Free Going All the Way (Knights of Passion Book 1) by Megan Ryder Page A

thoughts darkened and she sipped her soda to wet her suddenly dry mouth, the impact of the morning just hitting her. He had requested her, specifically. Was it because of their one-night stand? It had to be. He had no idea what kind of consultant she was. Was he expecting a repeat of their night together, maybe a sexual partner for the remainder of the season, have his sex and not ruin his image? He clearly wasn’t interested in following the guidelines set forth by the team so what was his angle?
    “Oh.” Sophie shrugged off the news. “That’s better than the alternative. Maybe it’s time for you to break away from your father’s control. Do something you enjoy. Or someone.”
    Stacia remained quiet, barely breathing. Please don’t let her know baseball.
    “What? Oh crap.” Sophie groaned again. “Don’t tell me. He’s that Jason?”
    She should have known. Hot men, tight pants. Of course Sophie knew who the hottest men were. Damn. “He wasn’t a client at the time. I had no idea he would ever be a client.”
    “Wait. You’re telling me you slept with Jason Friar, bad boy of baseball, the one man every woman in America wanted to screw? Sweetie, he’s a train wreck now, a complete mess. Even you can’t fix him.” Sophie’s tone was sharp, a hint of warning combined with pleading.
    “Who said I’m trying to fix him? It’s not like I try to save people. I’m just polishing his image and keeping him out of trouble.” Stacia stuffed her garbage in the bag, tearing a hole in the paper from the force.
    “Oh please. I know you too well. At some point, you’re going to try and save him, fix him. Then, when the job’s over, he’ll move on and you’re left with a broken heart. This happens every time. He’s not the underdog.”
    Stacia sighed. Even she had thought the contract terms were a little harsh, demeaning. Her heart had softened, even as Jason had stood stoic. Sophie was right to counsel her but Stacia feared it was too late. “I know that and I’m being really careful.”
    “Really?” Sophie’s arch tone came through the phone loud and clear.
    “Really. I’m just working on a plan to show the fans that he’s changed, that he isn’t the guy they thought he was.”
    “And is he? Is he the guy the fans think he is or the guy you think he is?”
    “I have no idea,” Stacia admitted. “But I’m working on it.”
    “Well,” Sophie sighed. “Just be careful, sweetie. I don’t want to see you hurt.”
    “I don’t intend to be hurt. I’m being really careful this time.” God willing, she had to be careful, or risk losing her heart in the process.
    Never had she been so vulnerable.
    “Umm-hmm.”
    *
    The next day, Jason sat in his rented condo, staring at a television screen, studying the familiar swing. Two years ago, every baseball he saw was the size of a grapefruit and he nailed each one, winning baseball’s Triple Crown – most runs batted in, highest batting average, and most home runs. He’d been trying in vain to duplicate that same swing in the two years since. In vain, because he was older, slower, and dealing with a bum shoulder. Now that he had a contract, it was imperative to get that swing back as quickly as possible and make the most of the last six to eight weeks of the season so he could parlay that into a new, better contract.
    A pounding on the condominium door jarred Jason out of his analysis. He scowled at the door, and leaned further in, trying to block out the noise. The pounding continued.
    “Goddamnit! Hang on.”
    He jumped up and stamped around the boxes stacked near the hallway, then kicked a hidden one.
    “Sonofabitch!” Whoever was at the door had better be worth it.
    He flung open the door, the curse dying on his lips. Stacia Kendall stood on the stoop, foot tapping, a smartphone in her hand.
    “Great! I wasn’t sure you were here.” She tucked her phone in her purse and brushed past him into the dim, narrow hallway. She eyed the boxes piled