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Seemed his little brother, not baby anymore, had some things to teach Liam, and he was damn good at taking away pain as well.
****
The sun beat into his room. Happiness. Bright yellow happiness. He stood and walked to his patio door. The staff bustled around cleaning up the gardens. Plants started to recover, taking shapes they originally had, not the pancaked forms of before. Their blooms sparkled with a revival. The torrent of rain had rejuvenated their spirits.
He hit the gym. There would be changes in his life, but this was a constant. He loved the endorphin rush from a good workout.
Callie’s long ponytail swayed as she walked toward him as he pounded out five miles on the treadmill. He didn’t need to do ten miles. There was no penance to pay today. Only a simple goal to be happy.
“Mind if I join you?” she asked.
“Please.”
She started her own pace, not far behind Liam. They really could be running partners.
He kept running long after his mileage passed five miles. It felt so right to have her by his side. She hit her five and hit the STOP button.
“Damn, that was a good run.” Her chest heaved, and he attempted everything to keep his gaze from trailing to the rocking motion. “You’re a beast on the treadmill.”
Liam brushed a towel over his face. “Same to you.” His breathing settled, but his heart still beat quickly. The mixes of smells, a little salt, a little perfume.
“Wanna sit … in the sauna?” he asked as she adjusted her ponytail.
“Sure.”
The room made for ten to twelve people was empty. She stripped her t-shirt off and was just in a sports bra. Her skin glowed. He poured a cup of water on the hot rocks, and steam kissed the air. She sat across from him, and it was everything he could do to keep from ravishing her like she deserved. He glanced—the door locked. But he wouldn’t make their first time like that. She deserved to be treated like the queen she was.
“You have plans this afternoon?” he asked as the heat kicked back on and the room rose in temperature.
“Nope. We’re scheduled to leave at seven in the morning tomorrow. Plans are made, and Meg’s looking for chocolate-covered cherries as I speak.”
Liam’s mouth dropped open. “She’s not!”
Callie laughed. “You’ve got a sweet tooth, huh?”
And it wasn’t little. Probably why he had to keep exercising, but he’d put in the time to reap the benefits. And chocolate-covered cherries were better than time.
“We’ll see what she can come up with.”
“I love these German ones. They have Kirsch in the middle. It’s a great liquor for sipping, too. Cherry flavored with a little hint of almond that comes from fermenting with the pits in the cherry.” He wiped his brow off.
“Sounds delicious.”
“Maybe I can round up a bottle for after our dinner.”
“Don’t go to too much trouble.”
“You’re worth any and all trouble, Callie.”
Her cheeks were already bright with a flush from the heat, but they burst with an undertone of pink.
“I made reservations for us at the spa.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, from one to four.”
“Three hours of pampering?” A wide smile perked her lips. “That’s really thoughtful, but really too extravagant.”
