The Trouble With Angels Page 0,36

and applauded loudly. And when an official, the very one who'd given the unjust penalty, happened to walk past her seat, she suggested he might want to have his eyes checked.

If the referee heard her, he chose to ignore the comment.

The score was tied the last two minutes of the game when Seattle took a time-out.

"We have to win," Joy said, wringing her hands.

"Why?" Ted wanted to know. "Do you have a lot of money riding on the outcome?"

"No!" She wasn't into gambling. "It's just that if I'm going to cheer my heart out for these guys, the least they can do is win."

"They have enough incentive of their own."

"I'm sure they do."

The buzzer blared, and the two teams returned to the court. Joy's eyes followed the time clock. Seattle scored, putting them in the lead. There was time, almost a minute and forty-five seconds, for the Lakers to tie up the game.

The Lakers piled two points onto the scoreboard, and the game was even. The last minute of the quarter dragged on for twenty. Just before the buzzer, Stanley, a rookie player for the Lakers, threw the basketball at midcourt. The ball swooshed through the net, and the fans went wild.

Without thinking what she was doing, Joy cried out excitedly and hurled herself at Ted. His arms went around her waist, and he lifted her from the ground and whirled her around several times in their own private celebration.

People crushed in around them, but Joy didn't notice and she doubted that Ted did, either. All at once she realized that she was in Ted Griffin's arms, holding on to him as if she intended never to let go.

Enjoy it, she told herself. Consider it a bonus.

She closed her eyes and savored the feel of his arms around her, savored his strength.

He released her abruptly, as if he realized he'd held her far longer than he should have. Joy made busywork, gathering her sweater and her purse. The Forum was emptying, the crowd pleased with the results of the game.

"Great game," she said, the first to breach the silence.

"One of the year's best."

"Stanley's going to be an asset to the team," she said, burying her hands in her pockets and standing shoulder to shoulder with the slow-moving crowd.

"He already is."

She noticed Ted didn't sound his usual self and wondered what was wrong. When she could, she chanced a look at him, hoping she wasn't being obvious. His face was tight, his eyes brooding and thoughtful.

All they'd done was share in the celebration of the win. It didn't mean anything.

"Don't look so worried," she said when they reached his car. He stood on the driver's side and she on the passenger's, the vehicle between them.

"Worried?" He raised his eyes to hers.

"I don't expect anything more from you, if that's what you're thinking. I know you're not going to see me again. So stop worrying about the hug. It was a hug, nothing more. I'm not going to tell Blythe, if that's what's bothering you." Joy knew she sounded defensive, but she couldn't help that. Already he regretted their time together. Regretted holding her.

"Leave Blythe out of this," Ted snapped, and inserted the key into the lock.

Chapter Eight

Maureen had done everything humanly possible to get out of driving Karen to her riding lesson the following Tuesday afternoon. Her parents would have been happy to take Karen, but they were attending a Christmas party with their bridge club. If it wasn't such a long drive, Maureen would have opted to drop Karen off and return for her later. But the lesson was shorter than the drive.

By sheer luck, Maureen had been able to avoid Thom when he'd driven back into town Saturday afternoon to pick up Paula. But she didn't expect to be so fortunate a second time.

"Mom," Karen murmured.

"What is it, honey?" Her daughter had been unusually quiet all afternoon. After the personal sacrifices Maureen was making for these riding lessons, one would hope Karen would reveal the enthusiasm she had earlier.

"Dad phoned on Friday night, didn't he?"

Maureen's fingers tightened around the steering wheel. "Yes, he phoned."

"Did he want to talk to me?"

Maureen never thought she was capable of hating anyone as much as she did Brian for the way he'd hurt their daughter. "He didn't say."

"I didn't think he did." Karen's head drooped down so far, her chin was tucked against her chest.

"So that's what all this is about." Maureen reached over and squeezed Karen's hand. "Come on, sweetheart, it's