“Oh, no,” he said hesitantly. “I’m working at the HotShots soccer clinic.”
I blinked, expecting him to say more. “Sorry, can you be more specific? I’m new here too. I don’t recognize the name.”
When he smiled, I noticed it was slightly uneven, which somehow only made it even sexier.
He sat back, reaching for another piece of bread. “It’s a soccer program for kids from all over the state, but they also host camps during the off-season, which is why I’m here.”
“You’re a coach then?” I asked.
He hesitated to answer, as if his response was more complicated than simple yes or no. “Sí.So, what do you do?”
The quick change of subject didn’t slip by me, making me frown a little. I was curious to know more about this gorgeous man, but I let it go, for now.
“I’m a police officer. I just transferred to Reedsport from Atlanta a couple weeks ago.”
“Why the smaller city?” he asked. As he shifted his feet under the table, one of them hit mine, and he immediately pulled back.
“I don’t know,” I told him honestly. “I guess I saw the opportunity for something new when my friend moved here, so I jumped on it.”
“Your friend? You mean Beckett?” he asked. “Preston and Amelia told me a little about him.”
“Yeah, we’ve been friends a long time. Since our army days.”
He tilted his head as he studied me and I could almost hear the question rolling around in his head. “Beckett and I are two very different creatures. He’s not an ex or anything, just a friend.”
He laughed. “I wasn’t going to ask, but thank you.”
“You were going to ask something though,” I said matter-of-factly.
He nodded. “You said army. I just… can’t see that. It doesn’t fit you,” he said softly.
I blinked in surprise. He was only the second person to ever say that to me, though I knew a few more had thought it. “Yeah, it wasn’t a good match. At least, at that time in my life. But it got me to where I am now, and I like being a cop, so I guess it worked out.”
“Well, that’s good. Maybe you can participate in the fundraiser we’re putting together for HotShots in a few weeks.”
“Fundraiser?” I asked, confused.
He explained the company’s need for a new building and how he and his boss were trying to organize a friendly neighborhood competition to kick-start the process. Even though I loved a good competition, I wasn’t overly excited about playing soccer for an hour, especially with an audience, but I didn’t turn it down right away either. Having a chance to see this sexy man in his element wasappealing. My thoughts must have been written on my face because Rey’s expression changed to something more heated and the corner of his mouth turned up in a grin.
Our food was delivered a minute later, but our conversation barely slowed, even as we ate. The more we talked, the more drawn to him I became. I caught myself leaning across the table, just to be nearer to him and was pleasantly surprised when I caught him doing the same thing each time I pulled back. At some point during the meal, he slipped a foot between mine, and this time he didn’t pull it back as he had before. He began rubbing his ankle against my own. As seemingly innocent as the gesture was, the heated expression in his eyes gave him away. It sent a ripple of desire through me to know he was just as attracted to me as I was to him.
I loved that Rey was comfortable enough to flirt so openly with me. Some men were still too uncomfortable to show their affection in public, afraid of what others might think. While I didn’t think any less of them since we were all in different walks of life, that just wasn’t how I worked. I liked being affectionate when I was with someone. It felt natural for me to touch and kiss them openly. I’d come out almost as soon as I’d realized I liked boys more than girls and never looked back. My parents never made me feel ashamed for being gay and encouraged me to just be who I was, so it was refreshing to be with someone with the same lack of inhibitions.
“What do you do for fun, Jake?” he asked.
“Besides the obvious?” I asked with a raised brow. I could tell he liked to fuck around just as much as I did.
Reyes smirked and tilted his head in agreement.
“Work out. Watch movies. Occasionally go on a long drive, just for the hell of it.”
“Where’s the furthest you’ve been?”
“I drove to the west coast once. Stayed in the L.A. area for a few days with an army buddy.”
“L.A.? All the way from here?”
“Well, Atlanta, but yes.”
