And she’d meant it. It didn’t matter at all that Mateo Arteaga Alvarez made her knees weak.
When she noticed him walking toward her, Rique in tow, she stiffened.
“Alicia, it is good to see you.”
It was his voice that tickled her now, right into breathlessness. She unconsciously thumbed the finger where his ring had sat as if she missed its weight.
A bittersweet crest of emotion filled hers. “Mateo. How are you doing?”
“I am good, although I would be better if I was out of the hotel. It is lonely.”
She felt more than a tad of regret she hadn’t gotten to housing sooner, like before he’d arrived. She’d certainly had enough time to have something ready and waiting. It had only been in the last couple of days that she’d gone on the hunt and it hadn’t taken her long to find what she’d been looking for. It was within walking distance of Harborside Field and she thought it would be a good way for him to learn the neighborhood. She’d filled out the application earlier this morning, and the rental agent told her she’d be in touch as soon as she went over the paperwork with the owners. It was ready for occupancy so she was assured he could move in as soon as the lease was signed.
“I’m sorry it’s taken me so long but we’re close. I’m hoping by tomorrow.”
“I couldn’t have stayed with you?”
Cutting her eyes to the both Seb and Rique who’d heard the question, she felt another strand of anxiety coil in her gut. They were now looking at her for an answer. She’d already told Mateo why when he’d asked upon his arrival in Boston.
“You know the answer to that. And from what I’ve heard, the guys are keeping you busy.”
She nodded to the two men who were listening intently to their conversation.
Mateo asked, as if pleased. “You know this?”
She flicked her eyes from one to the other to the other. “Leo told Dan, who told me.”
Dan was keeping her up to date on all the latest news concerning the Cuban. She wished he’d stop.
Seb chortled. “She keeps track of all her boys.”
She arched her eyebrows in dismay. “I’d prefer to think of you as men. Mature, competent, driven. I’m considering listing grow up as one of your short-term goals.”
He laughed good-naturedly and said, “Maybe you should make it a long-term goal instead.”
With that, he wandered away, moving in the direction of the cooler. It would be stocked with Gatorade and water so they could stay hydrated. From the sweat circling their underarms, they’d been worked hard.
Rique said, “I took him to my place for supper last night. Fifi made sure we were well fed.”
Her brow wrinkled. For some reason she didn’t like the fact that he’d already had dinner with another female.
“Fifi?”
Mateo corrected, “Her name is Fiona.”
Rique explained, “She’s the dog walker and house sitter. I guess you could say she’s becoming a friend.”
Alicia said in exaggerated fashion, “A friend, huh?”
“Yeah, a friend. She’s keeping me in line.”
Mateo suggested, “I think he likes her, but he won’t admit it.”
“I admit I like her. But that’s where it ends. She knows it, I know it, now you know it.”
He kicked the turf and walked away, as if there was no more to say.
Mateo said with a smile, “He’s lying. It will be interesting to see where it goes between them.”
She couldn’t imagine Rique settling down even though it would be good for the team. The relief that came was knowing Fifi…Fiona was in Rique’s sights, not Mateo’s.
That thought made her uncomfortable.
Leo called out, “Okay, you bums, break is over. Let’s see some sprints. Three times around the field.”
Mateo flicked her a smile as he backed up, keeping her in his sights until he began to jog away. The three men were running together, in harmony, their strides evenly matched.
She felt a flicker of pride in a job well done. She’d brought them all here, to this place, with the hopes that they would be the anchors the Greenliners needed to claim that ring. Not the brass one, but the one that proclaimed they were the best to the world. She could hear the pounding pulse of the song “We Are the Champions,” reverberating in her head.
Leo came over to where she stood as the men ran their laps.
“I think you might have hit the jackpot here, Allie. Their chemistry is off the charts. I’ve started calling them the triumvirate. Mattie’s helping Rique with batting, Seb’s keeping them laughing, and Rique’s been quite hospitable, taking Mattie under his wing. And I’m quite impressed with our new shortstop’s work ethic. I think you were right about him. All he needed was play time.”
“And Mateo?”
“He’s a natural-born third baseman, but we’ll get more out of him than we thought. He’s going to be one hell of a powerhouse hitter.”
“He’s getting comfortable here?”
“Still serious but I’m beginning to think that’s just his nature. Seb’s the only one who’s gotten him to crack a smile.”
“I’d love to sit down with you before I meet with them. I want your feedback before I get to the nuts and bolts of their individual development plans.”
“Email a couple of times that work for you. I’ll arrange my schedule accordingly.”
“Thanks, Leo.”
As Leo trotted away, her eyes were
