Page 20 of Don't Game Me
Good question.
“It’s when the printer said it’d be done.” Her mom cast her astop questioning meglare.
“What about the other guys?” Becca’s gaze passed around the room, resting none too subtly on Reid.
Blood pounded between Jake’s ears. Her and Reid? Not in this universe.
“No questions. I’ve got twenty-five errands and only six bodies. I got your father out of the hospital two hours ago. I’m running on three hours of sleep and coffee.” Mrs. Harrison whirled to Noah and commanded, “Open the champagne. We need a drink.” She pointed at Tori. “You and Noah have three magazine interviews in an hour. Don’t get drunk. Tipsy is tolerable.”
Jake leaned in behind Becca and whispered into her ear, “You’re being too easy if the guy who helped you off the counter is your new hopeful for a wedding date. Play harder to get and be sexier.”
She gazed up at Jake, startled, and pressed backward, pushing her curvaceous butt into him. Mistake or intentional? The pressure of her against his zipper was both exquisite and torturous.
Carol issued orders to others and handed out maps. Noah mixed mimosas.
“I’m making do since you’re not interested.” Her tone warned him she was up to something. “Do you have some hints for me, oh master of sex, to hook this date? I thought guys appreciated a girl making it clear she was available and willing.” Her eyelids dropped to half-mast, and her gaze focused on Jake’s mouth.
Holy shit. This whole production was Becca baiting him into jealousy? It’d worked, damn it. “The only way I reveal sex secrets is if it involves me, and we’re both naked.”
About a second after he said the words, he realized his mistake. A fierce, hot flush stole across her cheeks. Her eyes dilated. Now he wanted her inexactlythat way.Not thinking about Reid anymore, at least.
Unfortunately, his mind latched onto an image of unbuttoning her jeans and wrenching them down over her ass. Of touching her breasts and running his tongue up her neck.
“What?” she choked out. The question’s delay reflected a high level of fluster. Now, this was more the Becca he knew. The confident temptress from last night had been a whole different species from the girl who preferred to argue with him.
“We have an audience,” he whispered. He met Noah’s warning glare and grinned. Noah probably assumed they were trying to keep their newest argument on a lower level than normal.
Jake cleared his throat. “We’ll get going and leave the mimosas to you guys. It’ll take us at least an hour to get there. Do we have lunch plans or are we on our own?”
Carol pivoted their way and glared imperiously for a moment. She grinned, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “On your own. Back here two p.m. sharp. Be on time.”
Jake saluted.
Becca whispered in his ear, “I’m willing to negotiate to get those secrets.”
6
Endless minutes in Jake’s Mustang and all Becca could focus on was his words and her lame reply. She wondered if what he said had been a true offer of naked. The relatively inexperienced part of her was terrified if he took her up on it.
Naked with Jake.
Felt like he meant it. Oh God, she wanted it even though it intimidated the hell out of her.
Her jealousy plan might’ve worked. Could she follow through on what she’d been ordered to do? Pascal…
She sent Pascal a quick text, careful to keep the phone out of Jake’s sightline.
Clarify the meaning of “okay.”
She chewed her lip, heart pounding.
“Who’re you messaging?” Jake asked.
“Someone on the West Coast about things.”
“What kind ofthings?”
Pascal:Excused from gaming.
