Page 51 of Compromised

The fast-paced game of lacrosse captured her attention and for a brief moment she watched the action as the Boston Cannons in their navy blue uniforms with red accents controlled the ball with quick passes, progressing closer and closer to the goal against some team in white and green uniforms.

Three passes were drilled so fast from one player to the next her eyes were still catching up as number eighty-three, the talented Chandler Delta, fired at the goal. The white ball stung the back of the net, passing over the goalie’s right shoulder so fast he reacted a fraction of a second too late.

The crowd went insane and Kylee found herself screaming along with them. She loved this game. She’d never been much into sports growing up, but on her one trip to Summit Valley, Colorado as a teenager, the irresistibly handsome and charming Chandler Delta had converted her into a lacrosse junkie. He’d taught her how to pass and catch with a lacrosse stick. He’d complimented her so sincerely and so often she almost believed him and shut out the snarky comments Mimi had whispered in her ear when her parents were alive and said loudly once they were gone. Chandler had taken her on precisely three “walks” into the forest where they’d shared some incredible kisses. She knew it had only been a fun fling for him as he’d promised to call and text then never once tried to contact her after she went home with her parents and grandparents to Chicago. Her parents had been killed shortly after and that summer trip and the carefree, romantic, and fun time with Chandler lived in her mind as the best moments of her life.

She’d watched almost every college game he played at Syracuse and professional games with the Boston Cannons. He was amazing. Even if he had broken her heart as an impressionable sixteen-year old.

“And Chandler Delta stings top shelf to make the score twelve to seven with only two minutes left in the fourth.”

As the crowd continued to scream, Kylee looked over her shoulder but didn’t see Creepy Eyes. She eased along the bleachers and annoyed quite a few fans as she excused herself past clapping hands as they cheered and then past knees and feet as they settled back down to watch the next face-off. She pushed as far as she dared and finally created a spot for herself in the fourth row. She fastened her gaze on Chandler and found watching him play in real life was even more amazing than watching it on her computer.

The last two minutes of the game wound down far too quickly and as the crowd counted down from ten, reality slammed back into her. She wasn’t here to ogle the gorgeous superstar; she had to get him a very important message. Fingering the expensive jade and diamond necklace hidden under her blouse that her grandfather had given her, she worried that Grandpa was as rotten as Mimi.

You’re the rotten snitch, Mimi’s voice said in her head.

Den mund halten, she commanded back. She could say shut up in many, many languages. Sadly the voice never listened.

Kylee pushed that away and focused on Chandler. She had no clue how she was going to get to him and how she was going to whisper secrets in his ear. She couldn’t have Creepy Eyes turn his sights on Chandler.

The buzzer sounded and the crowd exploded with cheers. Some people immediately headed for the exits. Quite a few others lingered, like Kylee. The rest of the fans were probably reluctant to relinquish the great feeling of a victory with their team, or maybe hoping the players would come talk to them.

Kylee prayed for some way to get Chandler’s attention. Would he even remember her? She was an obsessed fan girl of his, but it had been years since they’d seen each other and she’d put on twenty pounds.Thirty, Mimi’s snarky voice said in her head.Càllate, she begged.

Keeping a positive self-image as a shapely girl in a thin-obsessed world was next to impossible, but she tried. Half-heartedly but at least she hadn’t thrown in the towel. Her mom and dad had believed she was the most beautiful, smart, hardworking, and charming person on the planet. When they were killed in an airplane accident, she’d had to endure the last two years of high school living with Mimi. Grandpa Seamons had tried, but nobody could overcome the snark and digs Mimi was capable of. How she missed her parents.

The Boston players started jogging around the stadium, slapping hands with the fans who surged down to the edge of the bleachers, hanging over the side for a chance to interact with their superstars.

Kylee’s stomach hopped. This was exactly the opportunity she needed and had been praying for during the long hours of driving, and hoping she was making the right move.

Looking around for Creepy Eyes, she still didn’t see him. She climbed over the three rows in front of her, and pushed her way between two teenage boys to somehow get Chandler’s attention.

“Hey,” one of the boys protested.

“Sorry,” she said, giving him a desperate smile. “I have a huge crush on Chandler Delta.”

He grinned back at her. He had her by half a foot but that didn’t mean much as she was only five-four because of her four-inch heels. As her grandmother would be happy to remind her, she was probably exaggerating her height just like she downplayed her weight.

“Lucky dude,” the kid said. “You could have a huge crush on me.”

She couldn’t help but laugh. She was disheveled, her hair in a sloppy bun and her blouse and skirt wrinkled. She couldn’t imagine she looked attractive right now. It was embarrassing as she wished she could look her best for Chandler, but that wasn’t the mission right now.

“Well thank you, sweet boy but I think I’m about ten years older than you.”

“You’re so beautiful I’m sure age wouldn’t come between us.” He winked and she thought he was adorable. “Has anybody ever told you, you look like J. Lo?”

“Oui. I have heard that before.” She was impressed he knew who J. Lo was. Wasn’t Jennifer Lopez in her fifties? “I’ve always wanted a younger brother,” she told him,

His nose wrinkled. “Gross. I don’t want to be your brother. I want to take you out.”

Players started surging past and she had to ignore her crazy but complimentary teenage friend to make sure she didn’t miss Chandler. Sometimes her high-school students hit on her and it always made her laugh. Silly kids were just trying to get extra help or a better grade. She wasn’t sure what this kid’s excuse was, but she appreciated the bolster to her confidence as Chandler was approaching.

Her heart seemed to stop then take off at a gallop and her palms got sweaty. She completely missed the hands of the two players before him, so focused on those incredible blue eyes, that irresistible grin, and his handsome face. His dark hair was mussed from his helmet and his jersey was drenched in sweat. She didn’t mind. Maybe the fact that he wasn’t clean and perfect would help him forgive that she wasn’t.

She shook her head. It didn’t matter. She had to discreetly get him alone, share the conversation she’d overheard, and then find a way to St. Lucia, the Caribbean island of her dreams, where Mimi and her hitman would hopefully never find her.

Chapter Two

Kylee could hardly catch a full breath as Chandler got closer to her. He was right there. It was all she could do to not scream his name and beg him to help.

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