Free Too Hot to Handle: A Boys of Summer Novel by Katie Rose Page A

swung his bat in disgust as he gazed toward the office from which Jeffrey had just exited.
    “She’s a royal pain in the ass,” Ryan said hotly as he stretched his hamstrings.
    Pete kicked at the dirt. “She covered for you. Jeffrey saw the baseballs and she made up a story about using them in the media clip for visual support.”
    “No shit.” Ryan appeared shocked, and his eyes met Jake’s. “I thought for sure she was a Goody Two-shoes who would rat us out.”
    “Nope,” Pete said again. “In fact, she found your little present in her filing cabinet when Caine was in the office. Could’ve created a hell of a ruckus if she had reacted and Jeffrey found out. But cool as a cucumber, she just slid the door shut and told him she’d give him the press releases later.”
    This time the players were even more astonished. Not a man could speak.
    “There’s more.” Pete chewed his gum contentedly. “Jeffrey wasn’t real happy about that little stunt with the wigs. But instead of feeding into that, Nikki wrote a press release praising you clowns for your ability to have fun and not take things too seriously. Jeffrey loved it.”
    Ryan looked dumbfounded, and Brian appeared completely bewildered. The uptight Ms. Case had been given an opportunity from heaven to get even and she hadn’t taken it. They were stunned.
    Only Jake didn’t look surprised. He and Chase exchanged a glance and he shrugged, as if expecting nothing different. The other ballplayers appeared a little embarrassed when they realized their enemy had some real class.
    “So I think from now on you boys need to consider what you’re doing. Nikki Case is trying to help this team. I know y’all don’t like some of the rules, but you got to hand it to her. She’s got grace under pressure. And that might be just what we need.”
    Pete indicated the ball field. “Now why don’t we get out there and win one so she has something positive to give the papers instead of following around a bunch of baby elephants and cleaning up their crap?”
    Jake nodded, and he and Chase started for the field while the others slowly followed.

Chapter Ten
    The team was glad to get back home to Trenton, although they all missed the Florida sun. New Jersey was notorious for giving up a few good days in April, only to remind everyone winter wasn’t over with a backhanded punch. When they landed at Trenton-Mercer Airport, the ground was covered with snow.
    Yet the forsythia had burst into riotous bloom, and the crocuses showed their Jersey aggression by shoving their way through the ice to unfold like yellow and purple umbrellas in the sun.
    Back in the familiar locker room on opening day, the players unpacked, putting their newly cleaned and starched uniforms into the metal enclosures. There was more than one grumble as they realized the beat-up towels were gone, the lockers had been scrubbed, and the room positively gleamed. The bathroom was also spotless, the soap dispensers filled, the paper towels replaced, and the sinks immaculate. Nikki’s presence was making itself known.
    Yet they were all in better health and more prepared, thanks to the new regimen. Ryan had lost ten pounds once it became a chore to get a beer. The extra batting practice and time with the pitching coaches had improved their skill set, as did the endless drills. She had also added a chiropractor and acupuncturist to their list of medical resources, and encouraged them to address aches and pains early before they became more serious.
    Even the meals had changed. Instead of ballpark food, Nikki arranged for them to have access to fresh salads, soups, and whole-grain bread. While she didn’t eliminate the pizza and burgers altogether since the public demanded them, she quietly encouraged better nutrition.
    And while the players had come to grudgingly respect her, they were like little boys refusing to say that Mom was right. Important stuff was on the line. Such as ego.
    “Hey, Jake.” Brian