Page 319 of Sin Bin

Meadow glanced from one to the other, a smile tugging at her lips.

Cynara was the first to break their stare, taking a swift little breath and lifting her chin to a lofty angle. “It seems that you did cover all the bases. Well done.”

Hunter smiled slowly, his intense green eyes traveling over her face as if he were trying to imprint her features on his brain.

She pulled in another shaky breath and turned to smile brightly at Meadow. “I’d better get back before Logan wakes up and realizes his Porsche is missing. It was good to see you again, present circumstances notwithstanding.”

Meadow smiled. “I agree.”

“I should go, too,” Hunter murmured.

Meadow walked her visitors to the door. “Thanks for stopping by. Both of you.”

“I hope it did some good.” Cynara gave her a quick hug. “I’ll be around for a while. Maybe we can do lunch one day.”

Meadow smiled. “I’d like that.”

Cynara winked at her, then went out the door and started down the porch steps. Hunter followed her, drinking in her traffic-stopping curves. When she reached the bottom step, he put a hand lightly on the small of her back to get her attention.

Meadow swore she saw a shiver run down Cynara’s spine before she turned to arch a perfectly sculpted eyebrow at Hunter.

“Can I buy you dinner after the game?” he said huskily.

Cynara’s throat worked over a hard swallow. He’d obviously caught her off guard. “Look, Mr. Duchene—”

“Hunter.” His name seemed fitting, given the predatory gleam in his eyes.

The same thought must have occurred to Cynara because she nervously swiped her tongue across her bottom lip. “Don’t take this the wrong way, but I don’t date hockey players.”

His mouth twitched. “Hockey players in particular? Or professional athletes?”

She hesitated. “Hockey players.”

“Hmm. Damn shame.” He took her rejection in stride, smoothly sliding on a pair of sunglasses and drawling, “If you ever change your mind about hockey players, the offer stands.”

Cynara stood there watching as he sauntered to his Aston Martin at the curb.

“Good luck tonight,” Meadow called after him. “Hope you guys win.”

“Thanks, chère. Hope the adoption fair is a huge success.” With one last look at Cynara, Hunter slid behind the wheel of his car, revved the engine and roared off.

Cynara unconsciously touched her throat and licked her lips, then looked back at Meadow as if to ask: Am I in trouble here?

Meadow grinned and answered with a look that confirmed: More than you know!

Chapter Forty-Eight

MEADOW

Meadow spent a busy week preparing for Gamenetic’s community fair on Saturday.

She was nervous about appearing on her aunt’s new show to promote the event. She’d done print and radio interviews before, but never television. She was worried about freezing on camera or having a panic attack. Even after being coached by her aunt, she still felt a little anxious.

On the day of her interview, a limo arrived to take her to where the show was being taped. The location was somewhere outdoors. That was the extent of what she knew.

The girls rode with her to provide moral support. Along the way they laughed and chattered among themselves, bubbling with excitement. Meadow alternated between reviewing her notes and doing deep breathing exercises. So she wasn’t really paying attention to where they were going.

When awed exclamations filled the limo, she opened her eyes and looked out the window, then gave a gasp of recognition.

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