“We’re playing the Giants next week. They only have one loss this season, and that was to the Sabers.”

Before she could respond, one of Bert’s cronies came up to talk to him.

The next morning, as she drove to work for the eight o’clock meeting Ron had requested, she once again found herself reliving Saturday afternoon. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d had such a wonderful time. From the art fair, the three of them had gone to an area restaurant for an early dinner, and Dan had proved to be as good a listener as he was a storyteller. She’d invited him back to the condo, where he’d talked Molly into modeling all her new clothes for him. His teasing compliments had done more for Molly’s self-confidence than anything Phoebe had said. He’d left a little after eight, and she’d spent the rest of the night torturing herself with images of him in bed with his ex-wife.

Unusually heavy traffic on Naper Boulevard held her up, and she arrived at Ron’s office a few minutes after eight. Dan was already there. She gave them both a cheerful smile as she took a seat around the conference table and hoped Dan couldn’t see how skittish she felt being with him again.

As soon as she was settled, Ron began. “Now that your suspension is over, Dan, I wanted all of us to have a chance to clear the air. As you’re both aware, we’ve taken some hard hits in the press these past few weeks. This morning’s papers are the worst. I received a call at home from our new commissioner last night stating, in the strongest possible terms, that we have become an embarrassment to the League.”

“Don’t you think that’s a little extreme,” Dan said.

“He cited the Beau Monde photographs, your suspension, Phoebe’s manner of dress on the sidelines, and, of course, the rumored romantic liaison between the two of you. He also mentioned a phone conversation he had with you last week, Phoebe. I wish I’d known about it. Is there any reason you didn’t tell me you’d spoken with the commissioner?”

Phoebe shifted her weight in the chair and decided she’d liked Ron better when he was a wimp. “It slipped my mind.”

Dan regarded her skeptically. “That’s a little hard to believe.”

“He’s still rather upset about it,” Ron said.

“I’m the one who should be upset.”

“Would you like to tell us why?”