Page 62 of Work It Out
Progress through the crowd was slow going, and they were separated in no time. Everyone wanted to talk to him. None of them gave two shits that he was sort of famous now. They wanted to tell old stories and catch him up on all the gossip he’d missed while he was away. Who’d married who. Who’d gotten divorced. Who had kids now, and who’d fled town at the first chance. But mostly, they were fishing for details.
His grandma was right about one thing. The story that he was living out at the old Sampson stead with two gorgeous women had spread like wildfire in dry season. How the media hadn’t caught wind of it, he didn’t know and didn’t care. That was a serious gift horse/mouth situation. He might have to do something about it around here, though. He didn’t care what people said about him, but he’d be damned if he let anyone talk crap about those two women.
“Hey, there.”
He turned toward Rayah’s familiar husky voice, a smile already stretching his lips. Then he caught sight of her. He’d died and gone to heaven. Or was this hell? Either way, Vicky was getting a spectacular Christmas gift this year.
Rayah stood before him, the world’s tightest jeans hugging all her delectable curves. Heeled boots wrapped lovingly around her calves, and the fitted blue sweater showcased her breasts beautifully. Or maybe that was the actual bra she’d substituted for her standard sports bra. He’d known her breasts weren’t small, but he’d had no idea… He forced his gaze upward, and his breath hitched. She’d left her hair down. It fell in soft waves that disappeared over her shoulders. He was dying to step around her to see how long it was, but her eyes snagged his, her soulful brown gaze full of vulnerability, as if she expected to be weighed and found wanting.
“Damn, cupcake,” he all but moaned. “You look good enough to eat.” He hadn’t meant to blurt it out quite that way, but all the blood in his brain had fled south.
The vibrant blush in her cheeks was almost as beguiling as her smirk. “Better than say…this?” She brought the hand she’d had behind her back forward.
For the first time in months, he dared to hope. “Don’t toy with me, woman. It’s inhumane.”
Eyes twinkling, she handed him the plate. A cheeseburger. With bacon. Not turkey bacon (which, seriously, that stuff was lousy bologna in pig’s clothing). This was real, dead-oinker bacon. And chips. He flipped the top bun up and tears welled. Mayonnaise.
“A calorically dense meal now and then can boost metabolism and morale.” Rayah fiddled with the hem of her sweater. “Some people call them cheat meals, but I don’t like to think of it that way. Still…” A shy smile touched her plump lips. “You’re doing great. It’ll be good for you, and you deserve a treat.”
“A treat, huh?” He studied the plate and its bounty, then slowly, deliberately scanned every inch of Rayah. “I do love cheeseburgers, but my sweet tooth’s killing me.”
“Just eat the burger, Jake.” But the heat in her cheeks had shifted to her eyes.
Because he couldn’t help himself, he set his plate down, wrapped her in his arms, and kissed her forehead. “Thank you, sweetheart. It smells amazing.”
Too much time had passed since he’d held her like this. Now that he had her in his arms again, he remembered why he’d maintained that scrap of distance. It would be so hard to let her go. He tucked her closer still, just for one more second. The aroma of beefy, cheesy goodness mixed with the tangy citrus bite of her shampoo. Yeah, he loved cheeseburgers but, if he wasn’t careful, he might fall in love with a tart little cupcake, too.
Chapter Twenty-One
One year ago
Jake Newman’s Instagram
I’m into fitness…fitness whole cheeseburger in my mouth.
Rayah closed her eyes and let herself enjoy being surrounded by Jake’s big, warm body for the first time in far, far too long. He was a tactile guy. He’d touched her since Vicky’s arrival, always hugging her or kissing the top of her head as he had that morning, but he hadn’t touched her like this. She hadn’t felt his lips on her skin since that awful evening. Now, he held her against his chest as if his next breath might not come if she left him.
“Heya, Chris.”
Jake’s sigh ruffled her hair, and he squeezed her one last time before he faced the newcomer. He didn’t, however, let her go. He tucked her against his side, his hand resting on her hip. “Doc, good to see you. How’s business?”
The old man’s blue eyes lit with interest as he zeroed in on the possessive hand on her hip, but he merely chuckled. “Most of the folks around here are as ancient as I am, so pretty good.”
The truth was she liked Doc (more so now that he wore underpants in her gym), but he gave her the heebie-jeebies. It wasn’t his fault. She loathed the medical industry as a whole. It wasn’t rational or fair. They were a necessary evil, but she’d probably let a limb grow gangrenous and fall off before she voluntarily stepped foot in a doctor’s office again.
Hospitals were completely out of the question.
She tried to step away, excuse at the ready, but Jake’s hand tightened on her hip. He leaned down as if to kiss her hair and hissed, “Don’t you dare leave me with him. I’ll never escape on my own.”
“I may be half blind, but my ears work just fine,” Doc replied cheerfully. “And I’ll let you two be on your merry way as soon as you promise to come in for a physical on Monday. Jean’s driving me batty, kid. She wants to make sure your heart isn’t about to explode or some such.”
“I’ll have to check with the boss.” He turned to her. “Do I have time for a physical on Monday?”
Doc’s bushy eyebrows climbed his forehead, and he grinned. “Oh-ho. It’s like that, eh?”
“Absolutely,” Jake replied without missing a beat. “She’s little, but she’s fierce. I do what I’m told.”
He said ‘fierce’ like a benediction. That warmed her in ways even his hot appraisal and warm hugs hadn’t.
