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Dear universe, give her strength. The strength to enjoy Sam’s attention and all the associated perks without getting emotionally invested in this man. The fourteen-year age gap didn’t mean much now, but it would. Their time together had an expiration date. How far down the road that ending might be, she didn’t know. Only that they’d inevitably get there. Her smitten condition needed fortification, because her life plan didn’t include a broken heart.
“You’re heading to the gym now?” he asked, eyeballing the bag slung over her shoulder.
She nodded. “I have a few muscles that didn’t get a workout last night, difficult as that is to believe.”
Laughing, he pulled her into his arms for another kiss. A quick one this time, though the shorter duration didn’t affect her any less than a long kiss. “Follow me to Focus and work out there today.”
“It’s a private fitness club and I’m not a member.”
“You’re with me.”
“Is Brian going to be there? I don’t want you to get in trouble for letting your friend use the gym without paying.”
Hands cupping her waist, he held her at arms’ length. “Brian will probably be there. If you want me to shoot him a message and confirm he’s okay with you working out at Focus, I will. Before I do that, I want to make something clear, right here, right now. When I said ‘you’re with me,’ I meant, you’rewithme.”
“Oh.”
“If it’s too soon or you’re only interested in being casual—”
“No,” she said, shaking her head emphatically enough to rattle her brain. “No to both of those things.”
“Good. I’ve got to get to work. So, are you with me?”
“Yes.” She couldn’t have kept her smile at bay if she’d tried. “I’m with you.”
“Great.” Lacing their fingers together, he squeezed and nodded toward the door. “Let’s do this.”
Her smitten heart was so screwed.
* * *
LEIGH
Focus Fitness hada lot going for it. Bright, airy and modern, the space bore no resemblance to its former purpose as a meat-packaging warehouse. The main exercise area boasted plenty of shiny, new fitness equipment. Beyond the training zone, as Sam called it, the club offered generous changerooms with private showers. A host of nutritional products lined shelves behind the front counter, which doubled as a beverage bar. Impressive, every inch of it.
None of it compared to watching every inch of Sam. The flex of his muscles as he demonstrated exercises. The genuine smile on his face as he communicated with not only his personal training client, but everyone around him. The twinkle in his eyes when he stole a glance in her direction.
Maybe she should cancel her current gym membership and sign up for personal training here. Though how she’d focus on fitness while Sam was within reach, she had no idea. The man had her in quite the state.
Visualize the prize, that’s what he’d said to her during their sessions at Iron Works. He’d meant muscle development and body sculpting. She’d done her best to keep her mind on those things, achieving about a sixty-seven-percent success rate. Pretty damn good, considering how often Sam would be in her personal space, touching her body as he guided movements or provided a spot. She’d deserved a prize for not throwing herself at the man back then.
Restraint no longer required. She could ogle, touch, lick, suck, hump, and fuck him as much as their schedules accommodated. Visualizing the prize had actually worked out quite well.
“Has Sam integrated bands into your program?”
She nearly jumped out of her skin at the question. Intent on watching Sam, she hadn’t noticed Brian approaching. And the hulking ginger trainer was kind of hard to miss.
“No, he hasn’t,” she said, stilling the dumbbells she’d either curled two times or ten. On a stack of bibles, she couldn’t swear to which, since she’d gone through the movement on autopilot.
If Brian had noticed her halfassery with today’s workout, he didn’t let on. “Get him to show you some band exercises next time you’re together. Resistance bands can be a lot more challenging than they look. Used correctly, they can give your muscles a good burn.”
“Thanks, I’ll ask him.” Or totally forget to, because they’d be busy doing more interesting exercises that’d also give her a very good burn.
A smile tugged at Brian’s mouth. Not a courteous, professional smile. Not even a friendly smile. An I-know-what-you’re-thinking-about smile.
She was so busted.
“I’ll let you get back to it,” he said, meaning exercise, of course. Or maybe not, since he winked before walking away.
