TWICE VICTORIOUS Read Free

living room. His smile was sympathetic. "Broken?"
    "No, but they don't want me to use the knee." She shifted uncomfortably. "Rick
said you wanted to talk to me?"
    "I do. KIWANDA still wants you to be one of the models, even though it may be a
while before you can."
    "Only a week or two. None of the abrasions are deep, so they shouldn't leave
scars. Nothing that a little makeup wouldn't cover, anyway." She really wasn't looking
forward to modeling fancy, upscale cycling clothes, but it was for the good of her team,
after all. They'd been supportive enough of her ever since she decided to go big time. It
was the least she could do for them.
    "I wasn't worrying about that," he said.
    She wasn't sure just what his expression meant. Compassion? Or pity? Stell wasn't
about to be an object of anybody's pity! "So what's your concern?"
    "I just wanted to make sure you were going to be able to ride soon enough to work
for us. We're scheduled to begin shooting in a couple of weeks. Will you be back on your
bike so soon?"
    "Of course." She'd be back on her bike as soon as this stupid brace was removed,
if she had her way.
    He smiled, and she felt her temperature go up a couple of degrees. Ye gods! Was
this what concussions did to you?
    "That's great. After the other night, I'm really looking forward to seeing our
CycleWear in use. I think you'll find it's far more comfortable than anything you've worn
before."
    She doubted it, but who was she to discourage him? What she knew about
KIWANDA OuterWear could be written on the head of a pin. They just weren't her kind of
clothes. Too spendy. "What made you decide to start making cycling gear?"
    "We see a tremendous market in weekend recreation, especially adults who are in
it for exercise and pleasure. Our marketing studies show that a vast number of people are
participating in amateur athletics, both organized and casually. With our reputation for
quality, we feel that we can carve out a significant portion of the market for ourselves. Our
CycleWear is just one of the lines we plan to introduce. Until recently, only serious cyclists
wore jerseys and shorts. Now we see a market segment in weekend athletes who are
interested in looking good while they get their cardiac conditioning."
    She couldn't help but smile. He sounded like he'd memorized his little spiel, a
false note in an otherwise sincere impression. He was right, though. The new breed of
cyclist, riding mountain bikes fitted with shock absorbers, were a far cry from the people
she'd been riding with for years. "And you expect them to buy your gear?" They probably
would. Anyone who could afford a thousand dollar bike as a toy could afford the two
hundred dollar jacket to go with it.
    "The firm that designed our advertising campaign is one of the best."
    "Which means they create a market if one doesn't exist." She remembered some of
the courses she'd taken as part of her MBA program. While she didn't entirely approve of
modern advertising techniques, she had to admire their effectiveness.
    His chuckle told her that his streak of skepticism was wide as hers. "Exactly."
    He had the nicest smile, one that warmed her heart and more.
    "And what besides cycling gear are you planning to convince the unsuspecting
public it can't live without?"
    "You name it, we're going to make clothing for you to wear while doing it."
    "Dogsled racing?"
    "We already do that. Part of our regular OuterWear line."
    "Windsurfing?"
    "Naturally."
    "Tiddly Winks?"
    "I'm sure we'll have something suitable for the World Class Tiddler."
    He had an answer for everything, although she couldn't have been more pleased at
this one. How many people knew the correct term for a Tiddly Wink competitor? "Give me
time. I'll think of something you haven't considered."
    "All the time in the world. In the meantime, keep in touch. I'll want to know as
soon as you're available."
    "I can do that." She reached for her crutches, but before her fingers touched them,
he was on one knee