Page 23 of On the Power Play

“Just clarifying.”

She chewed on her lower lip. What were they even arguing about at that point? “It’s basically the same as you getting paid to play a hockey game. We meet up, play a game, and we both get paid. Probably less physical contact than the NHL, actually.”

“A lot more lying.”

“You don’t have to lie.” Delia scrolled to the paragraph under media appearances and turned the screen to him.

When asked about the relationship in interviews, both parties agree to provide affirmative but vague responses that confirm their relationship without delving into details.

Jack scanned the text then looked up. The top of the tablet was touching her chest and the bottom was nearly pressed against his. When had she gotten that close?

He stared at her. Hard. Delia hated prolonged eye contact, but she couldn’t force herself to look away. Jack finally broke. “Why do you care? Couldn’t you find some other hockey player?”

“Not one who people are obsessed with.” Delia swallowed hard. “Not one who was willing to come here even though he didn’t want to just so his sister could meet me.”

Jack laughed through his nose. “You think that makes me a nice person?”

“I hope it makes you not a psychopath.”

Jack gave a pointed look in Tony’s direction, and Delia didn’t have the mental energy to parse that out. She was exhausted. Bone-deep tired after waking up early, holding herself together on the flight, then doing the show.

She wobbled a bit on her feet and tried to bite back the words pouring onto her tongue, but couldn’t. “I care because I bought a house for myself and my mom. I used my advance to pay off some of her debt, but she’s sick, and the answer isn’t in better medical care, it’s in lowering her life stress, which means she needs to not be working. That means I need to sell enough to be in the black. I’ve busted my ass releasing new music, and if Tony thinks being seen with Jack Harrison will push me over the edge, then I’m in.”

Delia took a step back, but before she could hand the tablet back to Kels, Jack took it from her. There were those eyes again. That furrowed brow. Finally he dropped his gaze to the screen and swiped.

“I’m going to need to read this.”

Tony ran a hand over his face. "We’re all leaving on a flight first thing in the morning, so?—"

"I'm not saying I need a week," Jack murmured.

“All I know is that I need food.” Mary pouted.

Tony looked between the two of them. "Can I recommend you look that over at the restaurant on the corner?"

Delia shook her head. “Tony, you know what's going to happen. We're going to get there and?—”

"Already taking care of that." Tony pointed to Kels who was now holding his phone to his ear. "You know you're not the only one in this group who gets swarmed in Calgary, eh?"

Delia looked at Jack who still had his hand on the door handle. He shrugged. "I'm not used to it yet, that's for damn sure."

Chapter Seven

Jack had barely stepped onto the street when Clara grabbed the sleeve of his coat. "I'm not going to dinner with you and Delia!"

"It's not ‘going to dinner.’ I just want to talk for a minute to see if this is even?—"

"Yeah, still not coming." Clara dropped his arm, then looked both ways and darted across the street.

"Clara!"

"I'll be in the pub!" She pointed at a sign with a Union Jack and flashed a grin before turning her back on him and heading down the sidewalk on the opposite side of the street.

"Where's she going?" Mary stopped next to him and wrapped a scarf around her neck.

Jack blew out a breath, sending a cloud into the air between them. "She didn't want dinner."

Mary laughed. Delia, Tony, and his assistant appeared in the parking lot behind the venue. Delia looked around. "Where's Clara?"

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