A Perfect Distraction(84)

Determined he shouldn’t have all the fun, Maggie brushed a light kiss to the ridge of his jaw. “Lace-edged hold ups.”

His cough covered a strangled moan. “Wicked woman. You’re killing me.”

This time it was Maggie who smiled. The Louboutins with the silver buttons were worth every penny. As was the black cocktail dress, whose column of silver buttons ran from the deep-cut V in the middle of her back down to the hem that flirted with the backs of her knees.

Jake’s fingers caught her chin and stole a sizzling kiss from her parted lips.

The fans went wild. More cameras flashed, capturing the moment, but the dance of Jake’s tongue across her bottom lip proved another excellent distraction.

The waiting crowd began to chant his name. Slowly, he let her go. He caught her hand and pulled her with him to the cordoned-off area full of people in Ice Cats jerseys.

Once again, Jake’s generosity with the fans impressed her. He chatted cheerfully with everyone, making each person feel special, and signed whatever they wanted. He even treated those fans who criticized him with respect and a dash of self-deprecating humor.

As a result, Maggie felt more relaxed about this event than any she’d attended with Lee. Perhaps this evening wouldn’t be so bad after all—once they’d run the media gauntlet.

Still, when a Cats’ staffer approached, asking her and Jake to head inside, she tensed.

“A few more minutes and the worst will be over,” Jake said quietly. “Then we can focus on enjoying ourselves.”

“At least until you have to put on your apron and serve dinner.”

“They said we’d wear our sweaters, not an apron.” He rolled his eyes when he saw her teasing smile. “Funny.”

At the hotel entrance, they were stopped by a couple of TV reporters. Jake seemed to know Archie, a tall man, whose scarred face suggested he was a former player, and Lois, a painfully thin woman with a brittle smile. Archie’s questions were mainly about hockey, particularly the recent rumors that some big NHL names were caught up in the internet pharmacy scandal.

Lois was more interested in Jake’s social life. From her pointed questions, Maggie sensed the woman had more than a professional interest in Jake. She seemed put out when he made a show of putting his arm across Maggie’s shoulders and pulling her close.

“So Bad Boy is finally getting serious?” The question dripped with cynicism.

“For sure.” Jake launched into his preplanned spiel, adding the perfect touches of earnestness and romance.

Maggie’s pulse tripped when Lois’s assessing gaze zeroed in on her.

This was the one. If danger was to come from anyone, it was this hard-edged gossipmonger. She made a mental note to avoid Lois as much as possible.

After an approving look at Maggie’s shoes, Lois flicked her gaze dismissively over the rest of her and turned her attention back to Jake. It was so blatant, Maggie bit back a laugh.

Thankfully, the Cats’ staffer reappeared, disentangled them from Lois’s talons and hurried them inside. There, he handed Maggie off to a colleague who would take her to join the other girlfriends and wives, before directing Jake to the booth where he’d have his session with the season-ticket holders.

“I’ll come and find you as soon as I’m done.” Jake dropped a quick kiss on her lips.

Maggie was touched that he cared enough to reassure her.

“I’ll be fine.” She smiled. “I’ll be with familiar faces.”

The Cats’ women were far more down to earth and friendly than the football WAGs. Perhaps because these women didn’t compete to be the most fashionable, or most photographed. Many were childhood sweethearts from the same small towns as their partners, and family oriented. A few were athletes, some had their own careers and others managed the charitable foundations set up by their husbands. They even treated Jenny like one of the gang. When she’d mentioned this to her friend, Jenny had explained that they didn’t consider her a threat. They knew she didn’t sleep with married men.

Maggie followed her chaperone into the anteroom set aside for the women. She was greeted warmly and teased about taking part in her first jersey auction. Jenny waved from across the room, where she handed out the special signed Cats jerseys that each woman would model during the auction.

“I didn’t know you were coming.” Maggie gave her friend a hug before slipping on the red Badoletti jersey.

“It was last minute.” Jenny turned to show the name on the back of her jersey—Larocque. “The kid didn’t want to go stag, so he asked nicely if I’d come with him.”

“You’ve forgiven him for being a jerk early on?”