Deception Read Online Free PDF Page A

her. Often I’ll say something, but she’ll never reply. Sometimes I see her fighting a laugh at something funny I’ve said; which encourages me to keep meeting her. There’s something appealing about the carefree nature of it all.
    On the second week, Roxi finally speaks. “You don’t give up, do you?” Her tone is anything but exasperated. She’s all smiles.
    “Nope,” I smirk confidently. “It’s good to have someone to run with.”
    She pauses before answering, “It is.” It’s so quiet, I barely hear her, but it’s out there, she likes running with me too.
    I look over, grinning like a fool, especially when she glances at me briefly, then turns away shyly, still smiling as well.
    “There’s a park around the corner from here that has some exercise equipment. I found it the other day. Do you wanna go check it out?” she asks.
    Surprised she is finally talking to me, I slow down to a walk, wanting to make the most of it. I’d almost forgotten how sexy her voice was. Virtually like music. Even when asking a simple question. I’d almost forgotten, but not quite. I could never fully erase that sound from my mind.
    Realising I stopped; she slows down and turns to look at me. Her cheeks go red, more than the light pink flush from running. “Sorry, I shouldn’t have asked that. You probably don’t want to hang out in some silly park.”
    I breathe deeply a few times before answering, not wanting her to hear me puffed.
    “No, that sounds great. I just wasn’t expecting the offer. I was beginning to worry you might think me a stalker actually. After all the following you and no talking,” I prattle on.
    Since when did a chick make me stumble over my words?
    “Race you?” I challenge, and take off before I make myself sound like an even bigger idiot than I already have.
    “Cheater!” she calls after me. There’s no annoyance in her voice, it’s full of laughter; playful. I lead her towards the exercise equipment down by the lake. I know the area she’s talking about. I’ve been there before. I have to say, I’m impressed. She’s only a few meters behind me.
    We go through some various exercises, only talking occasionally. It’s hard to keep count of how many knee tucks you’ve done while holding a conversation. The silence is comfortable though. We’re both in the zone, bonding over one common goal - pushing our bodies to the limits. I wonder if she’s striving for the same thing as me, to clear her mind of everything else. By how hard she trains, I figure she is.
    Midway through my set of pull-ups, Roxi jumps up and grabs hold of the monkey bars too. At number three, she starts to struggle and I drop down to the ground to spot her. My hands hold her from behind at the hips, and partially help her lift to the top. She manages another seven before she lets go. My fingertips slide up her body as she drops; along the curve of her waist, and up the sides of her breasts. They have a mind of their own, moving back down again, tracing her outline.
    My heart hammers in my chest as I try to remember this is a new friend, not a prospect. I drop my hands away but she stays in place, unmoving. Her back to my front. “Sorry,” I whisper through my now dry throat. I may have just blown the trust I’ve earned to hell.
    “It’s okay. It’s actually kind of wonderful to know what it feels like to be wanted,” she whispers under her breath, but I hear her anyway. Her words don’t make sense. Is she saying her husband doesn’t want her?
    “You’re going to have to explain to me, because I don’t understand something here Roxi. I have only talked to you once, when we first met, but I already know you’re funny, quick witted, a blast to be around and you’re beautiful. Why wouldn’t you know what it feels like to be wanted? Is your husband mental or something?” I wish I was looking her in the eyes, so she could see what I was saying was true, but she won’t turn around.
    I have the strongest