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The only thing that had saved him so far was that Marin had the smarts to ignore the offer completely. And to his surprise, they’d had a great week despite the disastrous start. She’d thrown herself fully into the training, her mind like an ever-hungry maw, always wanting more knowledge, always wanting to get it right. When she was like that, so eager and enthusiastic, he could forget about the other stuff for a while. Her thirst for learning set off the psych nerd in him. He liked teaching her.
And she made him laugh—something that felt rusty and foreign to him. He loved his job, but he couldn’t remember the last time he’d actually had fun at work. Despite the heavy issues they dealt with in session with clients, Marin was quick to smile and joke around with him and Ysa between appointments. When she’d had success co-leading a couples session with him yesterday, she’d actually done a little victory dance in the hallway after the clients had left. There may have been a Heisman pose involved. Ysa may have broken out a raise-the-roof move. They may have convinced him to join in.
But despite Marin’s great attitude and not one word about the kiss, he’d caught her in quieter times looking at him when she thought he wasn’t paying attention. He’d caught smoky eyes and pensive stares. He’d seen her blush outside of sessions like she’d been thinking something particularly scandalous. She hadn’t forgotten that kiss. But she’d gone on like nothing had happen
ed.
That was good.
He was telling himself it was good.
But it was keeping him awake at night. Stalking him. Temptation whispering in his ear.
He needed to let it lie.
He wanted her so much it fucking hurt.
He ran harder, hard enough to make his lungs burn and the breeze whip his face. Hard enough to quell the surge of desire he got every time he thought of Marin.
And he’d almost outrun the thoughts when the sound of more feet on pavement distracted him. He turned his head to find Ysa only a few steps behind him. Her cheeks were puffing out as she tried to catch up.
Donovan forced himself to not make a face. He adored Ysa. She was one of his few friends at The Grove, but right now he wasn’t fit for company.
“Jesus. Freaking. Christ,” Ysa said between pants. “Slow. The hell. Down.”
Donovan considered telling her he’d chat with her at work, that he was trying to beat some imaginary time for his run, but she’d see right through it. Ysa’s bullshit meter was pretty spot-on. Plus, even he couldn’t keep up this speed for much longer. His body was about to stage a strike, his muscles threatening to cramp. He pulled out his earbuds and eased back on his sprint.
Ysa caught up and sent him a disbelieving look. “Are you running from a rabid dog or something? Serial killer? Evil clowns?”
Their footsteps synched up as they rounded the corner at the back of the children’s building. He feigned innocence. “Was I going that fast?”
She narrowed her eyes. “Don’t give me that. I come out here to run every morning, and I may be five seconds from dying right now.”
He looked forward, focusing on the path. “You didn’t have to catch up.”
“And miss the chance to jog next to and annoy my lovely boss? As if I’d pass that up.” She flashed a grin in his peripheral vision. “Plus, I should document this occasion. Look how early you’re awake!”
Donovan didn’t say anything. Ysa had no idea he barely slept, and he sure as hell wasn’t going to share that tidbit. “I’m trying to ensure your promotion. I’ve been on time the last few days.”
They took a turn by the pond, and a crane that had been lazily poking at the grass near the water’s edge looked up as they passed, apparently annoyed they’d interrupted his private breakfast. Ysa tipped her chin up. “Uh-huh. Of course you are. I’m sure it has nothing to do with impressing the new hot doctor you’re training.”
Donovan’s rhythm faltered for a second, but he managed to recover without being too obvious. “Not very professional to call your colleague hot, Ysa.”
She let out a laugh, her breath still labored. “Oh, and it’s professional to do whatever y’all were doing when I walked in the other day?”
The words made Donovan’s muscles tense. He slowed his step, worry moving through him. “Ysa.”
She slowed along with him and stopped when he stopped. The crane flapped its wings and flew off with a flourish. Ysa put her hands on her hips, bending over a bit as she caught her breath, but her eyes were on him. “Seriously. Don’t freak out. We’re good.”
Donovan’s T-shirt was clinging to him, sweat rolling down his back, but his heart was pounding from something other than exertion now. “Ysa, you can’t—”
She lifted a hand. “Dude, I wouldn’t. I’d never say anything. Come on, you know me better than that. I didn’t even see anything per se. Y’all just had caught written all over you both. And I see how you two look at each other. I’ve been the victim of lust at first sight before. I get it. Believe me.”
Donovan grabbed the edge of his T-shirt and wiped the sweat from his face, his eyes burning from it. He considered lying to Ysa, but that’d only make it worse. She was being upfront with him, so he needed to do the same. She’d keep his secret if he was honest. “It’s not exactly that. We knew each other a long time ago. Had a brief thing.”
Ysa’s dark brow arched. “Whoa. History. Does Suri know?”
“No. No one does. And it needs to stay that way. Nothing’s going to happen. What you walked in on was . . . a lapse in judgment. Neither of us wants to mess with our jobs.”
