A few

"That's it?" Holly asks. "You didn't check into the school before you were interviewed?"

"I looked at their website, and my professor said they had a good reputation. Honestly, I was happy to have a full time job offer, and I like this part of the country. I got to see some of it when I played ball."

"Oh right, you played in Burlington, wasn't it?"

"That's right. Two seasons."

"Good field no hit," she says with a smile. "That was the story on you right?"

"Yeah. I had trouble with the curve," you reply, trying to keep the sulk out of your voice.

"Tough break," she says with genuine sympathy in her voice. "Oakland could have used a good glove at short this year."

"You a fan?" you ask with some surprise.

"I'm from Boston. That means I'm genetically conditioned to be a Red Sox fan. But I can read the sports pages and see what's going on around the league," she laughs. "Don't tell me you're the kind of neanderthal that thinks 'chicks are for banging, they don't know baseball'."

You feel your face flush, then flush deeper when she chuckles knowingly. "I bet you got your share of baseball Annies. The Burlington girls must have been creaming for you. Don't be ashamed of it! You're a good looking guy and you're not the first and certainly won't be the last athlete to sample the cookies." She gives you an impish smile, obviously enjoying teasing you.

"So now that I've made you blush, let me ask if you'll do something for me. I'll give you my cell number, and if you hear anything that sounds like it's connected to what we talked about, you call me ok? We'll stay off the record, no name mentioned. Hell, I'm not even close to having a story yet. But there's a story here, I just know it. So what do you say Slick, will you help a girl out?"