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“Last time I checked,” came the dry reply.

Hodge sighed. “I did it again didn’t I.”

She decided that she liked Dylan’s laugh. Very much. Even when it was, as now, at her expense.

“It’s alright,” Dylan said finally. “I can imagine what it’s like growing up with younger brothers.”

“It’s a handful,” Hodge agreed.

“Listen, the reason I called was that I’m going to be in Boston on Thursday to attend a dinner. I was wondering if you might be able to take a run up there

and meet with me for lunch on Friday. There are a couple of things I need to discuss with you.”

Hodge felt her grin trying to encompass her entire face. One triumphant fist pumped in the air. When she spoke, she tried her best to modulate her tone

into one of casual interest. “Sure, I can do that.”

“Do you know where Morrissey’s is?”

“I sure do! I love that place!”

“Alright, how about if we meet at 2pm, then. My flight doesn’t leave till seven.”

“I’ll be there.”

“I’ll see you then. Goodbye, Catherine.”

“Bye, Coach.”

Hodge hung up the phone, grinning like a fool.

It was twenty minutes to two when Hodge found herself in front of the mirrored glass windows of Morrissey’s, a trendy restaurant in the heart of Boston.

Catching her reflection, she stopped briefly to make sure her appearance was up to par. Dark, crisply pressed slacks and a mint polo were formal enough

for Morrissey’s, but relaxed enough that she could feel comfortable. Her shoulder length hair, normally pulled back in a tight braid, hung loose and shining

in the bright spring sun.

Opening the door, Hodge stepped into the cool, dim interior and then into a short line of customers waiting to be seated. The restaurant was crowded with

business types enjoying a late lunch and some last minute schmoozing. Conversation was muted; a soothing hive drone interspersed with the pleasant

sound of silver ringing on china.

As she waited in line, she resisted the urge to look around like some gawking fan searching for a glimpse of her favorite star. A moment later, she found

herself before a tall podium. A well-dressed and attractive blonde woman was staring down at her, her smile polite. “May I help you?”

“Yes. I’m meeting Pallas Lambert here today.”

The hostess’ expression froze as her eyes narrowed. “And you are?”

“Catherine Hodges, Ma’am.”

A more genuine smile appeared. “Ms. Lambert is already seated. If you’ll follow me?”

Hodge followed the hostess through the restaurant, past the central grouping of tables, and toward a darker, more intimate area, where small, sheltered

booths ran along the far wall. Hodge wondered at the intimacy of the setting, then realized that the placement was more to hide Dylan’s celebrity from

prying eyes than anything else.

The hostess stepped out of the way to reveal Dylan seated at the table, a cell phone up to her ear. She wore a royal blue silk top whose sleeves were

rolled to the elbows, revealing corded forearms and thick, supple wrists. Like Hodge, her hair was down, spilling past her shoulder blades and shining blue

in the muted, overhead lighting. Hodge felt her body instinctively respond, and she shifted on her feet, caught between a rock and a hard place.

Alright, Catherine, settle down. Just because she’s an absolute knockout doesn’t mean you can’t treat her like any other person. Right? Right. Nothing to

it. Now if my heart would only stop beating like a freight train going uphill, I might have this thing licked!

Dylan smiled at Hodge and gestured for her to sit down. Hodge slid into the booth and immediately picked up the menu to avoid staring at the woman

across the table. She’d seen this menu many times before, and knew exactly what she wanted to order. Morrissey’s had excellent food, though it was a bit

pricey. Still, the money from the part time job she’d carried all through college would easily cover this unexpected expense. Besides, she’d been craving a

thick, juicy Morrissey’s steak for a week now, and damned if she wasn’t going to take care of that craving.

Dylan finally managed to get her troublesome agent off the phone by promising him a meeting with the Nike people within the next week. She folded the

phone, slipped it into her vest pocket, and rubbed at her throbbing temples. Headaches bloomed every time she talked to Manny. She wondered, for

perhaps the thousandth time, why she didn’t just fire the bastard and be done with it.

Pushing those thoughts from her mind, she summoned up a smile, which she gave to the young woman seated across from her. “Thanks for coming.”

Hodge returned the smile. “Thank you for asking me.”

The waiter appeared, as if by magic, and with a bow of her head, Hodge gave Dylan the honor of ordering first. As she listened to the selection, her face

fell. Dylan was ordering from what Hodge and her friends liked to call the “crunchy sticks and bark” section of the menu.

Great. She’s a vegetarian.

Her stomach cried bitter tears as all thoughts of a nice slab of beef went swirling down the drain.