Page 25 of Pucking Around

I move first, reaching for her. “I—”

“I can’t do this,” she whispers, darting away from my outstretched hand.

“What? Wait—whoa—hold on!” I spin around, chasing after her. “Rachel!”

She stills, her whole body stiff as I catch up, standing close behind her.

I can’t help it; I’m smiling like a lovestruck idiot. “Rachel,” I say again, just because I can. I put everything I’m feeling into the word. Fuck, it’s a pretty name.

“Don’t,” she murmurs, her voice catching.

“Hey,” I say gently, my hand reaching out and stroking her arm. It’s the barest of touches. “Baby, turn around. Look at me.”

She sucks in a breath, turning around. “Baby?”

Oooh, shit. She looks mad.

“I’m not your baby,” she snaps. “You didn’t even recognize me!” She spins away, stomping off towards her truck.

Her words punch all the air out of my chest. “What—Yes, I did! Get back here!” I shout, chasing her down. “Rachel,stop—”

She makes it to her truck and tugs on the driver’s side door. I shove my weight against it, shutting it. She gasps, spinning around, her back pressed against the door. I’ve effectively boxed her in, my hands on either side of her head.

Fuck, my body is on fire. What she does to me—I can’t explain it. I’ve never had anyone else make me feel this way. I’m trembling like a fifteen-year-old kid about to get his first kiss.

“Stop running,” I beg. “Rachel,talkto me. What the hell is going on in your head right now? You’re freakin’ out. I know you are ‘cause I am too, and that’s okay. Let’s just…let’s freak out together, okay? And let’s usewords—”

“Oh, you want words? I was standing right in front of you for five freaking minutes, and you didn’t evenseeme!” she snaps. “Am I that forgettable to you?God—”

She drags her fingers through her hair, pushing the loose strands back from her face. I wanna slap her hand away for doing my job. I’m the one who brushes her hair back.I’mthe one who takes care of her. That’s my fucking job, and I swear to god, no one is gonna do it better than me. Not even her. She’smine.

“I was distracted,” I say. “It’s been a crazy day, and I wasn’t expecting to see you here and—and you look…different,” I admit, scrunching up my nose.

She scowls at me, those perfect lips pursed in annoyance. “Different?”

I shrug. “Yeah, you know like…your makeup is all different, and you’re not wearing the nose ring, and you’ve got glasses on—”

“Ohmygod,” she cries, trying to shove her way out from under me. “You’re worse than a Disney prince! What, the girl puts on glasses, and suddenly she’s unrecognizable to you?”

“Hey, it was for likefiveseconds,” I counter. “And you know I get hit in the head for a living! I was minding my own damn business, walking into work. I never in my wildest dreams expected to see you in my parking garage, so I didn’t. I didn’t see you, Rachel…until I did.”

She shakes her head, her bottom lip quivering like she’s about to cry.

“What is this really about?” I murmur, inching closer. I reach out a hand and gently tip her face up to look at me. “This isn’t about me not recognizing you because you know I did. Ido.You think I forgot about you…you think I left that hotel room and moved on?”

She closes her eyes. “Please…”

I brush my fingers featherlight down the line of her jaw. “You really think I could forget my Seattle Girl? Baby, you’reallI think about.”

“Don’t,” she begs.

I frown, frustrated. “You leftmein that bed, remember? I’m the one who should be stomping around. I wanted your name. Hell, we could have been two months deeper into something by now instead of starting fresh—”

“No,” she gasps, pulling away. Her arms are wrapped around her middle so tight, a pathetic excuse for armor. “Jake, we can’t do this.”

Oh, fuck me.My name on her lips is stronger than a shot from cupid’s bow straight to my dick. “Say it again.”

She looks up at me. “We can’t do this.”