Chapter 2
CHAPTER
TWO
Bella
I stride out of my apartment, the morning sun kissing my skin with a promise of the day's warmth. My wrist twinges slightly, a reminder of the slip-up on the court last week, but it's healing.
That's when I spot him, Jacob, the x-ray tech with those piercing blue eyes that saw right through me—literally.
"Hey!" I call out, jogging lightly towards his car. He's casually leaning against it, looking like he stepped off a damn billboard for how to do scrubs justice. "What brings you to my neck of the woods?"
Jacob straightens up as I approach, and there's this flicker in his gaze, something that makes my stomach do a playful flip. "Oh, uh, I'm just looking for a friend's place," he says, his voice that calm, measured tone I remember all too well.
"Really?" I tilt my head, tossing a lock of hair over my shoulder. "In this building? Who is it? Maybe I know him—or her."
He shakes his head. “Not on in this building, no.” He motions his head to my building. "You live here?" His feigned shock is almost convincing, but I've seen enough people bluff on the tennis court to spot a fake-out.
"Yep, fourth floor, with a view of the park." I lean in closer, my voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "Maybe I'll show it to you sometime."
There's a pause, a beat where his careful composure slips, just enough to let me know he's interested. My cheeks flame. Did I really just insinuate what it sounds like I did? I’m such a freaking idiot. Though Jacob is hot as sin, there I go again saying things before I think them through and sticking my foot in my mouth. I really was just offering to show off my nice view, but it sounds like I was offering more.
Not that I would necessarily be oppposed to more with Jacob.
Stop it, Bella! I tell my racing thoughts.
"Would be nice," Jacob finally replies, a hint of something darker in his tone. His eyes lock onto mine, and for a moment, we're caught in a silent conversation neither of us is ready to voice aloud.
"Anyway," I flash him a grin, "good luck finding your friend." And with that, I turn on my heel, hurrying away before I embarass myself further.
But then I stop and bite my lip, considering.
Fuck it.
I pivot, the click of my sneakers on the sidewalk a staccato in the morning hush. "Hey, Jacob," I call over my shoulder, not ready to let him off the hook just yet. "Fancy grabbing a coffee? There's this quirky little place around the corner. They make a mean espresso."
Jacob hesitates, his piercing blue gaze flickering from me to his car parked at the curb. For a second, he looks like he's caught in an X-ray, all his secrets on display. Then he smooths out the crease between his brows and offers me that half-smile that does funny things to my pulse. "Coffee sounds good," he says.
We walk side by side, but not touching—electricity crackling in the sliver of air between us. As we cross the street, my mind slips, unbidden, into the dream I had last night—a steamy tangle of limbs where his hands knew every curve of my body, and his lips...God, his lips were everywhere.
I feel a sudden heat creeping up my neck, staining my cheeks with what must be the shade of ripe strawberries. Luckily, Jacob is too busy pointing out an old camera displayed in a shop window to notice.
"Photography's a hobby of mine," he admits.
"Really?" My voice comes out breathier than I intend. "Well, you certainly have an eye for detail. Must come with the job." I steer the conversation away from my flushed skin, away from the illicit images dancing behind my eyelids.
"Detail is everything," Jacob agrees, his tone dipping lower, more intimate than before.
"Is it now?" I tease, wondering if he sees right through me—if he can tell that beneath the casual banter, I'm picturing him out of those snug scrubs, our bodies shadowed and entwined.
"Absolutely," he replies, and there's a promise in his words that sends another shiver down my spine.
We reach the coffee shop, and I push open the door, the scent of roasted beans wrapping around us like a warm blanket. I order two espressos with a confidence I don't quite feel, stealing glances at Jacob as he casually leans against the counter.
Before I can pay, he steps up and does it, insisting when I protest.
“Let me take care of you,” he finally says, and I swear to god the way his eyes pierce into mine, he’s talking about more than just the coffee.
"Hope you can handle your caffeine," I say, handing him the steaming cup.
"Handle it?" A smirk plays on his lips. "I thrive on it."
"Good," I quip, my heart racing with a mix of nerves and excitement. "Because I've got a feeling you'll need to keep up with me."
Where is this coming from? I am not this flirty, playful girl. I’m focused on my career. Tennis is my life. But with Jacob…I don’t know.
He cocks an eyebrow at me and plays right along. “Oh, I’ll make keeping up with you my business, Bella.”
Why does that send warmth tingling all throughout me?
I giggle and take a sip of my coffee.
“Walk with me to practice?” I offer. “I’m sorry I can’t sit and linger, but I’ve got to be there in fifteen.”
Jacob nods as he takes a sip of his own beverage. “I’d love to, and holy shit, Bella, this is coffee is fire.”
I laugh, a wholehearted I’ve-never-laughed-this-way-before laugh. “Okay, I’ve never heard someone refer to coffee as fire, but I’ll take it as a compliment.”
Jacob laughs too. “Well, it is, I assure you. I’m a coffee connoisseur, so if I say it’s good, it’s good.”
“Coffee connoisseur, huh?” I tease him as we walk along.
He grins. “Gotta have it to work the kinds of shifts I pull at the hospital.”
Jacob’s grin fades slightly as he glances down the street toward the hospital, a shadow passing over his features. “Yeah, those long night shifts...they can be brutal without good coffee.”
I notice the shift in his expression and decide to lighten the mood. “So, you’re basically saying you’re a caffeine-powered superhero?” I nudge his arm playfully, trying to bring back that easy smile.
He chuckles, shaking off whatever thoughts had darkened his mood. “Something like that. But instead of a cape, I wear scrubs.”
“Very modern hero vibes,” I agree, my laughter mingling with his. As we stroll towards the tennis courts, the tension from earlier is replaced by a budding familiarity, like two pieces of a puzzle clicking into place.
We reach the entrance of the tennis complex, and I turn to him, feeling reluctant to end our spontaneous coffee date. “Thank you for walking me here—and for the coffee.”
Jacob nods, his eyes lingering on mine a little longer than necessary. “It was my pleasure, Bella. Maybe we can do it again sometime? Coffee, I mean...or something else.”
My heart skips a beat at the suggestion. “I’d like that,” I reply, trying to sound casual despite the butterflies rioting in my stomach.
He steps closer, reducing the space between us to mere inches. His voice drops to a whisper, sending shivers down my spine. “Great. It’s a date then.” He pauses, searching my face for a reaction. “Tonight?”
Tonight? The word zips through me like an electric charge. Nervous excitement bubbles up within me as I nod slowly. “Tonight sounds perfect.”
Jacob’s smile returns in full force, lighting up his whole face. “Fantastic. I’ll pick you up at eight?”
“Sure,” I manage to say despite my racing heart. There's something thrilling about making plans with him so spontaneously—something adventurous and slightly reckless.
As he turns to leave, he throws over his shoulder, “Wear something comfortable.”
I watch him walk away, my mind racing with possibilities for tonight. Comfortable? Where could he be taking me that requires comfortable clothes? My curiosity piques even more.
I head into practice with a new vigor—my strokes sharp and focused—even as part of my mind stays wrapped around Jacob and our impending date. The thought keeps me fueled throughout my sessions. Every swing of the racquet seems easier knowing there’s something exciting awaiting me at the end of the day.