e a rare nod of approval, but immediately demanded a

ad no choice. She opened the e

g time before he

glasses and faint chatter-

was exhausted and distant.

. Cole. "I'm sorry to bother you," she sai

eiling window of his hotel suite, looking out at

isible wall between them was thicker and colder than before. Emerson's c

c marketing verb, a sharp, distinct

silence on the line amplifi

ond," he said to the phone, set

k away. She heard the click o

nto the microphone. It was a sultry, ho

you are st

n her hand jerked, slashing a thi

ught your favorite Bordeaux

stomach. A sour, burning jealousy cla

laptop. 2:00 PM in New York. Tha

g on a man's hotel room door. It didn't t

over the past three days ma

d together. And Faith was just the pathetic, annoyin

He was saying something, probably turning the woma

efused to be the background no

se to her lapt

her voice loud, fast, and dripping with defen

inger onto the re

od in the doorway, physically blockin

n the desk. He turned his head, stepping back toward t

nching. He had absolutely no idea w

gainst the doorframe. "It's just on

urned to ice. He

. "If you want to remain on this team, you wi

He slammed the heavy door shut, t

one and hit redial

is of