It came from the least expected corner. Renee appeared out of nowhere on Kevin's other side. She looped one arm through Kevin's and held her free hand out to Jean. "Jean, wasn't it? My name is Renee Walker. We didn't really get a chance to talk earlier."

Confusion eased Jean's stoic mask into something more than a little uncomfortable, but he accepted her handshake. "Jean Moreau."

"Neil Josten," someone said. Neil trusted Kevin to Renee and turned to face the man who'd spoken. Two men and a woman stood in a tight clump to his left. The man offered a sneer instead of a hand. "We are the Ravens' starting strikers. We wanted you to see us so you know what an offense team really looks like."

"Offense, or offensive?" Matt sidled up alongside Neil. Renee's arrival might have been coincidence, but Matt's wasn't. Neil guessed Allison alerted the upperclassmen to the Ravens' approach. "Matt Boyd, starting backliner for the Foxes. I'm the one who's going to be wrecking your goals this October. Nice to meet you." He held out his hand but didn't look surprised when no one took it. "Guess the pleasure's all mine."

"We're sure it is," the Raven striker said, "seeing how you're dating a prostitute."

"Stripper," Dan corrected as she showed up and wound an arm around Matt's waist. Her stilettos hung off her fingers by their thin straps and she jiggled them as she spoke. "Hopefully you're smart enough to distinguish between the two professions. If you're not, I have serious concerns about your academic standings."

Neil tried not to stare at her. He would have dismissed the Raven's insult as an outright lie if not for Dan's easy response. Too late he remembered her telling him she'd worked an overnight job during high school to make ends meet. He'd assumed she was a night stocker at a grocery store or maybe a front desk clerk at a motel. She didn't seem the type of person who would tolerate being objectified. Neil didn't make a habit of prying into people's pasts but there had to be an interesting story there.

"Hennessey, right?" one of the strikers said. "Such a good name for such a fierce spirit."

"We were a little disappointed you didn't sign up as part of the entertainment tonight," one of the others said. "We were looking forward to the show."

The once-over he gave her was syrupy slow. Matt gave a violent twitch as he forcibly restrained himself from breaking the man's neck. Neil was amazed by his self-control until he saw Dan's fingers digging into Matt's hip in warning. Dan didn't want anyone fighting her battles for her. She slid around Matt to get in the Raven's personal space. The striker grinned at Matt over her shoulder, then tilted forward and sucked in a deep breath against her neck.