But maybe he was right about what might happen if the staff knew—they might not look at her the same way ever again. That’s why it was imperative that, when she told Chet about the baby, it would be because she was more than just a one-night stand or the mother of his child.
It would be because he loved her.
Nobody would have any doubts about what she meant to him.
As Corrine led the group toward a field lined by rough bleachers, a chain-link backstop and lights that buttered the ground with illumination, Mina was determined to have some fun, to not think about anything else for a couple of hours.
But it was hard when all she was doing was glancing around for Chet, who hadn’t shown up yet.
She sought a position in left field since she’d never been a softball kind of girl. Danny, who’d indeed ended up on her team, stood next to her.
As he loitered with his arms crossed over the logo of his long-sleeved T-shirt—an ad for surfboards—Mina could tell that he was probably more into watching sports on TV than actually playing.
Their pitcher was lobbing high, slow balls at Corrine, the first up at the plate.
“Hey, batter batter,” Danny said, almost as if he was poking fun at this entire exercise. Then, already bored, he turned to Mina. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you almost look like one of us tonight.”
“Us?” Mina peered down at her game-night garb. Roomy jeans, sneakers, an untucked blouse.
“I’m talking about someone who’s just starting to climb the corporate ladder,” Danny said. “My kind of person.”
“I am your kind of person. I’m just a little further up the ladder.” Mina smiled. “I’ve done my share of climbing over the years.”
“You’re lucky that you got assigned to Chet Barron. He’s been a real good mentor for you.”
Was Danny getting around to what she was afraid he was getting around to? Was it obvious that she and Chet had…hit it off?
“In business,” she said, “you make your own luck, Danny. The rest is work.”
“I know, and you’ve got a reputation as a hard worker. People around here like you, Mina. They’re happy to see your fortunes rising.”
Just when she was getting ready for him to deliver the zinger, Danny sent her a crooked grin.
And she realized what was really going on.
He was making small talk. Flirting?
Good heavens. Danny wasn’t even out of his early twenties. Was he making his own luck, as he’d put it, searching for his own mentor?
There was a popping sound from the batter’s box, and they both set their attention on the fly ball traveling toward first base.
As one of the contractors fielded it, Mina glanced around again, this time spying Chet near the bleachers, where he was leaning, arms casually crossed over his chest, his cowboy hat low over his brow.
A shock jolted her, in her chest and then lower, tightening.
Something wicked in Mina wondered if he’d seen Danny cozying up to her, if she should play this out just to get a reaction out of Chet—to determine if he cared. Or if he was jealous.
But she just didn’t have the heart to test him that way, especially when Chet glanced away from her as if he knew Mina had seen him looking.
The shortstop called out to Danny, pointing toward the empty center field.
“I think that guy is serious about his game,” Mina said. “Better get on over there.”
Danny laughed. “Yes, boss.”
And he wandered off toward center field. But he didn’t stop there. He ended up in right field, where Chef Arnett’s cute sous chef was positioned.
Mina peered back to where Chet had been lingering, only to find that he’d already left.
Did he care?
Her veins filled with rushing hope as she promised herself that she was going to find out soon, once and for all.
Chet had no right to be jealous.
None at all.
And he kept telling himself this after he settled back into his makeshift office, the halls empty, the lights shaded as the cleaning crew made their rounds.
It would’ve been nice to relax with the staff, letting off some steam out there, but the sight of Mina in left field with that young pup Danny Hogan, a known flirt, had stopped Chet cold.
He wasn’t used to seeing Mina with anyone else but him. Wasn’t used to seeing her in casual clothes, talking with other men, especially ones who were still young and untouched enough by the trials of life to have charming, carefree smiles.
Sure, Mina needed some levity in her life, but Chet was sure someone like Danny Hogan was too flighty for her needs, especially after what she’d told him about that ex-boyfriend of hers.
If Chet saw Danny making a play for Mina again, he’d…