Free The Changeup (Men of the Show) by Rhonda Shaw Page A

confidence.” She gave them an uncomfortable smile.
    “Sounds like I should hear more about Aunt Karen,” Jerry said, bobbing his eyebrows before turning to Chase. “Anyway, I just came down to tell you I was heading out. Make sure you didn’t change your mind.”
    “No, I’m good. You guys tear it up tonight.”
    “All right, if you say so.” Jerry turned back to Maddie. “It was nice meeting you.”
    “You too. Thanks for the lesson.”
    “Anytime. See you guys.”
    The three of them watched Jerry trot back toward the condominiums. “What did he educate you about?” Chase finally asked.
    She gave him a sly glance and started to walk slowly back home. “Oh, he was just filling me in on some of your history.”
    His brow shot up as he fell into step with her. “My history?”
    “Yeah. It seems you’re much more accomplished than you let on.”
    Chase was silent as he watched Bree walk ahead of them. “Well, hopefully whatever he told you wasn’t exaggerated. He has a tendency to do that.”
    Maddie glanced sideways at him. “Like you understate?”
    “What I have understated?”
    “No, you’re right. Not understated, but more like not saying anything at all.”
    “It’s not like I’m just going to rattle my stats off to you,” he said as he grinned down at her. “What do you want to know? I’ll answer anything you want to know.”
    “Well, I have to admit that I don’t know what to ask, really.” She stopped and turned to him. “But it’s okay to toot your own horn every once in a while. It sounds like you’re extremely talented and successful, and you should be proud of that.”
    “I’m proud of it,” Chase said with a shrug. “But I don’t feel like I have to tell everyone about it. If they come out to the park, see me, and like what they see, then yeah, it feels good, but I don’t want them to take my word on it. Of course I’m going to think I’m awesome,” he teased.
    “Straight out of high school? Not that much time in the minors? An awesome rookie season? I don’t know, that sounds pretty amazing to me.”
    He squinted as he looked up at the bright blue sky. “Jerry told you all that, huh?”
    “Did he lie about any of it? Exaggerate anything?”
    He fought a smile in embarrassment. “No. No, he didn’t.”
    “Anything you want to add, then?”
    He shrugged and she thought he looked self-conscious and uncomfortable. “I don’t know about awesome rookie season...” He trailed off and she laughed; it was so obvious he didn’t like being the center of attention. “I don’t know what you want me to say. I said I’d answer any question you have.”
    “Okay. I’ll have to start thinking of some.” Maddie looked down at the ground as they walked in silence. “You didn’t want to go out with the guys tonight?”
    “Nah.” Chase shook his head as he put his hands in his pockets. “I wasn’t in the mood to go hang out at a bar or club.”
    “Are you ever in the mood?” She was seriously starting to question whether he truly was twenty-two years old. She was in agreement with Jerry that he did seem more like a forty-year-old.
    He looked down at her out of the corner of his eye and shrugged. “Sure, every now and then, but not all the time. How about you?”
    “Me?” Maddie snorted. “Chase, I haven’t hung out at a club in a long time.” After a moment’s pause, she made an impulsive decision. She really did want to learn more about him from him rather than others, and she wasn’t quite ready to let him out of her sights just yet. “Well, it’s not quite the same as tearing up the town with the boys, but I’d like to thank you for spending time with Bree and invite you to dinner tonight. It’s nothing gourmet, but it’s dinner all the same.”
    “You don’t have to thank me for spending time with Bree. I enjoy it.”
    “I know, but I’d like to show my appreciation nonetheless.”
    He paused and studied her face, looking as if he wanted to say