Page 25 of Don't Game Me
“Ha!” she declared minutes later after they’d both high-scored out all previous players on the system, and she was one point ahead of Jake going into Level Two. She actually enjoyed the game for the first time in eons. To her left, a small group watched their game. Uh oh. Someone held the magazine with Jake’s picture on the front.
After level two, Jake paused the game. “We should quit.”
“Why? Because I’m winning and you’re scared of losing?”
He smiled so wide a dimple formed on his cheek. “Maybe I’m letting you win.”
“No, you’re not. You’re sweating.” She leaned forward and touched his damp forehead.
“We’ve got to pick up the printing. It’s been almost an hour.”
“Really?” One glance at her watch confirmed time had flown.
“We also have an audience.”
A huge group stood around them. She grumbled. “I still think you want to quit because I kicked your ass.”
A man with a store nametag stepped up and held out his hand to Jake as he stood. “I’m the store manager. We’re honored to have you here, Mr. Allen. So psyched to watch you play your game. Wow.”
Jake returned the handshake with a charming smile. “I’m sorry we monopolized this player so long.”
“Would you mind posing for a picture with our team?” The manager bounced up and down with eagerness.
“Sure.” There was no condescension in Jake’s tone. He shook hands with several other enthusiasts, smiling through personal recounts ofZoneworld Warriorhighlights.
Within seconds, at least twenty name-tag-wearing individuals surrounded him. Someone snapped a cell phone pic. Several female employees had Jake autograph the magazine and shoot some selfies.
“Thanks for all this. Mind if I put the picture on Facebook?” the manager asked Jake.
Jake shook his head. “Just don’t post the game score.”
Becca suppressed a smile.
“Your girlfriend sure is a good player,” the manager said.
She opened her mouth to correct the guy’s assumption of them in a relationship, but Jake grabbed her hand and pulled her toward the checkout. He shot over his shoulder to the manager, “Thanks for letting us play.”
As they waited in the short line, she whispered, “Why didn’t you let me correct that manager’s belief I’m your girlfriend?”
“It wasn’t worth the gossip that’d come after that. Me out with Noah’s sister? They’ll post the pictures all over Facebook and Twitter. Big blow to my ego. Then we can only hope it doesn’t go viral. Jake Allen getting his ass handed to him at Electronics World.”
“Good press, though.”Big blow to his ego?He didn’t want to be seen with her. That hurt.
After they checked out, Jake’s phone rang. He yanked it out of his pocket and glanced at the image of a busty blonde on the screen. He sent the call to voicemail and shoved the phone into his jeans’ pocket.
“Who called?” she asked as he walked to her side of the Mustang to let her in first.
“No one.”
Disappointment dug a hole in her stomach. “She looked pretty.”
“You jealous, Becca?” He paused before opening the door.
Her heart raced when he said her name in that low, caressing tone. “No.”
“Stop looking at me like that. You’re killing me. What do you want from me?” His heated gaze burned into her. He was now so close she could smell his mixture of soap and deodorant.
She wanted to scoot even closer, to immerse herself in his scent. Everything about him made her feel something far more important than sexy. Safe. “I think I made it clear yesterday.”
