“Fine. Here’s to love and the lucky ones who manage to land the hot men.”

“I’ll definitely drink to that.”

TUCKER SAT IN HIS CAR IN FRONT OF VICTORIA BALDWIN’S office, almost too afraid to go inside to talk to her.

It had been four days since Clyde Ross had threatened to trade him. Four days since he’d last talked to Aubry. He was afraid to even text her, though he didn’t think her father monitored her phone.

He felt like a goddamned coward. But this was his career. What the hell was he supposed to do?

And that was the problem. He didn’t know. Right now he needed intel, so he got out of the car and went inside the building where Victoria’s spacious office was located. He’d texted her this morning and asked if she had some time to see him before he had to report to the stadium for his game today, and fortunately she did.

The receptionist led him to her office. Victoria looked gorgeous as always in her dark slim pencil skirt, white blouse and high heels that accentuated her killer legs. He had no idea about her age—late thirties or early forties maybe? It didn’t matter. She was beautiful, in that classic-beauty kind of way, her brown hair perfectly styled and brushing her shoulders in a wave of curls.

She was also a shark in this business, and that’s what he admired the most about her.

“Tucker,” she said, smiling as he entered. “I’m so glad you stopped by. Would you like something to drink?”

“I’m fine right now, thanks.”

“All right. Take a seat and tell me what brings you by today?”

His stomach jumbled and he didn’t want to have this conversation with her, but knowing was better than not knowing. “I was wondering if you’d heard anything about a trade involving me.”

Her brow arched. “A trade? No. Why? Have you heard something?”

“No.”

She leaned a hip against her desk and crossed her arms. “Okay. Then tell me why you thought there might be a trade in the works.”

He wanted to downplay this so she wouldn’t ask a lot of questions. “I was just wondering if you’d heard anything. You know, just to be safe.”

She pushed off the desk and took a seat in the chair next to his. “I don’t think so, Tucker. You’re worried about something. Did someone on the staff threaten you with a trade?”

“No. No one on the staff threatened me with a trade.” That part, at least, was honest.

“You’re obviously upset enough to have come here today to talk to me. Come on, Tucker, tell me what’s worrying you.”

There was no way in hell he’d tell Victoria about Clyde Ross’s threat. He knew Victoria. She was protective of her players. He’d seen her in action when she was negotiating a deal and she was a tigress, giving no ground where the best interests of her clients were concerned. If he told her what Clyde had said to him, she’d march right into his office and threaten him with trading Tucker, telling him what a loss it would be for the Rivers, when that was the last thing he wanted. Now that he knew Clyde hadn’t started trade talks—at least not yet—he was going to have to finesse his way out of this.

He dragged his fingers through his hair. “I don’t know, Victoria. I think it’s just all in my head. You know how it is. The pressure of the game, of wanting to do my best for the team. I had a couple of losses recently that I should have won. And my curveball sucks right now. I can do better.”

She sighed. “Tucker. You’re having a fantastic year. Your pitching is phenomenal, and it’s gotten even better since you’ve been with the Rivers. My guess is you’re only going to improve. The Rivers would be morons to trade you, and trust me, that organization isn’t moronic, so relax. Your status with the team is fine.”

If only she knew. He smiled and nodded. “Yeah, you’re probably right.”

“I’m more than probably right. I know my players and my teams, and trust me when I tell you that you’re right where you’re supposed to be.”

“Okay.”

She studied him for a few seconds. “Unless you’re the one who’s not happy and this is your not-so-subtle way of telling me you want out.”

He leveled his gaze on her, making sure she knew where he stood. “That’s the last thing I want. I like where I am. I like this team.”

She nodded. “That’s what I thought. So focus your energies on your outstanding pitching, and you let me worry about the front office stuff, okay?”

He stood, and so did she. “Okay. And thanks for letting me vent a little.”

She patted his shoulder. “Anytime. That’s what I’m here for.”

He left Victoria’s office a little more clearheaded. But he still wasn’t sure what he was going to do.

He loved Aubry. But his career was everything to him.

And he still felt like a coward.

A coward with no answers.

AUBRY KNEW TUCKER HAD A DAY GAME TODAY. SHE also knew, like herself, that he’d been really busy the past week. They’d hardly spoken and he was getting ready to go out on a road trip again, so she wanted to see him before he left.

Fortunately, their schedules actually meshed for a change, and she had gotten off work right about the time his game ended. She dashed home to shower and change into very sexy underwear and a sundress, slipped into her sandals and drove over to his place. She’d sent him a text message right before she left telling him she’d meet him there.