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you’re here and I’m almost finished
with practice, why don’t I give you a few pointers?”
    “You’d do that for me?”
    He loved her imitation of a wide-eyed
innocent. But there was absolutely nothing innocent about the
wicked gleam in her eyes and the provocative way she stood.
    He grinned. “You’re going to love this
private lesson, Doc.”
    He took her hand and led her onto the playing
field. His team of thirteen-year-olds crowded around to be
introduced. Afterward, she waited while he talked with them about
their next game.
    He was good with children. That was the first
thing she noticed. The next was that the children not only
respected him, they loved him. Watching Dan with his team, she knew
she was watching something rare and beautiful. At that moment the
crack in her armor widened until it was a gaping hole. She was
vulnerable.
    But she couldn’t quit now. She was committed.
One man had already dismissed her as too busy and too dedicated to
her career for marriage. She’d be damned if another would do the
same.
    Finally the last of the soccer team left the
field, and she was alone with Dan. His incredible blue eyes raked
her from head to toe.
    “You’re wearing too many clothes.”
    “I beg your pardon?” She pulled her hood
tighter around her face.
    “I said, you’re wearing too many clothes. You
need to take some of them off.”
    “For what?”
    “Soccer.” He grinned at her. “You weren’t
thinking of something else, were you, Doc?”
    “Of course not.”
    “Good. Neither was I.” He reached out and
began to unbutton her coat.
    “What do you think you’re doing?”
    “Habit. Good manners, you know. Helping
ladies on and off with their coats.”
    Just in time, she remembered her purpose and
bit back a sharp retort.
    “Thank you.”
    “You’re welcome.” He slid the heavy wool
parka over her shoulders and tossed it on one of the wooden benches
that lined the field. Then he caught the tail of his sweatshirt and
stripped it over his head. Underneath he was wearing a flannel
shirt. “Here. Put this on. It’s lightweight, but it’s designed to
keep out the chill.”
    The shirt was still warm from his body. It
also smelled faintly of him, a clean, spicy, soap smell. She hugged
her arms around her torso, pulling his warmth closer.
    “Cold?”
    “No. Just adjusting the shirt.” She began to
smooth down the tail. “It’s a little big.”
    “It’s never looked so good. Are you ready for
your first lesson?”
    “Yes.”
    “Good. Then listen closely, Doc.”
    Listen? That wasn’t exactly what she had in
mind. She sat down on the bench and waited. She saw the very devil
dancing in his eyes as he propped one foot on the bench and began a
long-winded technical lecture that would have bored the pants off
even the staunchest soccer fan.
    If he thought he was going to get the best of
her, he was sadly mistaken. She called on all the powers of her
scientific mind to listen.
    When he had finished the lecture, he grinned
at her. “Did you get that part about fouling?”
    “Yes. If a player fouls, the opponents can be
awarded a direct free kick, a penalty kick or an indirect free
kick.”
    He was impressed. “And do you remember the
size of the playing field? That’s very important.”
    “In international competition the field may
be one hundred ten to one hundred twenty yards long, and the width
may extend from seventy to eighty yards. The field is the same
length in college competition in the U.S., but the width can be
sixty-five to seventy-five yards wide. Anything else, Coach?”
    “That’s amazing.”
    “I’m a fast learner.”
    “Then I’d say you’re more than ready to
play.”
    Tossing her mittens onto the bench, she
smiled at him. “I’m equal to whatever play you have in mind.”
    Dan watched her sashay toward the goal line.
She had spunk. He’d always admired that in a woman. Of course, she
wasn’t really interested in soccer. She was simply playing