Page 23 of Find Me
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I ran for a little over three hours. To cool down, I walked one more lap. Movement to my right caught my eye and I glanced to see there was a good-looking guy walking next to me. He was tall and had, despite being a little sweaty, silky brown hair. He smiled at me, revealing a dimple. I pulled out one of my earbuds.
“Are you training for a marathon?” he asked me.
I was breathing heavily but I still managed to get out a, “No.”
“Really? I think you should consider it. You ran for a long time.”
Did that mean he’d been watching me the entire time? I gave him a tight smile.
“I’m training for a half marathon that’s next month and I’m hoping I’ll be ready for the full one by next year,” he told me, and he continued to follow and talk to me even as I veered off the track toward the cubbies, where people kept their water bottles. I scooped up my bottle and began chugging it.
“I’m Jacob, by the way,” he said, holding out his hand.
I didn’t want to be rude and not shake his hand, but something about this guy didn’t sit right with me. He was coming on too strong.
“Shiloh,” a deep, rumbly voice said. I turned and to my utter surprise, I found Knox standing by the stairs. He was wearing the same Desert Stone polo as the twins, but with khaki dress pants and black dress shoes. His hands were in his pockets and he held a cold expression as he looked from Jacob to me. “It’s time to go.”
I was slightly unsure whether he was kicking me out or giving me an escape. Either way, I was relieved. To be polite, I said goodbye to Jacob and scurried over to Knox. He stepped out of the way so I could go down the stairs. Once back on the main floor, I turned to face him. His attention was fully on me. Gosh, he was intense and seemed even bigger up this close. He made me feel incredibly small as he stared down at me.
“Thank—”
“Colt and Creed are waiting for you at the front desk,” he cut me off, and then he walked away.
I tried not to scowl at his back. Colt had warned me that Knox was a thousand times pricklier—my words, not Colt’s—than Creed.
Air from a vent directly above me blew over my exposed neck and arms, giving me goosebumps and reminding me that I was soaked with sweat. I quickly grabbed my stuff from the locker room and headed for the front desk. Colt and Creed were sitting behind it. They had changed out of their uniforms and were now wearing T-shirts and basketball shorts.
As I approached, I saw the pretty blonde receptionist sitting with them blush and laugh at something Colt had said. Creed spotted me first and got to his feet. “All done?”
Colt got up next. Both him and Creed slung their gym bags on their shoulders and made their way around the desk.
I nodded.
“Good, let’s go eat,” Creed said as they came to stand next to me.
I gaped at him. “Can you not see me? I’m soaked and I’m pretty sure I stink.”
“We can stop at home real quick for you to shower,” Colt said before his twin could argue.
Thank goodness because I really did stink. “Alright, what are you buying me for dinner?”
“Buying?” Creed scoffed. “Who said we were buying?”
I grinned and started for the exit. “Well, since you didn’t give me any say in the matter...”
Colt chuckled. “She’s got us there.” He gave a small wave to the receptionist, who had been watching us. “Have a good night, Stephanie.”
“You too!” she said enthusiastically.
Once outside, I glanced at Colt. “I think she likes you.”
His brows rose. “Stephanie?”
Creed snorted. “Colt isn’t the one she likes.”
“Yeah, she’s had it bad for Knox for a couple of years now,” Colt said.
