Tempted (In Too Deep) by Eliza Jane Read Free Book Online Page B

center for a lot of the action. I watch him trek up and down the field and notice the glean of sweat that dampens his hairline, and the rosy flush of his cheeks. His face is fixed with determination and he shouts commands out his teammates on the field. I still can’t get over how much he looks like Colt. Their voices even sound the same. Watching him that makes me aware of missing Colt. But thankfully watching Reis makes it easy to get lost in the game. His labored breathing and the grunts he releases when he connects with the ball are a damned near perfect distraction.
    After the game, Reis jogs to the bleachers to meet me. He gives me the keys to wait for him in his Jeep and says he’ll take a quick shower and be right out.
    It’s easy to find his ride the parking lot. He drives a big red Jeep on oversized tires. I climb inside. It’s a very utilitarian vehicle, very unlike Colt’s sexy luxury sedan, built for speed and agility. This is all about function. The seat is rough underneath me, faded by the sun and elements.
    Reis saunters out to the parking lot, his damp hair hang ing in his eyes. He’s changed into jeans and a vintage Pink Floyd T-shirt with sandals. He looks cute. Very California.
    He gets in and the Jeep rumbles to life, vibrating the seat underneath me.
    “I’m starved. Want to grab dinner?”
    I nod. “Sure.”
    Reid drives us to a little diner along the main street of the town where he and Colt grew up. He parallel parks and hops don from the Jeep. I climb carefully down, my sandals slapping against the pavement with a thud.
    Once inside, he relives the highlights from his game and we each order soda, a cheeseburger for him and a grilled chicken sandwich for me. Our food is out lightning fast.
    Reis douses his burger in ketchup and takes a big bite. I cut my chicken sandwich in half and have only taken one bite when he’s stuffing the last of his burger into his mouth.
    “So Colt says your pissed at him and I’m supposed to try to talk you into forgiving him,” he says, moving onto his fries.
    “And?” I ask around a bite a grilled chicken.
    “I’m not going to.” He grins. “If he’s stupid enough to fuck this up, his loss could be my gain.” His look is smug, and he tosses a few more fries in his mouth.
    “Not going to happen, Reis.” It’s best to shoot his crazy ideas down now.
    “A guy can hope, right?”
    “What about MJ?” I remember the glances they shared.
    “She’s a little too wild for me. I like girls that are more down to earth.”
    He doesn’t say like me, but I can tell that’s what he’s thinking. I’m flattered, but have no idea what to say next. He eats the last fry on his plate and looks longingly at mine. The temptation process too great and he steals a fry from my plate and tosses it in his mouth.
    “So why are you mad at him? He didn’t say.”
    I’m not sure if I should drag Reis into my relationship problems, but then I figure why not? Colt’s thrust us together and it might be nice to get a guy’s perspective on it. “He didn’t tell me about Bria, his ex-fling, going with him.” I remember the way I found out, in the heat of the moment by seeing her name on his phone. My stomach sinks at the memory, my appetite waning.
    Reis’ eyes stay on mine. He’s an attentive listener. “You can have another.” I shift my plate so he has easier access to my fries.
    He hesitates for a second, then reaches over to grab one, dipping it in my ketchup too. “Listen, Colt’s a little rough around the edges, and I’ve never known him to have, or want a girlfriend, so I know you’re important to him. Maybe you should cut the guy a break.”
    “We’ll see.” I take another bite of my sandwich.
    “You’re trouble, Shrimp.”
    “Why do you call me Shrimp? I’m not that short. More like average.”
    “What are you? Five-two?”
    “Five-two-and-a-half.”
    He chuckles. “Oh, let’s not forget that half. Being five-two – and a half – makes you