Dan gave her an approving grin, grabbed a foaming champagne bottle from Collier Davis, and emptied it over Ron’s head. While the GM sputtered, Phoebe laughed and turned back to the NFL official. “You can go on now.”

He smiled. “On behalf of the National Football League, it is my great pleasure to present the AFC Championship trophy to owner Phoebe Somerville, Coach Dan Calebow, and the entire Stars’ organization.”

The players cheered wildly and released another shower of champagne. Phoebe tried to make a short speech, but got so choked up that Ron had to take over. OJ., still trying to get answers to his questions about the strange progress of the game, turned to interview Jim Biederot, while Phoebe passed the trophy over to Ron.

Dan grabbed her hand, pulled her off the platform, and steered her behind a celebrating cluster of players so that they were hidden from the media. “Come on. We only have a few minutes.”

He drew her around the corner toward the showers, through the equipment room, past a training room and into a hallway. The next thing she knew, he had hauled her into a small storage area, only a little bigger than a closet. No sooner had he pulled the door shut behind them than he gathered her into his arms and began to kiss her.

They clung fiercely to each other. Their bodies were wet and sticky from Gatorade and champagne. They tasted it on each other’s mouths.

“I didn’t know if I’d ever hold you like this again,” he murmured hoarsely.

“I was so scared. . . .”

“I love you so much. Oh, God, I love you.”

“I was afraid you didn’t, and I couldn’t bear it.” She trembled in his arms. “Oh, Dan, it’s been such a terrible day.”

“You can say that again.”

“Not just the kidnapping, but . . .” With a shudder, she told him about Reed.

She could feel his muscles grow taut as she spoke, and she waited for his explosion of rage. When he offered comfort instead, she loved him even more for understanding so clearly what she needed from him.

“I’m sorry,” he said, his voice husky with emotion. “I’m so, so sorry, baby.”

Just telling him about it somehow made it more bearable. She nuzzled deeper into the wet collar of his shirt. “I wish we could stay in here forever,” she murmured.

“Me, too. All I want to do is take you home and make love to you.”

“The police are waiting for me.”

“I’ll have to talk to them, too. And the press.”

“And I need to see Molly.”

He cupped her face in his hands and tenderly stroked her cheeks. “Are you going to be all right?”

“I’m going to be fine. I just want to get all of this over with. We can meet at Ron’s victory party tonight.”

“Don’t plan on spending too much time there.” He gave her one last kiss, then held her hand as they slipped out into the hallway.