It Had to Be You (Chicago Stars Book 1)

Ron met Phoebe just inside the door of the locker room, and after assuring himself that she was unharmed, led her toward the small platform set up for the television cameras to record the postgame interviews and trophy presentation.

“I’ve spoken with the police,” he said over the pandemonium surrounding them. “They’ll talk with you as soon as the ceremonies are over. I’ve never been so frightened in my life.”

“Is Molly all right?” The players were shaking up champagne bottles, and Phoebe ducked a frothy shower.

“She was upset, but she’s fine now.”

As they reached the platform, Phoebe saw Dan being interviewed by O.J. Simpson. He had pulled a Super Bowl cap on over his wet hair, and as Ron helped her up next to him, she heard him sidestepping O.J.’s questions about his second-half coaching by promising a full press conference as soon as the chaos had settled down. He didn’t look at her, but as she drew near, he settled his hand comfortingly into the small of her back.

She ducked one champagne shower only to get drenched by another. Her hair dripped in her eyes and she dabbed at her cheeks as the president of the NFL came forward with the AFC Championship trophy. Standing between Dan and Phoebe, he began to speak. “On behalf of the—”

“Excuse me for one minute.” Phoebe hurried to the side of the podium where she grabbed Ron’s hand and pulled him up alongside Dan and herself.

Dan gave her an approving grin, grabbed a foaming champagne bottle from Collier Davis, and emptied it over Ron’s head. While the GM sputtered, Phoebe laughed and turned back to the NFL official. “You can go on now.”

He smiled. “On behalf of the National Football League, it is my great pleasure to present the AFC Championship trophy to owner Phoebe Somerville, Coach Dan Calebow, and the entire Stars’ organization.”

The players cheered wildly and released another shower of champagne. Phoebe tried to make a short speech, but got so choked up that Ron had to take over. OJ., still trying to get answers to his questions about the strange progress of the game, turned to interview Jim Biederot, while Phoebe passed the trophy over to Ron.

Dan grabbed her hand, pulled her off the platform, and steered her behind a celebrating cluster of players so that they were hidden from the media. “Come on. We only have a few minutes.”

He drew her around the corner toward the showers, through the equipment room, past a training room and into a hallway. The next thing she knew, he had hauled her into a small storage area, only a little bigger than a closet. No sooner had he pulled the door shut behind them than he gathered her into his arms and began to kiss her.

They clung fiercely to each other. Their bodies were wet and sticky from Gatorade and champagne. They tasted it on each other’s mouths.

“I didn’t know if I’d ever hold you like this again,” he murmured hoarsely.

“I was so scared. . . .”

“I love you so much. Oh, God, I love you.”

“I was afraid you didn’t, and I couldn’t bear it.” She trembled in his arms. “Oh, Dan, it’s been such a terrible day.”

“You can say that again.”

“Not just the kidnapping, but . . .” With a shudder, she told him about Reed.

She could feel his muscles grow taut as she spoke, and she waited for his explosion of rage. When he offered comfort instead, she loved him even more for understanding so clearly what she needed from him.

“I’m sorry,” he said, his voice husky with emotion. “I’m so, so sorry, baby.”

Just telling him about it somehow made it more bearable. She nuzzled deeper into the wet collar of his shirt. “I wish we could stay in here forever,” she murmured.

“Me, too. All I want to do is take you home and make love to you.”

“The police are waiting for me.”

“I’ll have to talk to them, too. And the press.”

“And I need to see Molly.”

He cupped her face in his hands and tenderly stroked her cheeks. “Are you going to be all right?”

“I’m going to be fine. I just want to get all of this over with. We can meet at Ron’s victory party tonight.”

“Don’t plan on spending too much time there.” He gave her one last kiss, then held her hand as they slipped out into the hallway.

Inside the closet everything was still for a moment, and then there was a rustle in the farthest, darkest corner.

“Darnell?” The woman’s voice was soft and ladylike, but clearly distressed. “Did you hear what she said? About Reed Chandler?”

“I heard.”

Charmaine Dodd, who firmly believed in fair play, was indignant. “That rat! He shouldn’t be able to get away with something like that.”

“Oh, he won’t, baby. I know the coach, and I can promise you Chandler won’t get away with anything.”

“I’m glad.” She swatted Darnell’s wandering hand, which had begun to massage her breast through her prim white blouse in the most delicious, although highly improper, manner. “Oh, no you don’t. We’re not married yet.”

“But we’re gonna be, and then I’ll be touchin’ you in places you didn’t even know you had.”

“I didn’t say I’d marry you.” The words were slightly muffled because she was trying to kiss him while she talked. Hugging a football player who was still wearing most of his equipment was very much like trying to cozy up to an armored tank. Even so, she wasn’t ready to let him go. Not that she intended to make this easy for him by letting him know how much she’d grown to love him. Darnell was too full of himself as it was.

“Charmaine, baby, I just got off the field. I haven’t been to the showers, but you still walked right into this closet with me. Now if that isn’t a sign you’re ready for marriage, I don’t know what is.”

“Maybe I just feel sorry for you.”

He chuckled and slipped his hand under her skirt. His caress was so exquisite that, for several long moments, Miss Charmaine Dodd forgot her principles. Instead, she ran the tip of her tongue over the diamond embedded in his front tooth and told herself Darnell Pruitt was going to make one fine, fine husband.

It was eight that evening before Dan had finished with the police, the NFL commissioner, and the press. The lengthy and dramatic press conference had been especially difficult for Phoebe, but she had handled it like a trooper and was already being declared a heroine on the evening news. He didn’t like the fact that the press was trying to make him into a hero, but he knew that stories like this died a natural death after a few weeks. Then their lives could return to normal.

Ray Hardesty had suffered a major heart attack and was under police guard at the hospital. As Dan gazed around the silent coaches’ locker room where he’d finally been able to shower and change into clean clothes, he knew he would have no regrets if Hardesty didn’t recover.

Everyone else had left long ago for the victory party. As he slipped into his parka, he was bone weary and all he could think about was getting to Phoebe. But there was something he had to do first.

He walked out into the silent corridor, then drew up short as he saw Jim, Darnell, Webster, and Bobby Tom leaning against the opposite wall. All of them were wearing street clothes.

He regarded them uneasily. “I thought you’d be at the party by now.”

“We decided to wait for you,” Jim said.

“I have to make a stop first. I’ll meet you there.”

Bobby Tom unfolded his lanky form from the wall. “We care about Phoebe, too.”

“What are you talking about?”

Darnell took a step forward. “Me and my fiancée were sharing the same closet with you and Phoebe after the game. We overheard what she told you about Reed Chandler. I shared the information with my teammates here.”

Long seconds ticked by as Dan studied them. “I can take care of Reed by myself.”

“We know that. We’re just planning to come along for moral support.”

Dan began to argue, but fell silent when he realized that, in their minds, Phoebe had become their teammate today.

Twenty minutes later, they pulled up in front of Reed’s brick and stone two-story house. Dan was relieved to see that the lights were on. Reed was home, so this wouldn’t have to be postponed.

As they walked up the drive, he slipped his gloves into his pocket and regarded the men who had come with him. “Reed’s mine. I don’t want anybody else to touch him.”

Bobby Tom nodded. “Just make sure there aren’t any leftovers.”

Reed answered the door himself. When he saw Dan, he looked puzzled, and then his eyes widened in alarm as he observed the platoon standing behind him. He immediately tried to slam the door, but he wasn’t quick enough, and Dan drove his shoulder into it, sending him flying.

The men crashed into the hallway. Reed scrambled back against the archway that led to the living room. Dan could smell his fear.

“What do you want? Get out of here!”

Dan moved forward. “I think you know what I want. If you’re a religious man, I suggest you start praying.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about! She lied to you about me, didn’t she? She told you some kind of lie.”

Dan took his first swing, a hard jab to the jaw, and Reed flew back against the couch. He gave a howl of pain and scrambled to his feet, panting with fear.

“You get out of here, Calebow. I’m going to call the police. I’m going to—”

Webster calmly ripped the phone from the wall. “Too bad, Chandler. Phone’s not working.”

“If you touch me, I’ll have you arrested!”

“Now how you gonna do that?” Bobby Tom stuck a toothpick in the corner of his mouth. “Right now the coach is having a drink with all four of us at my apartment. Anybody says different’s a liar. Isn’t that right?”

“That’s right, Bobby Tom.” Darnell wiped his shoe on one of the white damask chairs.

“You guys are crazy! You’re fucking maniacs.”

“We’re not maniacs,” Dan said. “We just don’t think a slimeball like you should get away with rape.”

“Is that what she told you? I didn’t rape her! She’s lying. She wanted it. She—”

Dan’s next blow destroyed Reed’s nose. He began to whimper and tried to push it back into place as blood poured down his face. “It wasn’t my fault,” he sobbed. “I was drunk. I didn’t mean anything.”

Dan dropped his parka on the back of the couch. “When I’m done with you tonight, you’re gonna be hurt real bad.”

Reed tried to scramble to his feet. “No! Stay away! Don’t hurt me!”

Dan advanced on him. “You’re gonna be hurt, but unless I miscalculate, you’ll still be alive. If you want to keep it that way, don’t ever come close to Phoebe again. If you threaten her in any way, you’d better be prepared to live the rest of your life in a wheelchair.”

“No!”

It was the last word Reed uttered before Dan took him apart.

Phoebe didn’t arrive at the victory party until nine o’clock. Her ordeal, combined with the lengthy press conference, had exhausted her. When she’d finally gotten home, Molly had clucked over her like a mother hen and insisted that she lie down. She’d been so exhausted that she’d immediately fallen asleep.

Several hours later, when she awakened, she was refreshed and eager to see Dan. She’d showered and chatted with Molly as she’d dressed. Her sister had been shaken by the events of the afternoon, but recovered her spirits when Phoebe suggested a last-minute slumber party. Peg consented to chaperone, and by the time Phoebe left, the girls were arriving.

The restaurant Ron had rented for the night had a cozy, rustic interior, complete with brick floor and copper pots hanging from open beams. As she entered, her hair was still a bit damp from her shower and it curled around her head. The temperature had been steadily dropping all evening, and she was wearing a loosely fitting fuchsia sweater over a matching skirt in soft, flowing wool. With the exception of a center slit that climbed to a point just above her knees, it was conservative attire, but it felt right with her curly hair and silver doorknocker earrings.

She had just checked her coat when she heard a group entering the restaurant behind her. She turned to see Dan walking in, along with Jim, Darnell, Webster, and Bobby Tom. Everything inside her grew soft and warm at the sight of him.

“I thought I’d be the last one here.” Her voice sounded breathless.

His expression was so tender she could feel her chest swell. “We had a hard time getting away.”

They stood in the middle of the entryway gazing at each other as the men began to move away to find their wives and girlfriends.

Bobby Tom coughed. “The two of you should probably breathe or something so nobody hangs a coat on you.”

Dan didn’t take his eyes from Phoebe. “Don’t you have a playbook to study, Denton?”

“Yessir, Coach.” Chuckling, he left them alone.

Phoebe could have looked at him forever, but they had duties to perform. Dan took her arm and began to lead her into the room. “Half an hour. And then you’re all mine.”

Ron met them just inside the door. To Phoebe’s surprise, Sharon Anderson was at his side, and she greeted them both with a warm smile.

Dan didn’t even attempt to hide his pleasure at seeing Sharon, and he immediately drew her into his arms for a bear hug. “Hi, sweetheart. How’s Ron treating you? Has he proposed yet?”

Phoebe tried to work up a little jealousy, but his affection for Sharon was so open and honest she couldn’t manage it. She realized he treated Sharon exactly as he treated Molly and wondered how on earth he could ever have imagined that they would have been happy together as a married couple. Dan was one of the most intelligent men she had ever met, but he was definitely stupid about some things.

She took pity on Sharon, whose flush had spread out from the roots of her red hair to encompass every one of her freckles. “Don’t let him tease you, Sharon. His idea of good manners is to mortify only those people he likes.”

“I wasn’t mortifying her,” Dan protested. “This is my first serious attempt at matchmaking, and I want to know how it’s working out.”

“None of your business,” Ron said mildly. “Now why don’t you tend to your own love life and get Phoebe a drink?” He and Sharon smiled shyly at each other and moved away.

Phoebe giggled as Dan grabbed a beer for himself and a glass of wine for her from a passing waiter, but her smile faded as she saw that his knuckles were scraped and badly bruised. “What did you do to your hand?”

“I, uh—” He took a sip of beer. “I sure am glad Ron managed to keep the location of this party a secret from the press.”

“Dan? What happened to your hand?”

He hesitated, and for a moment she thought he wasn’t going to answer, but then he brushed a lock of hair from her cheek. “I went to see Reed. The two of us needed to come to an understanding about what he did to you.”

Her eyes flew over him, but other than his hands, he didn’t seem to be hurt. “What did you do?”

“Let’s just say I practiced a little frontier justice. He won’t bother you again, sweetheart.”

Phoebe wanted to question him, but at the same time, the shuttered expression on his face told her she wouldn’t get far. She decided she wasn’t all that anxious to hear the details anyway.

Darnell approached and introduced his new fiancée. Phoebe liked Charmaine Dodd on sight, and she congratulated them. Other players approached with their wives, and she and Dan were separated. She moved from one group to another, greeting everyone and occasionally catching sight of Dan as he did the same.

She was chatting with Bobby Tom and the pair of shapely redheads draped over his arms when she heard someone yell.

“Quiet, people! Quiet!”

Everyone in the crowd was startled to realize that commanding voice was coming from Ron, and they all fell silent. He was standing at one end of the room holding a telephone, his hand cupped over the mouthpiece.

“Phoebe!” He thrust the receiver forward. “Phoebe, it’s for you!”

She regarded him quizzically.

“It’s the president!” He spoke the words in a stage whisper that could have been heard in the parking lot.

She had just spoken with the NFL president a few hours earlier, and she didn’t understand why Ron was so agitated. “I thought we had everything settled.”

“The President! Of the United States! He’s calling to congratulate you.”

She gulped. Her hand fluttered to the neck of her sweater. The players laughed and then fell silent as she walked up to take the phone.

A woman’s voice said, “Miss Somerville, I have the president on the line.”

Just then someone tapped her on the shoulder. She turned to see Dan standing next to her, a grin the size of a football field spreading all over his face. “Now, Phoebe.”

She regarded him blankly. “What?”

“Now.”

His meaning slowly penetrated her brain, and she stared at him in disbelief. He meant now! She pressed her hand over the mouth of the receiver. “Dan, it’s the President! I can’t—”

He crossed his arms over his chest, his expression unbearably smug. She realized that he had been waiting for a moment just like this. That rat! He had set her up, and now he was going to spend the rest of their lives teasing her unmercifully about not having the guts to take his dare. That cocky, infuriating jock! Somebody definitely had to take him down a peg or two.

The President’s voice boomed over the wire. “Congratulations, Miss Somerville. It was an amazing game.”

“Excuse me, sir.” She gulped. “I have Miss Somerville right here.” She shoved the phone at an astonished Sharon Anderson.

Dan gave a hoot of laughter. She grabbed him and pulled him through the crowd. Just as they reached the door, she spoke.

“You’d better be worth it, studmuffin.”

In the background, Sharon Anderson, after a stumbling start, had risen to the occasion. Much to Ron’s bemusement, he heard her say, “I’m fine now, Mr. President. Yes, it was quite harrowing. By the way, sir, I want you to know that all of us in the Stars’ organization share your concern about adequate funding for preschool education. . . .”

“Studmuffin?” Dan pulled out onto the highway. “You called me studmuffin!”

Phoebe was still trying to catch her breath. “This game can go two ways, Coach. Don’t be surprised if you’re in the final two minutes of the Super Bowl—”

“You wouldn’t.”

“I might.”

He looked over at her and smiled. “Speaking of the Super Bowl. Will you marry me as soon as it’s over?”

“How about Valentine’s Day?”

“Too long.”

“Groundhog Day?”

“Deal.” The Ferrari raced down the ramp onto the Tollway. “You know that we’ve got a few problems we need to talk through before we get married.”

“I’m not getting rid of Pooh.”

“See, there you go being antagonistic. Marriage means learning to compromise.”

“I didn’t say I wouldn’t compromise. I promise to take the ribbon out of her topknot before you walk her.”

“You’re all heart.”

Phoebe’s smile faded. “I want children, too. I always have. I just needed to know you loved me.”

“I hope you know it by now. I never loved anybody in my life the way I love you. I want children, but not nearly as much as I want you.”

“I’m glad.” She caught her bottom lip between her teeth and then released it. “I don’t want to send Molly away. I want her to stay with us.”

He glanced over at her. “Of course she’s going to stay with us. Where else would she go?”

“I thought you might want more privacy.”

“Once that bedroom door is shut, we’ll have plenty of privacy. Actually, when I mentioned problems we need to talk about, I was referring to the Stars.”

“I know you’re not marrying me for the Stars. I should never have said what I did. I was hurt.”

“I’m glad you realize that. But you see, we still have a problem. Historically it’s been women who’ve married the boss. As soon as they had a wedding ring on their finger, they quit their jobs and stayed home. Neither of us wants you to do that, but I have to tell you that I’m not all that comfortable with the idea of spending the rest of my life sleeping next to somebody who’s got the power to fire me if my underwear doesn’t make it all the way to the laundry hamper.”

She repressed a smile. “I’m sympathetic to your problem, but I’m not selling the team just so you can be a slob.”

“Somehow I didn’t expect you would.”

“It’s a new world order. You men are going to have to figure out how to handle it.”

“You’re enjoyin’ this, aren’t you?”

“I’m mildly amused.”

Despite her teasing, she had already been doing some thinking about how she might balance the enormous demands of owning the Stars with marriage and the children she hoped to have. “As a matter of fact, I have a few ideas on this subject. It’s not completely worked out in my mind, but when it is, you’ll be the first person I talk to about it.”

“Then I’d better tell you that I’m not planning to coach the Stars the rest of my life.”

“Dan, you can’t go to work for another team! It would be an impossible situation.”

“I’m not going anywhere for a while. But you’ve seen what this life is like during the season. I want to be around for you and for our kids, and I’ve been toying with this idea for a long time. I decided a while back that the day I wake up and realize I can’t remember what my wife and kids look like is the day I get out of pro coaching. I’m going to find a Division III college nearby, and that’s where I’m going to settle in for the rest of my coaching career.”

“Division III? I don’t know what that means.”

“They’re small colleges. They don’t offer athletic scholarships, and the pros never scout them. The kids aren’t the biggest, they aren’t the fastest, and nobody’s slipping them money under the table. They’re only playing football for one reason, and that’s because they love the game. So while you’re off wheeling and dealing with all the high rollers, I’m going to tuck myself away on some nice little college campus and remember why I started playing the game in the first place.”

“It sounds wonderful.”

He shifted lanes. “That scarf you’ve got under your coat collar. Would you mind blindfolding yourself with it?”

“What?”

“Now.”

“Oh, for Pete’s sake.” She snatched the scarf from beneath her coat collar and tied it around her eyes. “This is ridiculous! You’re not planning anything kinky, are you?”

There was a long silence.

“Dan?”

“Well, I suppose it all depends on how conservative your viewpoint is.”

“You said you were putting all that behind you. That you wanted a nice, ordinary sex life.”

“Uh-huh.”

“You don’t sound very certain.”

“See, it’s like this. After a lifetime of high living, it’d probably be best if I sort of tapered off gradually. That way it wouldn’t be too big a shock to my system. And this is something I’ve been thinking about for a long time.”

“You’re making me very nervous.”

“That’s good, honey. That’s real good.” He then launched into the sweetest, softest dirty talk she had ever heard in her life until her skin was so flushed she had to unbutton her coat. But he still wouldn’t tell her where he was taking her.

When he finally stopped the car, she realized that his monologue had distracted her so much that she’d forgotten to pay attention. Had the tires crunched on gravel? She listened hard, but although she couldn’t hear any traffic noises, she wasn’t absolutely certain whether or not he’d driven her to his house.

“You’re going to have to wait here for a couple of minutes while I get a few things settled. I’ll be right back, so don’t get nervous.” His lips brushed hers. “Promise me you won’t spoil everything by sneaking a peek. That’d be a sign that you don’t trust me, and what kind of marriage would we have then?”

“You’re really pushing me. You know that, don’t you?”

“I know, darlin’.” He nibbled her bottom lip. “While you’re waiting, why don’t you just go over all those things I told you I was going to do to you. That way you won’t be bored.” His chuckle was definitely diabolical as he slipped his hand under her dress, squeezed her thigh, and then opened his door.

It was an absolutely rotten thing for him to have said, because once he’d planted the idea, she couldn’t think of anything else. By the time he returned to the car, she was quivering with sexual anticipation.

She felt a rush of cold air as he opened the door. “Everything’s all taken care of. I’m going to carry you now.” He caught her under her knees only to immediately set her back down on the seat. “Phoebe, honey, you’re still wearing your underwear. I distinctly remember telling you I wanted it off by the time I got back.”

“You did not.”

“I’m sure I did. I guess I’ll have to take it off myself.” Sliding his hands under her dress, he pulled off her panty hose and her underpants.

“I’m going to freeze. It’s not even twenty degrees.”

“I don’t think you’ll have to worry too much about freezing. Where in the world did these panties come from?”

“I bought them.”

“They’re not much more than two little ribbons and a scrap of silk. Did you give up your industrial strength underwear just for me?”

“Just for you.”

“That’s sweet, honey, and I appreciate it. Now slip those high heels back on. I do like the way your legs look in high heels.” As soon as she’d done what he said, he caught her under her knees and swept her out of the car. Her skirt fell free and cold air fanned her naked bottom, which was exposed for the entire world to see.

“Please tell me there aren’t a dozen people standing around.”

“Only half a dozen, sweetheart. But they’re all too busy adjusting the carburetors on their motorcycles to look.”

She buried her face in his collar and laughed. He was outrageous, impossible, and she was having the best time of her life. But where was he taking her?

He shifted her weight and opened some sort of door. She was relieved to feel warmer air on her bottom as they stepped inside.

“That blindfold still tight?”

“Uh huh.”

“That’s good. Don’t pay any attention if you hear strange noises.”

“What sort of noises?”

“Drunken laughter. Breaking glass. Jukebox. That sort of thing.”

“I won’t give it a thought.”

“And if somebody named Bubba asks you what you’re doing here, you just tell him you’re with me.”

“I’ll do that.”

He began kissing her, and by the time he stopped walking, she realized he’d once again distracted her from paying attention to where they were going. Had they traveled a short distance or a long one? He wasn’t breathing hard, but he was in such good physical shape, that didn’t mean anything. She couldn’t even be certain whether he’d climbed a set of stairs or if they’d stayed on the same level.

“I’m going to set you down now. I don’t want to get you too close to the bar. On account of fights breaking out.”

“May I take the blindfold off yet?”

“I’m afraid not, honey. You’ve still got your clothes on.”

“I have to take my clothes off?”

“I’m sorry, darlin’. I thought you’d figured out how this was going to work.” He removed her coat. “Don’t you worry, though. I’ll help you.”

“You’re such a gentleman.”

He slipped off her earrings, pulled her sweater over her head, and discarded it. “Phoebe, honey, I don’t want to embarrass you, but did you know you can see right through this?”

“Can you now?”

“I’m afraid so. That means I’m going to have to ask you to stand real still for a minute.”

Through the gossamer-thin silk of her bra, she felt his mouth settle over her nipple. The warm, moist suction sent torrents of excitement raging through her body. His sensual torture continued as he moved his mouth to the other breast, while the nipple he had abandoned pebbled beneath the damp, chilly spot he had left on the silk. Her knees were growing weak, and she wanted him inside her so badly she grasped his shoulders.

“Please. . . . You’re making me crazy.”

“Shhh. I’m just getting started here, and, frankly, I expect a little more stamina from you. Maybe you could recite some batting averages or something.”

She laughed and then gasped as he gently nipped her with his teeth. A moment later, her bra fell away, and she was naked from the waist up.

“You are one beautiful woman, sweetheart. Isn’t she, boys?” /

He definitely needed to be put in his place. She began to lift her arms to remove the blindfold, but he caught her wrists and held them at her sides. “Not yet, honey. I’m real thirsty.”

Releasing her, he cupped her breasts in his palms. Once again, he began to feast on her nipples, but this time, not even the frail barrier of silk was in his way. He suckled her until she was making soft, mewing sounds.

She reached out, desperate to touch him. At some point he had taken off his own coat, and she slipped her hands under his sweater, sliding them through the mat of hair on his chest to brush his nipples.

He groaned. She felt his touch at her waist, and then the light brush of wool as her skirt fell free. He spoke softly, his voice husky. “I don’t want to scare you, honey, so I’d better tell you exactly what I’m going to do here.”

She wasn’t the slightest bit afraid and he knew it, but she decided it would be rude to interrupt.

“I’ve made a bed for us with our coats, and I’m going to lay you down on it. That’s right. Now lean back. That’s good; real good. Honey, I don’t remember telling you that you could close up your legs like that. Uh-huh, now move that knee up so I can enjoy the view.” His fingers found the sensitive skin of her inner thigh.

“Can I take the blindfold off yet?”

“Oh, I don’t think so. No sense in gettin’ you all riled up till I’m through with you.”

She was definitely going to get even with him for this. But not until she had enjoyed every second of this exquisite, thrilling seduction.

She heard the rustle of his clothes as he discarded them, and her heart swelled with love. Six months ago she could never have imagined trusting any man enough to let him do this to her, let alone one with Dan’s physical strength. Yet she lay here before him naked and open. Even though she had no idea where he had taken her, she had never felt safer and she realized that, along with his love, he had given her freedom from fear.

He lay down beside her on the bed of coats and drew her into his arms. “I’m going to kiss you a little bit. If you get bored, I can ask the band to play some music or something.”

“I’m definitely not bored.”

She breathed in his clean scent and touched the tip of her tongue to his shoulder. His muscles flexed and she felt his arousal pulsing hard against her thigh. His mouth closed over hers. Their tongues joined and everything else slipped from her mind until she was only aware of sensations. The sound of his groans, the dampness of his skin as he held himself back to pleasure her. His mouth traveled from her breasts to her waist. He kissed the insides of her thighs, then opened her to love her more deeply.

She had no idea when she lost the blindfold. She didn’t know whether it had fallen off or one of them had removed it. She was only aware of the roar of blood in her ears, the ecstasy of being joined with this man she loved so very much, the fierce passion of his love words as he thrust so deeply into her body.

“All my life . . .”

“I know. My sweet . . .”

“Forever . . .”

“Oh, yes. Forever.”

They pledged themselves with word and body, then cried out together as their love flowed warm and rich from one heart into the other.

When it was over, he held her against him as if he’d never let her go. His voice was thick with emotion. “I love you so much. I’ve been lonesome for you all my life.”

Tears slipped from the corners of her eyes. “You’re the most wonderful man in the entire world.”

She could feel him smile against her forehead. “You’re not mad?”

“Why would I be?”

“I wanted to drive out the bad memory, honey. I wanted to put a good one in its place.”

She had no idea what he was talking about, and she was too lethargic to question him. Sighing with contentment, she snuggled her cheek into his neck and opened her eyes. She was aware of the gentle beating of his heart, the stars twinkling in the sky above, the soaring gridwork of steel. . . .

Her head shot up.

“Something wrong, sweetheart?”

“Oh, my God!”

They were lying naked on the fifty yard line in the very center of the Midwest Sports Dome.