Can't Help Falling in Love Read online

  “Something wrong?”

  “He didn’t have to do this.”

  Luke glanced at her foot. “He thought he did.”

  “Why did you deliver them?”

  “Because he has another message. He thinks he made the wrong impression on you and wanted me to clear it up. I’ve known him for years. He’s a good guy.”

  Evvie stared into the face of the man she’d drooled over at every Lions’ game. “Well, I think he made the right impression of who he is, Luke.”

  * * *

  Evvie felt more like herself on Monday morning when she reported to work. She walked into the Children’s Medical Center and took the elevator to the third floor. Using the key card which was a necessary precaution for the neonatal intensive care unit, or NICU, she got off at the nurse’s station. Today, she’d lose herself in the job and not think about all the unpleasantness with Mike Jagielski.

  Yeah, sure honey. You got a visit from the sexiest player in the league because of him. Try putting that out of your mind.

  Too bad the move was manipulation of the sneakiest sort.

  As she stepped onto the floor, she found her supervisor standing behind the nurse’s station desk. Leah lifted her gaze. “Evvie! I told you on the phone not to come in today.”

  “I know, Leah. But I wanted to. I’m fine.”

  Though Leah was tall and slender, with pretty, dark hair, the nursing students had dubbed her Drill Sergeant. “Come around the desk.”

  Evvie obeyed.

  “Sit.”

  Evvie shook her head. “I’m fine.”

  “Sit or go home.”

  Evvie sat, and Leah pulled up a stool. Leaning over she grasped Evvie’s foot and propped it on her knee, much as Mike had done Saturday. She removed the sneaker and examined the injury. “Bruising’s normal. Still disgusting, though. I’m going to probe it a bit.”

  “Go ahead. It doesn’t hurt.”

  The probing made her foot tender, but Leah released it and put her sneaker back on. “Here’s the deal. Every hour, you have to prop your foot up for ten minutes. Take an hour lunch. Go home at two instead of three.”

  Evvie opened up her mouth to speak, and Leah held up her hand. “If you don’t, I’m writing an order to excuse you from work for a week. And you know how scared PR is of me. It’ll go through.”

  “All right.” She grumbled, “Not like I wasn’t going to rest anyway.” Before she rose, Evvie asked, “How’s everybody doing after Friday?” The whole unit suffered when a baby died.

  “Probably about as bad as you were when you left here. But you got distracted.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “You haven’t seen the news?”

  “No.”

  Chuckling, Leah took out her phone. “This made the rounds in the hospital. So be prepared.”

  Evvie took the cell and pressed the arrow to play.

  She watched Jagielski at home plate. With two fingers, she enlarged the video and could see his arms bulge as the pitch flew toward him and he swung the bat. She witnessed the ball come right at her. She heard herself cry out and, even now, cringed. The camera panned to him leaping over the dugout with those long powerful legs, stayed on him as he rushed into the stands and then closed in as he scooped her up.

  It all looked romantic.

  “I can’t believe you haven’t seen this.”

  “I didn’t watch any coverage.”

  “Why?”

  “I’m embarrassed.”

  “Why the hell would you be?”

  The head of pediatrics, Dr. James Barber, who she worked with frequently, had approached the desk. “Nurse Gentileschi. Just the woman I want to see.”

  “Hey, Jim. Do you need something from me?”

  “First, how’s the foot?”

  “Okay.” She stood. “Leah gave me an all clear.”

  “Not exactly, but she can work. With breaks.”

  Evvie rolled her eyes.

  He leaned against the counter. “I have a favor to ask.”

  “Anything. You know that.”

  “It’s a big one.”

  “Just tell me what it is.”

  He did. And Evvie thought, Man, why me?

  * * *

  In his usual game-day routine, Mike got up at 10:30 and made himself a breakfast of egg whites, whole wheat toast and a kale and fruit juice smoothie. He went out on the deck to eat. His home backed up to a golf course, and he spotted a few players on the links. One waved to him and he waved back. He liked living on the meticulous greens with trees that waved in the June breeze.

  But once again, his thoughts turned to Evangelina. His ruse had worked—she’d sent him a grateful text and said how much she enjoyed both Luke and the flowers. Mission accomplished! He hoped she felt bad for dissing him so much. He had the upper hand now.

  Why was that even important to him? He never planned to see her again.

  When I’m at a game where you play again, I’ll be sure to take cover.

  No more thinking about his time with her. He finished breakfast and picked up his phone. “Siri, call Jodi.”

  A sexy voice came on. “Hey, Mike. I was hoping you’d call me soon.”

  “I’ve been busy hitting spectators in the stands.”

  “What?”

  Must be Jodi didn’t watch his games when she wasn’t in the stadium. Not surprising, because she didn’t even know how many outs a team had at bat.

  Shit, you’re a fan.

  A rabid fan.

  “Mike?”

  “Wanna come to tonight’s game?”

  “I happen to be off work.”

  “Great, I’ll leave a ticket for you. And you can meet me at Mitts after the game.” A bar where the players sometimes grabbed a beer. But first, in the locker room, there was always food and players always stayed for it.

  “You know I’d love to, darlin’.”

  Feeling satisfied with the plans, Mike took a light run then headed for the shower. As he reached the bedroom, his cell rang. He picked it up from the nightstand. No name on the ID. He’d been flooded with calls from the press on Saturday and Sunday. But something made him click on. “Jagielski.”

  “Mike, this is Evvie Gentileschi.”

  He almost dropped the phone. Then, just to irritate her he said, “Hello, honey.”

  A pause. “Thank you for the flowers. And for sending Luke. What a dreamboat.”

  Man, she knew how to needle him.

  “You already texted me thanks.”

  “That’s not why I called you. When I came to work this morning, the head of pediatrics asked me to contact you. It seems he thinks I have sway over you because of Saturday’s debacle.”

  “What does he want?”

  “There’re several little baseball fans in the pediatric unit now. It’s down the hall from NICU. He asked if you could find a free hour to spend with them. We can work around your schedule, of course.”

  Tell her no. Shoot her down. But the idea of her being even more beholden to him was too much to resist. “Sure. Let me check my calendar and get back to you.”

  When he disconnected, he laughed out loud, suddenly in a much better mood.

  Chapter 3

  The following Sunday, Evvie waited in the lobby for The Jag to arrive. She was here under orders to meet him. When he called her back with a date, the conversation had been under his control...

  “My schedule’s limited.” Mike’s tone was neutral. “But I get back from a series in New York a week from Tuesday, and can come over from the airport.”

  “I’m sure that will work.” A pause. “Have you ever done this before?”

  Silence. “Yeah, Evangelina, I visited kids in the hospital.”

  “The magazines you’re in don’t show you doing anything like that.”

  “I keep a low profile for those things.”

  Probably because it would ruin his bad-boy image.

  “Where will you meet me?” he asked.

&nbs
p; A sinking feeling in her stomach. “Meet you? I’ll send directions to the unit by text. You’ll get a pass at reception to be buzzed.”

  “Nope. I want you to escort me. And stay when I’m with the kids. You do get a lunch hour, right?”

  “I do. All right, I’ll meet you at reception and bring you up.”

  “Thanks so much.” Now his tone was sarcastic. Then, “Your gratitude is overwhelming.” And he hung up....

  A sleek red Ferrari (Frankie had told her what kind of car he drove) pulled up, and Mike got out. As the media outlets had called him, the man was as graceful as a jaguar in the way he moved. The comparison had been a pun on his nickname.

  He handed the keys to the hospital valet, tipped him and walked the short distance to the entrance. When Mike came through the door, she shrank back a little. She was once again overwhelmed by his presence—the way he carried himself and how he dressed in casual chic. His wide shoulders were encased in a sage green shirt that made his hazel eyes greener. He wore pressed jeans, and there wasn’t an ounce of fat on him. She couldn’t help but appreciate his physicality.

  “Hello, Evvie.”

  “Hi, Mike. Again, thank you for coming.”

  “You’re welcome.” He gave her the once-over. “Cute scrubs. Do you wear pink every day?”

  “Those are the NICU colors. The elevators are this way.”

  She led him through a corridor. His stride was long, and he didn’t shorten it for her. But she kept up. At the elevator, she pushed a button, and he stepped back for her to enter first. At least he had some manners. She tried for small talk as the cab ascended. “You won the series against New York.”

  “Did you see the games?”

  “No. I read about them in Sports Today.” The online site reported scores of all major league baseball games and other facts about the teams.

  “You subscribe to Sports Today?”

  “I’m a fan, remember?”

  The elevator door opened, and he waited until she got off and turned left. The pediatric unit was a few doors down. As soon as they got inside, Jim Barber walked over to them. “Thank you so much for coming,” he said offering his hand to Mike. “And for everything else.”

  Evvie had no idea what Jim was talking about until she entered the pediatric playroom. An area off to the left was set up with food, and in the middle, another table to accommodate fifteen for lunch. The little ones were busy all over the room. Each of them wore a pint-sized Raiders’ cap and held or wore a mitt. Some swung whiffle bats.

  “Where did this equipment come from?” Evvie asked.

  “From Mike,” James told her.

  The children noticed him. Several rushed over. Mike squatted amidst them. “Wow, look at you. Are you baseball players?”

  “Dr. James says you gave us these.”

  His smile was genuine and warm and transformed his face.

  “And lunch,” a little girl added.

  “Ah, lunch.” He stood. “Let’s get some grub first.” He grabbed onto two kids’ hands and headed for the food. Evvie moved in closer.

  The meal made her smile: PB&J sandwiches, fruit, juice boxes and cookies decorated as baseballs. She was impressed.

  Aides helped some of the children get their plates and, as Mike waited in line, he glanced around. One little boy was in a wheelchair, his face tearful. He’d come from the oncology unit. She was about to go comfort him but Mike got there first and squatted again. “Hi, buddy. What’s your name?”

  His eyes widened and the tears stopped. “Timmy.”

  “Why were you crying?”

  “Wanna...” Something unintelligible.

  “You wanna go have lunch?”

  “Can’t walk yet. Had chemo today.”

  “Hmm.” After getting a nod from an aide behind the boy, Mike stood, leaned over and picked him up. Timmy cuddled into his chest. For some reason, that little gesture, and the way Mike placed his hand on the boy’s back, made Evvie’s heart leap in her chest.

  * * *

  The NICU walls had been painted bright blue and decorated with baby animals. Mike leaned against one of those walls and watched Nurse Evangelina feed a tiny baby inside the glass room straight ahead. He was mesmerized by the way her finger softly stroked the child’s head, and the way the infant stared up at her and rested a hand on her breast. She seemed completely lost in the moment. And he got completely lost in her.

  “Hello, there.” Another nurse wearing pink scrubs with a white coat over them had come up to him. Tall and slender, she had a commanding air, like the coach of a team.

  “Hello.” He held up his tag. “I was escorted in.”

  “I know who you are, Mr. Jagielski.” The woman held out her hand. “Leah Camp, the charge nurse for the unit. I also know why you’re here. What you did, just coming at all, was very kind. Our kids need as much cheering up as we can provide.”

  “I had a good time.”

  “Word has it you entertained them for ninety minutes. A real feat.”

  He’d shown the kids how to adjust the mitts and hold the bats so he could help them with the proper grip. There was a long area where he pitched a few balls to some of them. “As I said, I totally enjoyed myself.”

  The woman leaned against the wall, too. “The nurses and doctors who came in and out to tend the kids are singing your praises.”

  “Thanks for telling me that. Sometimes celebrities aren’t real welcome by the staff.”

  “So,” Leah said, gesturing to the room where Evvie now rocked the baby on her shoulder. “What are you doing here?”

  “I wanna talk to Evangelina.”

  A smile brightened her austere face. “She’s quite a person, isn’t she?”

  “Hmm.”

  “The best nurse we have. Totally unselfish and generous to a fault.”

  Evvie stood and started walking the baby. Her mouth moved, and he wondered what song she was singing.

  “Mr. Jagielski?”

  “Sorry, I was distracted.”

  “So I see. Let me go in and tell her you’re out here. Great meeting you.” The nurse walked inside the room.

  Evvie set the baby in his incubator, and when Leah spoke to her, she whipped around. Her eyes widened; she said something to Leah and came out.

  “Mike, what are you doing here?”

  His gaze narrowed.

  “I didn’t mean that as a complaint. I only thought you’d be long gone.”

  “I got carried away with my new friends. But I wanna tell you something.”

  “Okay. Before that, though, let me say what a thoughtful visit—providing lunch, caps and mitts. It was...sweet.”

  “Thanks. Jim Barber had another request for me.”

  Those dark eyes rounded. Today, her hair was braided down her back. “I’m surprised he’d ask you to do more.”

  “It’s not a problem. He wants me to come to the Care Unit Gala in a few weeks. It’s a fundraiser.”

  Delicate lines formed on her brow. “I know about it. All the celebrities were booked a while ago.”

  “One canceled.”

  “I’m surprised you play second fiddle.”

  He straightened to his full height. “What the hell does that mean?”

  Her spine stiffened. “You like the spotlight.”

  “I wasn’t thinking about that when I accepted.”

  She shrugged a shoulder, more delicate in the pink top. “Well, you’re a good draw. People love professional athletes.”

  “Do you?”

  “I’m a fan, remember?” She gestured to the unit. “I have to get back to work.” She turned away, but he grabbed her hand and circled her back around. Her skin was baby soft. He wondered if she was like that all over.

  “I had a condition.”

  Her cheeks reddened. “This involves me, doesn’t it?”

  “Yep.” He kept hold of her. “You’re going to be my date, Evangelina.”

  Up close, he could see her pupils dilate. Was she scared o
f him? “Why would you want that?”

  “I can’t go alone.”

  She snatched her hand away. “I’m sure you won’t have any trouble finding a date. The Jag leads a glitzy life.”

  “I don’t need to find someone else. I have you.”

  “Why are you doing this? Like you said in the car, we shoot sparks off each other.”

  He shrugged. “I’ll confirm with Jim and tell him to reserve another place at the table.”

  She closed her eyes. To get control of herself? Then she opened them, said, “Yeah, Mike, you do that,” and walked back into the unit.

  * * *

  Evvie gripped the bat and pretended Mike Jagielski was the sphere that came toward her. She swung hard. The ball went high and, oh my gosh, long. Home run! She grinned as she rounded the bases. Her friend, Abby, was the first to greet her as she crossed home plate. They hugged.

  “Wow, you were intent on that ball.”

  Evvie rolled her eyes. “Long story why.”

  Abby grinned. “Tell me over a beer after the game?”

  She hesitated. Her work started at six a.m. and she rarely went out the night before. But she didn’t feel like going home tonight. “Sounds good.”

  Abby smiled. “You buy. Unless I hit a homer, too.”

  As her friend stepped up to the plate, Evvie sat on the sidelines and thought about why she liked baseball and softball so much. It had been the one sport she was allowed to play growing up. And Papá had taught her everything he knew. Unbeknownst to the girls, he’d been a great ballplayer until he took over as king at twenty-six. Poor Papá. He’d been young then, but grew older fast.

  In any case, playing the game herself erased the memories of The Jag insisting she accompany him to the fundraiser. Damn him!

  Abby hadn’t arrived yet when she walked into The Hanger, a cute little pub near the field and the airport. Evvie noticed a lot of people who she guessed were pilots and flight attendants gathered around the bar. Wearing yellow shorts and the green team shirt and sneakers, she headed to the bar and took a stool.