Stephanie Doyle - Betting On The Rookie

They’ve both got their eye on the prize

Sports agent Samantha Baker needs an epic comeback after the disaster that destroyed her career. Just one client, and she’ll prove she can do this thing again. And that one client has to be Evan Tanner. A late-blooming rookie with talent for the record books, Evan’s got everything it takes.

And, sure, Evan can win on the field, but winning over Samantha is a whole other ball game. She’s been hurt personally and professionally, so just one lie will strike him out for good. So while Sam’s intent on the major league, Evan won’t give up on an even bigger prize: the trust of this woman he loves.

“You’re a knight in shining armor, aren’t you? Ready to save the damsel in distress.”

“If you’ll let me.”

Sam chuckled. “Evan, trust me, I’m not a damsel and if I did need saving, I’d do it myself. Just be there on time. I’ll pick out the outfit I want you to wear.” She started to walk away toward her own car. That sleek ice-blue Mercedes that reminded him of her.

Evan scowled. “I’m not some damn doll to be dressed up,” he called after her.

“No, you’re a client who I want to make sure is dressed and looking appropriate for his first public appearance.”

“I don’t like red!” he shouted even as she was opening her car door.

She waved back. “I don’t care.”

Yeah, Evan thought as he watched her drive away, hiring her was both the best and worst decision he’d ever made.

Dear Reader Dear Reader TITLE PAGE ABOUT THE AUTHOR DEDICATION PROLOGUE CHAPTER ONE CHAPTER TWO CHAPTER THREE CHAPTER FOUR CHAPTER FIVE CHAPTER SIX CHAPTER SEVEN CHAPTER EIGHT CHAPTER NINE CHAPTER TEN CHAPTER ELEVEN CHAPTER TWELVE CHAPTER THIRTEEN CHAPTER FOURTEEN CHAPTER FIFTEEN CHAPTER SIXTEEN CHAPTER SEVENTEEN CHAPTER EIGHTEEN CHAPTER NINETEEN CHAPTER TWENTY EPILOGUE EXTRACT COPYRIGHT ,

Well, this is it. The final book in The Bakers of Baseball series. It has been so much fun writing these books. I know I’m going to miss Minotaur Falls and baseball.

I have to confess I absolutely love baseball movies. In my opinion you don’t even have to love baseball to love baseball movies. These books have been my tribute to every baseball movie I have ever loved.

In this final chapter, we meet Samantha and Evan, who were introduced in Scout’s Honor, and being able to take their story from one book to the next was also a thrill. Sam and Evan don’t have the easiest time finding their way to a happy ending, but of course it wouldn’t be a story if they didn’t!

I hope, if you’ve read the series, you’ve enjoyed the Baker women as much as I have. I love to hear from readers, so please feel free to contact me at www.stephaniedoyle.net, on Facebook or on Twitter, @stephdoylerw.

Stephanie

Betting on the Rookie

Stephanie Doyle

www.millsandboon.co.uk

STEPHANIE DOYLE, a dedicated romance reader, began to pen her own romantic adventures at age sixteen. She began submitting to Harlequin at age eighteen and by twenty-six her first book was published. Fifteen years later, she still loves what she does, as each book is a new adventure. She lives in South Jersey with her cat, Hermione, the designated princess of the house. When Stephanie’s not reading or writing, in the summer she is most likely watching a baseball game and eating a hot dog.

For Wanda

Contents

COVER

BACK COVER TEXT They’ve both got their eye on the prize Sports agent Samantha Baker needs an epic comeback after the disaster that destroyed her career. Just one client, and she’ll prove she can do this thing again. And that one client has to be Evan Tanner. A late-blooming rookie with talent for the record books, Evan’s got everything it takes. And, sure, Evan can win on the field, but winning over Samantha is a whole other ball game. She’s been hurt personally and professionally, so just one lie will strike him out for good. So while Sam’s intent on the major league, Evan won’t give up on an even bigger prize: the trust of this woman he loves.

INTRODUCTION “You’re a knight in shining armor, aren’t you? Ready to save the damsel in distress.” “If you’ll let me.” Sam chuckled. “Evan, trust me, I’m not a damsel and if I did need saving, I’d do it myself. Just be there on time. I’ll pick out the outfit I want you to wear.” She started to walk away toward her own car. That sleek ice-blue Mercedes that reminded him of her. Evan scowled. “I’m not some damn doll to be dressed up,” he called after her. “No, you’re a client who I want to make sure is dressed and looking appropriate for his first public appearance.” “I don’t like red!” he shouted even as she was opening her car door. She waved back. “I don’t care.” Yeah, Evan thought as he watched her drive away, hiring her was both the best and worst decision he’d ever made.

Dear Reader Dear Reader Dear Reader TITLE PAGE ABOUT THE AUTHOR DEDICATION PROLOGUE CHAPTER ONE CHAPTER TWO CHAPTER THREE CHAPTER FOUR CHAPTER FIVE CHAPTER SIX CHAPTER SEVEN CHAPTER EIGHT CHAPTER NINE CHAPTER TEN CHAPTER ELEVEN CHAPTER TWELVE CHAPTER THIRTEEN CHAPTER FOURTEEN CHAPTER FIFTEEN CHAPTER SIXTEEN CHAPTER SEVENTEEN CHAPTER EIGHTEEN CHAPTER NINETEEN CHAPTER TWENTY EPILOGUE EXTRACT COPYRIGHT , Well, this is it. The final book in The Bakers of Baseball series. It has been so much fun writing these books. I know I’m going to miss Minotaur Falls and baseball. I have to confess I absolutely love baseball movies. In my opinion you don’t even have to love baseball to love baseball movies. These books have been my tribute to every baseball movie I have ever loved. In this final chapter, we meet Samantha and Evan, who were introduced in Scout’s Honor, and being able to take their story from one book to the next was also a thrill. Sam and Evan don’t have the easiest time finding their way to a happy ending, but of course it wouldn’t be a story if they didn’t! I hope, if you’ve read the series, you’ve enjoyed the Baker women as much as I have. I love to hear from readers, so please feel free to contact me at www.stephaniedoyle.net , on Facebook or on Twitter, @stephdoylerw . Stephanie

TITLE PAGE Betting on the Rookie Stephanie Doyle www.millsandboon.co.uk

ABOUT THE AUTHOR STEPHANIE DOYLE, a dedicated romance reader, began to pen her own romantic adventures at age sixteen. She began submitting to Harlequin at age eighteen and by twenty-six her first book was published. Fifteen years later, she still loves what she does, as each book is a new adventure. She lives in South Jersey with her cat, Hermione, the designated princess of the house. When Stephanie’s not reading or writing, in the summer she is most likely watching a baseball game and eating a hot dog.

DEDICATION For Wanda

PROLOGUE

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN

CHAPTER ELEVEN

CHAPTER TWELVE

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

CHAPTER NINETEEN

CHAPTER TWENTY

EPILOGUE

EXTRACT

COPYRIGHT

PROLOGUE

“RICHARD, TELL ME again you didn’t do this thing.”

Samantha sat behind the desk in her office and continued to read the Tweets on her phone even as she waited for the person in front of her to prove he couldn’t be guilty of what he’d been accused.