ed, vibrating right t

t in the back row of the crowded bleachers, her hands p

reboard. They were locked on th

ely. He wore a navy cashmere sweater tha

d dropped her groceries in a puddle. Julian had stopped, handed her his umbrella, and

ed by teammates. He had just hit a buzze

ed her bag, squeezed past the screaming fans, and hurrie

cooler, smelling of da

ed her back against the wall, hiding in t

d. Her le

avy metal door finally swu

ollar of his jacket. He had a massive black duffel bag slung over

ows and planted herself direct

looked up. Annoyance f

e just shifted his bag an

s movement, blocki

eth. "I told you to find someone else.

402 from Chicago," Vesper sa

es narrowed as he s

pocket, unlocked it, and shoved

around it on the airport floor were dozens of hand-forged, cust

said softly, her eyes locked on his. "They belonged to my gr

looked at Vesper's face. Recognition finally dawned i

, her voice trembling slightly with adrenaline, "I will

didn't

the athletic board will flag your file for disciplinary review. You'l

. Vesper could hear the faint dripping of

believing laugh. "You think you can blackmail me?" he demanded, his voice tight with barely suppressed rage. The sudden shift in his de

ok a slow step forward. He was so close now that Vesp

aid, his voice dropping an o

d a shaky bre

is lips were inches from her ear. "You'r