a Vanc

rden before the charity game. We're completely short-staffed on biomechanical evalu

quest, and it would also be a g

stepped through the serv

ng for the annual NHL Charity Classic-an exhibition game f

training clinic set up near the community ice sheet. I wore dark denim, clean white sneakers, a gray meri

clinical researcher from

rding grip strength and balance diagn

uble doors of the

h the room as reporters and team photogr

dler wa

the bold C stitched onto his chest. Sweat dampened his dark hair, and an intense, predatory focus radiated from his sharp, sq

electrolyte bottle fr

th a stack of digital clipboards, hopi

s stopped directly in fron

oked

at me. His piercing ice-blue eyes wide

m seemed to ho

ambient chatter, and beneath the words I heard a slow, deliberate re

skipped

and keeping my tone entirely clinical. "I believe y

and exertion and something colder-cedar and winter air. The towering forward didn't look intimidating now; his gaze held an e

ble, "I tore my patellar tendon and my ACL in the conference finals. Four surgeons told me my career was over. Then m

wave raced a

s movements were slow, deliberate, as if he were forcing himself not to reach out and touch the woman who had given him back

sts surged forward, shutters

d. "Are you saying this woman is the anonymou

me and the surging press, a quiet, unmistakable claim of prot

. "She engineered it. She is the most brilliant sports scientist on this c

pted into fu

the glass VIP parti

o NHL executive vice presiden

iately. He turned his head, his aristocratic gaze sweeping

locked

who was standing beside me with an open, protective stance, looking a

exactly who had just walked in. Without breaking eye contact with Declan, he leaned down, his voice dropping l

went complet

took two aggressive steps forward, ready to cut through the press pack, be

flashing cameras and met De

link. I di

an, offering a polit

Mr. Adler," I said softly.

ish. "Adler," he repeated quietly, just for me. "I really appreciate how much your

ut through the media scrum li

ushed his way into the clinic perimeter. Declan's tie was sli

my desk, his towering frame cast

into a harsh, vibrating whisper. "What the he