Page 25 of What About Us

I sip the water, blinking at him. “What question.”

“What about you, Red?”

“Am I with someone?”

“Yeah.”

I shake my head and take my bag from him. “No. Let’s get to work.”

“Do you want breakfast?”

Okay, so the idea of another one of those breakfast burritos is tempting, but I’m here to remind us both that I can be a professional.

“I had breakfast,” I reply.

It’s not a complete lie. I had a protein shake.

“We have work to do, Mr. Hendrix.”

“Wow, you’re extra formal today. Did you iron your scrubs?”

“No.”

Yes.

“I think that blush tells me otherwise. Okay, let’s go get after it, then. I spent a little time on the . . . uh.” He shakes his head and leads me into the gym. “You know, the thing you pedal.”

“The bike.”

“Yeah, I spent some time on the bike this morning.”

Fascinating.

“How much time?”

“Half an hour or so, not long before you got here.”

“Starting without me?”

I set my bag and water bottle on the desk—the desk he bought just for me—and turn to him. “Okay, no bike for warm-up, then. Let’s start with quads.”

The past week has been more fun than I expected. I love working with athletes, and Xander is a dream. I have so much respect for his endurance, his strength.

His muscles.

But more than that, I love his persistence. When we’re in workout mode, his face is determined, and he pushes himself until I have to force him to quit so he doesn’t get hurt.

His dedication is amazing. It’s no wonder he’s done so well as a professional player.

I told Xander that I’d drive us to Bitterroot Valley today, but he insisted on picking me up. He’s not supposed to be here for another fifteen minutes, but since I’m ready to go, I pick Cally up and snuggle her, smiling when she starts to rumble that engine.

“I’m sorry that I haven’t been home much lately,” I murmur against her as she purrs in my face. “You’re such a good girl. And you’re so pretty.”

The doorbell rings, and I walk over and open the door, still holding Cally, and Xander grins.

“Hello there.”

“Hey, come on in. I was just giving her some attention, since I’m not home much these days.”