The distant sound of car doors slamming comes through Michael’s end of the line.

“We’ll be right there,” he assures me. “What section are you sitting in?”

I glance behind me. “102 H. Three rows back from the front.”

“Okay,” Michael replies. The line goes dead.

“I don’t think they’ll have much trouble figuring out where you’re sitting,” Katie remarks after I’ve put my phone away.

“I know.” I sigh.

It doesn’t take long for my security team to cut through the crowd of wide-eyed students that surround us. I grimace when I see all eight of them made the trip inside. Michael crouches down next to my seat.

“You were worried we might be too conspicuous, so you decided to reunite with Mr. Dawson out on the field in front of the entire stadium?”

“How did you know that?”

“Princess, this game is being broadcast on live television.” Michael nods to a small horde of video cameras in one corner of the field.

I groan. “Do I need to call Anne?”

“No, she had a statement put out as soon as I let her know we landed.”

“Okay,” I reply, relieved.

“I’m happy for you, Princess,” Michael adds.

“Thank you, Michael,” I reply, smiling.

The game passes quickly. Lincoln wins. The sound of jubilant cheers fill the air as students slowly filter out of the stadium to celebrate. “I’ve got to get out of here,” I tell Katie. “But I’ll make sure to say goodbye before I actually leave.” She nods and gives me a hug.

I’m placed in the center of a protective formation of my agents. I can’t see over their broad shoulders, but our progress is brisk along the walkway and outside the stadium. We stop at a tree close to where the two black cars loiter. Half of my agents climb back inside the cars, while the other four remain close by as I lean against the tree to wait for Jace. I don’t have to wait long.

He strides confidently over to where I’m standing minutes later, attracting everyone’s attention, including my own. He doesn’t stop until he’s standing in front of me.

“Nice sideline standing,” I compliment him.

He grins.

I smile back. “So…um, how long are you here for?”

“I’m supposed to leave tomorrow. All my stuff’s in storage in South Carolina, so I was planning to head to Nebraska from here and have everything shipped. And then basically just wait,” he admits, giving me an endearing smile. “What about you?”

“In case you hadn’t already figured it out, this wasn’t exactly a carefully thought out trip, so…I was kind of just planning to go wherever you go.”

A fresh smile dawns across Jace’s face, crinkling the corners of his gray eyes. “Really? You don’t have to get back right away?”

“I don’t have to go back right away.”

We agree to go get some food, so I slide into the back of the SUV. Jace climbs in next to me. Even though the middle seat is long enough for three people to comfortably sit across, we remain close enough to touch. Heat sears through me as we sit side by side with our thighs pressing together.