A Perfect Distraction. Anna Sugden

you girls stick together.” He winked at her

      She looked startled for a moment, then smiled tentatively.

      His mom slid a plate with a slice of pound cake before Maggie, overriding her objection with a pat on her shoulder. “You’ll need the energy to help my son choose a house. He’s been as miserable as a wet cat about the ones you sent.”

      Heat rose up his neck. “Ma, you’re killing me. Don’t you have something to do?”

      “I have to get dinner on.” She pulled vegetables out of the refrigerator. “You know your father is starving by seven.” She pointed an onion at the pile of papers. “Those are all my son’s rejects.”

      “You didn’t like anything?” Maggie frowned as she sifted through the discarded sheets and cross-checked them with her list.

      “These four are possibilities.” He handed her the details.

      “I thought this might have met your needs.” She tapped one of the discarded sheets. “It has substantial square footage, a private gym, a master suite with a whirlpool tub and a large yard with trees.”

      The overblown McMansion had appealed to his ego, but only briefly. “Is that the one with a freaking full-size ballroom?”

      Her grin caught him off guard. “I thought that would be the clincher. Don’t all you hockey players want to be on Battle of the Blades?”

      “Hell...heck no!” he spluttered. “I don’t want to be in any reality show, let alone one that makes me dance or figure skate or whatever you call it.” He smiled ruefully at the teasing twinkle in her eyes. There was that sense of humor again. “You got me.”

      “I’m sorry, I couldn’t resist.” There was a touch of uncertainty in her eyes, like she’d expected him to be mad. “Back home, lots of sports stars clamor to be on reality shows. I think they’re nuts wanting that invasion of privacy. Everyone knowing every intimate detail of their lives.”

      That had the bitter ring of experience. He wondered what her story was. “Yeah. That can get old pretty quick.”

      Their gazes met. The click of understanding between them seemed almost physical. What was it about this woman?

      A loud “Coo-ee” made them both blink, breaking the connection.

      Aunt Karina, his mom’s best friend, came in, her gray curls bouncing. “You’re home and you haven’t been to see me, Jakey?” She shook her finger at him, then hugged him close. “You’re too busy with your hockey rabbits to visit an old woman?”

      He stifled a grin. Despite being in America for many years, she still muddled her English. “Puck bunnies, Aunt Karina.”

      “Bunny, rabbit, it’s the same, no?” She shrugged.

      “Sure. But you’re my number-one girl.”

      She sniffed at his flattery, but her smile was indulgent. “It’s good to have you back. Your mother missed you. Me, not so much.”

      “Mom said you have a new boyfriend.”

      “At my age, I have gentlemen friends. There’s no funny stuff...they’re too old.” She sighed. “And I’m too old for a toy boy...boy toy.”

      “You’re not too old,” he reassured her.

      “Correct answer.” Her eyes lit up as she spotted Maggie. “You let me chatter on when you have a girlfriend visiting?”

      “I’m not—”

      “She’s not—” He and Maggie spoke simultaneously, then stopped.

      “We’re not dating. Maggie’s helping me find a house.”

      “Uh-huh.” His mom turned back to her chopping.

      “Uh-huh.” Aunt Karina sat at the table.

      It was as if they could see inside his head. Could see the effect Maggie had on him.

      Damn it. If he wanted to convince anyone he wasn’t interested in Maggie, he’d have to convince himself. Right. Like that would happen.

      He had more of a chance of breaking Wayne Gretzky’s scoring records.

      * * *

      MAGGIE FOUGHT ENVY as she watched the fond banter between Jake and the two women. She could imagine such teasing interplay at family gatherings in the bright, airy kitchen.

      So different from the stilted atmosphere in her parents’ house, which had lacked any kind of emotional warmth. Where her father dominated, disapproval reigned and opinions from anyone else were not tolerated.

      This was the home she and Tracy had yearned for. From the postcards adorning the fridge to the cute curtains framing the large window and the smell of baking that lingered in the air, it felt cozy and welcoming.

      No wonder Jake had found the Trump Place apartment lacking.

      “I can see why the houses I sent through don’t appeal.” She picked up the four remaining property sheets. “I suspect these won’t be right, either.”

      Surprise lit Jake’s blue eyes. “What’s wrong with them?”

      Maggie had a momentary pang of unease. He might not like her disagreeing with him. But it was her job to make his move go smoothly. Tracy would expect nothing less. As uncomfortable as it made her, she shouldn’t hold back her thoughts.

      She fought her nerves, then indicated the first sheet. “This has great square footage, but the rooms look dark and poky. You could knock down walls to make it more open, but it would be a lot of work and upheaval.”

      “I agree, for sure. I don’t need the disruption.”

      Maggie blinked. He’d listened to her opinion.

      She set the property sheet aside, then slid the next one to him. “This one has an unfinished basement. More upheaval. Plus, the house is on a steep slope, with the garage at the bottom. There may be problems with water runoff.”

      Aunt Karina tsked. “You don’t want to worry about flooding.”

      Jake nodded. “I had reservations about the basement, but hadn’t thought about the slope. Good catch.”

      Heat tinted her cheeks at his praise.

      “I’m sure your thoughts about the other two houses will be on the money. Why bother even having a look at them?”

      His faith in her judgment gave her confidence a boost. “You might feel differently once you’ve seen the houses. Also, other things may occur to you as we go round them, which will help guide Mimi and me in finding other properties for you.”

      “Yeah. It just seems like a waste of time.”

      Maggie’s breath caught in her chest. Had she misjudged his easygoing nature?

      “I don’t see why it’s so hard to choose.” Jake’s mum chopped herbs with impressive speed. “You travel so much, you won’t be around to worry about dark rooms or whatever.”

      “You and Dad were just as picky before you bought this place, Ma. We saw dozens of houses and you rejected every one.”

      Tina smiled fondly at her son. “I know you wanted the best for us, but we didn’t want to waste the earnings from your first big contract.”

      Jake bought this place for his parents? Lee wouldn’t have been so generous.

      “You could have had a house twice this size and I’d have still had money left over.” His ears were tinged with pink.

      “After that cramped, rented apartment, a house of our own was a dream come true. But we wanted somewhere that felt like home. This house welcomed us.”

      He rose and hugged his mother. “That’s what I want,