Chapter 24 (Emmett): Trade Talk, Forbidden Touch, and a Rival’s Arrival
⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.
Summary
Emmett meets Reese in her office before the game to go over the lineup. He informs her that catcher Travis needs a night off due to a hard bounce to the mask. Reese, concerned about the player, confirms that the trade for Harrison will be official by morning. She admits she is nervous about the backlash and about telling Harrison he is being traded. Emmett reassures her and offers media support. Their conversation turns flirtatious when Reese touches Emmett’s tattooed hand and comments that the flower design would make a “beautiful necklace” — an innuendo he immediately understands. They briefly intertwine their fingers. A knock at the door forces them apart; it is Scott, who asks to speak with Reese privately. He closes the door on Emmett. As Emmett heads to the elevator, he runs into Michael, Reese’s recent date, who says Reese invited him to watch the game from the owner’s box. Emmett is consumed by envy and frustration, realizing he can never be seen with her publicly the way Michael can.
Key Events
- Emmett tells Reese he is sitting catcher Travis for the night due to an injury.
- Reese reveals that the trade for Harrison will become official the next morning.
- Reese admits she is nervous about the media backlash and delivering the news to Harrison.
- Emmett flirts with Reese, referencing “rough” over “gentle”; Reese retaliates with a flirtatious remark about his tattoos.
- Reese touches Emmett’s tattooed hand and suggests the flowers would make a beautiful necklace — a sexual innuendo.
- They hold hands across the desk until Scott knocks; they separate just in time.
- Scott interrupts, asks for a private word, and closes the door on Emmett.
- In the hallway, Emmett meets Michael, who reveals Reese invited him to watch the game from the owner’s box.
- Emmett reacts with jealousy and a sense of helplessness about his position as her employee.
Character Development
Emmett Montgomery
Emmett struggles with his restraint around Reese. He knows he should keep things professional but cannot resist flirting and touching her. His internal conflict deepens when he is reminded of the power imbalance: he is her employee, while Michael can openly be her guest. Emmett’s jealousy reveals his growing emotional attachment, and his frustration at being unable to stake any claim. He also shows a protective side, wanting to support Reese through the trade announcement.
Reese Remington
Reese shows vulnerability by admitting her nervousness about the trade and Harrison’s reaction. She lets down her professional mask with Emmett, sharing feelings she would never show the press. Her playful retaliation — using the “necklace” innuendo — proves she is willing to engage in the risky flirtation. However, her panic when Scott arrives shows she is still cautious about appearances. Her decision to invite Michael to the game, after her date with him, hints at either uncertainty about her feelings for Emmett or a need to maintain a public persona.
Scott
Scott’s interruption and request for a private word underscore his role as an antagonist. He appears to be watching Reese, and his presence threatens the secret chemistry between Emmett and Reese. By closing the door on Emmett, Scott asserts his authority and access to Reese in a way Emmett cannot have.
Michael
Michael is a convenient foil to Emmett — a man who can openly spend time with Reese without repercussions. His friendly demeanor (calling Emmett “Monty,” slapping his shoulder) highlights Emmett’s bitterness and insecurity. Michael represents the public, permissible relationship that Emmett craves but cannot have.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs Evidenced in This Chapter
- Forbidden Workplace Romance: The entire chapter is built on the tension of Emmett and Reese wanting each other while knowing they cannot act on it. The closed-door rules, the panic when Scott knocks, and the repeated “we have to stop” conversations all illustrate the stakes.
- Power Imbalance: Reese is Emmett’s boss. He is technically her employee, and she is the president of the team. This power dynamic restricts their relationship; Emmett cannot be seen with her publicly, while Michael can freely join her in the owner’s box.
- Touch and Tattoos as Symbols: The flower tattoo that Miller copied from Emmett becomes a point of connection. Reese tracing the ink and turning it into a sensual comment (“beautiful necklace”) uses the tattoo as a symbol of intimacy and forbidden desire.
- Jealousy and Envy: Emmett’s raw jealousy when he learns Michael is Reese’s guest is palpable. He envies Michael’s ability to be with her openly, and this emotion drives home the pain of their impossible situation.
- Vulnerability vs. Professionalism: Reese shows her vulnerable side to Emmett (admitting fear), but masks it with Scott. Emmett, too, loses his professional composure when flirting, then regrets it afterward.
Why This Chapter Matters
Chapter 24 is a turning point in Emmett and Reese’s romantic arc. After weeks of building tension, their flirtation escalates to physical touch and overt innuendo, crossing a line they had previously tiptoed around. The interruption by Scott and the arrival of Michael compound the stakes: Emmett is reminded of the very real barriers — both hierarchical and social — that keep him from Reese. The chapter also progresses the trade storyline, giving Reese a major professional challenge that will test her leadership. For readers, this chapter deepens the emotional conflict and sets up future tension between Emmett, Reese, and the external obstacles (Scott, Michael, public perception).
Study Questions and Answers
1. Why does Emmett warn Reese not to flirt with him after the “necklace” comment, and what does his reaction reveal about his internal conflict?
Emmett warns Reese not to flirt because he remembers they are at work and she is his boss. He is trying to maintain the boundary he promised to keep. His warning, however, comes immediately after he admits he “couldn’t agree more” with her innuendo, showing that he wants her just as much but fears the consequences. This reveals his struggle between desire and self-preservation.
2. How does Scott’s interruption change the mood of the scene, and what does it symbolize for Emmett and Reese’s relationship?
Scott’s knock shatters the intimate bubble Emmett and Reese had created. They panic and quickly pretend to be reviewing the lineup. Scott symbolically closes the door on Emmett, reinforcing that Emmett is an outsider in Reese’s professional world. The interruption highlights how fragile their secret connection is and how easily it can be threatened by outside observers.
3. What does the encounter with Michael in the hallway reveal about Emmett’s feelings for Reese?
Emmett’s immediate jealousy and frustration when he learns Michael is Reese’s guest show that his feelings for Reese are no longer casual attraction. He envies Michael’s ability to be seen with her openly and feels helpless because he cannot compete on the same terms. His internal monologue — “I can’t be more than her employee” — confirms that he wants a real relationship, not just flirtation, but knows it is impossible.