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“Nobody,” Maggie part groans and part chuckles.
“Nobody? Really?”
The girl’s tone is suggestive enough that I wince at the same time as Maggie sputters, “Eww, no…he’s my brother!”
“Oh…” There’s definitely a sliver of relief in the redhead’s surprised remark. A husk of relief that gets my pulse pounding as I push my AirPod into my ear and start on my run, ignoring the urge to turn back and interrupt their meeting.
The late July heat is blistering as I make it back to the house. Using the steps to stretch the ache in my calves, I drag in a deep breath through my mouth before exhaling through my nose. It feels good to be somewhere where nobody cares who I am. No one stops to ogle or ask for an autograph. For the first time in a long time, I’m invisible outside the track, and I love the freedom.
“I’ll drop by the shop tomorrow with the files,” the familiar voice draws my attention instantly.
“Stop changing topics.” Maggie laughs. “You know I’m right. You’re young and single…there are so many other fish in the sea for you to—”
“Okay! Okay! Maybe you shou—” The second she sees me, she ends the conversation, racing down the porch steps to her tiny, turquoise Nissan LEAF that’s parked at the curb. “I’ll see you tomorrow, Mags.”
“Bye, Rosie!” Brooks yells, waving her goodbye.
Rosie. Not the siren name I imagined, but it suits her better than any other name I could’ve thought of. From the flush on her cheeks to her full lips and even her hair. Everything about her is vibrant and…Rosie.
“Laters, Rosie,” I call with a jazz-fingered wave as she gets in her car. My grin earns me a scowl as she slips her sunglasses on and shuts the door.
Watching her drive off, I imagine how the flush of her cheeks has deepened with her pursed pout. I bet they’re warm to the touch.
“Put your tongue back in your mouth,” Maggie snaps, slapping the back of my head. “And don’t get any ideas. Rosie is off-limits, she’s had enough of a-hole playboys messing with her.” When I glance up at her, hoping for more, she stresses. “Off. Limits. Stay away.”
“Yeah…okay!”
“I mean it.”
“Sure.”
“Stay away, Brody.”
“Okay, Maggie,” I grit at her even as my head chuckles, not likely.
She knows me better than to make something I’ve set my eyes on off-limits. It only makes me want it more, and there isn’t a thing I want that I don’t get. I live for the chase. I thrive on pushing boundaries and crossing lines. And Maggie has just made Rosie the chase I didn’t know I was after.
Chapter Five
Pulling my hair into a messy bun, I grab my towel and move over to a free treadmill. The gym at the country club is busy this morning, with locals and guests cramming in their morning workouts before beginning their days.
As I set the pace and incline on the machine, I grab my phone from my pocket and bring up my latest workout playlist. I never thought I’d be someone who considered getting to the gym as one of the best parts of their day. But I love how I can work out my emotions and leave feeling full of energy for the day ahead.
By the time the third song hits the chorus, I’ve worked up a sweat and I’m struggling not to pant like a hyperactive canine. Once I’ve hit the cooldown button, I take a swig of my water and run through today’s to-do list in my head.
Grabbing my water bottle and towel, I head for the changing room.
“Fancy seeing you here, Rosie,” Brody says from behind me, emphasizing my name like he deserves a medal for having discovered it.
“It’s a public gym and this is a small town, not really that surprising,” I say with a sardonic laugh.
“Are you always this frosty to visitors to your fine town, or is it because you like me?” he teases and I try to focus on his face and not the fact that he’s shirtless and looks like he’s walked straight off of a magazine cover.
“Crap, I’m not coming across well, am I?” I ask, grimacing that I’m coming across that way. I don’t want to offend him, I just don’t want to lead him on.
“Grab a coffee with me,” he says, his smile attempting to disarm my defenses but luckily I’ve shored them up.
“I can’t, I’m sorry,” is all I say, before I turn and head to the changing room once more. As I reach the door, I can’t resist the urge to look back. He’s standing where I left him, and his gaze hasn’t left me. My eyes lock with his and for a moment I feel like everything stops. There’s no hum of machines, no buzz of the A/C, there’s just the sound of my heart thumping. Who is this guy and why does my body come alive whenever he’s near?
