A Perfect Distraction. Anna Sugden

the warmth of Maggie’s soft skin so close, was enough to make his pulse pound with frustration of a different kind.

      Where would the buttons be today? His groin tightened as he recalled yesterday’s Chinese-style gray dress. The knotted silk buttons had started at the base of her throat and trailed their way across her left breast. Enough!

      He turned toward Maggie.

      What the hell...?

      She stood by the door to the building, staring at him, her hand across her mouth. Her ashen skin made her brown eyes look even darker.

      She looked scared.

      Confused, he stepped toward her.

      He halted abruptly when she pressed herself against the door.

      “Maggie?”

      Her lips trembled, even as her chin tilted defiantly.

      What was her problem? Like a slow-mo replay, he reviewed the past few minutes—his anger, his threats, his actions—then swore silently, as he realized Maggie was scared.

      Of him.

      She probably believed that clichéd crap about hockey players being violent because they played a physical game. Sure, he’d fought off the ice in the past, but only because some knucklehead had thrown a punch to prove how tough he was. Jake hadn’t fought in anger since he was a kid. And he’d never, ever, hit a woman.

      Maggie wouldn’t know that. He had to put her at ease. Slowly, he raised his hands, palm out, to show he meant no harm.

      “Are you okay?” He kept his voice calm and low.

      She stilled, nodding sharply. Her dark brown eyes never left him.

      Perhaps he should explain. “That was a former teammate on the Blackhawks—Nick. He used to share an apartment with Adam. I guess you know I was injured in a car accident?”

      She nodded again, watching him warily.

      “My friend Adam...it was Adam’s car. He was driving. He lost control and—” he coughed to clear the lump in his throat “—was killed.”

      The bald statement left a bitter taste, but Maggie didn’t need to know about Adam’s weird behavior on that drive. His trembling fingers on the gearshift, the sweat beading on his forehead. How he’d veered between moods as wildly as he’d swerved between lanes.

      She also didn’t need to know Jake had deliberately ignored the signs Adam was troubled because he’d cared more about getting to the party than finding out what was wrong.

      Maggie’s expression softened slightly. The sadness in her eyes hardened his emotions. Jake didn’t want, or deserve, her sympathy.

      He stepped closer. Her body remained tense but she didn’t flinch.

      “Nick’s been traded to L.A.” He quickly explained the bastard’s demands to Maggie. “With house-hunting and training camp about to start, the timing sucks. But I have to rescue Adam’s stuff.”

      Maggie’s shoulders had loosened a little as she’d listened to him. When he was done, she said quietly, “May I make a suggestion?”

      Damn, the way she bit her lip like that said she was still nervous about him. “Sure.”

      “I could arrange for a packer to go in and collect Adam’s boxes, then have them delivered when you find a house.” Her voice grew stronger. “It’ll save you the trip.”

      Adam’s things would be safely out of Nick’s reach and he wouldn’t have to deal with them until he was ready. A huge weight lifted off his shoulders.

      He smiled. “You’re a lifesaver. Thanks, Maggie.”

      “All part of the service.” She reached in her bag for her ever-present pad. “If you write down the necessary information, I’ll sort it out.”

      Jake was returning her pad when Mimi pushed through the door.

      “There you are. Come in out of this heat.”

      “Be right there.” Maggie slipped the pad into her purse and joined the real-estate agent.

      As he followed her to Mimi’s office, Maggie’s stiff body language reminded him of what had happened earlier, her fearful reaction to his anger. His mind began to whir with images of other incidents—her jittery behavior at their first meeting, her defensiveness when he’d challenged her, the way she’d flinched when he’d touched her in that damn house with the fishpond. Were her reactions more than concern about an aggressive hockey player? Was something in her past coloring her judgment? Had someone treated her badly?

      It made a strange kind of sense.

      Fury surged within him at the thought of anyone mistreating her, but he tamped it down. That wouldn’t help either of them. He’d just have to be careful how he acted with her.

      No sooner had the thought crossed his mind than guilt twisted Jake’s stomach.

      Who was he kidding? He’d let Adam down, a guy he’d been friends with nearly all his life. What the hell made him think he could do better with a woman he’d known for a few weeks and whose past could involve problems more serious than the pressures of the NHL?

      On the surface, Maggie appeared to be the perfect woman for him to date. But if he was right, what lay beneath made things a whole lot more complicated. Despite the sizzling attraction, complicated was a distraction he didn’t need.

      More importantly, he wasn’t the right man for Maggie. She didn’t need a man she’d always doubt because of his career. A man whose emotions were still too raw, as his argument with Nick had shown. Maggie needed someone she could count on to be there for her. Not one who doubted himself.

      “Are you ready, Jake?” Mimi’s voice cut through the tumult inside him.

      Realizing he still stood in the doorway, he cleared his head, then went to sit in a chair in front of Mimi’s computer.

      Maggie kept her distance, leaning against the desk instead of sitting beside him, as she usually did. A new tension hummed in the air between them.

      “What have you got?” he asked.

      “There are two new properties.” Mimi clicked on the local listings. “The split-level is nice, but nothing special. I think you’ll like the other one, though.”

      She was right about the first house. He leaned forward to check out the second. His pulse quickened at the picture of the elegant Victorian. Jake hoped the on-screen details weren’t exaggerated. From the wraparound porch and the dark green shutters to the white picket fence and the large yard full of old trees, this house was everything he’d hoped for.

      This one felt right.

      Before he could stop himself, he looked up to see what Maggie thought. Their eyes locked. His heart stuttered. Excitement zinged through his veins.

      Then the hesitance in her gaze registered, making his body stiffen.

      Deliberately, he turned away.

      “Looks great, Mimi.” He grinned at the agent. “I have a real good feeling about this one. I want to go and see it ASAP. When can you fix something up?”

      “I’ll make an appointment for tomorrow morning. Is that okay?”

      “Sure. Thanks.”

      “Tomorrow morning’s good for me, too.” Maggie leaned over to direct his attention to the large den.

      Heat rushed through him as her scent teased his nostrils. Sparks shot up his arm where her fingertips brushed him.

      Damn it. He had to get out of here.

      He pushed back the chair and stood. “Are we done?”

      Both women looked startled by his abrupt tone.

      “Uh, yes.”