Free Pitching for Her Love by Tori Blake

rest of my evening to relax in peace.

Chapter 10
    T he best thing about my relationship with Megan was that our awkward times or fights were few, far between, and easily forgotten.  The next morning it was as if nothing had happened the day before.  The rest of the office had become sympathetic since being forced to forward me all the calls regarding my relationship with Grayson Hunter.  When I spent most of Tuesday saying “no comment,” even Bernie seemed to feel a little guilty.
    However, the papers had seemed to ease up and there was now newer and more exciting news to cover.  I began to feel more excited for my date with Grayson, but I still decided to take him up on his offer for a car service when he called to confirm that afternoon.
    “What are you wearing?” Megan asked, once again excited by the idea of me dating her celebrity crush.
    I motioned to my outfit, a dark purple wrap dress and simple nude pumps.
    “Probably just this.  I don’t think I have the time to go home and change,” I said.
    “Are you sure?” she asked and raised an eyebrow.
    “Look, after the way this week started, he’s lucky I’m showing up at all,” I said and smiled.
    Megan laughed.  It was great to hear that deep throaty sound again. It made things seem like they were back to normal.
    “I love the way you talk about him like he’s just another guy,” she said, “as if he isn’t a multi-millionaire, super hot, incredibly generous, and the most perfect man ever.”
    I rolled my eyes.
    “Maybe it’s better not to look at it that way.  I thought it only put pressure on me, but think of all he has to live up to if that’s what everyone thinks of him,” I said.
    Megan thought about this for a minute and then quickly smiled, as if just realizing something for the first time.
    “You really like him, don’t you?” she asked.
    “I don’t know,” I said, but my smile gave me away.
    I left work around six, and as promised, there was a dark sedan waiting for me outside.  As the car pulled away from the curb, I looked around for any signs of photographers and saw none.  Maybe tonight really was going to be better.

Chapter 11
    I must have underestimated just how much money Grayson Hunter had.  I know Megan told me he was wealthy, but when we pulled up to the white stone townhouse, I was in awe at the large property surrounded by a wrought iron gate.  The driver noiselessly entered a long code into the console and the gate opened automatically.  We drove into a circular driveway and stopped in front of a set of stone steps leading up to an impressive front door.  The driver opened the door for me as I was admiring everything through the window and led me up the front steps, where the door opened in front of me.
    “You look beautiful,” Grayson said as he opened the door wide and invited me in.
    To say that his home was beautiful would be the understatement of the century.  Dark hardwood floors sprawled throughout the first floor, and a massive, sweeping staircase greeted us in the two-story foyer, which lead up to a landing with tall French windows.  The home was somehow lived in but pristine, and I realized that he most likely spent very little time here.  He traveled all the time, so no wonder everything looked perfect and in its place.
    “This is amazing,” I said while I gazed up the staircase.
    “Thanks,” he said and handed me a glass of wine that had appeared out of nowhere, “but I really can’t take credit for it.  I had a great realtor and an even better decorator.”
    “Until right now, I was super proud of my little one bedroom in Wicker Park,” I said. “Now I think I need to redo everything!”
    He led me underneath the staircase and into a massive kitchen.  The cabinets were dark and masculine, the countertops reflecting a deep maple color with gray and beige.  The appliances gleamed in the low light, and the copper pots reflected brilliantly as a team of chefs prepared what looked