Page 79 of On the Power Play

"I'll be the judge of that."

Her heart skipped. "I could just search the song up online."

"Then why haven't you?" He raised an eyebrow in challenge. Delia pressed her lips together, redistributing the lip balm she'd applied in the car. He glanced over her shoulder and pressed his lips to her forehead, whispering, "Lots of cameras."

When he pulled back and his gaze lowered to hers, it held another silent question. It was stupidly simple to read him. She'd sat across from how many first dates over the past year trying to figure out what to say, and then here she was with Jack where she either couldn't keep her mouth shut or didn't need to say a word.

Delia answered with a nod, her blood already rushing in her ears. Jack's eyes flicked to her lips, and her whole body vibrated like a plucked string of her guitar. She tipped her chin, hyperaware of the lull in the chatter around them. People were watching. That’s what they wanted. Still, the thought that she, Delia Melise, hadn't been photographed kissing someone ever blared like that red horn in her head.

Her mind grasped for a hundred different threads, then snapped back into one solid string the instant Jack's lips met hers. Everything inside her went still. The sound of blades and sticks on ice, footsteps on stairs, shuffling on benches, laughter, and conversation faded to a low, gentle buzz. She instinctively flexed, pressing her fingertips against his shirt.

And then he was gone.

Jack stepped back. He paused a moment, then drew a breath and grabbed her hand, tugging on her arm to join him. Delia stared at their entwined fingers as she sat on her cushion. I’m not ready for that. Jack Harrison was holding her hand, and Delia was still reeling from how torturously short that kiss was when she’d wanted it to be like it was the other night. When he’d been all hunger and angst, not whatever that was, all gentle and practical without a storm raging behind it, like?—

Like they’d done it a thousand times before.

Because it was for the cameras.

Delia sucked in a breath and held it, then slowly exhaled as she replayed their conversation in the living room on Friday. Yes. He said he was going to think about it differently. He was going to focus on the business side, on what he wanted with the Blizzard.

That was all this was. Perfect. Delia stared at the players swirling around the rink and swallowed hard.

"You okay?" Jack asked.

Delia nodded, her throat thick. "Mmhmm."

Jack didn't let go of her hand, instead pulling it close and lacing his fingers with hers. Bile rose in her throat. "So what did you look up?"

"Hmm?"

"You said you looked up hockey rules."

Right. Hockey. They could've been sitting inside a Chuck E. Cheese for all their setting mattered to her at the moment. Delia's world had shrunk to the warmth of Jack's palm and the feel of his hip brushing hers. She scooted her cushion an inch to the right so they weren’t touching.

Jack’s eyes flinched, and then someone's hands landed on his shoulders. He swivelled, dropping Delia’s hand, and his face split into a smile of recognition. "Fly, you made it, bud." He stood and pulled the man behind them into a hug.

Alvin was perched on high alert on the next bench up, and Mary signaled for Delia’s attention. “What was that?” She mouthed. Her eyes were wide. Delia waved it off, realizing she’d forgotten to mention their new public-displays-of-affection strategy.

Jack was already turning back. "Fly, this is Delia."

Fly put out a hand and Delia stood to shake it. His smile was wide. "I've heard a lot about you."

Delia wrapped her arms around herself. "Whatever you read online, it's not true."

Fly chuckled. "I don't read gossip online, I get it straight from the source." He winked at Jack.

Delia looked between the two of them. "You told him about me?"

Fly grinned. "I don't think dating you is something any guy would want to keep quiet."

Delia's cheeks warmed in spite of herself. Maybe not if they were actually dating. Jack had said the only people that knew the truth about their relationship were Clara and Oscar, so what was he telling his teammates? His friends? Delia hadn't talked to anyone about Jack outside of her close circle. But, truthfully, she didn't have anyone outside her close circle that she talked to under normal circumstances.

When had that all died out? What had been the final blow to her weekend jam sessions or the indie concerts she used to attend with her friends she'd waitressed with at Earls? It had definitely been her doing. She'd been the one to start turning down their invitations. She'd been the one to prioritize her own projects, new people and artists that she hoped would open up her opportunities.

"Fly was on the Snowballs before I finished with the AHL. He's the reason I found them in the first place," Jack explained.

Fly shook his head. "You would've found an Elite League team without me, I just wanted it to be mine."

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