Page 55 of Blood Sport

I laugh, shaking my head. I’m enjoying Kale’s charm and his ability to make me laugh without trying. It’s been a long time since I’ve met anyone like him.

“Be careful, I don’t want you choking on those words too early.”

Kale runs a hand through the blonde mess atop his head, his smile bright and warm. “Look, maybe you’re right about that. But a guy can hope, right?”

“There’s nothing wrong with that,” I say. “But I will be in the crowd, so no pressure or anything.”

“Well, in that case,” he says, pulling his phone out of his back pocket, “would I be able to grab your number? If you’re going to be at the game, I’d like to take you out for a drink afterward. Are you an expresso martini girl? You seem like the type.”

I chuckle at his joke, my eyes locked on his phone that is outstretched between us. Instead of listening to the negative voice in my head telling me to decline and be on my way, I'm going to, for once, listen to the positive side telling me to take this attractive man up on his offer and see where things go.

What is the worst that could happen?

I take his phone from him and begin typing my number into a new contact. “Sadly, I’m not. But I will allow you to buy me a drink to see what type of girl I am.

Kale grins, taking back the device when I hold it out for him. “I want to guess the fruity cocktail type, but I want to be surprised.” He turns to hold open the door for me, following me out into the warm midday air.

The hair on the back of my neck stands on edge, letting me know that he is waiting nearby, watching. I can feel his eyes boring into my skin as I turn to face Kale, ignoring his presence. “Good luck on Saturday, but don’t be too sad if you lose, the Raiders do have that effect on most teams.”

Kale blows out a breath and licks his lips. “I guess we’ll see who will be eating their words after the game. The losing team buys the first round of drinks?”

“Deal,” I say, chewing on my bottom lip. “I’ll see you around, yeah?”

He nods, smiling. “Of course. See you soon, Evie.”

“No, you won’t.”

I groan, running a hand down my face at the sound of his voice. It’s taking everything within my soul not to walk over to where he sits on his motorcycle and push him off. Instead, I wave goodbye to Kale as he walks away. When he walks past Jaylen, I get the sense there is more to be said.

“Lose her number,” Jaylen calls out after Kale as he continues to walk away, his brows furrowed as he grips his helmet tightly under his right arm.

With a huff, I march over to Jaylen. I can feel his eyes on me as I approach, stopping beside him. Seeing the shit-eating grin on his plump lips makes me want to slap it off his face but also kiss him. Whenever I’m this close to him, my mind tends to go blank and I can’t think properly. It drives me insane.

“What was that?” I demand, folding my arms over my chest.

Jaylen shrugs and rests the helmet on his jean-clad thigh, his eyes roaming over my body until they land on my face. “I should be asking you the same thing, little angel.”

I wave my hand in the space between us. “This, us, is not anything, okay? If I want to get a guy's number, I can. We’re not a thing, Jaylen.”

“That’s where you’re wrong, Evie. You’re mine.”

I scoff, shaking my head. “You’re delusional. And stop listening in on my private conversations with your super hearing.”

Jaylen doesn’t say anything. Instead, he gets off his motorcycle and steps toward me, his eyes boring into mine from his towering height. He takes my coffee, places it on the ground beside us, and slips his helmet over my head with a devilish look in his eyes.

“Let me show you why you’re my girl, little angel. No other man can ever touch you but me.”

***

Jaylen pulls the bike to a stop near the edge of a cliff that looks over vast land just outside of Pullman. The leaves on the trees as far as the eye can see are beginning to turn brown as fall approaches. The air is fresh as I breathe in deeply, eyeing the largely uninhabited area. There is not a house in sight, just barns, cows, sheep, and lots of trees. Just in the distance, I can make out a running river getting lost on the horizon.

Wherever we are… there is not a fucking soul in sight.

I swing off the seat behind him and pull the helmet, resting it under my arm. “Why did you bring me here?” I want to punch him in the arm for leaving my coffee behind, but I don’t.

“Because,” he says casually as he too gets off the bike, turning to face me. I must admit that he does look sexy in that leather riding jacket and combat boots. His hair is messy over his eyes from the wind gliding through it. Get it together, Evie. “I wanted to show you where I come when I need alone time.”

I eye him suspiciously as he slowly walks around the bike to stand a few feet away. “Do you… kill people out here?”

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