ox

ave me the same polished smile the cameras loved. His eyes moved ove

practiced. "The short-track guy. I did

ice." I stepped closer. "Before I show you what a

nd the red lights blinked as they c

. She stood stiff with her jaw locked while she faced the man who had wrecked her career.

oming off her hit me like a physical strike and woke a hard protective heat in my chest. I could not stand the way sh

Mercer. The people in charge know it. The judges know it. Everly will never win a me

ated the words and l

uld not see her. He tried to straighten and look

said it clearly enoug

hed the mic clos

ay?" Hunter's f

ok at how she skates. Look at how she spins. She is a better athlete than you will ever be, Cross.

d a darker look took its place.

other. Everly is not a partner. Look at her ankle. If she falls, it will break. Ava is a partner. S

acket. The tremor in her body shifted from fear into pure anger. Hi

in into the open just to look big for the cameras. The need

o, Hunter. Some people just do not know when to quit. Everly can keep skating here

win. They wanted to crush the last of her spirit and m

d. "You do not know anything about figure skating, Mercer. Everly is d

s not

nto the arena, and

facility. You do not even have the proper equipment for her to train." He turned toward the nearest camera with a pract

hought he could walk into my house, insult my trainer, and w

in front of the entire country. I did not lo

hand around her waist, and pu

hammered against me, and her warmth soaked through the shirt. Her frame fit ag

camera and then at Hunt

to the Olympics." The words fe

t off o