Page 36 of Guilty as Sin
“So how much of the problem is the decision between the two places,” he said, “and how much is the pressure? Not wanting to let the bastards win?”
“Good question.”
“What do you want to do? If there weren’t any pressure?”
“I don’t know.” She didn’t know what Lily wanted. Or rather, she did. Lily loved her place. “I think I want to stay.”
“Then you should stay. Hunter will get over it. It’s business, not his granny’s dying wish.”
“You’re right. But we’re here for you, not me. Let’s go.”
It was too confusing being two people. Especially when one of those people was focusing on the mission, and the other one wanted nothing more than to beckon a hard man back into a fitting room, then see what he’d do about it.
She’d bet he’d do plenty.
She’d surprised him, jumping out of the ute like that. Again. He followed her inside, which gave him more chance to notice the hitch in her gait. He wasn’t meant to notice it, apparently, or any other sign of weakness, either. Although, of course, her helpinghimwas fine.
She was, in short, the most confusing woman he’d ever met. And she just kept on doing it. Now, she paused just this side of the desk and said, “How long are you spending?”
“Whatever you like. Hour?”
“Hour’s good,” she said, then went through the turnstile, said hello to Charlotte, collected her towel, and headed off.
Charlotte looked after her a moment, then turned to Jace, smiled, and said, “You’re getting pretty consistent here.”
“Yeah,” he said. “Brought a partner with me this time to help me with that.” He inclined his head toward Lily, who was already heading into the locker room. “Workout partner.” Which she wasn’t looking anything like, so he’d need to put in some effort to advertise her presence. Which had been the bloodypoint.No envelope-signal in the bed of the ute, a beautiful woman by his side, and if necessary, a “not interested in you” sign around his neck for his stalker.
“She’s not here very often,” Charlotte said. “I don’t think she likes exercise all that much. Even though she always has the best outfits for it.”
“You could be wrong,” he said.
Her face crumpled, and he felt like he’d kicked a puppy. She muttered, “Enjoy your workout.”
It didn’t look likely. Since he was doing it alone.
He started with the rowing machine, as usual, and when Lily came out of the locker room dressed in a pair of purple flowered workout tights with an overlay of dark-purple lace around the waist, a matching exercise bra that featured more lace at the back, and too much body for his peace of mind, he didn’t look her over nearly as well as he might have. But he definitely noticed her walking over and climbing onto the machine beside him.
He asked, “I’m irresistible, am I, despite your qualms?” He wanted to check her out better, now that she was this close. And this undressed. He didn’t.
She laughed out loud, sounding like she was surprised to be doing it, but didn’t answer, just adjusted the resistance considerably down and began to row. He saw the twist of her mouth that she couldn’t control and wanted to say something about it, but he’d learned his lesson. At last, she said, with some tightness in her voice that he knew was pain, “Dream on. It’s what I’d do normally. My warm-up. And I did agree to help you.”
“Even if you’re scared.”
“I am not scared. I thought we established that.”
“Darling,” he said, “I don’t think you’re armed anymore.”
She gave him a level look. “Just try me.”
“I would,” he said, “but I’m not allowed. Bugger.”
He earned another laugh for that, which made him grin, and she said, “Just row and look longingly at me, then, in case your stalker’s around.” She nodded at the little knot of women at the juice bar. “One of the group hanging out after yoga, maybe? About to walk casually by your truck? Creepy as hell, not knowing who she is. Odd, too. Stalkers usually announce themselves. They want you to know they’re there, and who they are. It’s what they get off on.”
“It is, is it. I only know what I read online.”
A pause, then she asked, “Did you go to the cops like I said?”
“Yeah. Talked to a bloke named Worthington. Know him?”
