Fair Catch (Love and Sports Series) (3 page)

             
“You’ve got a good shot.” He said, startling her.

             
She turned around with her hand to her heart, her eyes wide with shock. They were the color of the sky on a bright sunny day and her mouth looked beyond kissable.

             
“Jesus, you scared the crap out of me.”

             
He couldn’t help but chuckle. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to.”

             
“So you think sneaking up on someone isn’t going to startle them?” She said while crossing her arms over her ample chest. He averted his eyes so she didn’t catch him staring at her breasts but it was too late. Her forehead creased together in displeasure.

             
“You really are some player, like everyone says. You talk to me for two seconds and you’re already staring at my breasts.”

             
She sucked the air right out of his sails. She didn’t even give him a chance to put on his charm before she started shooting him down. She shook her head in disgust and started to move past him. Never had a woman so instantly rejected him without even giving him a chance to convince her otherwise. She almost got past him before he let go of the shock that took over his body and stood in front of her so she couldn’t move past him.

             
She looked up at him in horror. “Are you serious right now? You aren’t going to let me through?”

             
He held up his hand to stop her from talking. “Listen I think we got off on the wrong foot here.” He held out his hand. “I’m Jake.”

             
She looked at him with displeasure. “I know exactly who you are. I haven’t been dead the last three years at this school. I’m just glad to see that you’re living up to your reputation.”

             
Now she was making him mad. She was judging him without even letting him mutter five words out of his mouth. If she wasn’t so damn intriguing and beautiful he would let her by, but he couldn’t get himself to move.

             
“Wow, you’re real quick to judge.” He found himself saying.

             
“Do you blame me? I’m probably the only girl at this party you haven’t banged.”

             
Jake felt fire burning in his stomach. No one had ever talked to him like this and he didn’t particularly care for her attitude, even though his instincts were telling him to rip her clothes off right now and take her to bed. What was wrong with him?”

             
“You’re kind of a bitch? You know that?” The words slipped out of his mouth before he could stop himself.

              She faked horror and waved a hand in front of her face. “Oh, how you hurt me with your words.” She rolled her eyes and tried to move past him once again but his stupid body stopped her again. He really wished his body and brain would reconnect because he wasn’t happy with the miscommunication between the two.

             
“What is your deal? He asked.

             
She crossed her hands over her chest again but this time he made sure to keep his eyes locked on hers.

             
“I’m not going to be another notch on your belt.”

             
“Don’t flatter yourself, babe.”

             
She snorted, “Oh please, I saw you drooling earlier when you were talking to your friend, Mason. I’m not an idiot. I know when I see a dog on the prowl.”

             
“What if I just wanted to get to know you?”

             
His off-hand comment made her laugh out loud. It almost made him laugh if he hadn’t changed his perspective this year.

“That would
be the day. You’re just a ladies man that has always gotten his way. Not this time!”

             
“That’s not true.” He objected. Then all of a sudden, as if the dating Gods were punishing him, two girls from the soccer team, twins to be exact, Judy and Julie, walked up on either side of him and rubbed their breasts against his arms as they encircled him.

             
“Jake, you promised you would meet up with us after the summer was over. We’ve been waiting for you.” They whined.

             
Perfect timing Jake thought. He looked back at Lexi who rolled her eyes and finally escaped past him. He watched her walk away and saddle up right next to Parker, who put an arm around her shoulder and kissed her on the head. She whispered something in his ear, causing him to look back at Jake and then nod toward the door. They were gone in a matter of seconds and he was left with the soccer twins. That went well, he thought sarcastically as the twins continued to press their bodies against his.

             
Fan-fucking-tastic.

Chapter 3

             
Lexi was still reeling from the party the night before and the audacity Jake had of coming up to her and just staring at her boobs. She knew she was way bigger than her body called for and she was wearing a low cut shirt but could he have been any more of a pig?

             
She thought about when he first told her she had a “good shot”, she was so startled he actually spoke to her that she failed to hate him for a second. When she turned around she was even more startled by how ruggedly handsome he was. She cursed and hated herself for even thinking he was handsome, but how could she not? The guy was a freaking fantasy. No man should ever be that attractive. He was muscular beyond belief, had light brown hair that was styled just perfect in a short do and he had the lightest green eyes she had ever seen. Plus his dimples and chin cleft didn’t help. She felt herself completely melting in his presence which was why she acted like a complete bitch, which thankfully he called her out on, because she didn’t want anything to do with him. He was trouble with a capital “T”.

             
“Hello, Lex, come on you have two more sets to go. I would like to get out of here before my morning class starts.”

             
Lexi snapped out of her thoughts. “Sorry Margo.”

             
The team had morning strength and conditioning and Margo and her were always partners. They were just finishing up their bench press when Lexi got lost in thoughts.

             
“What’s going on girl? Why are you so out of it today?”

             
Lexi finished up her last rep and helped Margo switch the weight. Margo always lifted more than her.

             
Lexi blew out a breath while Margo laid down on the bench and began her reps.

             
“Jake Taylor approached me at the party last night.”

             
Margo placed the bar back on the rack. “Ooo, girl. You’re lucky.”

             
Lexi gave her friend a wrinkled look. “I want nothing to do with him. He is so full of himself and believes anyone who is in his presence should bow at his feet. He is so obnoxious and arrogant…”

             
Margo interrupted her, “Wow, slow down. If I didn’t know any better I would say you like him?”

             
Lexi huffed. “Didn’t you hear anything I just said?”

             
“Loud and clear, you might as well go punch him on the playground. You’re so crushing on him.”

             
“I am not!”

             
Lexi felt her face starting to burn from anger…or was it embarrassment?

             
Margo set the weights down and looked at Lexi. “I can tell by the way your face is all red. You like him. Join the crowd, girl. Every girl who sets eyes on him can’t help but fall under his charms.”

             
They took the weights off and marked off their reps on the workout sheets provided by their trainer.

             
“I don’t like him. If anything, I despise the guy. He just noticed me for the first time last night! We’ve been in the same class since we were freshman. That is just insulting.”

             
“How is he supposed to notice you when you’ve been a hermit your entire college career. Plus, he doesn’t really have to notice girls when they’re always throwing their bodies in front of his face.”

             
Lexi flipped her friend off and went to return her training sheet back to her file where the trainer kept all of the athlete’s workouts. Lexi was annoyed with Margo’s accusations.

S
he did not like Jake Taylor, not even close. Yea, he was attractive, she would give him that but he was a player, he had his dick in almost every girl who was willing in the athletic department and he was completely and overly full of himself. Why would she want anything to do with him?

             
She was mad at Parker for dragging her to the stupid party in the first place. Yea, she should be living up her senior year like he said, but she didn’t need complications like Jake Taylor getting in her way. She still had to figure out what she was doing with her life after softball. Parker was lucky, he would be able to continue to play the sport that he loved and make millions by doing so, but Lexi, she had to actually go out into the real world and find what interested her.

             
She walked over to the water fountain to fill up her water bottle while she replayed her encounter with Cal U’s one and only ladies’ man over in her head. She cursed herself for envisioning his smile and remembering the little flutter that took place at the bottom of her stomach when he stopped her from walking away. No, she would not think about him, that was exactly what he would want.

             
She turned to grab Margo when she ran straight into a tall muscular mass. The impact caused her to fall back and stumble until she fell straight on her ass. Embarrassment laced through her body as she looked up and made eye contact with those light green eyes she couldn’t stop thinking about since last night.

             
“Whoa, sorry there Lexi.” Jake said, while reaching out a hand to help her up. She ignored his hand and got up herself. Margo caught up to her and the smirk on Margo’s face made Lexi want to punch her best friend square in the boob.

             
“Hey Jake.” Margo said. “Looks like you took down our little center fielder. No one ever knocks her down.”

             
Lexi looked at Margo as if she was insane for talking to him. She grabbed her friends arm and started walking away from the massive football player. Margo was mumbling something under her breath when Lexi was yanked back by the arm.

             
“Hold up” Jake said. “I want to talk to you.”

             
Lexi looked at Margo and said, “Go ahead talk away. Margo I’ll catch up with you later.”

             
Margo stopped her. “Deary, he wants to talk to you, not me.”

             
Lexi turned to Jake to confirm and he just smiled. Lexi folded her arms in front of her chest putting off the most defensive stance she knew and asked, “What do you want? And why they hell are you up this early? The football team never has to work out this early.”

             
“I wanted to catch you before you went to class.”

             
Lexi shook her head. “How do you even know I have class this morning?” She held up her hand. “Wait, I don’t care, just tell me what you want.”

             
“Fine, I’ll get right down to the point. I want you to be my date for the alumni dinner this Friday.”

             
Lexi felt her mouth drop to the floor. He wants her to be his date? Want? He didn’t even ask, he just stated his needs. She was about to open her mouth in protest when Margo beat her to it and said, “She would love to. What time?” Margo’s interjection made Jake smile, causing Lexi to slightly melt but then she realized what Margo said and she was able to regain her senses.