Page 49 of Tricky Puck

“You had no right to take those photos,” George says.

“Give him his phone back,” the Sherriff says. “He was invited here by you, wasn’t he?”

George reluctantly agrees and the Sherriff relieves him of the phone, handing it back to Dennis. “I suggest you get on your way.”

After the Sherriff and Dennis the handyman leave, I should sigh in relief, but the threat of those pictures out there coils the muscles in my shoulders tightly.

“You need to call Dennis and ask him to delete those photos. What do you think the chances are he’ll cooperate?” I look at George.

“No idea. I don’t know him very well. He’s a local guy. I see him around town when I’m up here. “

Delaney says, “Good news is he doesn’t know who you are, so don’t worry, Link. Nothing will come of it.”

I let out a deep breath. “You’re probably right.”

“Bad news is I won’t be getting my plumbing fixed any time soon.” She gives me her smirky smile, the one that perks up my dick every time—including right now.

“You’re coming back with me. To stay.” I stare at her wondering what the hell I’m talking about. But I know it’s my dick talking.

“I’m going to your game. I’ll stay one night, then⁠—”

“Then what, Delaney? You’re going to get an Uber all the way back from Portsmouth and when you get here, you have no car, no water and not enough heat?” I dart an accusing glare at George.

“I’ll eventually get everything fixed,” he says. “In the meantime, you can come back to New York with me⁠—"

“I don’t believe you two.” She darts an exasperated glance between u. “You think you need to jump in and rescue me? Well I have some fucking news for you—I don’t need rescuing. I’m going to call an Uber and go to a hotel.”

I almost laugh, but she looks seriously pissed. “Good luck with that.” I smirk, knowing full well I’m instigating. She narrows her eyes at me until it slowly dawns on her that I’ve got her going.

“You’re such a smug⁠—”

“Hockey player?” I finish for her, moving close. “You know you can’t miss the game tomorrow. Your Granny would be very disappointed.”

“I can’t believe you’re pulling the grandmother card⁠—”

“What the hell are you talking about?” George says, picking up his ice-filled towel off the floor and holding it over his black eye that’s now swollen shut. “This sucker is throbbing. You got any Advil?”

I nod and take my wallet out, slipping the small packet of Advil from it and flipping it to him.

“Thanks. You’re a regular boy scout, always prepared.”

“I’m never without it. Comes in handy after games.”

George nods. Delaney rolls her eyes then gives me one of those blue-eyed stares like only she can, where she’s looking deep down for something and I wish I knew what it was.

“I’ll go for the game, Milano, but I’m not staying.”

George says, “I think you should stay with him in Portsmouth, Delaney.”

A glance at Delaney tells me she’s as shocked as I am.

George adds, “You can’t stay at the cabin. It’s going to take a while for the plumbing to get fixed.”

I say, “What about it, hot pants?” I smile at her cringe and hold her eyes in a stare. It’s another one of those who-blinks-first battles that I’m determined to win.

Convincing her to stay with me is irrational as hell because I don’t want her to live with me. But I can’t leave her in the cabin with no water and I doubt she can afford a hotel for the duration.

I could pay for her hotel, but she’d never let me.