Page 250 of The Reluctant Hero

Too much exercise, but an excellent show.

XOXO

Jake

“You perv,” I mutter and stuff the note in the nightstand drawer. My eyes narrow on the purple pair of panties thoughtfully.

“Now, who’s the perv?” I roll my eyes at myself and shove those thoughts aside.

I make my way outside, hoping there isn’t an alarm for the doors. That would be a shitty way to wake up. Then again, there are maids everywhere when I come out, and the metal shutters are gone. Someone can turn it off.

I pace out to the green grass and give Jakob a spin.

I’m seriously out of practice. There wasn’t much call for a secretary at a bank to break into a routine. I want to do it. See if I’ve really still got that grace and poise. One more time, at least.

I start with a slow stretch that’s familiar. Then, a light warmup. By the time the sun is almost all the way up, my body has regained the old flow, and I start one of my routines without much thought. The only thing I need to worry about is technique and foot placement.

My breathing is uneven as I finish. While it wasn’t as smooth as it could have been, it was much better than I thoughtit would be. I’m coated in sweat, my hands burning from the twirls I’m no longer used to. I should have grabbed the gloves but it didn’t occur to me. My wrists and fingers have a familiar ache in them from the exercise.

I turn to trudge inside for breakfast and startle when I see Cade.

He has his arms crossed over his chest as he relaxes on a lounge chair I hadn’t noticed. There are several more around him and a low table in the center. I was out here with Shade the other day and passed over it. That’s not good. I need to be paying closer attention to my surroundings.

“How long have you been doing that?” He asks, his tone impressed despite his dour expression.

I raise a brow in question, still trying to catch my breath.

“The baton thing,” he relaxes his arms to point at Jakob.

“Since elementary,” I admit as I approach.

I’m tempted to just pass him by and go inside, but there’s something wrong. I can’t tell exactly what it is. Something has set an alarm bell off inside me. Not the doom feeling, something else. Almost like the pending breakup speech you know is coming, and you can’t stop it. But we aren’t dating. Maybe it’s about one of the other guys.

I drop into the seat across from him with narrowed eyes. Sitting reminds me of the ache between my thighs, but it’s a mellow twinge now.

Cade seems surprised at the move. He straightens up and frowns at me.

“What?” He asks warily.

“Just spit out what’s wrong and get it over with,” I glare back.

“Nothing is wrong.”

Wow. Is this denial or a flimsy excuse? I don’t believe it.

I keep quiet, leaning back in my chair as if I’m settling in. His brows furrow over the move, watching me like I’m an animal about to attack him. When I stay quiet, he starts to fidget in his seat. His eyes look away from me and back again.

“What?” He finally snaps at the end of his patience.

“You’re lying,” I tell him casually with a shrug. Either he came out here to watch me throw Jakob around for fun, or he came out here to mope. I’d call it brooding but Cade seems more of a moper. Ace would brood.

His eyes widen in surprise. He opens and closes his mouth a few times without making a sound. I tap my fingers on Jakob, waiting impatiently.

He settles on a scowling expression.

“Sometimes being seen sucks.”

I raise a curious brow, a little confused.

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