A friend of his was getting married. A close friend who just happened to be a big-time Hollywood producer, and Wade was one of the groomsmen. The wedding was an entire weekend extravaganza where there was sure to be tons of press. If he was going to attract any of it—and just by being Wade, he most definitely was—he needed to attract good press.

They had a two hour car trip ahead of them, and by the time it was over and they got out of the limo at the resort, they needed to be in sync and looking like lovers. Willing to do her part, she smiled, the smile that usually got her exactly what she wanted, and in this case, what she wanted was Wade’s cooperation. Thing was, he didn’t often feel the need to cooperate, which she knew all too well. “You’re right, let’s just get going, we can finish this on the way.”

He looked at her for a long beat, all big and built and completely inscrutable, during which time she held her breath. For as laid-back as he was, he was also tough as steel. He had to be. Catchers had what was arguably the hardest position in baseball. They had to command the respect of all the players, as it was the catcher making the calls. He had to have good sequences in those calls, and the ability to change it up and keep hitters off balance. Which meant he had to be smart, sharp, and strong in both mind and body.

Wade was all of those things and more. Including quick to come to a decision. He tossed his overnight bag into the limo and followed it in. Leaning back, he stretched out his long, long legs and looked around. “So. We have any food in here?”

“No. Are you hungry?”

“Starving.”

He was always starving. Probably because he burned God knew how many calories a day between five mile runs, weight training, and the game itself. “We can stop and get something to go. Rosa’s?” she asked, naming the closest café. Look at that, she was getting the hang of taking care of him already.

“DQ is good.”

She’d never met a grown man with such a love for fast food before. But whatever he wanted, she’d get. It would make him happy, and a happy Wade was hopefully a compliant one. With a nod from her, the driver started the engine, and they began their trek, heading through town.

Santa Barbara was a colorful blend of history and up-scale Southern California living. Wade was looking out the window, taking it in, giving her his profile as they turned onto Highway 1, heading south. The sparkling Pacific was on their right, the green, craggily Santa Ynez peaks on their left, both breathtaking.