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A Perfect Distraction(75)

By:Anna Sugden


“Now, there’s a thought.”

His head dipped toward her lips, only to be halted by his growling stomach.

He moaned. “I’ll be back shortly.”

He got out of bed. Maggie savored the play of smooth skin over taut muscles as he pulled on a pair of jogging bottoms.

When he’d gone, she rushed to the bathroom to freshen up. She groaned as she looked in the mirror. She’d hoped for sexily sleep tousled, not “dragged through a hedge.”

She’d barely hopped back into bed when Jake appeared with a breakfast tray.

He looked chagrined. “It’s not a great selection—the refrigerator’s bare because I was on the road. I had enough milk for your tea, though.”

Maggie wrapped her hands around the steaming mug and sipped. Just how she liked it. She was touched he’d remembered—Lee had never bothered. “Perfect.”

Jake drew her attention back to the tray. “Muffins, peanut butter, cheese, bananas and strawberry jelly. In any combination you like.”

The phone rang again.

He frowned. “I’d better get this, in case it’s one of the Cats.”

“Of course.” She nodded, then selected a banana.

Maggie realized pretty quickly that the caller was JB and there was a problem.

Jake’s frustration came through as he covered the mouthpiece. “I’m sorry. I forgot I insisted the kid moves in today. I could put him off, but...”

“It’s okay,” she cut in, smiling. “I understand.”

“Are you sure? I’ll be done in time for our date, but I had other plans for today.”

“You’re pouting again.” She touched his lower lip. “Why don’t I stay and help? We can have our date after.”

With a grateful look and a swift, but delicious, kiss, Jake returned to his conversation.

She was impressed by his personal commitment to helping JB and the way he’d taken responsibility for the rookie’s future. Jake would claim it was for the good of the team, but she thought it went deeper than that.

“You’re doing a good thing,” she said as he hung up.

He shrugged. “I can only do so much. The rest is up to him.”

“With you guiding him, he can’t fail.”

Despite her earnest tone, Jake’s expression became bleak. “I’m not the best example for him to follow.”

“Your experience makes you the perfect person to help him through this.”

“I suppose...” His voice trailed off. He shook his head, as if to clear it. “Anyway, this isn’t getting you breakfast.”

Maggie allowed the change of subject. Then she decided to distract him.

Dipping her finger into the peanut butter, she sucked it into her mouth. She took her time licking her finger clean.

Flames leaped to life again in his eyes.

“Not bad.” She swirled her banana in the peanut butter, then bit into the fruit. “Mmm. This is my new favorite.”

“Damn it, Maggie.” The tray hit the floor with a crash.

It was a while before they ate breakfast.

* * *

THE BADOLETTIS AND Jelineks celebrated Thanksgiving the way they did everything—loudly, surrounded by friends and with mountains of food. Jake had rarely been able to return to New Jersey for the holiday; he was usually with the team in a hotel on the road. Dallas last year, Anaheim the year before.

This year was different—they didn’t play until Saturday afternoon, at home—and he was relishing every minute. Even the tradition of the men cleaning up after the meal while the women relaxed.

He carried a stack of dishes over to the sink where Tru and Ike were washing up.

“Looks like the kid’s being loaded with leftovers.” Tru inclined his head at JB, who was packing a couple of grocery bags with foil-wrapped packages.

“The moms love fussing over him.” Jake grinned. “Beats eating his own cooking, for sure.”

“So it’s working out okay?” Ike dried a large baking dish. “I know he’s settled down recently, but he hasn’t completely lost his arrogance or his quick-fire temper.”

“That’s what gives JB his edge.” Jake slotted knives into the dishwasher’s cutlery basket. “He’s doing fine.”

JB had turned over a new leaf since Tampa. He was also playing better and scoring more consistently.

“Let’s hope he can keep it up.” From Ike’s expression, he wasn’t convinced.

Jake shook his head at his friend’s cynicism and wandered back to the dining room for more dishes. Maggie’s giggle rang out from the next room.

Emotion swelled within his chest. Despite the shaky start, after the Tampa incident they’d spent as much time as they could together, alone and with Emily. Laughter-filled days and passion-filled nights.