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“He didn’t want any of us luring you away from him.”
I looked back at him, surprised. “Uh, no, I don’t think so.”
He frowned, a bite of scone halfway to his mouth. “Why not?”
Fuck. Deep breath.“I’m not exactly a hard body, in case you haven’t noticed.”
“Zelda,” he looked up at the ceiling like he was choosing his words carefully then met my gaze and continued, “I definitely noticed your body. And I like what I see.” He reached across the table and brushed his fingers over mine. “I’d like to see more of you.” He gave me a lopsided grin. “I mean that in the best and worst ways.”
He liked me? Like, reallylikedme? This beautiful man? Why?
I stared at his hand beside mine long enough to make him ask, “Is that okay? Or did I just freak you out?”
I touched his fingers. “You’re fine. I’m just not used to compliments, sooo I tend to doubt them.”
“What?” He sounded genuinely shocked. He leaned forward and I could see him putting two and two together. “Are you saying Tristan insulted you about your appearance?”
I bit my lip again and looked down.
“That’s unacceptable.” He shook his head and muttered, “Damn, I may have to let him go.”
I grabbed his hand. “Don’t. Please don’t, Aithan. I don’t want him to lose his job because of our past. That’s not fair.”
His blue eyes pinned me as his fingers gripped mine. “But it’s fair for him to destroy your self-confidence?” He pressed his lips together. “Think about what you just said. He made you feel bad about your body but should keep his job training people to appreciate and strengthen theirs? That’s a double standard and it’s not what Blue Water is about.”
Oh my God, this man was as decent as they came.
“I understand where you’re coming from. And I appreciate it. But he shouldn’t lose his job because of our personal shit. Tristan and I have a lot of history. Yes, he was a dick to his ex-girlfriend. That doesn’t mean he isn’t a good trainer.”
Aithan released my hand and scratched the back of his head. He sat back and exhaled a slow breath. “Okay. I won’t can him, but wewillhave a long and ugly conversation. He better get his head on straight. If he crosses the line in any way, I’ll kick him off my crew. Personal trainers are supposed to lift people up, not put them down, Zelda.”
I sat back, too, relieved. I’d had more than enough drama with Tristan and I really didn’t think he deserved to lose his job. “Thanks.”
He eyed me. Leaning forward again, he lowered his voice and asked, “Did he ever hit you?”
“What? No. He was never like that. Tristan is a dick, but he’s not a monster.” I sipped my tea, taking a moment to get centered, before continuing. “He wasn’t very physical at all with me, to be honest.”
Aithan shook his head and took a drink. “That would not be our problem,” he murmured into his cup. I was about to respond when his phone chimed. “Tobias. Right. Damn. And now the best part of my day comes to an end way too soon. I gotta get back to the gym for a session.”
“Tobias?”
“My client and my best friend.”
“Oh. Bummer. This wasn’t enough time.”
“I agree. How about dinner this week? Wednesday or Thursday?”
“Sure. Wednesday,” I said before I lost my nerve. “But let me cook.”
He looked surprised, then nodded. “Right. AIP. Okay, what can I bring?”
“Just yourself. That’s more than enough.” I couldn’t stop the blush that warmed my cheeks.
Aithan smiled slowly. “You’re even more beautiful when you blush.”
I pressed my hands to my cheeks and giggled like a goddamn little girl. Fuck. But he didn’t seem to mind. “Is six p.m. okay?”
He pulled up his calendar on his phone. “Six thirty?”
