Page 5 of Wine & Whiskey
“I’m lucky to have a good friend like him.” She wipes off her forehead before rubbing the towel between her fingers. “Would you mind giving me a hand up? I don’t know if I can do it by myself.”
Flames shoot through his body at the feel of her silky skin under his fingertips. At her cringe of pain, he cups his hand around her elbow and lifts her up, bearing all of her weight and standing her on her feet. A shudder runs down his body at her delicate hands resting on his forearms, her gaze meeting his before crimson stains her cheeks and she tucks her head down. It would be so fucking easy to slide his arms around her waist and press his mouth against her sweet lips.
“Thank you…for everything. I appreciate you helping me.” Her voice, soft but steady, brings him back from his growing desire.
“Let me take you out for lunch.”
“Thanks, but I can’t.” She steps back, leaving him aching for her touch again, and turns to leave. Glancing over her shoulder, she smirks, mischief dancing in her eyes. “Besides, how do you know I don’t have a boyfriend?”
Falling in beside her, he reaches for the door and lets his hand rest on the handle before looking down at her. “It’s not that I don’t know. I just don’t care.”
He deserves a smack, but maybe she’ll find him irresistible instead. After a few seconds, she smiles and shakes her head. “It’s a good thing you’re cute. Otherwise, you’d never be able to get away with a line like that.”
Damn. She could own him with that stunning expression. ”How about dinner?”
“No.”
“Breakfast tomorrow?”
Her eyebrows fly up at his tenacity. “No.”
“Work out with me?”
She takes a deep breath, her internal argument playing out on her face. He doesn’t know what the fuck is wrong with him for trying so hard, but he has to find something she’ll agree to.
“You think you’re pretty slick, don’t you?”
His head bobs with laughter. She isn’t falling for his charms. “I guess not if you’ve figured me out.”
“Okay, fine. It has to be in the afternoon. I’m going to have a late night tonight.”
Anything to see her again. He pulls the door open and gestures for her to go first. “Three o’clock. I'll set it up with Jason.”
“I guess I’ll see you tomorrow then.” She walks away shaking her head.
The pleasure of anticipation is an emotion he hasn’t experienced in a long time.
* * *
She should have said no.
Declined his offer to work out. Refused his repeated attempts to make a connection, however precarious it might be. Then, she would be at home doing absolutely nothing for the first time in months instead of sitting here pretending she isn’t excited about seeing him again, ignoring the butterflies taking flight in her stomach as the clock ticks closer to three.
She shakes her head. It’s silly to be nervous. They’re just two people training together. Mutual victims of Jason’s hardcore workouts. That’s all. Yet, as much as she wants to believe this little fib, it’s more than that. Nick’s more than that.
As she stretches in the workout room, a smile curls on her lips in spite of herself. Of course, he’s sexy and buff, perfect caramel hair with the slightest hint of curl, and eyes so blue she could swim in them. An intriguing jagged scar on his temple, which probably has an even better story behind it. Yet, something besides his good looks draws her to him.
Maybe it’s his protective nature, which makes her feel safe even though she just met him. His charm that’s arrogant but adorable. Or, the fact he doesn’t seem to know who she is. Doesn’t want anything from her.At least for now, murmurs the tiny voice of doubt worming its way into her mind. Things will change once he finds out who she is. Just like always.
For the last twenty-four hours, all of her thoughts have drifted to him. Even on stage last night, she found herself thinking about him, which has never happened before. She tries pushing him out of her mind, ignoring the feelings he evokes in her. Emotions she didn’t think were possible for her anymore.
The butterflies turn to stones, falling to the pit of her stomach. If she hadn’t been at Jason’s, she would never have agreed to meet him. She’s safe here without bodyguards. Or, so she thought until yesterday. No one had ever bothered her here before.
Stories of crazed fans have been drilled into her head for years. Team Shae complains all the time she’s too lax with her security. All she wants is to feel normal sometimes, and the gym has always been her sanctuary. The one place she can relax. If Nick hadn’t been here yesterday, it may not have been true any longer.
Before she can scare herself with what might have happened, he walks into the room, and she can't suppress an enormous smile. Her reward is the same elated expression mirrored on his face.
“You made it."
