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“Need to go to the restroom, be right back,” Rakell said, turning.
Jake grabbed her arm. “You just went thirty minutes ago.”
She flashed a small smile. “This time I need to use it,” she said, shrugging her shoulders.
“That’s what I thought.” He shook his head at her.
When she walked away, sensing the lingering tension, Matt cupped Jake’s shoulder. “Good to see you again. You guys okay?”
“Well”—Jake let his shoulders relax under Matt’s earnest expression—“not sure, still got a lot to work out.”
Matt squeezed the thick muscles on Jake’s shoulder. “I get it. She’s amazing but also a big pain in the ass.”
Smiling, Jake said, “You have no idea—Oh, that’s right, you do, don’t you?”
“Yep, I do. But she’s worth it, and she’s crazy about you.” Matt’s hand slid to Jake’s back. “Hang in there, get to know her,reallyknow her,” he said, gently patting Jake’s back.
“I’m trying.” Jake shot Matt a half-smile, grateful to get a connective thread going between them. Their interaction was much less strained than the night they’d met at her apartment. Matt had been all business that night, and Jake had responded accordingly. At some point in their casual exchange, Jake agreed to reach out to Rakell the next day to schedule a time to chat so they could try to see if there was a chance for them to make it.
Rakell cozied up to Dwayne when she returned, hooking her arm in his. “Sorry I blew apart your night.”
His eyebrows arched. “I don’t think that was sincere. I don’t think you’re sorry at all,” he muttered in a defeated chuckle.
She laughed.
“I’m impressed. Never seen this guy walk back from anEND.” Dwayne’s tone dropped from playful to sober.
“Huh, you mean he’s never gone back to someone he’s broken up with, ever?”
“No, that’s happened, but when he sendsEND, he’s not meaning just breaking up; he means, ‘you’re dead to me,’ as inpersona non-grata. Since I’ve known him, he’s only usedENDthree times—with two women and one guy friend who betrayed him. He doesn’t take it lightly, and he never looks back. Like if he sent meEND, I’d cry...a lot.”
Her eyes expanded as she took in Dwayne’s words. “Jeez.”
“Yep, probably throw myself in front of his truck and risk my life to get him back.” He scanned her quickly. “But then again, I don’t have that body. I bet Jordan a hundred Jake wouldn’t make it to the weekend, he’d cave, so at least I got a little richer tonight.”
She smiled sheepishly. “I wouldn’t collect yet. He’s still jacked up, we’ll see.”
Dwayne winked at her. “I have faith in your powers.”
Early morning coffee with Matt and Jonathon was like a drill session on what she should say to Jake and how she should act. Her stomach was too jittery to eat before she went to the gym. She wrapped up another red rose and headed out, the whole time replaying last night’s events through her head and rehearsing what she’d say tonight. Olga’s Pilates session was tough on an empty stomach, but even after, she could only bring herself to eat an apple. She’d cut her calories drastically leading up to the ‘ski bunny’ shoot forSports Illuminatedin Jackson Hole, especially after getting word that they intended to put her on the cover again for the winter edition.
Jake:Another rose, nice, so the chasing continues?...Send
Rakell:As long as it takes??…Send
Jake:Kinda like this…Send
Rakell:I bet you do…Send
Jake:See you at 5?…Send
Rakell:Yes…Send
Chapter Thirty-Two
“Starting without me?” Jake asked, smiling at Rakell as she opened the door, looking at the glass of wine in her hand. He perused her, taking in the black cotton bohemian dress with a wide crocheted waistband exposing her midsection. She had paired the dress with short black booties and black feather earrings, wearing her hair straight. God, she was hot in anything.
She dipped her chin, acknowledging his comment as he walked through the door. “Yes, you make me nervous,” she said sheepishly, amusement lacing her tone, covering the fact that he really did make her feel unmoored.
