Page 50 of Tricky Puck

“You have no choice, Delaney. Not if you’re sticking with our deal.”

She lets out a long breath. “I should be angry with you about this deal.” She darts her eyes in George’s direction and he looks curious as hell but he keeps his mouth shut.

Delaney goes on, “But I can’t. There’s a good reason why we’re in this mess of a…” she waves her hands. I exchange a glance with George and he’s looking at us like he’s watching a soap opera. Damn I hate melodrama.

“I know.” I reach out and haul her into me for a hug, not to kiss her or ravage her or drag her into bed, but just to comfort her—and myself.

“We need to get going because it’s a long drive and I need my sleep tonight. I can’t be late tomorrow or Coach Spence will have my ass.”

George snorts. “He’s a tough guy I hear.”

Taking another look at him, I see him as a regular guy, a hockey fan, not a potential rival or the jerk who fired Delaney.

“You’re a hockey fan.”

He nods. “Sure. I carry the NHL network at the bar. I manage to catch more games than the average fanatic. The Whalers have a good team. You’re contenders.” He pauses a beat and shrugs. “You’re alright. She could do worse.”

Sixteen

DELANEY

On the drive back to Portsmouth, I can’t stand to let the man of few words have his way and I break the silence after an hour.

“What are you thinking?”

He laughs. I deserve it.

“I didn’t figure you for that cliché, hot pants.”

“Can I help it if your silence unnerves me?” He proceeds to remain silent.

“Well? Answer the question.”

He heaves a sigh and I can tell it’s exaggerated by the show of his dimple in spite of his effort to remain stoic.

“I was thinking about hockey.”

“Elaborate.”

“You sure about that? I’ve been told you’re not a fan.”

“Fine. Tell me why your grandma wants you to settle down and get engaged by Christmas?”

He heaves a real sigh. “She’s old and⁠—”

“I’m sorry, Link. I didn’t mean to—” I soften my voice because I can feel the pain in his voice even past the cool reticence he wears like a second skin. “What I meant was why does she need you to settle down?”

“She thinks marriage and family is the one true path to happiness.”

I snort out of habit. “Sorry, but I think I’ve heard the same thing somewhere before.”

He nods and then surprises me when he elaborates unprompted.

“She had a brother—my namesake—great Uncle Lincoln. I never knew him because he died young. Apparently, he never married and Grandma thinks he died an unhappy bachelor.” He shrugs.

“How did he die?”

“I’m not sure. All I know is that it was sudden, a shock. He was only forty.”