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"What time are you working out?"
"I have my time on the ice at nine-thirty, so I'll probably go to the gym about six for a run, then have breakfast after that."
"Damn, woman. You're an early riser."
She smiled. "I get a lot more done that way."
"I guess you do. I'm impressed."
He was just full of compliments, wasn't he? And wasn't she just so enamored of him complimenting her? "What time do you get to skate tomorrow?"
"Noon."
"Oh, so you get to sleep in."
"I could, but some of the guys want to meet before that to go over strategy, and we'll get in a weight-lifting workout, too. How about we meet in the gym at six?"
She was surprised he'd make that offer. "You really want to run with me?"
"I really want to run with you. Unless you're one of those people who get in the zone when running and want to do it alone. I can sleep another hour."
If she was smart, she'd tell him to get that extra hour's sleep. "I'd love to have you run with me."
"Great."
Obviously, she wasn't smart.
They got up and Amber grabbed her coat. Will took it from her and held it out for her to slide her arms in.
"Thank you."
He pulled it around her. "Can't have you getting cold. Not around me."
"Trust me, Will, that's not going to happen."
Just being near him rocketed her temp up, especially when he looked at her the way he was now, his eyes going dark with sensual promise.
"Button your coat," he said.
She did and they headed outside toward their buildings. She thought they'd part here, but he walked with her to hers.
She turned when they got to the front door. "Thanks for walking me."
"You're welcome." He moved in closer. "Got your key?"
She fished it out of her pocket and held it out. "I do."
"I'll see you in the gym tomorrow morning," he said.
She thought the way he stood so close that he was going to kiss her. She wasn't sure she was ready for that, but if he did, she wouldn't pull away.
Instead, he stepped back and she had to tamp down the disappointment.
"See you tomorrow, Amber."
"Good night, Will."
He was obviously waiting for her to go inside before he left, so she turned and used her key card in the door, slipped inside, then waved at him before heading to the elevator that would take her to her floor.
She smiled all the way up in the elevator.
FOUR
SIX A.M. RUNS SUCKED, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU DIDN'T have to get up that early, and especially when you were only doing it to impress a woman.
Sometimes Will was a moron.
But he had to admit that running the indoor track with a gorgeous, sweaty Amber was worth getting up early for. She had on some tight purple cropped sports top along with yellow and purple pants that went just past her knees and looked like they were part of her skin. They outlined her incredible figure. She had an amazing body--toned and fit, and damn the woman had some serious stamina, because as they rounded the start of the track in the middle of mile three, she didn't look ready to quit anytime soon. And if she could keep going, he could, too.
"How are you doing?" she asked.
"I'm doing great," he said through panting breaths. "But if you need to stop . . ."
"No, I'm good. Water break at the end of the next mile, though."
"Sure."
The next mile? How many miles did she intend to run? Sure they were maintaining a fairly slow pace, but still, as they made their way around and finished mile three, Will was feeling it. He hadn't eaten yet and he was starting to get hungry.
"Are you hungry?" he asked as they stopped for water.
"Not yet. I plan to do five miles. If you need to go eat, though, feel free."
"I'm fine." No way in hell was he going to admit defeat. But if he ever ran with her again, he'd need to put down a little protein first. Water wouldn't propel him through five miles.
He pushed through it, though, and afterward, they headed to the cafeteria where he ordered three eggs, bacon, toast, potatoes, fruit and salmon.
Amber had an egg-white omelet and fruit, along with black coffee.
"No wonder you're so slender, he said as he balanced two plates on top of each other. He laid those down and went back for coffee and a large juice.
"And I'd like to know how you're going to eat all of that," she said as she tenderly speared her fork into a grape.
"Easy. I'll burn it all off on the ice later. Not to mention the five miles I already ran."
He dove into his food without saying another word, his stomach demanding retribution for those five punishing miles. Everything tasted amazing, and if Amber hadn't been watching every bite go into his mouth, he might have gone back for seconds. But he could always eat again after he skated.
Meanwhile, Amber delicately tasted every forkful, chewing slowly and thoughtfully with each bite.
"It doesn't bite back, ya know," he said.
She took a small sip of her coffee. "What?"
"Your food. You approach it with caution, like it's going to attack you at any minute."
"Oh." She laughed. "If you eat slowly you get full faster."
"Uh-huh. Sure." He was full now, finally, and he felt great. "Or you can shovel it all in and make your stomach happy."
She laid her fork down. "A full fat stomach doesn't look so awesome in a figure skater's outfit."
"So you're saying I'm fat."
Her gaze roamed over him. He didn't mind that.
"I wouldn't know. I haven't seen your abs."
He leaned back in his chair. "Just say the word and I can make that happen."
"I'll be sure to let you know as soon as I'm interested in getting you naked from the waist up."
"Or the waist down." He gave her a grin, absolutely enthralled by the blush that stained her cheeks.
"Yes, that, too."
Surely she wasn't that innocent, was she? And if she was, he was going to have to watch out for her, because sharks circled the waters here, and he felt protective of Amber.
He liked her. Though since this was her third go-round at the games, she could obviously take care of herself just fine without his help.
Which didn't mean he wouldn't stick close.
"Do your parents come to the games?" he asked.
She nodded. "My mother will be here. She's never missed one of my performances."
"That's pretty awesome."
"Yes it is. My dad will probably come for the finals. He's very busy."
"What does he do?"
"He owns an investment firm. He travels a lot so he can't always watch me skate."
"I'm sure he's very proud of you. It's not every skater who can make the team for the games."
She nodded. "Thanks. What about your parents, Will? Will they be here?"
He shook his head. "My parents own a bar in south Chicago. They can't close it up to come over here, because there's no one else to take over. They'd lose too much money. But you can bet they'll be watching every game on TV."
"There are no other family members to mind the bar?"
"I've got a younger brother still in high school. My parents are both only children. They have great employees, but no one they'd trust enough to leave the bar in their hands. I've offered to pay for them to come, to pay their losses for having the bar closed. But they said no. They're proud people, always wanting to make it on their own."
"That's a shame. But I understand where they're coming from. Still, it's too bad they can't see you play."
"It's okay. They bring in a lot of revenue when the games are on TV there. All our friends come in and watch there. They serve food and tons of drinks. It's great for business."
