Page 12 of Reclaiming Adelaide

“That’s fine.” Grabbing my things, I got out of the car. “I’ll be right back.”

I rounded the corner and stopped dead in my tracks. My skin flushed as my pulse whooshed in my ears, building pressure in my skull. I wasn’t ready for this, but I had no other choice. I could walk in there and ignore him. No one said I needed to speak or even acknowledge his existence.

Could I do that? Probably not. I’m sure I’d cave at the moment I saw his ice-cold blue eyes.

What was he doing here? Was he looking for me? Did he want to talk? There wasn’t any data I could provide him about what had happened to his company. Holeo had blocked me from the chat room and personally.

I’d tried telling the team about Jake’s knowledge, but Holeo made that next to impossible. Instead, I privately messaged them individually without a single response in return.

My automatic footfalls brought me closer to his car parked on the side of the road like he used to do when he’d pick me up or drop me off.

I shook my hands out and diverted my gaze away from his car as though it helped create a new reality where he wasn’t really here, and I wasn’t about to interact with him.

Oh my God. What if he’s telling Mom and Dad what had happened? What if…

I rushed up the driveway, ready to end his tattling when the front door opened, and he walked out with possibly the worst timing of the century.

Jake’s smile slid from his face. His piercing blue eyes struck every nerve in my body as he smirked.

“Adelaide.”

My hand went to my throat and his gaze followed as it settled around my neck. The slimy grin he’d made faltered for a fraction of a second as if he felt remorse over what he’d done to me.

“What are you doing here?” I swallowed… hard. “What do you want?”

He tucked his hands in his pockets and walked down the steps towards me. I skirted around him and took a step backward, my arms tightening around my backpack.

“I was just having a little chat with your parents.”

“About what?”

He tipped his head forward and pulled his brows together. “I think you know,” he said with a flint of anger rippling across his face. “They are pretty upset about everything that’s transpired, Adelaide.”

Jake stepped towards me, and I took another step back, my heel hitting the edge of the porch stairs, sending me off kilter. I took another step, my other heel tripping over the same brick of cement.

My equilibrium tilted as my hand reached for the railing to catch my fall. Jake’s muscular arm wrapped around my waist, his scent engulfing me before my ass even touched the edge of the steps.

“Watch what you’re doing,” he said, pulling me upright.

“I’m…” I sucked in a steady stream of air with a hint of Jake’s cologne riding on it. Shivers shook my arms as his heat pressed against me. It would only take a slight shift forward, and my lips would touch his scented neck. What’s wrong with me? I pushed against him, swallowing my desire for him down into my fluttering stomach. “I’m fine.”

“Could’ve fooled me.” He kept his firm hold on me. “You seem nervous?”

His head dipped down as if battling the same desire as me. But that wasn’t possible, not after what happened.

I backed away, but he walked with me, his grip tight. “Why wouldn’t I be after what you did to me? You tried to kill me, then sent your freaks after me.” I shoved him hard. “I have every right to be scared.”

That wasn’t exactly fair. I hadn’t suspected him since that first night, but he had me a flustered mess, and it just came rushing out.

He frowned and pulled away from me, planting his hand on his hip. “Okay, for one, I didn’t try to kill you. If I had, you’d be dead. And two, what do you mean I sent someone after you?”

I shook my head and spun on my heel, walking up the porch with careful steps. “Forget it.”

“Tell me, Adelaide.” I glanced over my shoulder as he pointed his finger to the ground, demanding my cooperation. “What do you mean? Did someone come after you?”

I walked inside and shut the door, but before it latched, he slammed his hand against the surface.

“Just leave me alone,” I whispered, afraid my parents might hear.

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