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“Um, Jake, how do you think that’s going to look? The media would have a field day. Jesus, I can just hear the stories about me and how I cheered my way into your bed. No way.”
A low rumble left his mouth as he repeated her words, “Cheered your way into my bed—I like that…don’t worry, I’ll do an interview and make it perfectly clear that all you had to do is look at me…no cheering necessary. And, I will add, that it was good for my ego.”And, he thought,I’ve been chasing you for a fucking year, so it’s about time. Even Kelce didn’t have to work this hard.
“All right, Jake. The last thing either of us needs is for you and me to be the Super Bowl story. That wouldn’t be fair to your family or your team—or to you, for that matter.” Rakell approached him, taking his hand. “Seriously, you did this; you and your team got here. I don’t want to take any of the focus off you and what you’ve worked for.”
“Rakell, it would feel wrong if you weren’t there.”
“Wrong?”
“Let me put it this way…I need you to be there.” His mouth moved as if he were engaged in some kind of internal dialogue. “Wait. How about sitting in the stands somewhere else?” A huge grin stretched across his face. “Maybe wearing a disguise? Go as a redhead or a brunette?” He cocked his head to the side, turning his palms up. “What do you think?”
Considering the idea, Rakell puckered her lips to stave off the impulse to giggle at his little boy excitement. “Maybe. I mean, I could probably get Lana to go with me since Levi will be covering it.”
“I’m going to have to ‘Jake’ this. I’ll set everything up—tickets, hotel. I got this, okay?” Jake was adamant now; he wasn’t going to let her wiggle out of this.
She couldn’t hide the thrill that shot through her at the thought of getting to see him play again. “Okay. I’ll talk to Lana. She’ll be excited. But we are staying at different hotels Mr. Skyler…” she said pointedly.
He chuckled. “Are you worried about the impulse to sneak into my room?”
“No cocky boy…I’m concerned about the media sniffing around.”
“Okay, just knowing you’ll be in the stands excites me.”
She clapped, feeling almost giddy about seeing him play in the biggest game of his life, then quickly focused her eyes on him. “But Jake, I don’t want this getting out. No one, not even Dwayne, can know.”
His face fell. “Listen, I won’t say anything to anyone, including Dwayne. But if he asks me, I won’t lie.”
Her eyebrows shot up. “Do you tell him everything?”
“No, but if he asks me a direct question, I answer or say I don’t want to talk about it right now. He does the same for me. So what I’m saying is we sort of have a pact with each other, atrust that means we tell the truth or we just say we can’t right now, but we don’t lie…we just don’t.”
“That’s sweet. You two are sweet.”
He grimaced, eyebrows scrunching. “Don’t say that again. What’s it going to be…is my personal cheerleader with the lucky white jacket going to be there?”
“Yes, yes, but a little less visible this time…so no jacket.”
He shook his head. “I’m superstitious after San Antonio, so the jacket is a must. Come on…no one’s going to be looking for that jacket.”
“I’ll think about it, but I’ll be there.”
His lips twisted into a huge grin. “I’ll have some Sacramento gear delivered in the next few days. Don’t think you have enough.”
Rakell stepped forward, spreading her fingers on his chest. “So how do you picture me, brunette or redhead?” she asked with a fake lusty tone, flipping her hair. “Fantasy time. Let me hear it.”
“You. I picture you, period. But you as a redhead does conjure up some pretty hot images, so let’s go with that.” A smart-assed ‘I haven’t been with a redhead since college…’ almost leaped from his mouth, but his frontal lobe halted the stupid comment. “I’ll look for you on the Jumbotron in New Orleans,” he said with a bark of laughter.
“Shut up! I’m going under the radar.” A mischievous grin painted her lips, the playful edge Jake seemed to evoke in her scampering back in as she eyed him. “Orrr…I mean, I could make myself known, perhapsfinallyput you on the map…”
He saw her eyes dance that jig that meant she was about to out-smart-ass him.
Cocking an eyebrow, Jake replied, “Oh really, darlin’? Sort of like Taylor Swift put one of the all-time great tight ends on the map ‘cause he was no one until she made him somebody? Is thatwhat you were thinking?” He stepped toward her, sneering at her in jest. “That I need some pretty face to put me on the map?”
She took a step back, egging him on, directing her pointer finger toward her head. “Well, darlin’,thisisn’t just ‘some’ pretty face, and as far as Taylor goes, she’s not ‘some’ anything. She’s the leader of the free world…so yes, she did put him on the map…”
Jake took one stalking step, wrapping his arms around her waist, yanking her in. “Nowthat, beautiful, is a great idea.” He leaned in, gruffly nibbling the base of her neck by her shoulder, lighting up from her low laugh. “Taylor Swift for President!”
Rakell’s head went back, laughing. “Jake, yes! That may be the smartest thing you’ve ever said.”
