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"We don't have to stay long," she said, her voice clipped and strained "Drinks and dinner, then we'll leave"

He adopted a relaxed stance, hoping it would rub off on her "No worries I'm happy to do whatever you need me to do"

She looked angry "I don't need you to do anything You shouldn't even be here" Forcefully clearing the mutinous expression fro this You should be taking the night off, not be forced to schmooze with my parents' friends"

Ty wanted to pull her close to let her know that he'd play defense for her tonight, but his fingers had barely brushed over hers when she abruptly pulled hers away

"Daddy!" she said in an abnorh-pitched voice

Ty looked up the winding, paved staircase to see if her father had changed much in ten years

Nope He was still lean, still tanned, still ileamed on his wrist

Ty's expression betrayed none of his dislike

"You're late," was all Julie's father said in greeting

She'd barely made an excuse about traffic when her father cut her off

"Wonderful to see you again," he said to Ty

Ty hadn't forgotten the day they'd h school and Julie's father had, like everyone else, wanted a piece of the superstar action Ty was destined for the pros and lots of money But first, he'd have to choose his launchpad

Blake Spencer was a Notre Da any means possible Most sixteen-year-olds would have been awed by dinner at the Ritz--where the waiters hadn't asked for his ID--by the 1,000 bottle of cha in the limo after dinner

But Ty was y than he hite tablecloths and waiters who bowed and scraped He'd rather be out shooting pool with his friends than listening to soreat investments he'd made and how he ran his cos Julie's dad said about football sounded weird, like he'd read them from a how-to book, or memorized a TV commentator's remarks

So yeah, he remembered her dad Only now did Ty stop to wonder why he'd never given Julie credit for surviving such a jerk of a father

An invisible punch sh hi the worst No one else had it as had as you, did they?

"We were all thrilled e found out our Julie orking with you"

Ty nearly cracked a smile Julie sure as hell hadn't been pleased Which had been a large part of her charm

Her father continued braying into the silence "A client like you is really going to raise her profile She should be very thankful that the Outlaws thought of her"

Julie reotten used to her quick co her behave like this, reduced to nothing but a rich hter

Exactly what he'd assuh school

Ty sent I wouldn't consider anyone else"

Gratitude practically seeped from Julie's pores Ty wanted to smash her father's face in

Her father blinked, then tried to usher Ty inside, leaving Julie standing alone by the li down at her shoes

This was bullshit

Ty pulled out of her father's grasp and returned to Julie He tipped his finger under her chin, blocking her father's prying gaze with his broad back

"We're a teaht you depend on me Okay?"

Her eyes were bright and he held them for several beats until they refocused

She spoke so softly, he could barely hear her "Okay"

Ty kept his arh her front door A young, stacked blonde smiled up at them

"Oh goodie," she said, "you're here! I' to meet you"

Ty knew thousands of women like this one and he'd slept with a fair nus--because he sure wasn't feeling it for this girl

Sure, she was cute and had big tits But he had a thing for interesting, sreat breasts Julie fit the bill perfectly

Julie stiffened against his arm "I take it you're my father's new secretary"