Deke Me Excerpt

DEKE ME EXCERPT

CARA

“Are you seriously hiding right now?” I ask, smirking.

“Shh.” The sound is more of a hiss as he peeks from behind the jerseys—his team jersey, no less. “You’ll give me away.”

“Give you away?” I question, curious about what could’ve spooked him so much.

“Juliette Heyday.” A slight tremor races through his body as he rushes the words. “If she sees me, there’s no escape.”

“Ah, the notorious stalker from Saturday.” I nod in understanding. “Alright, I won’t blow your cover.”

“Thanks, Amanda.” His shoulders relax as he practically sighs my name.

Mrs. Thompson picks that moment to peek out of her office. Blake notices her presence and starts rifling through the jerseys. I suppress a smile and turn my attention to my boss. But as I ask if there is anything I can do about the payment delay, I feel Blake’s intense gaze on me. A tingling in the pit of my stomach takes hold as I glance back at him, our eyes locking. Something in his blue eyes hints at a deeper connection between us, something I can’t pinpoint. But that’s ludicrous. He wouldn’t be interested in me. I am nothing like the girls who chase him.

I quickly push the thought aside, reminding myself I have more pressing matters to deal with—like Grandma’s overdue rent.

“Mrs. Thompson,” I say, trying to regain my focus. “Is there anything I can do to speed up the paycheck?”

She shakes her head apologetically. “I’m sorry, Amanda. It’s out of my hands.”

“Okay, guess I’ll have to wait.” Frustration bubbles within me, but it’s not Mrs. Thompson’s fault. She ducks in her office right as the door swings open. Over Blake’s shoulder, I see Juliette enter the bookstore, her eyes scanning the room like a predator searching for prey. She hasn’t spotted Blake yet, though it’s only a matter of time. Even crouched behind the clothes rack, he’s too tall to hide.

My gaze follows Juliette as she weaves through the empty aisles, determination etched on her face. She’s like a bloodhound, nostrils flaring, and I know it won’t be long before she catches Blake’s scent.

“Blake,” I hiss under my breath. “She’s here.”

“Shit,” he curses, straightening up from his hiding spot. He glances around, looking for an escape, but there’s nowhere to go. Grabbing a jersey, he steels himself and walks toward me.

“Guess I’m buying this.” He lays his numbered jersey on the counter.

“Blake!” Juliette’s eyes light up, and she practically pounces on him, wrapping her arms around his neck. “I’ve been looking everywhere for you.”

“Uh, yeah, I’ve just been really busy with practice and stuff,” he replies, gently disentangling himself from her grasp. He somehow manages to hand me his Amex black card.

“Too busy for me?” she pouts, her fingers trailing down his chest suggestively.

Goodness. Is this what he deals with on a daily basis? Girls touching him without consent. How is that okay?

“Actually, yes.” Blake glances back at me, desperation in his eyes, and then makes a bold move. “You see, Amanda and I are dating now.”

“Excuse me?” I splutter, caught off guard by his sudden proclamation.

“Dating?” Juliette scoffs, eyeing me up and down as if I’m a disgusting bug. “Her?”

“Yep, that’s right.” Blake dashes behind the counter, grabs my hand, and pulls me close. The heat of his body against mine sends an unwelcomed surge of excitement through me. I struggle to maintain my composure.

“Since when?” she demands, her voice dripping with disdain.

“Uh, since Saturday,” he lies smoothly, his thumb stroking circles on my back.

“Really?” Juliette narrows her eyes, clearly skeptical of our supposed relationship.

“Really,” I choke out, clinging to Blake’s arm as if it’s my lifeline. His warm, firm muscles seem to ground me, and I sink into the role, surprising even myself.

“Prove it,” she says, glaring daggers at both of us. “Because there’s no way this is happening.”

Prove it?

“Fine.” Blake’s jaw clenches, and in one swift motion, he cups my face with his free hand and pulls me into a searing kiss. The soft apology he mutters before his lips crash against mine sends my mind spiraling as heat pools in my abdomen and spreads through my veins. I barely have time to register the taste of him, like mint and adrenaline, before he breaks away, leaving me breathless and reeling.

“Convinced now?” he asks, his voice low and husky, his gaze zeroed in on mine. Juliette’s mouth opens and closes like a fish out of water, and for a moment, I almost feel sorry for her. But that feeling dies when I remember how she eyed me.

“Whatever,” she huffs, looking straight at me. “Don’t think you’ll last. Men like him never stay for long, especially with someone like you.” With that parting shot, she storms off, leaving a wake of crushed books and bruised egos behind her.

As the door slams shut, I become acutely aware of how close Blake and I still are, our chests pressed together, our breaths mingling. My heart hammers, and I pray he doesn’t feel it racing.

“Sorry about that,” he mumbles, finally releasing me and stepping back. “I didn’t know what else to do.”

“Um, yeah, no problem. Happy to help.” Happy to help? Good grief, could I be any more awkward?

I tuck a strand of hair behind my ear, dazed and more than a little aroused. It wasn’t just the physical contact, either—something about the way he’d looked at me, with those intense blue eyes, had me falling over myself to please him. But that disturbing thought is for another time; I need to focus on getting through the rest of this surreal encounter.

“Thanks for playing along,” Blake grins sheepishly, running a hand through his tousled hair. “You’re a great kisser.”

“Uh, thanks?” I stammer, unsure of how to respond to such a blatant compliment. “So are you.”

“Good to know,” he chuckles, and for a moment, all the tension between us melts away, replaced by something warm and electric.

“Just don’t make it a habit,” I say, still trying to catch my breath. My cheeks flush with warmth as I struggle to process the unexpected desire coursing through me. The kiss might have been fake, but there’s no denying that it felt real. And I can’t shake the feeling that I want more. Which is preposterous. The last thing I need is a man to complicate things. Nope. Not happening. I’m in my boyfriend-free era. My life is way too complex.

“Can’t promise anything,” he says, his eyes twinkling with mischief. “But seriously, Amanda, thank you. You do not know how much stress Juliette’s been causing me.”

“Is she always like that?” I ask, recalling the irritation in her voice and the way she’d eyed me suspiciously as if I were some sort of threat.

“Pretty much,” Blake sighs, rubbing his neck. “She’s relentless. I’ve tried everything to get her off my back, but nothing seems to work. She just keeps showing up.”

“Perhaps you should be more particular about who you sleep with.” I regret the words as soon as they land. Is that reverse slut-shaming?

His eyes darken, and his body becomes rigid. “Not that it’s any of your concern, but I am.” He waves to the area where Juliette stood. “Kind of the reason she won’t leave me alone. She wants a round, and I’m unwilling to cave.”

Ugh. His terminology could use fine-tuning, but I owe him an apology. He has every right to sleep with anyone he wants as long as he’s upfront with his intentions.

“I’m sorry. That was uncalled for. And I bet it’s exhausting having to ward off stalkers.” It’s meant as a joke, but he doesn’t take it as one.

“Apology accepted, and yeah, you have no idea.” His body relaxes, and his easy smile returns. “But hey, at least I have you now, right?”

“Right,” I chuckle nervously, unsure what that means. We must be friends now. Although, I’m not sure if that’s what the Dashing Duke of Deke meant.

“Listen,” he says, leaning in closer so our faces are only inches apart, “if you ever need anything, don’t hesitate to reach out, okay? I owe you one.”

“Thanks,” I say, my heart pounding at the intensity of his gaze. It’s as if he’s trying to convey something important—something that goes beyond mere gratitude, and I find myself holding my breath, waiting for whatever comes next.

“Great,” he says, breaking the spell and stepping back. “Well, I should probably get going. Practice starts in twenty minutes, and Coach will kill me if I’m late.”

“Of course,” I nod, my pulse slowly returning to normal as the distance between us grows. “Good luck at practice.”

“Thanks,” he smiles, his eyes dipping to my lips before stepping backward. He turns to leave but halts when his phone rings. Blake looks at the screen and frowns before answering. “Hey, what’s up?”

I will my libido to calm the fuck down as I observe the way his shoulders tense and how he absently runs a hand through his dark strands. The desire to know more about him nearly overwhelms me. Like, is the crease between his eyes one of worry or one of irritation?

“This Saturday? Mom, I have a game.” There’s a pause before he huffs out a breath. “Yeah, it’s an early one, but…” He pauses again and glances back at me. Our eyes lock, and it feels like an electric arc zapped us back to life. “That’s unnecessary. I have a girlfriend.”