Power Play (59 page)

710

Alex propped herself on one elbow and lightly smacked him. “Stop being humble all the time! You’ve been called the best for the last decade with gold medals galore, a Princeton Trophy, and other long lists of achievements. You have every cliché reason to act like a dick like some guys on other teams, yet you never do. While Stacey Compton faced sexual assault charges in Cleveland last summer, you were in Nova Scotia heading up a hockey camp for almost 300 underprivileged kids. You’re active in major charities and support gays and women in the AHC. Should I explain further why I love you?”

Troy raised a quizzical eyebrow. “Are those the only reasons?”

“You mean besides being a sweet, gentle soul, a great mentor, and fantastic lover?”

He gave her a quick kiss. “That’s my Al.”

“Well, it doesn’t take much to make me happy.”

“I figured that out not long after we met.” Troy glanced at the bedside clock. “Shit. Time flies when we’re having fun.”

“Already time for me to go home, huh?”

711

“Yeah, unless you want your husband to murder me.”

Alex got out of bed and began to dress. “What Jax doesn’t know won’t hurt him. Who’s to say he’s not doing the same thing as we speak?”

“Too bad you can’t catch him in the act. You’d have one hell of a divorce settlement.”

“Be nice, Troy. I’ll be content to walk away with exactly what I brought into the marriage in the event Jax and I do split.”

“Sounds like his idea of you signing a pre-nup was a waste of time.”

“I couldn’t care less about Jax’s money, but understand why he had one made. His track record with former girlfriends…well, I don’t think any of them had his best interests in mind. Most of them basically viewed him as either a human ATM or a come-up to get famous.”

“Well you accomplished one thing they never did.”

“What?”

“Getting Old Man down the aisle and having his child.”

712

“Again, marriage wasn’t my choice. His and my relationship was intended to be a fling until I got pregnant.” Alex pinched Troy’s cheek. “At least I don’t have to worry about that with
us,
albeit temporarily.”

He blushed. “Cute. Now let’s get you home before Jax sends out a search party.”

***

713

Chapter 113

Alex was awakened in middle of the night by something heavy spooned against her and hands caressing her body.

“Hmmmm?” she groggily asked. “Whossat?”

“Hey sweetheart,” Jax whispered.

“Jax? Are you just getting in?” She made a face. “You smell like a brewery.”

“I had a late night with some of the boys after my workout. Jindrich drove me in my car and then rode home with Dalek. Did you do anything interesting today?”

Alex barely hid her smile.
Troy and I are in love!
“Not really; only lunch with a friend and Phyllis called from New York.”

“Nice. Tomorrow’s our big day.”

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Alex rolled over. “Big day for what?”

“Your surprise, remember? I’m taking you after your doctor’s appointment.”

“Oh…right. Sorry, I completely forgot. Are you sure you won’t give me at least one little idea?”

Jax shook his head. “You’ll have to wait.”

“You love torturing me, don’t you?”

“Sometimes.”

He began kissing her neck as one hand fondled her breasts. “I want you so much, sweetheart,” he growled in her ear.

“Jax...please...not tonight,” she moaned in protest and pulled away. “I feel about to burst and not in the mood.”
Plus Troy more than satisfied me.

“You know, it would be nice to have sex with my wife once in a while, or should we set up a schedule?”

“Don’t cop an attitude. I want to go back to sleep.”

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Jax grunted. “This is bullshit.”

“I'm sorry. Maybe we can have a little fun tomorrow night after the game.”

“Whatever,” he snorted and rolled to his side of the bed.

***

716

Chapter 114

“I would suggest much bed rest as feasible to you during the next several weeks, Mrs. Ivanka,” Alex’s obstetrician advised her. “The baby could be born earlier than my original estimate.”

“Yeah, a couple friends said it looked like I ‘dropped’ a little. How is everything else?”

“You’re doing fine; just take it easy until labor begins, especially after the last Braxton-Hicks bout.”

“Good, that takes a little off my mind.”
Looks like I may have to keep the canoodling with Troy to a minimum. Now let’s hope Jax doesn’t continue being too amorous. He went from one extreme to the other – not touching me for months and then wanting sex almost all the time. Weird!

717

Jax stood up when Alex entered the waiting room following her exam. “Everything good?”

“The doctor wants me to have much bed rest as possible. He thinks the baby might come early.”

“Oh
hovno.”

“That’s not a bad thing in my case, Jax.”

“So…you won’t go into labor while I show you the surprise?”

“I doubt it, but not making any guarantees. Now let’s go see what you’ve been hiding from me.”

Jax’s eyes sparkled with anticipation. “I guarantee you’ll love it, sweetheart.”

***

718

“Spit it out; why are you so chuffed lately?” Davy asked.

“Oh, no,” Troy replied. “I know what a big mouth you have so I’m keeping this quiet.”

“Come on! We’ve been mates for a long time. You talk to Boris about secret stuff.”

“Yeah, only Boris doesn’t blab to the entire locker room.”

“Wait a minute; now I know why you’re being evasive. You got a new lass!”

Troy cleared his throat. “Sort of.”

“About the hell time, mate; I hope she’s good to you. Where did you meet?”

“Oh, she’s someone I’ve known for a while. I swear to Christ, Davy, one word to anyone and I’ll break your fucking neck. I don’t need any shit storms brewing in the locker room or worse, the Internet.”

“Damn, Troy,” Davy said in a stunned voice. “The lass you’re seeing is married or otherwise taken, isn’t she?”

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“Yeah, another reason you need to keep your mouth shut.”

“I won’t say a thing. Nobody needs to watch some giant angry bloke putting your head on a stake.”

“Thank you.”

“What’s she like? Blonde? Long legs? Drop dead gorgeous? I’m well familiar with the types of lassies you’ve had on your arm.”

“I must confess they were mostly platonic relationships or casual dates, Davy. I really have a thing for brunettes.”

“Ah, I can relate. My Jen’s one. So the lass has darker hair?”

“With auburn highlights. She’s also a few years younger than I.”

“I always thought you liked them a little older.”

“Sure, but age makes no difference when one finds the right woman.”

720

“Isn’t that the truth! How short is she?”

“Around or little over five feet, I guess.”

Davy remained quiet for several moments and digested the details about Troy’s mystery woman until a realization popped into his mind.

“Bloody hell, mate!” he exclaimed. “You’re seeing
Alex!”

“Keep your voice down,” Troy hissed. “I don’t want the whole world knowing, at least not yet.”

“Do you have some kind of death wish? Ivanka would eat you alive if he knew you’re fooling with his missus.”

“I doubt Jax gives a shit considering he hasn’t paid much attention to Al since she’s been pregnant. They rarely go out together and from what she told me, he isn’t home much either.”

“He’s
boffing another bird?”

“She has every reason to think so, yeah.”

“This is starting to sound like a bad soap opera. You and Alex are playing with fire.”

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“I know, but being with her gives me a high only matched by winning an important game.”

Davy laughed. “Bloody hell; even a fling can’t get your mind off hockey.”

“I doubt anything would,” Troy jokingly replied. “Seriously, Davy; not one damn word about Al’s and my affair to anyone, especially your fiancée. Got it?”

“Sure, mate, but be careful. I don’t want to attend your funeral or Ivanka’s murder trial anytime soon.”

***

722

Chapter 115

“Jax, come on; this isn’t funny anymore,” a blindfolded Alex said. “Quit making a big deal out of whatever you’re doing.”

“Patience, sweetheart,” he replied and gently led her by the arm. “We’re almost there.”

“Well hurry up; I have to pee.”

“Again? You went before we left the doctor’s office.”

“Our daughter seems to enjoy sitting on my bladder.”

“We’re here!” Jax announced and removed her blindfold. “What do you think?”

“Oh my God, you bought another house?”

“Not bought, sweetheart; had one built. I figured we needed something a little more appropriate for our new arrival.”

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“The builders did a beautiful job! This certainly explains a lot of things.”

“What do you mean?”

“For starters, why you never worked on getting together the baby’s room at home; taking off after games, missing workouts, no lovemaking until recently, and being away from home for hours. I was beginning to–”

“Hold it! You assumed I was seeing another woman?”

“What was I supposed to think, Jax? You should’ve said something.”

“Then today wouldn’t have been a surprise, sweetheart.”

She joyfully hugged him. “Is the bathroom finished?”

He raised an eyebrow. “You have a choice of three. In fact, the entire house is completed.”

“Three
bathrooms?”

“We’re talking a total of three bathrooms, three bedrooms – one the nursery which can convert to a regular room when the baby grows older – a den, living room, chef-style kitchen, rec room, laundry area, and miles of backyard for our little lady to play.”