“I know you think I betrayed you, but all I did was expose a truth that would have come out eventually. I’m not your press leak. I’m not a spineless coward. I sign my name to my writing.”

Sam rubbed her eyes, looking so weary she could hardly stand. “I want to believe that.”

“Then believe it. You were my first real friend here in Santa Barbara, Sam. Please believe that, too.”

Sam looked away for a moment, then turned back, her eyes shiny. “It’d be great to have another set of hands right now, especially someone who created the floor plan and knows what she’s doing.”

“Done.”

Sam closed her eyes, then opened them and hugged Holly hard. “Thanks.” She pulled back. “I believe in you. I do, but you should also know that others aren’t so sure.”

Even though Holly had known this, it still hurt. “I understand.”

Sam squeezed her hand and walked off, and with a deep, fortifying breath, Holly turned to face the ballroom.

In a way that guys were masters at, Pace and Red had avoided talking about anything too personal since their last conversation at the bullpen. But when Pace pulled up to the hotel for the poker night and got out of his car right next to Red, he knew they couldn’t keep it up. Not when he was about to see Holly for the first time in too long, not when it was sitting like a block of ice in his gut. “Got a minute, Red?”

Red looked over, clearly saw the determination on Pace’s face, and sighed as he tossed aside his cigarette. “Yeah.”

“You ever think about what’ll happen when you leave baseball?”

“Not until recently.” Red shrugged. “I have nothing but the game, son.”

Pace nodded. He knew that feeling all too well. It didn’t change a thing. “Did you do it? Did you give Ty the stimulants?”

Red closed his eyes. “Why shouldn’t I?”

“Because it’s wrong.”

The older man, the only man to have been there for Pace through thick and thin, shook his head, then slowly nodded. “I know.”

“You have to stop.”

“I know that, too.” Red paused, never one to use a lot of words. “Ty’s tests came back positive this morning. He’s not going to appeal.”

Which was as good as an admission of guilt, and meant he’d be suspended, leaving the Heat without a strong pitcher to cover Pace until his return at the tail end of a season that had been touted as The Season. “He’s young,” Pace said. “He’ll get through it. We’ll all get through it.”

“Yeah.” Red looked at the hotel. “About that woman.”

“Holly,” Pace said wearily. “Her name is Holly.”