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"You sure the guy you wereyou up? Couldn’t he have tipped off someone?" Grant asked as he walked out of the kitchen and handed her a stea her hands against theto me He told me in not sohis first two years at Dallas U before he blew out his knee If that came out and was proved to be true, the NCAA wouldn’t just sanction the college, they’d do a full investigation on the current progra toward the national championship this year, by the way"

"So I’ve heard," he said dryly "They beat o"

"Your defense sucks They beat themselves"

Grant frowned at her, then apparently decided to wave off a football debate Wise ive you an official state that info as bait to get you out there"

She shook her head and tucked her legs beneath her "That’s not what ot kids now and putting his naerous You kno people are about football around here"

Grant sat down on the couch across fro plans without her input "Yeah I do know It is dangerous Which is why you’re going to back off for a while"

She halted mid-sip "The hell I am Today proved how important it is to break this story We just need to take extra precautions"

"Charli, this is not a negotiation," he said, his tone slipping into that dominant space he’d used with her the other day "Your brother told me to keep you safe, and I intend to do that But I can’t keep doing it fro anywhere You need to cool your heels and let whoever is after you think that they were successful in scaring you off"

The chill she’d been trying so hard to chase off disappeared in a rush of angry heat "Cool my heels? Grant, that’s not how this works I’m a reporter This is what I do"

"And I’m former CIA When your cover is blown, you have to back off for a while or send soht red on soroaned; of course he’d been a govern to let them chase me off I need this story"

"Why, Charli? Why do you need this story?" He leaned forward, bracing his forearhs "What is so ioddaet it?"

She started to open her ive the knee-jerk reaction that wanted to co she said would be the real truth Yes, she believed that as happening rong Yes, she believed cheaters should be punished But that burning, desperate drive to get this story as soon as possible had nothing to do with some reporter cha so to herself, to the mother who had walked out on her, and to everyone who ever told her she couldn’t do it "You wouldn’t understand"

"Oh, really? Trythe sao Despite her frustration with him, her body’s sensors perked at the hed "I need to do et into this field to sit behind a co research for some other reporter’s piece If I can land this story, there’s no way they won’t give ative reporter"

"Is that really the job you want?"

She stared down at her coffee "No, I want the anchor position But apparently I’ood on camera"

"And those idiots who told you that er weaving through his tone "You’re a beautiful, intelligent woes with your approach, but that’s so that can be refined And if they can’t see your potential, then I don’t know if they deserve to have you anyway"

Charli looked up, startled by the conviction behind his words

"I’ll tell you what," he said, his drawl thickening as he gotin his head "You take so this story, try to do most of your other work from here for a while, and I’ll take you on as my trainee I usually require my trainees to stay here full-ti, so give me teeks I’ll make sure that when you walk in for that anchor audition, they won’t be able to pick their jaws up off the floor You’ll be so dalasses to shield thelare"

She stared at hihed "You may be a little overconfident in your abilities there, cowboy I’m a quick learner, but there’s a lifeti to curehis dimple out "I don’t want to cure you of it, freckles But I also know that if you give me a little time, I’ll show you how much woman is in there, too"

The proave her had her sing hard "What exactly would I be signing up for? Obviously, the other day was a disappointment for you"

A crease formed between his brows "You think I was disappointed in you? Darlin’, I can’t get you or that da else done because you’re so…distracting"

She looked down at her hands, trying to hide howhis place, she’d been convinced she

"I was pissed at myself I hammer into my members the rules of safe, sane, and consensual play And here I airl who’s never played before with a belt, not even knowing anything about your li, not daring to look at him "It was fine You didn’t hit me that hard"