Free Body Checked (Center Ice Book 1) by Katherine Stark Page A

talk as ever,” I tell Todd, “but I need to get running, so . . .”
    “Just think about it.” Todd pats his knees, then stands up with a smile. I’m quite suddenly aware of how . . . tiny he looks. Fragile, even. I used to think he was my sporty prince charming, gliding in on his yacht to sweep me off my feet. But he just looks like a little yappy dog now, ready to nip at the ankles of whoever he think will toss the next paycheck his way.
    He looks sad. It shouldn’t make me feel better, but it does. It makes me feel relieved that, in the relationship department, at least, I’ve finally gotten a better handle on what I want from life. Now if only I could figure it out with my career. And everything else.
    “I’m thinking of starting my own firm,” Todd continues. “After graduation. Be my own boss, instead of chasing down things for someone else. I could use someone like you.”
    I blink a few times, shocked. Is Todd trying to recruit me? Seriously? “I don’t remember that being a part of your five-year plan.”
    “It wasn’t.” He grins, crooked. “But plans can change. Not that I need to tell you that.” His cheeks flush. “Anyway, if you decide the FBI isn’t for you . . . you know how to get ahold of me.”
    “Thanks, Todd. Seriously—I mean it.” I think I actually do, which really scares me. “Catch you later?”
    “Later,” he says.
    I hurry past him for the doors.
    What a weird day. First I wake up in bed with the highest-paid hockey player on the Washington Eagles, then Todd Beckwith pitches me for his new business. And then there’s that black Escalade.
    The one that’s shifting into traffic right as I’m approaching the next intersection.
    I glance over my shoulder, but it already has its turn signal on, and heads left, away from the direction I’m heading. I take a deep breath and scan the license plates. Hired car tags for Virginia. I let out my breath.
    Okay, Jael, relax. It’s almost certainly a car service for one of my rich classmates. Of course it would be waiting outside the campus buildings, and that explains the tinted windows, too. Car service clients like their privacy.
    I duck into the cheap sushi bar on the next block over and wave to Beth and Monique, who are already sitting at the counter. After tossing my bag down under the bar, I hop onto the open stool they left for me and start marking up my sushi order while they fill me in on the latest gossip.
    “He gave me his number,” Beth says, “but I put it in the same pocket as the number I wrote down for the Confluence Consulting recruiter, and now I have no idea which is which. I so don’t want to text the wrong thing to the wrong person!”
    Monique grins. “Why not cover all your bases? Just be like, ‘Hey, I’d really like to take a ride on your dick, but can you tell me a bit more about your stock options first?’”
    “Oh, my god. I am never taking business advice from you.” Beth swats at Monique’s arm, and they both crack up. I manage a weak smile, but I’m watching the mirror behind the sushi bar that reflects the street behind us. Scanning for black SUVs. Shit, is that what I’m doing? Pull it together, Jael.
    “Hey. J. You feeling all right?” Beth asks.
    “You’re looking pretty out of it.”
    I force myself to look away from the mirror. “I’m fine, really. Just tired. Didn’t get enough sleep last night.”
    Beth wiggles her eyebrows at me. “A certain Russian dragon keeping you up late?”
    I shake my head, but my face is burning up. It must be written all over me just what Sergei and I have been up to. “Shh! You guys can’t go spreading that around. Seriously. The last thing I need is some tabloid assholes stalking me.”
    Among other people, I think. Sergei hasn’t said as much, but it seems like a no-brainer to me that we should keep our relationship quiet, and not just because of the paparazzi.
    “Okay, okay, fine.” Monique fiddles with her chopsticks. “But it’s gonna