The Company You Keep

The Company You Keep
Tracy Kelleher

Running slam-dunk into Vic Golinski at her college reunion leaves Mimi Lodge with a lot of questions. Back in the day, they were Grantham University's star athletes and polar opposites. If she said left, he said right. If he said hot, she said cold. All of that opposition had an unexpected consequence: a heated attraction….So will she and Vic still clash like the fiercely competitive jocks they once were? Life might have softened their beliefs, but clearly that incredible chemistry is still there. As the reunion unfolds, every meeting is a study in grown-up lust–and restraint–as they decide where these exhilarating feelings are taking them.

When the opposition is too delicious to ignore!

Running slam-dunk into Vic Golinski at her college reunion leaves Mimi Lodge with a lot of questions. Back in the day, they were Grantham University’s star athletes and polar opposites. If she said left, he said right. If he said hot, she said cold. All of that opposition had an unexpected consequence: a heated attraction….

So will she and Vic still clash like the fiercely competitive jocks they once were? Life might have softened their beliefs, but clearly that incredible chemistry is still there. As the reunion unfolds every meeting is a study in grown-up lust—and restraint—as they decide where these exhilarating feelings are taking them.

“There’s something between you and me.”

Vic smiled. “Although I’ve always thought we were completely wrong for each other.”

“Maybe we’re actually attuned to each other in ways unimaginable?” Mimi suggested.

“Oh, I can imagine all right,” he said teasingly. They continued to shift and sway as they stood there in the moonlight. Their faces close, so close to contact, but not quite.

Mimi felt giddy, felt herself tremble. “You know what they say? Opposites attract.” She grabbed his finger when he pointed it at her. She felt possessive.

He looked at her hand on his. “Why’d you do that?”

Because she wanted him. “Because you shouldn’t point at people,” she answered instead.

“You’re teaching me manners now?” He angled his head one more time and brought his lips near hers.

She angled her head the other way, but kept their mouths only an inch apart. “So, is this where you assert your manliness and kiss me?”

“Bossy, too.” He put his hands on her waist. Drew her hips to his.

And that was the type of assertion she wanted from him.

Dear Reader,

When I was in college, I was a jock—not the first thing most romance writers tell you.

I was a member of the varsity women’s crew at Yale University, and in my junior year was elected captain. But I also served as an undergraduate representative on the university’s Title IX committee. This group of faculty, administrators and students evaluated the effects and compliance actions regarding the federal measure to ensure equal opportunity for men and women competing in intercollegiate athletics.

The head of the committee was the athletic director at that time. He was intensely loyal to Yale, and his family had a long relationship with the university. He also understood the emotional, social and historic aspects of sports, in addition to the physical benefits. Yet above all else, he valued the importance of doing the right thing.

Luckily for me, he took me under his wing, and I learned a lot about patience, kindness and the joy of life despite hardships—of which he had suffered more than a few. And because of him, I made regular pilgrimages back to my alma mater for the annual Yale-Harvard crew race on the Connecticut River. I returned for more than the race, though. I returned because I learned the importance of keeping in contact with true friends.

And, now in retrospect, I realize he was the genesis for this School Ties miniseries.

Warmest regards,

Tracy Kelleher

PS—As always, I love hearing from my readers. Reach me through my website, www.tracykelleher.com (http://www.tracykelleher.com)

The Company You Keep

Tracy Kelleher

www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Tracy sold her first story to a children’s magazine when she was ten years old. Writing was clearly in her blood, though fiction was put on hold while she received degrees from Yale and Cornell, traveled the world, worked in advertising, became a staff reporter and later a magazine editor. She also managed to raise a family. Is it any surprise she escapes to the world of fiction?

Books by Tracy Kelleher

HARLEQUIN SUPERROMANCE

1613—FALLING FOR THE TEACHER

1678—FAMILY BE MINE

1721—INVITATION TO ITALIAN

1762—ON COMMON GROUND*

1774—A RARE FIND*

*School Ties

Other titles by this author are available in ebook format.

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I’d like to thank Audrey Zak for providing insight into training methods for the sport of water polo.

This book is dedicated in loving memory of Delaney Kiphuth, a smart and gentle man.

You left us all much too soon.

Contents

Prologue (#u2ada640c-933c-5dee-9962-31cbf765b3ab)

Chapter One (#ubc87b178-6573-54e8-a49a-e2ed4d1ea20a)

Chapter Two (#udb4a6613-91c1-5c64-960c-bba5f33e3174)