Page 25 of A Whole New Trick

What happened between us isn’t noteworthy enough to be called history, but it’s complicated nonetheless. And I should have kept it in mind before asking the personal question.

It’s too late to take the words back.

Even if I wanted to try to, Dane’s gleaming eyes tell me he wouldn’t let me get away with it. “That is private information, Morgan.”

I clear my throat.

Be professional!

“You’re right. I’m sorry. I was just wondering if you’re burning more calories than I anticipated through… extracurricular activities.” I wince.

Kill. Me. Now.

“That came out wrong.”

“I’m not sure.” Dane’s voice dips into a melodic, sultry tone. “I think it came out just right.”

Not knowing what to say to that, I keep my mouth shut. I’m not usually someone who gets flustered so easily. Or, if I do, Ican pull myself out of it relatively quickly. That’s not the case right now.

I press my lips together and exhale through my nostrils. “Forget I said anything.”

“Are you sure?” Dane takes a step closer. Pride has me holding my ground even though common sense says to step back. “Because for a moment there, I thought we were finally going to stop dancing around the fact that we’ve both had our tongues down each other’s throats.”

My mouth falls open.

Is he for real right now?

I take in Dane’s heated expression and the way his eyes dip down and stare at my lips before trailing over the rest of my face.

Yes… he’s being for real.

Now issonot the time or place for this conversation. We’re in the Ranchers’ facility. This is where we both work. He can’t look at me like he wants to devour me whole. Someone could walk in here at any moment and see.

As if summoned by the thought, the door behind me swings open. I’m too caught in Dane’s smoldering gaze to have the good sense to immediately put distance between us.

Not until I hear the voice that destroyed my confidence for three long years of my life resound through the quiet room, “I was wondering when I’d run into you, Morgan.”

8

DANE

It’s only beena couple of weeks since circumstances have thrown us into each other’s lives, but I’ve seen Morgan Caldwell in many moods.

Irritated when she first showed up in my kitchen and realized my cookware was significantly lacking. Appeased when I told her she could buy anything she needed on my credit card. Amused by Eli’s colorful retellings of his latest escapades in the dating. And just now, she’s shown what she looks like when embarrassed after asking me about my sex life.

But I’ve never seen her look shaken.

Protective instincts I wasn’t aware I possessed rear to life deep in my chest. I have the undeniable desire to destroy whatever it is that caused the confident woman in front of me to cower into herself.

Or should I saywhoever.

I tear my eyes off the beauty in front of me. I glare at the man wearing a smug expression as he stands near the weight room entrance, staring at Morgan.

I’ve only seen him in passing. He’s a new athletic trainer. He was hired in response to the organization’s out-of-the-blue decision to shake up the team’s training and diet plans.

I haven’t interacted with the guy, but Morgan’s expression suggests that she knows him and isn’t a fan—which means I’m not a fan.

I look between the pair, waiting for Morgan to respond to the guy’s statement.

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