Page 32 of Out of Sight

“I think you mean Big Ol’ Magnum William,” I winked, “but I’ll keep him to myself. It’ll be a good exercise in self-control and willpower.”

“For me it will just be exercise.”

“You just keep telling yourself that, baby. I know you’re just as hot for me as I am for you.”

She rolled her eyes, but hid a smile with her book. She totally had the hots for me.

I could see her checking me out when she thought I wasn’t looking. I saw the kindness in her eyes when I told her about Kaylie. She was talking to me more, hitting me less, and accepting help when I offered it, even something as simple as letting me grab her a refill during mealtime.

But she had one consistent complaint about me: I was a criminal. Maybe helping me get back on my feet had an ulterior motive than just being able to provide for Kaylie. Maybe I was the Elizabeth Bennet to her Darcy and she was doing what she could to make me an acceptable suitor for her.

Sue me. Kaylie watched those cutesy romantic movies all the time and some things stuck.

“Well, this is going to be a disaster,” Jim said with glee, giving a little grunt as he stood up. “I think I’m going to run some errands while you two figure out your plan.”

I looked back at Claire. “Start with a run first thing in the morning?” She bit her lip and nodded.Hell.I had to get out of there. “Alright, I’ll see you at seven.”

And I all but sprinted for the stairs. It would be a long night.

The next morning I tried to scrounge up some workout clothes but saw that Marshal Jim Marshall beat me to the punch. He was sneaky enough to deliver them to my room in the middle of the night, along with some other tools of the trade: a couple dumbbells, yoga mats, and a small step platform. I guess Santa-Jim came to town.

I headed down the stairs and into the kitchen, filling up a couple bottles of water for Claire and myself, then headed back through to the living room. Jim was waiting just inside the front door, a happy smile on his face.

“Hey, thanks, man. Having that stuff will do wonders for keeping me from going crazy here the next few weeks.”

“You are so very welcome.” Why did his pleased look turn into a shit-eating grin? “Claire’s waiting for you out front.”

I nodded and led the way out front, promptly dropping the water I was holding. Claire was wearing skintight workout pants and a sports bra, her hair up in the highest ponytail possible. She had a bright smile on her face and a wicked look in her eyes.

“What’s going on?” I asked once I shook some feeling back into my brain.

“I’m your new client, silly! Now let’s get this fat—“ she stuck out her ass ”—booty out of here!” And smacked it. She smacked her fucking ass.

“Baby, there’s nothing but goodness there,” I said once I picked my jaw up off the floor.

She dropped the ditzy act. “No flirting,” she reminded me sternly before bringing that glowing smile back.

“Nothing but goodness there,” I tried again, clearing my throat. “But if you’re looking to tone down or develop some strength we can work on that.”

“Better,” Claire acknowledged. “I’d like to get strong and work on my stamina. I can’t run around the block without getting winded, never mind run a mile.”

“Do you want to get bulky, or keep a lean form?”

“Lean, I guess. Bulky muscles are for big strong men like you!” And she giggled. Fucking giggled!

“Do you have any limitations?”

“No, I’m already pretty flexible.” Jesus Christ.

“I mean do you have any old injuries or pain anywhere? Something we need to work around?”

“I broke my ankle and a few bones in my left foot as a kid, so jumping can be pretty jarring, I guess? Is that what you mean?”

“Yup, that’s what I mean.” No burpees then.

“How much time a week can you commit to this project?”

“Oh, I’m fully committed to you.” Holy hell, she was flirting with me. Or my pretend new client was? I wasn’t sure. I cleared my throat again.

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