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“Don’t make things worse,” Ashley warned him when he turned to leave. “In a few days you’ll never see her again. If your apology is going to hurt her more, it’s not worth it.”
With a nod, he turned and headed out of the club. He didn’t know that an apology would benefit either of them. But he did know he’d fucked up royally.
CHAPTERFOUR
Courtney placedher hands at the top of her mat and lifted her leg toward the sky, listening as the yoga instructor talked the class through a series of stretches meant to detox the mind and body. Only her mind refused to be detoxed. Every time she thought she could stop thinking about Seth and his unfair tirade, he’d creep back into her mind and hijack her thoughts. And the worst part was, she liked thinking about him. Not the confrontation at the club the night before, but their conversation at the speed dating event and the few stolen glances she’d had of him when he didn’t know she was watching. If she were truthful with herself, she liked thinking about him a little too much. And she probably owed him an apology.
True, the things he’d said to her the night before had been mean and hurtful, but she supposed what he’d heard her say had felt mean and hurtful to him too. Only . . . she hadn’t been talking about Seth when she said those things to Zack. Zack had been asking about any possible hookups for Courtney, and Seth definitely did not fit in that category. If she was going to hook up with anyone, and she definitely wasn’t going to do that, she’d choose someone she’d never see again. That’s how hookups worked right? She didn’t know since she’d never actually had one. But in her mind, a woman went on vacation, had amazing, no-strings sex, then returned to her home and never heard from the guy again. That was the kind of hookup she needed—one where her heart and her life could be completely unaffected. That wouldn’t happen with Seth. He was friends with Ashley. After this trip, Courtney might see him again, or at the very least, hear about him.
And what about the dangerous things he did to put his life in jeopardy? She didn’t need to be interested in a man like that. Unfortunately, that didn’t stop her from being interested anyway.
Following the instructor’s last directions, Courtney lay on her back, placing one hand above her heart and the other on her belly, and breathed deeply through her nose and out her mouth. She imagined she pushed thoughts of Seth away with each exhale, but damn if he didn’t come right back in with each inhale.
Finally, the class ended, and Courtney cleaned up her space and exited the studio. Ashley was having breakfast with Zack before her and Courtney’s spa appointment later in the day and since Courtney had officially been released from couple events, she had the rest of the morning to herself. She walked toward the restaurants.
She stopped as she rounded the corner and spotted the line of boxing rings. In the center ring, Seth pounded the hell out of a heavy bag. Or more accurately, shirtless, sweating Seth pounded the heavy bag. That warmth she’d felt in her belly when he touched her the night before pooled in her belly now, then slid between her thighs.
She wanted Seth.The thought swamped her with guilt. Although Kyle was dead, thoughts of wanting someone else felt wrong. She’d promised to love, honor, and cherish Kyle.
‘Til death do you part,she reminded herself.
And maybe guilt wasn’t the only thing that swamped her. Seth confused her. Of course, as a married woman, she’d been attracted to men before. She and Kyle had shared an active and satisfying love life. But she’d never watched him shirtless and sweating and wondered what it would be like to lick the sweat from his chest.
Heat flashed up her neck and into her cheeks. Where the hell had that thought come from? She didn’t have to think long about the answer. As she ogled Seth’s hard muscles and tight back, she knew all those naughty thoughts of licking and sucking and . . . Oh God, there she went again. She wasn’t ready for these thoughts and may not ever be ready to act on them, but something about looking at Seth, watching his muscles bunch and flex as he struck the heavy bag, made herwantto act on them.
She spun and headed back to her room. Her best plan of action was to take a shower, a long, cold shower, then meet Ashley at the spa and think of relaxing subjects and definitely not sex with Seth.
“Courtney?”
Shit. That deep, rumbling voice belonged to Seth. She hadn’t heard it often, but she’d heard it enough that it had settled into her body, guaranteeing she could never ignore it. But that’s exactly what she was going to do anyway.
“Courtney. Wait.”
She could hear him behind her, but she kept walking. He’d realize she didn’t want to talk to him and leave her alone. Maybe he’d think she was still angry about the night before. That would work for her. They weren’t friends. It wouldn’t matter if he thought she was mad at him for the rest of his life.
“Hold on, Courtney. Seriously. Shit. Ow.”
This time his words were followed by a loud thump on the ring. Courtney spun and found Seth with his foot caught in the rope, struggling to break free. A smile touched her lips. He might appear a little clumsy and comical at the moment, but he was still hot.Damn it.
“If you would just wait . . .I wanted to . . .” Seth finally freed his foot and jumped down from the ring.
Courtney held her ground, waiting for what was so important that he’d almost broken his neck to tell her. As he approached, he wiped sweat from his forehead with the back of his equally sweaty arm.
“Hey,” he said when he reached her.
“Umm hey.” Somehow she’d been expecting something slightly more profound.
“Are you busy? Can we talk?” His gaze searched her face.
“We are talking.”
He nodded. “I was kind of thinking somewhere else, where we could sit down and not be interrupted.”
Courtney turned her head, scanning the deck filled with people exercising and sunbathing. “You mean like privately?” The thought of being alone with Seth made her stomach tingle.
He stepped closer, bringing the pleasant scent of warm, sweaty man along. “Have breakfast with me.”
“Breakfast?” Somehow that meal seemed too intimate to share with this stranger.
