Page 7 of 10 Ways to Accidentally Fall in Love

Brad simply grins before grabbing two twenty-five-pound weights. We each attach one, and then I get into place, taking a breath to center myself. It’s well under my deadlift limit, but the weight of Brad’s stare is heavy on my person.

Brad doesn’t distract me as I do my reps, but he’s there in the periphery, making quiet remarks likebooyahandyou got this. It’s weirdly motivating, and I finish my lifts feeling more energized than when I began. Brad is there in an instant, his hand squeezing the side of my neck. My pulse takes off like a rocket, eyes dropping to Brad’s lips and that infectious grin, but his grip doesn’t linger.

“Yeah, man. That’s how it’s done!” he says, holding his hand in the air. “Give it to me hard.”

Good grief.

Unable to deny him, I slap his palm.

“My Joey Kangaroo,” he says happily, that ridiculous nickname I can’t help but love. “Come on, let’s do another two sets before we move on.”

I nod, finding myself smiling right along with him. “Sounds good.”

And the strange thing is—it really, really does.

Chapter 3

Brad

Joey’s a boss.

The guy is strong. Way stronger than he’s letting on, I’m sure of it. Pretty sure he could lift me clean above his head if he wanted.

I chuckle, my mind supplying the mental image of Joey lifting me up like Baby fromDirty Dancing.

I eye his biceps as he does some curls. We’re winding down at the free weights now.

“Do you think I’d make a good Baby?” I ask him. “Like, the name, not the infant.”

Joey gives me a look I’m not entirely sure how to decipher. “I guess,” he says slowly. “Although I think it would depend on the person you’re with.”

I nod. That makes sense. “Think you’d be able to lift me?”

He blinks a couple times before setting down his equipment. “In what capacity?” he asks, voice quiet. “Like, against a wall?”

I purse my lips. “I mean, wouldn’t really have the same effect as if I were on top of you, you know? But we could work on it.”

Joey leans closer. “Are…are we talking about the same thing?”

I cock my head. “Dirty—”

“Hey, Brad.”

I look over at the new voice, which belongs to one of my coworkers I rarely ever see, considering I’m rarely ever in the regional office. “Oh, hey, Suze. How’s it going? This is Joey.”

Suzy barely gives Joey a nod before refocusing on me. “I’m good. Haven’t seen you in a while.”

“Yeah,” I say with a shrug. “You know how it goes. I work from home, so…”

She nods, a small smile on her face. “Sure. Hey, would you want to get drinks again sometime?”

My own smile feels a little brittle. “Still can’t, sorry.”

“Oh. Okay. Well, I guess I’ll see you around?”

I nod, and Suzy walks off, frowning to herself.

“Ugh,” I groan, taking a seat on the mat in front of the mirrors. “Hate that.”

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