Page 69 of Payoff Pitch
“I want to play just like you in my championship game.”
TANNER
I walk into my office building feeling better than I have in weeks. Months. Years.
I smile at my longtime secretary. “Good morning, Shannon.”
She eyes me skeptically. Have I really been that grumpy lately? I suppose I know the answer.
“Umm, good morning, Mr. Montgomery. Mr. Lancaster is in your office waiting for you.”
“Yep. Can you—”
“Your coffee is in there waiting for you.”
“Thanks, Shannon. You’re the best.”
“Are you…okay, sir?”
I inwardly laugh. I guess I am an asshole. “I’m great. More than great. Why don’t you head to Parc for lunch today and use the company card? Invite a friend. It’s on me.” Parc is the nicest restaurant within walking distance of the office.
Her face lights up. “Oh. Wow. That sounds wonderful. Thank you.”
I nod. “You’re very welcome.”
I walk into my office and see Layton sitting there. He looks me up and down. “Who are you and what have you done with Tanner Montgomery?”
I lift an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”
“Umm, you’re smiling. You look like you’re about to break into a song.” He gasps. “Did you and Bailey finally bruise the beef curtains?”
I avoid eye contact and sit at my desk pretending to look through a file. “You sound like Cheetah. And I’m a grown man. I don’t engage in locker room gossip.”
He wiggles his eyebrows. “Ahh, but that means there’s something to gossip about.”
I roll my pen between my thumb and forefinger. “We may have taken our physical relationship to another level last night. That’s all you’re getting from me.”
He has a huge grin on his face. “That’s awesome, man. I’m happy for you. Truly.”
“Thank you. Let’s get to business. I have a crazy day today. What’s with the urgent meeting? Though I’m slightly grateful because it meant I needed Bailey to come by this morning to mind Harper, but tell me why you’re here.”
He winks. “Glad I could help. I want to talk about my contract extension with the Cougars.”
The Cougars initially told Layton a few months ago that there would be no talk of an extension until after the season. I felt terrible for him, but I wasn’t surprised. He was playing poorly. He’s thirty-four, which is old in baseball. I tried to encourage him to consider life after baseball, but he wouldn’t hear me at the time.
Then Reagan Daulton and her group bought the team. They struck a deal with Layton. They offered a three-year extension, for considerably less money, if he agreed to date Arizona and promote the Anacondas. Fast forward a few months, and they’re in love and their relationship is gold for both the Anacondas and Layton’s game. He hasn’t played this well in years. She’s breathed life into his career.
“You’ve lived up to your end of the bargain. They’ll give you your three years. You’ll get to retire as a Cougar like you wanted.”
He runs his fingers through his hair and blows out a breath. “For the first time in my life, Tanner, I’m thinking of life after baseball. I held onto this sport because it was all I had. That’s not the case anymore. When Arizona and I are on location for the big photo shoot next month, I’m going to ask her to marry me. I already bought the ring.”
They’re being paid huge dollars by a bathing suit company to travel all over the world for two months in their swimsuits taking photos.
I let the shock of him considering marriage sink in. “It’s only been a few months. Don’t you want to wait a little longer?”
“When you know, you know. She’s it for me. She’ll have the Olympics in four years and will need to train hard. I don’t want the time apart. And what if we have a baby before then? She’ll need me to take care of things at home so she can achieve her dream. I’ve already achieved mine. Idon’t want to stress about letting the Cougars down. See how much money you can get me for one more year, and then I want to retire. One more dance. That’s all I want to do. I’ll get to go out on my terms. Maybe I’ll even get to go out on top.”
He's actually making a lot of sense. “Okay, buddy. I’ll see what I can get you.”