Page 17 of Without Regret

“Maybe she’s hiding from the law. Or she’s a spy. Oh, my God, she could be a British operative. What do they call it over there—MI8? That would be really cool.”

Leave it to Avery to let her imagination get away with her. However, I did find it strange Emma didn’t have anything online. Even I had a LinkedIn profile. “It’s MI6. And I don’t think so. Thanks for checking.”

“You like her. Like, like her like her.”

Jesus, that was a lot of likes in one sentence. “Maybe, but do me a favor and don’t tell her. Okay?”

She flashed me a grin, making me already regret confiding in her.

***

On Sunday morning I went to the gym without any agenda about seeing Emma. Or so I told myself. I punished my body through a five-mile run and then did a heavy set of weights, needing the burn. I remained in the zone while I pulled back into my apartment building’s lot, ran up the stairs, and grabbed Rufus for a walk. So much so that I didn’t notice Emma outside until she called out a greeting.

“Good morning.” She was walking towards me in her workout attire, coming from the parking lot. She must’ve just returned from the gym, too. I’d been so involved in my workout I had barely noticed anyone there.

“Hey. Good morning to you.”

Sweat continued to run down my face. Without thinking, I lifted up my T-shirt and wiped my brow with it. I didn’t miss the way her gaze lingered on my six-pack. Perhaps the key to finding out what type of guy she liked was through observing her reaction to such inadvertent moves.

“Are you returning from the gym?” I asked.

“Yeah. I saw you there, but you seemed really into your workout.”

I smiled, happy it hadn’t appeared I was there for her. “I was.” I picked up the drooly ball my dog had returned and threw it again into the large field beside the parking lot. “Now it’s time for Rufus to get his. Did you do one of the classes?”

“Yes. I try to go four times a week. Today was bootcamp class. I think I’ll be sore tomorrow.”

I tried not to think of those delectable places in which she would feel it, such as her magnificent ass. “I’ll be sore as well. Leg day today.”

Rufus came up and lay down in front of me, panting profusely, his tell that he was tired from fetching the ball.

“I think you broke your dog.”

I laughed. “Nah. He’s young. But it doesn’t take much to tire out a big dog like him. Plus, I think he’s still a bit tuckered from playing with Cooper yesterday.”

“I bet. Thanks for the assist in operation ring discovery.”

I laughed. “You’re welcome. Should’ve seen your expression when I launched into my story.”

A smile spread over her face. “It was impressive to see the conversation go from Pooparoomba to a full-out discussion about rings. You’ll have to thank your sister for me.”

“I definitely will.”

She was eyeing Rufus curiously.

“Do you want to try petting him?”

She bit her lip. The action did nothing to dim her hot factor. “Uh. Maybe.”

I tried not to grin since I knew this was a big deal for her. “Come around here to his back and touch him there. He loves his back and stomach scratched. Then you won’t have to deal with the drooly part.”

“Are you positive he won’t bite?”

“Absolutely. He’s a big love.” Of course, if he was threatened or thought I was, it would be a different story. But I knew without a doubt he’d be good to her.

She moved slowly, never letting her wary gaze leave him as he panted away. “Was he ever small?”

I chuckled. “I’m sure at some point he was, but he was about eighteen months old and full grown when I rescued him.”

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