The last time she’d made this journey, her knees had felt like water and she’d been sure she would have to financially support Susan Renee after her dear friend was fired for loaning Payton her press pass.Today, no one questioned her presence as she entered the Sabers’s sacred domain. Agents were allowed to move freely in and out of the locker room. Payton nodded at David Sage, one of the few fellow agents she’d met and actually liked. He held a cell phone to his ear with his right hand, had another in his left and a third clipped to his belt. David gave her a slight wave as he passed her on his way out of the locker room.“One day,” Payton said under her breath. She’d warrant multiple phones one of these days. For now, she was fine with her solitary BlackBerry.She spotted Cedric as soon as he exited the shower room, his white T-shirt plastered to his muscular chest.Don’t stare. Do not stare.“How was practice?” she greeted, triple-dog-daring her eyes to drift below his neck.He shrugged a shoulder, which Payton knew would cause all those muscles to ripple even more.
