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My panic started at my feet, and traveled all the way to the back of my skull like an ice cream<br />
headache.<br />
“But he wants to meet you. He barely looked at me. What if he won’t give me his number?”<br />
Matilda stood and peered across the pitch, like a lioness lazily eyeing a gazelle.<br />
“All you need to do is ask. In the meantime, be kind to yourself. This one-night stand’s got you in a<br />
bit of a tumult. Don’t let it derail all the progress you’ve made. You’re coming into your own. I see<br />
it.”<br />
Matilda sauntered to the Saint Charles exit, missing Dominic’s assisted goal. He carved a victory<br />
lap from the net to center field, where he messed up a redheaded opponent’s hair, made one more<br />
circle to slap hands with sitting opponents, then finally landed at my bench.<br />
“Hey,” he said breathlessly. “Where’d your friend go?”<br />
“She had to leave,” I said, quickly adding, “but she did ask me to get your number.”<br />
“What? Very cool.” He beamed.<br />
All you have to do is ask. I was punching his number into my cell phone when his ginger friend<br />
came running up behind him.<br />
“Meeting and greeting your fans, Dom? Does this one have a name?”<br />
Was he looking at me? Yep. He was.<br />
“Cassie,” I said, shielding my eyes and squinting into his face, which, upon closer inspection, was<br />
cute. Added to that, he had a thick Scottish accent and freckled, muscular forearms.<br />
“I’m Ewan. Listen, lose this bugger’s number and take down mine.”<br />
“How ’bout this,” I said, trying to keep the butterflies in my stomach from affecting my voice. “I’ll<br />
give Dominic’s number to my friend, and maybe I’ll keep yours for myself.”<br />
“Can’t imagine a better plan,” he said.<br />
Their numbers safely locked in my phone, I stood to leave.<br />
“Well, fellas, it’s been lovely.”<br />
Walking towards Magazine Street, I marveled at the fact that I had just made contact with two<br />
incredibly sexy men whose own fantasies S.E.C.R.E.T. might unlock. And if they were amenable and<br />
discreet, they’d be trained by one of the Committee members. Then they’d be lined up with a lucky<br />
candidate, perhaps Dauphine. I glanced around the park, now packed and buzzing with fit joggers,<br />
cute dads and hot cyclists. Had these men always been here and I’d never noticed them before? Or<br />
were they noticing something in me for the first time?<br />
Matilda’s words rang in my mind: You’re coming into your own. I see it.
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