Page 94 of On the Power Play

She balled her hand into a fist and used just her pointer finger. When it was resting on the tip of her nose, Jack pulled her hand back. "Now you actually do need to touch your eye."

Delia closed her eyes and let Jack drop her hand until her fingertip tapped her eyelid.

"So, 'nose, eye' . . ." Jack hesitated, then dropped her hand back to her chest, his fingers wrapped around hers. "Love you."

They sat there a moment with only the sound of their breathing breaking the silence.

"Is that it?" Delia asked.

Jack swallowed. "That's the first part. Then you just repeat 'Toe, knee, nose.'"

Delia yawned. "I'll have to practice."

"Like I said. High level of difficulty."

She grinned, lacing her fingers through his. They lay there in the still and quiet for what could’ve been ten minutes or thirty.

After her thoughts had worn themselves out, Delia yawned. "You know what I’m most upset about?"

Jack’s reply was slow like molasses. “What?”

“That I can’t make sex-tape jokes anymore.”

Jack breathed a laugh and kissed the crown of her head.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Jack woke in the same position as when he'd fallen asleep. Curled around Delia, his hand still in her grip. He held still, listening to make sure he hadn't jolted and woken her, then slowly retracted his arm. She didn't stir.

From the lack of light outside the window, he guessed it was probably around five, which was perfect. Jack slowly rolled to his opposite side, sliding an extra pillow behind him to make sure Delia didn't notice his absence, then grabbed his phone off the nightstand where he'd left it. Five twenty-two. He gave himself a mental pat on the back, then turned off the alarm he'd set for five forty-five.

When he'd texted Tyler the night before, he hadn't expected a reply. They had a playoff game, and he knew the whole team would be celebrating. Tyler had written back within a couple of minutes. News of the video had spread, and the Snowballs had already been talking about a plan of action. He didn't know how many guys were going to show up at the bed and breakfast at six, but he'd told Alvin ten just to be sure.

Jack dropped his legs over the side of the bed and stretched, then tiptoed over the old floorboards to the door. He let himself out into the hall, grateful the door hinges had been WD-40'd recently. His stomach grumbled, sending him down the stairs and straight into the kitchen. After flicking on the light, he opened the fridge and took inventory.

His eyes widened at the shelves stacked with eggs, bacon, yogurt, and fruit. Yes, please. When he spotted the English muffins on the counter, his mind was instantly made up. Jack reached in and grabbed a package of bacon and carton of eggs. He had over thirty minutes. Plenty of time to make a hell of a breakfast.

_____

At six on the dot, Jack's phone buzzed. He set the mustard and mayonnaise next to the bowl of eggs and plate of cooked bacon, then wiped his hands on a towel. He pulled his phone from his pocket.

Hey, bud. Didn't want to ring the doorbell

Coming

Jack exited the kitchen and strode to the front door. He flicked on the porchlight and unlocked the deadbolt. As the door swung wide, he found Tyler, Brett, Sean, Country, Ryan, André, Mike, and Curtis on the doorstep. Eight. Not bad.

He stepped out of the way to let them in. "Morning."

They whispered greetings as they removed their shoes and followed the smell of bacon.

"Hell, yes, Harrison." Mike was the first to grab a plate and dish up, but it only took seconds for the rest to follow.

"Wasn't expecting breakfast." Tyler snagged a toasted English muffin from the cookie tray.

"Maybe you should offer up your services more often." Sean winked.

Jack waited till the rest of the guys moved through the line, then made his own sandwich. They sat around the table in the dining area in the next room where he'd already put out cups and a jug of orange juice. Hopefully Delia and Mary wouldn't mind that he'd dug into their supplies.

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