A Brand New Ballgame by Declan Rhodes

“Never have sex with the boss!” Chase’s sister Celia shouted the words with the extra emphasis only personal experience could provide. Fortunately, Chase’s situation was different. He was saying goodbye to the minor leagues, and he was unlikely to see his manager regularly ever again, much less play baseball for him. The opportunity to go to bed with Aaron Beck was Chase’s parting gift for leading the Rock City Ramblers to a second-place finish, and the gift was perfection.

Chase O’Rourke always played baseball well. From the moment he picked up a bat in a T-Ball league, the game came to him naturally. Seeing his sculpted body built perfectly for optimal batting and chasing down balls in the outfield, most observers thought big league stardom was the most important of Chase’s goals.

28-year-old Aaron Beck was one of the youngest managers ever in the minor leagues. He had baseball management in his blood from his World-Series-winning grandfather to his Uncle John who managed teams for more than a decade in the minor leagues. Aaron’s goal was clear. He would be a big-league manager by age 40.

Then Aaron got called up just months after Chase. They were not only both in the majors, they were working for the same team. Soon, high-minded vows to follow the rules and remain professional melted in the flames of passion. It was a brand new ballgame that Aaron and Chase were learning to play.