Page 107 of Fair Trade

I was surprised to hear that Ace Middlebrooks, our third baseman, took quite the lead and helped introduce us to most of the charities we’ll be raising money for today.

Though I should know better than to judge a book by its cover. Being married to Nick has more than driven that point home.

“You’re here early.” Isabella startles me from my running thoughts.

“I could say the same for you.” I take in Isa’s carefree smile. To think we became friends because she used to nanny for the man she will soon be calling her husband.

“I couldn’t keep Anna home any longer. She said she wanted to see the stadium’s retractable roof closed for the very first time. But I’m sure she was trying to get first dibs on the snacks in the family suite. I swear I don’t know where her and her father pack away all that food.” She laughs.

I hesitate a second too long to return the gesture, and Isa’s eyes narrow. “What’s up with you? You seem off. Are we mad at Nick? Did he leave the toilet seat up or something?”

I laugh for real this time.

I swear, girlfriends are heaven sent.

“No, everything’s fine.”

“Whoa, fine? Just tell me you hate me, why don’t you,” she deadpans.

“Okay, not fine. But it will be. Once I get out of my own way.”

I give her a quick rundown of what happened last night.

“Hmm, I see. So you’re not fine.”

“I am—”

“No, you’re an idiot. But it’s okay. We’ve all been there.”

“What—”

Isabella’s phone rings in her hand, and the smirk on her face puts me on high alert.

“Mr. Stonehaven, to what do I owe the pleasure?” She smiles like the Cheshire cat.

“Put it on speaker,” I mouth. She rolls her eyes but does it anyway.

“Hi, Isabella. I’m calling to see if you’ve seen Luisa. I’ve been calling but haven’t been able to reach her.”

The slight worry in his voice makes me kick myself for leaving my phone on my desk when I came down to the suite level.

“Don’t worry, boss man. I have our littleAngelright here with me.” The way she says Angel has my mind flying back to the night I showed her Nick’s dirty email, the one where he called me by his second-favorite nickname—wife being the first.

I can’t see him, but I swear I can picture his whole demeanor changing. “Is that so?” he says, sounding a little too pleased with himself for my liking. “Then do me a favor, Isa. Can you make sure Luisa is in the stands behind the home team dugout before the game starts and not the suites?”

“Sounds like you have something interesting planned. I’m in.”

“Traitor,” I mouth to Isa, and she muffles a giggle.

“Oh, and one more thing, if I may. Tell my wife I love her.”

“Aw, of course I will—”

“And that she’s going to pay for every second she allowed herself to doubt us. I’m going to take real pleasure in reminding her that she and I are a forever kind of deal.”

“Oh. Yeah. Uh, I’ll…” Isa sputters.

“I know I’m on speaker.” I can hear the smirk on his face. “See you on the field, Angel.”