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laughed, Hodge caught something in the other woman’s eye, and an impulse started her tongue before her mind could still it. “You and Dylan were lovers,

weren’t you.” She froze, horrified. “Oh god. I can’t believe I just said that.”

It was Shauna’s turn to stare. She blinked once, then twice, but the question still hung in the air between them. Her quick mind came up with all sorts of

evasions, but in the end, she decided to settle for the truth. “Yes, we were. For a little over a year.”

Hodge nodded, her face still stark with embarrassment.

“It’s alright, Cat. No harm, no foul. I mean, it was a good thing, while it lasted. And we’re still best friends. But…loving D is like trying to hold the sun in

your hands. It’s gonna take a special person to be able to do it right. And if there’s any person on this earth who deserves it to be done right, it’s her.”

“I…think I knew that, too.”

Dylan sat in her small office, long fingers clicking on the mouse at her right hand, scrolling through the profiles of available guards. It had been three days

since she had sent Catherine Hodges to see Shauna, and as each moment passed without hearing from the young woman, Dylan became more certain that

whatever was said between them had scared her off for good.

Taking her eyes from the monitor, she glared at the innocuous beige phone at her left hand, willing it to ring. Its continued silence mocked her, and she

resisted the almost overwhelming urge to toss it against the wall just to hear it shatter.

Another mouse click and another bright face staring out at her in full Technicolor glory. She’d been through the list countless times this day alone and was

still no closer to a decision than she had been three days ago.

She narrowed her eyes at the phone again, growling low in her throat. As if awaiting that particular threat, the phone suddenly came to life. She let it ring

twice, then lifted the receiver, forcing a casualness of voice she didn’t feel. “Badgers. Lambert.”

“Hi, Coach.”

The sound of Hodge’s voice brought a tentative smile to Dylan’s lips. “Catherine.”

“I…I wanted to thank you for arranging for me to meet with Ms. Keeps. She explained a lot of things and really made me think.”

“I’m glad I could help.”

Hodge’s warm smile was evident in her voice. “You did. And I wanted to let you know that if the offer’s still open, I would be honored to play for the

Badgers.”

Dylan’s smile broke full upon her face, like the sun out from behind heavy clouds. Her fist pumped once, catching the attention of Mac, who was passing

by the office. He stopped, turned, and stared.

“Hodge?” he mouthed.

Dylan nodded.

“Yes?” he mouthed again.

Dylan nodded again.

“Alright!” This, he didn’t mouth.

“Excuse me?” Hodge asked, hearing but not recognizing the commotion.

Scowling at Mac, Dylan returned her attention to the phone. “The offer is most definitely still open,” she said, grinning for all she was worth. The

expression felt strange on her face, but she decided that perhaps she liked it.

“Cool!”

“Yes, it is that. So, I’ll see you at the Crosstown Athletic Club next Saturday, then.”

“You definitely will!” Hodge could feel a joyous scream building in her throat. “And Coach?”

“Yes?”

“Thanks.”

Dylan chuckled. “You’re welcome, Catherine.”

Hearing the hum of an empty line, Dylan shook her head and racked the phone. She then turned off her computer, grabbed her jacket, and stood. “Mac!”

“Yes?”

“Shut it down, my friend. Drinks are on me.”

Mac’s joyful laughter could be heard throughout the building.

“Hello and welcome to Draft Day on ESPN. I’m your host, Mark Rogers, here with co-host Rebecca Thompson, former standout forward with the San

Antonio Sting. Rebecca, it’s a crowded house here at the Crosstown Athletic Club, and the joint, as they say, is jumping.”

“It sure is, Mark. There’s a lot of excitement here tonight. And the biggest buzz is, as always, who will go number one.”

“That and the fact that Dylan Lambert, out of the public eye for pretty much the past few months, will be here to choose that number one player for the

Birmingham Badgers.”

“That’s true, Mark. I saw her walk in just a few minutes ago, and she was absolutely mobbed.”

“No surprise there. So, tell me, who do you think she’s going to pick?”

“The only thing I’m sure of, Mark, is that it’s going to be a guard. Most likely a point guard. She’s managed to build up a pretty solid team in the offseason, but the big weak spot in their lineup remains the point guard position.”

“Well, there’s a lot of talent to choose from in this year’s draft, Rebecca. Who do you think is the strongest contender, based on what you’ve heard so far?”

“I’d have to say Keisha Brown is the strongest contender out there tonight, Mark. Despite the rumors of a dust up at pre-draft camp, she’s got the best

skills of any of them. Plus, she’s got the height and the mental toughness that it will take to change a mediocre team like the Badgers into a winner.”

“Is there anybody else on the radar screen, or is Brown pretty much a slam dunk?”