Page 26 of Releasing Reenie

Eager much, pal?

“Hey, you look ready for this.” He said this as he scanned my face, so I knew it had nothing to do with my running clothes.

“You have a towel?” I gave him a half-smile. “Just in case?”

His narrowed eyes held mine. “Are you planning on pushing me in?”

I laughed, then shrugged, looking more seriously at him. “You never know.”

His deep, sexy chuckle sent flutters through me, and admittedly I felt a bit bratty and liked it.

He started stretching his hamstrings and I, my triceps.

“So, what did you learn about Mira?” he asked with a small grunt as he pulled the heel of his shoe to his ass.

“With the extra classes, this semester is her last one. Graduating by the end of this semester is her goal. And I knew that. What I didn’t know was that her mother is in hospice. Mira’s dividing her time here and at the care home, burning the candle at both ends.”

“Oh shit.” He frowned. “That poor girl.”

“Their relationship is complicated, and Mira feels guilty about it. She wants to graduate before her mother passes because she wants to make her proud.”

I could relate, having had a mother who’d never been proud of me no matter what I did. And even though Mira’s situation wasn’t quite the same, I wanted to help her. I needed a resolution for her as if it would heal me too.

As if he’d read my mind, he said, “Let’s help her succeed in every way we can.”

“Thank you. That’s exactly how I feel.”

“You don’t have to thank me, Maureen. It’s the right thing to do.”

I rubbed my hands on my thighs the feel of the material against my palm calming. “You’re right, it is the right thing to do, but not everyone would care. Trust me.”

His brow rose and I looked away, staring at the mountains in the distance.

“Let’s go before we lose light.”

I turned to start and he grabbed my arm. “I can tell this is bothering you more than just concern for a student, or friend. This goes deeper than that, doesn’t it?”

I looked his handsome face over, noting to myself how sexy he looked without his glasses. Not that he didn’t look just as fucking steamy with them. He just looked a different sort of sensual. It was a battle, sexy professor vs. sexy athlete. Brains vs. brawn—both were hot separately but together, god, he was downright combustible.

“Reenie, let me help.”

His words broke through my lusty thoughts and I blinked at him. “I don’t need help. I can relate to Mira, yes, but I’m not dragging a trunk’s worth of baggage everywhere with me, Trent. Let’s keep our focus on Mira. And for now, go for this run, yeah?”

He studied me. “A trunk’s worth?”

I rolled my eyes. “Yes.”

“It’s not my place to push you, but sometimes sharing burdens, even burdens of the past, helps.”

I narrowed my eyes at him, considering ending our running arrangement, but then he spoke again.

“It’s an offer of friendship, Reenie, nothing else.” And with that, he took off. This time he set the pace, pushing me to my limits, and damn it if it wasn’t just what I needed.

I almost quit a half mile from the bench, but he turned, ran backward and egged me on.

“Come on, lady, I know you’ve got it in you. We sprinted this stretch last time, and you kicked my ass. Or maybe you can’t do it again? Was it a fluke last time?”

I huffed a growl and picked up my pace. He continued backward until I caught up.

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