we did that, Mr. Magee, we’d have to do that for all the employees of the team.”
“What? You think there’s gonna be a bunch of fraternizin’ then? There’s only one other female member of the sports-medicine team, and she’s already married, isn’t she?”
“Yes,” Max said. “She is.”
Manny leaned back in his chair. “Then it seems to me the problem is solved. I’d rather not lose one of my best pitchers just because he happened to fall in love with a woman who works for the team. Dumb rule if you ask me. Who writes these contracts anyway?”
No one on the Rivers legal team answered that question.
“Is it possible to revise Miss Riley’s contract?” Lucas asked.
The suits conferred, then Mr. Teers—Alicia finally remembered his name—answered. “I think we can do that as long as Miss Riley and Mr. Scott agree that she’ll no longer be directly responsible for Mr. Scott’s therapy.”
“I don’t think so,” Garrett said. “What difference does it make if she does my therapy or not? She’s the one who got me back on the pitcher’s mound.”
“Garrett,” Alicia said, placing her hand over his. “You can’t win everything. It’s okay.”
“She’s right, Garrett,” Victoria said. “Take this as a victory. Alicia keeps her job, and you get to stay with the Rivers. Surely there are many fine sports-medicine specialists working for the Rivers who can handle your physical therapy.”
“There are,” Alicia said, looking over at Max, who so far hadn’t betrayed his feelings on the matter with any sort of expression. “Work with Max.”