Page 54 of Trial Run

Well, I can manage five minutes.

Maybe I should keep all my runs to five minutes. So you can always come along.

Someday soon, you’ll be running miles.

She clicked the phone off. She wouldn’t tell Ben about applying for the scholarship and the manager job. Both applications would likely end in rejections, and this way, she wouldn’t have to share the bad news with him later. If good news came, she’d tell him.

When she pulled up to his house, he was already waiting on the porch. A ridiculous surge of happiness exploded in her chest at the sight of him.

She scanned his lean frame as she approached, not bothering to hide the fact that she was staring.

“You’re wearing shorts,” she said. The black nylon running shorts hit him at mid-thigh, showing off legs that were toned, heavy with muscle.

“It’s seventy-five degrees.”

“I’ve never seen you in workout clothes. This might be a problem.”

He frowned in confusion. “A problem?”

“Mmm.” She stepped closer and wrapped her arms around him. “You look very nice in your running gear.” Her hands ran up his back, exploring the muscles beneath the thin T-shirt.

His gaze darkened, pupils dilating. “Don’t get me started. I haven’t thought of much else in the last few days.”

“Me neither,” she admitted.

“And we don’t have time for anything else right now, so you should absolutely stop looking at me like that. Stop.” A dull red flush stained his cheeks.

“I can’t help it. You’re too attractive.”

He made a frustrated sound and planted a firm kiss on her mouth before stepping away.

“We’re going running now. Nothing else,” he said, as if convincing himself.

“Running.” She took a deep breath. “All right, let’s go.”

They took off at a moderate jog around his block. She’d worn track pants and sneakers to work, so she was able to keep up with him, but he was obviously going slower for her sake. If he took off sprinting, she’d never catch him.

As they rounded the first corner of his block, he held up a hand. “Wait a second.”

He jogged off the sidewalk, down into a small drainage ditch by the side of the road. A minute later, he was back, holding up a rock.

“It’s a quartz. You can give it to Marco for his collection.”

“Of course.” She swallowed, pocketing the crystal. “He’ll love it.”

He resumed his jog. “We should get him a display case.”

Nell groaned. “Oh my God, I’m not sure I want him to know a display case is a possibility.”

He flashed her a grin. “Welcome to having a rock collector in the family.”

When they got back to Ben’s house, he wasn’t even winded.

“I guess that was pretty easy for you,” she said, bracing her hands on her knees.

“Physically, yes.” He cut his gaze away from her to the side.

“Oh. For a minute, I almost forgot about—”

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