The first thing Théodore Iversleigh noticed about her was that she wasn't watching the game.

That was unusual, considering she'd come to watch one.

Standing at the edge of the court, Théodore adjusted the whistle hanging around his neck and glanced at the scoreboard. His team was leading by four points in the second set, the crowd was deafening, and Kerim was doing an excellent job of being both one of his most talented players and one of his most frustrating.

Théodore called.

Kerim turned toward him, hands resting on his hips.

A few of the players laughed.

Kerim shook his head.

Théodore gave him a flat look.

Kerim grinned and jogged back into position.

Théodore turned toward his assistant, ready to discuss the next rotation, when something in the VIP section caught his attention.

Or rather, someone.

A girl sat beside Kerim's parents, a few seats away from his mother. She'd been leaning forward, listening to something Kerim's father was saying, but now her attention seemed to have wandered toward the court.

Toward him.

Théodore glanced behind himself, just to make sure there wasn't something particularly interesting happening in the opposite direction.

There wasn't.

When he looked back, she was still watching him.

He raised an eyebrow.

She didn't look away.

Well, that's new.

Théodore wasn't a stranger to attention. Coaching one of the most successful professional volleyball teams in the country came with its fair share of it. People recognized him in restaurants, approached him after matches, and occasionally behaved as though his ability to choose a winning lineup meant he could solve every problem known to humanity.

He'd learned to ignore most of it.

But this was different.

There was something almost curious about the way she looked at him, as though she were trying to work him out from across the arena.

Théodore found himself doing the same.

He didn't know who she was. He'd met Kerim's parents before, of course, and knew they sometimes attended matches together. But he couldn't remember seeing her at any previous game.

Kerim's sister, perhaps?

He had a vague recollection of Kerim mentioning one, although the details escaped him.

Before Théodore could give the matter any more thought, his assistant cleared his throat.

His assistant looked at him.

Théodore sighed.

The man shook his head and repeated the explanation.

Théodore forced himself to concentrate. The game was close enough that a lapse in attention could cost them a point, and he had no intention of giving the opposing team an advantage because he'd become distracted by a stranger in the stands.

Besides, he had more important things to worry about.

Like Kerim apparently deciding that jumping was optional.

The player looked toward the sideline.

The crowd burst into laughter.

Kerim threw his hands up in exasperation, and Théodore gestured impatiently for him to get back into position.

For the next several minutes, Théodore focused entirely on the game. He studied the opposing team's formation, adjusted his players' positions, and called out instructions whenever necessary.

Still, every so often, his attention wandered toward the VIP section.

And every time he looked, she seemed to be looking back.

The third time their eyes met, she finally turned away.

Théodore's mouth curved into the smallest smile.

Interesting.

The referee's whistle cut through the arena, calling the teams into position.

Théodore straightened and clapped his hands.

Whatever curiosity the girl had stirred could wait.

He had a match to win.

And Théodore Iversleigh didn't make a habit of losing.

By the time the final whistle blew, Théodore's team had secured the victory in straight sets.

The arena erupted.

His players rushed together, celebrating, slapping each other on the shoulders and shouting over the crowd. Kerim was among the loudest of them, naturally, which Théodore found particularly impressive considering the number of times he'd threatened to send him running laps.

Théodore congratulated his players one by one, exchanging quick words with the team captain before turning to the opposing coach.

Théodore said, offering his hand.

The opposing coach laughed and shook his hand.

A reporter intercepted Théodore on his way toward the tunnel, asking the usual questions about tactics, team performance, and whether he believed this victory proved his team was the best in the league.

Théodore gave the expected answers without offering anything particularly dramatic.

The reporter laughed.

Théodore didn't.

At least, not until he was walking away.

He was halfway through mentally reviewing the second set when he heard Kerim calling his name.

Théodore turned.

Kerim was approaching with his family.

His parents were in front, smiling proudly, while his sister walked beside them. She was the same girl Théodore had noticed in the stands.

Up close, she seemed a little less confident about looking at him.

Théodore found that strangely amusing.

Kerim's father greeted him warmly, offering a firm handshake and a few words of congratulations.

Kerim scoffed.

Kerim laughed and shook his head.

Then Théodore's attention returned to the girl.

He couldn't quite explain why he was so aware of her presence. Perhaps it was because he'd spent half the match catching her looking at him. Perhaps it was simply the curiosity of meeting someone new.

Whatever the reason, he found himself noticing details he'd missed from across the arena: the way she stood slightly behind her parents, the way her eyes briefly met his before wandering elsewhere, and the faint uncertainty in her expression.

His mother smiled at the family.

Kerim replied.

Théodore gave him a look.

Kerim's father laughed, and the conversation settled into the familiar rhythm of post-match congratulations and teasing.

Théodore remained engaged, answering questions about the game and discussing the team's upcoming fixtures. He was perfectly comfortable with Kerim's parents; they'd attended enough matches to know him beyond his reputation as their son's demanding coach.

But every now and then, he caught himself glancing toward Kerim's sister.

She hadn't said anything.

She didn't need to.

There was something intriguing about the quiet way she observed everything, as if she were content to let other people fill the silence while she made up her own mind about them.

Théodore understood that instinct better than most.

He'd never been particularly fond of people who talked simply because silence made them uncomfortable.

Kerim's mother eventually suggested that everyone go somewhere for dinner to celebrate the victory.

Théodore hesitated.

He had a stack of reports waiting in his office, a training schedule to review, and at least three players who needed to be reminded that winning one match didn't make them invincible.

Under normal circumstances, he'd have politely declined.

But Kerim was one of his best players, and Théodore liked his family.

Besides, he was curious about the girl standing beside them.

That was all.

Curiosity was harmless.

he said.

Kerim grinned.

Théodore sighed.

His attention drifted toward Kerim's sister once more.

She met his gaze for a brief moment before looking away.

Théodore's mouth twitched.

Interesting.

He still didn't know her name, and he wasn't about to ask in front of everyone simply because his curiosity had gotten the better of him. There would be time for introductions later.

For now, he followed the family toward the exit, listening to Kerim recount the match as though he'd personally led the team to victory.

Théodore corrected him twice.

Kerim's father laughed.

And Kerim's sister walked quietly beside them, still very much on Théodore's mind, despite his best efforts to concentrate on anything else.

He had a feeling the evening might turn out to be more interesting than he'd expected.