AllFreeNovel
Share Us
She took a shaky step back, then regained her composure, offering him a titillating smile. “I do enjoy a luscious popsicle…” she purred, a bold air growing in her tone.
“Fuck…” he groan-whispered, adjusting himself in his shorts, his traitorous cock responding to her.
Watching him, with a barely containedI got youexpression,she took another step back, then turned and said, “Better get to Pilates.”
“Seriously, Rakell, what the hell are you doing?” Jake’s exasperation booming from behind her.
She planted a wide smile on her face as she twisted back to him. “Chasingyou,Jake Skyler. You chased me for a year. Now it’s my turn,” she hummed, her hands firmly on her hips. “And you will get caught,” she said before whipping back around and stepping away. She loved the shocked looks on Dwayne and Jordan’s faces and winked at them as she walked by, whispering, “I learned from the best.”
They both let out muted chuckles, completely aware that Jake looked like he’d just been tackled and was trying to shake off the shock of it.
“He’s not going to make it to the weekend. He’s already caving,” Dwayne whispered to Jordan.
“Naw, he’s stubborn. He’ll cave if she keeps this up, but not that soon. I say he makes it to the weekend…he already told me he’s not hanging out Friday night if she’s coming.”
“Hundred says he caves by Friday,” Dwayne muttered.
“You’re on,” Jordan said.
“What the hell are you two talking about?” Jake grumbled, irritation consuming his voice, pissed that he’d let her in at all.
“Just that you are so completely fucked,” Dwayne laughed.
“Thanks,” Jake said, shaking his head walking toward the stairs. “I’m finished for the day.”
“Yep, you’re finished, all right…” he thought he heard Dwayne say behind him.Fuck this, he thought, shaking his head as he made his way to his truck.
He grabbed the red rose she’d left for the second day in a row from his windshield, wondering how long he could keep up his resolve. An uneasiness settled in him with the question of whether this was just a challenge for her, or did she mean it…was she really wanting him? He was so tired of her games.
The following day, Rakell got to the gym early and jumped on a treadmill near the window so she would be able to see when Jake drove up. Her plan was to sneak over to his house while he was at the gym and decorate his front door. A giddiness had woven through her, thinking about the teddy bear and heart she would leave for him, along with her daily red rose. There was something exciting in the chase, even though her target was unwavering.
Rakell was sweating and breathing hard from the workout when she noticed his truck pull into the parking lot. She jumped off the treadmill and ran downstairs to retrieve her gym bag from her locker. She threw on the Sacramento Condors baseball cap Jake had given her in October when they’d gone jogging. As she was coming around the corner, she heard Jake and Dwayne talking about their plans later that night. She pieced together Group Therapy andsevenishfrom the bits and pieces she could overhear, her mind instantly jumping forward to her next step.
She almost ran into Dwayne, and he smiled. “Wow, nice hat, welcome to the team!”
“Thanks, always been fond of the quarterback.” Her eyes jumped to Jake, who was looking away stubbornly.
Jake heard her but refused to take the bait, relieved to see she was leaving—he’d get to work out without wondering when she would corner him again.
She moved past them, calling out, “Have a great workout, boys” as she walked away, laughing cheerfully.
“I swear that girl’s smokin’ something before she comes to the gym,” Jake said, looking at Dwayne.
“Think she just has a goal…and she’s relentless.” Dwayne slapped Jake’s back. “Think you’re weakening from that smile and the cleavage?”
Jake shook his head. “Not a chance…I’m determined to enjoy some of that smorgasbord you keep talking about. Definitely need a distraction right about now.”
After finishing an uninterrupted workout, Jake noticed another rose on his windshield. He shook his head as he grabbed it, wondering when this was going to end, hating that he liked it. He pulled into the driveway and walked up the path to his house, distractedly glancing at his phone as he approached. Looking up, he stopped a few feet from the house, staring at a large red hearttaped to his door with the wordsI miss youwritten in black marker. It looked like something a junior high girl would do, he thought. Just then, he noticed a large white teddy bear sitting in front of the door, a card resting on its lap. Smirking, he carried the bear into his room, threw it on his bed, and opened the card.
Jake,
Sorry, I know I suck at this dating thing. I don’t have much experience, but I know I don’t want to lose you. Can we please talk?
Rakell
P.S. I want to share the other popsicle with you!
Plopping down in one of the oversized chairs that faced the fireplace, he pulled out his phone.
