A CONTRACT ENGAGEMENT

She relaxed. Things were shaping up perfectly. She’d take him to the game and introduce him to Tony afterward. Then she’d wow him the next morning with a kick-ass presentation. The deal was hers. In the bag. She couldn’t contemplate any other outcome.

Creative Edge and others might be coming on strong, but they didn’t have Tony Parker, and they damn sure didn’t have her ideas. Ideas she knew were perfect for Julian and his company.

This was hers.

Julian reached out to wipe a smudge from the corner of her mouth. She glanced down to see his food gone and most of hers, as well. And the way he was looking at her, she had a good idea what was for dessert.

“Give me two seconds to clear this away and roll the cart out into the hall and we’ll get on with option two, although I’m thinking that option three should be significantly delayed.” he said.

She raised an eyebrow and her heart started tripping double time.

“Oh? How delayed?” she asked.ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

“Very delayed,” he said silkily. “I’m thinking option two could be divided into options three, four, five…..”

In response, she untied her robe and tugged it away until she sat naked on the bed.

Julian grinned at her.

———————-

Nina pulled into one of the reserved parking spaces at the stadium and cut the engine. She and her brother Victor had come here many times to watch his friend, Tony Parker. She glanced over at Julian. “Ready?” she asked.

He looked out the windshield at the proximity of their space and the stadium entrance and whistled in appreciation.

“These must be some tickets you have,” he said.

She smiled. “I told you they’re good.”

They got out and Nina led the way. Normally she would have gone in through the players’ entrance, but she didn’t want to tip her hand just yet, so they headed through the main gate just as everyone else did.

Julian waited for her while she went through security and had her bag screened and then they had their tickets scanned and walked in the direction of the field. Since she’d handled the tickets, she knew he hadn’t seen them and she couldn’t wait to get his reaction to the behind the home plate VIP tickets she’d scored from Tony.

Several minutes later, and after navigating two entrances, they entered the field above the home plate. She flashed her tickets and an usher led them down the steps to a box of seats directly behind the batter’s box.

He motioned them into the row and Nina settled in the seat four rows up from the bottom.

“Wow,” Julian said as he took his seat beside her. “I mean, wow. How the hell did you get these tickets? They must have cost a fortune. Not to mention they’ve been sold out. I know because I’ve tried to get them.”

“I know people in high places,” she said smugly.

He eyed her curiously. “I’m beginning to get the impression you do.” he said.

They caught the tail end of batting practice and then settled back as the field was watered and prepared for the start of the game.

Julian relaxed in his seat and knocked his shades down over his eyes. It was exceptionally sunny today and there was absolutely no cloud or fog cover. It was a perfect day for baseball.

In typical business-geek style, his gaze roved over the fans, looking for those who wore Mart designs. If Nina had her way, a lot more normal, everyday people would want to wear his line of sportswear.

He turned when he heard Nina talking to a hot dog vendor. She twisted to look at Julian. “You want something?” she asked.

“Whatever you’re having,” he replied.

He dug into his wallet to pay the vendor, but the older man smiled and waved him off.

“Our dear Nina is taken care of. No charge for her.” he said.

Julian watched the banter between Nina and the vendor in utter bemusement. They chatted about batting averages, who to watch in the coming season and the travesty that had occurred the previous season when the Tide had finished one game back from the division leader.

“They’ll win the pennant this year,” Nina consoled. “Tony is in top form. He was only warming up his bat last year.”

The vendor nodded enthusiastically. “I believe you’re right. He got hot and the season ended.”

Nina turned and made an expression like she’d forgotten something.

“Oh, my manners are horrible. Please forgive me. Julian, this is Leonard Wyatt.

He’s worked here since the stadium was built. He knows everything there is to know about everything around here. Leonard, this is Julian Martin.”

Julian extended his hand to shake the older man’s and Leonard’s face lit up.

“You’re the Julian from Mart Enterprises?” he asked.

Julian smiled at the man “One and the same.” he said.

Leonard nodded approvingly. “Good place for you to be then. Miss Nina will show you a good time.”

Someone else signaled for Leonard and he nodded at Julian and Nina. “I’ll be back later on to check on you, Miss Nina.”

She smiled and patted Leonard on the arm and thanked him for the hot dogs. When she turned back in her seat, Julian leaned over to take his hot dog from her lap.

“Do you have everyone eating out of your hand, Miss Nina?” he asked, calling her as Leonard did.

She actually blushed and ducked her head.

“Leonard is an old friend.”

Julian chuckled, delighted at the rosy bloom of her cheeks.

“Do you have any other surprises in store for me today?” he asked.

“Maybe,” she mumbled around a bite of hot dog.

The Tide took the field, and the very first batter walked. Nina groaned her dismay along with the rest of the crowd.

“Our pitching has been what’s let us down in the past,” she whispered to Julian.

He didn’t have the heart to tell her that not only did he know, but he could quote the stats for every one of the Tide’s pitching roster.

“This year should be better,” Julian consoled.

She nodded. “Mitch is our best. He usually starts cold, though. If we can get out of the first inning, he’s awesome.”

Again Julian grinned and sat back to watch. Nina bolted from her seat when the second batter grounded to second and Tony scooped, tossed to the shortstop who turned the double play to first.