Page 104 of His Surrender

Workouts have become a strange balancing act.

Three months ago, I’d disappear into the gym for an hour, lose myself in whatever frustration the day had handed me, shower, answer a few more emails, and call it a night.

Now I find myself checking the baby monitor between sets.

I rack the dumbbells and drape the towel around my neck before taking one last drink from my water bottle.

Liana was perfectly content in her swing. Aubrey insisted she’d keep an eye on her so I could actually finish a workout without rushing through it.

I didn’t realize how much I’d missed having an uninterrupted gym session.

As soon as I step into the living room, Aubrey glances up from the couch.

Her eyes meet mine and then very slowly travel south. One eyebrow lifts as she takes her sweet time looking me over before finally making it back to my face.

I can’t help but smirk. “Caught you.”

She blinks innocently. “Caught me doing what?”

“Checking me out.”

“I was simply observing.”

“Oh, were you?”

“Mmhmm.” She nods like she is giving a business presentation. “Very professionally.”

I laugh, dropping onto the couch beside her. “Professionally.”

“Strictly for research purposes.”

I lean back against the cushions. “And what exactly are you researching?”

“The effects of excessive confidence.”

“And?”

She tilts her head, as though carefully considering her findings. “The data suggests it’s completely justified.”

A laugh escapes me before I can stop it. “I like your research.”

“I had a feeling you would.”

I turn toward her, catching the way her eyes flick back to my chest for the briefest second. “There it is again.”

“What?”

“The research.”

Her cheeks color just enough to give her away. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

I lean a little closer. “You know …” I lower my voice conspiratorially. “You’re awfully lucky Liana’s awake.”

Her eyes widen with amusement. “Oh?”

I nod toward the swing, where my daughter happily kicks her feet.

“If she were asleep”—I grin— “you’d be in a whole lot of trouble for the way you’ve been looking at me.”