Chasing Trouble (Chasing Love 1)

“Great, Pen, you just had to go and challenge the most competitive one of us here.” Huck sighed, shaking his head.

“I never lose,” Sebastian said, as if affirming Huck’s statement.

“Well, we’re not in a courtroom, we’re on my turf. There’s no way you’ll be able to find me.” Penny gripped her hips and raised her chin in the air.

“Pretty big boast coming from something so small.” Sebastian was teasing her now, but Penny didn’t miss a beat.

“Care to make this interesting then?”

“Penny…” Ryder warned. She shushed her older brother and continued to stare daggers at Sebastian.

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, if you are able to find me before anyone else does, and within thirty minutes, then I’ll cook you dinner for a week. You can come in to the restaurant after work and for seven days straight it’ll be waiting for you.”

Sebastian looked at Ryder as if gauging his reaction. Ryder was just watching with obvious amusement.

“And if I don’t find you in thirty minutes?”

“Then you owe me a favor. Anything I want, anytime.”

Jenna thought she heard Sebastian choke on his own spit. Huck clapped Sebastian’s shoulders and said, “As not your attorney, I’d advise you to go for it.”

“What?” Sebastian looked at Huck, who just jammed another cookie in his mouth.

“Her food is amazing, Bass.”

Sebastian eyed Penny. “Deal.”

With a squeal of delight, Penny ran off into the night, darting straight for the woods.

“Remind me what the hell ‘sardines’ is again?” Lily asked.

Huck threw his arm around Lily. “We gotta find Penny. Once we do, we stay there. Last one standing alone is it.”

Colt walked around the fire and came to stand next to Jenna. Her breath caught. She could smell the woodsy scent that was all him and had nothing to do with their current surroundings.

“On your marks!” Ryder called out loudly.

Huck and Lily tensed to run, Lily giggling.

“Get set.”

Jenna put her hands on her knees and readied to sprint in the direction Penny had just gone.

Colt leaned in and whispered in Jenna’s ear. “You still set on running from me, Miss Justice?”

She turned her face and met his eyes. “It’s not my fault if you can’t catch me,” she breathed.

“We’ll see about that.”

Jenna gasped when his hand landed heavy on her ass and gave it a squeeze.

“Go!” Ryder yelled.

Jenna didn’t focus on anyone else. She heard the word and took off. Sprinting as fast as she could, she quickly gained on the tree line. She didn’t chance looking back. She just ran. The grass crunched beneath her footfalls. The summer air cut across her bare thighs. She pumped her arms and ran faster, finally reaching the trees. She didn’t stop. Adrenaline was heavy in each intake of air. She felt alive. Anxious.

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