Page 69 of Power Play Pursuit

I nod, my nostrils flaring slightly. “Yeah it was.”

“So, you two really are together, huh?” he mumbles, his eyes falling on our entwined hands. “Well, I wish you the best.”

Beth presses her lips, not offering a reply, and he walks away.

“Rogers,” I call out, and he glances back over his shoulder. “You too.”

He frowns, then a small smile pulls at his lips. “Thanks.”

With a grin, I look back toward the shop, preparing to open the door for Elizabeth. What? Wishing I’d have smashed his head on the pavement instead? Yeah, a part of me wanted to. But we're hockey players, and there’s a code among us. We never let our rivalries go too far. Best to leave that to the other sports. We fight on the ice, and that’s where it stays. Hockey is built on community and sportsmanship.

Besides, I’ve already won. And he might have helped a little.

“Soo,” I draw out, grinning as I recall Rogers’ words. “What was thatreally togetherall about?”

She blushes hard and looks away. “Um, I don't know.”

“Liar. I think you do know,” I say, bringing her toward me and lacing my arms around her waist.

She continues to avoid my gaze, proving my point. “No I don't,” she says, swallowing hard.

“You want to know what I think?”

She glances up at me. “What?”

“That night when he came to the coffee shop, you told Rogers that you and I were dating.”

Her blush deepens, and I bubble out a laugh.

“I knew it.”

“Fine.” She rolls her eyes. “So?”

“So, that proves what I’ve been claiming all along. That you were already into me back then. Am I wrong?”

She wets her lips, then drops a sweet kiss on mine. “You’re not wrong.”

My heart bursts at her admission, and I can’t suppress my wide grin. See? I knew I wasn’t just being cocky. All this time, she wanted me as much as I wanted her.

Beth Bowen

This afternoon, we’re going to visit Grandma and the other residents at Golden Age. We don’t have a lot of time before visiting hours end, but James is planning to take me to a restaurant nearby afterward, and we really want to tell our elderly friends the news. Cheesy, I know.

We find Grandma in the corridor,and she beams. “What are you two doing here? This is a nice surprise.”

“We were in the neighborhood, and we wanted to see you,” I say, drawing her into a hug. “How are you?”

“Still alive,” she jokes before hugging James.

He offers her a warm smile. “Hi, Lois.”

We follow her back to her friend group’s usual table, where they’re—of course—playing poker. We greet everyone, and they talk us into a game.

As usual, James puts on a show, shuffling the cards with finesse. “Are you guys ready?”

“Boy, we’ve been playing poker since before you were born,” Bill grunts, shaking his head, and we all laugh.

“Fair enough. Elizabeth,” he says, glancing toward me. “Don’t expect me to go easy on you just because we’re dating now.”

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