lifted at the corners, and the sly look in her eye slayed me. Ironic. “Well, I’ll be here in the morning doing my regular workout. Maybe I’ll see you.”
I didn’t answer. I could only watch as she pushed through the door and made her way to a shiny new Honda in the parking lot.
As sure as I was standing, I’d be here in the morning.
Chapter 10: “Have the courage to live.”
Kenny
––––––––
R olling onto my side, I tried to focus on the flickering television, not Slayde Bennett. All day I’d done my best to avoid him, but like little rebels, my eyes found his whenever my thoughts drifted. Twice they’d met in the gym, and both times my chest clenched like some silly teenager with a crush.
I would not let myself fantasize about him this morning, dripping with sex as he hit the heavy bag like a pro, and I would definitely not let my stubborn brain remember him struggling for control after flattening the asshole who’d attacked me on the beach.
With a shudder, I thanked everything I could think of for helping me escape that costly mistake. The flash of what almost happened to me sent a roll of nausea through my stomach, yet the feeling of Slayde’s presence, how he handled all of it, covered me in calming warmth.
I closed my eyes and pictured his slim, muscular body, his clear blue eyes and dark brown hair, the faintest hint of a beard along his square jaw, and that line in the center of his chin. Too much!
Flipping onto my stomach, I reached for the remote just as my phone started going off. The picture told me it was Mariska, and I scooped it up hoping for any kind of distraction.
“Did you ask him?” Her voice was breathless with excitement.
Mine by contrast was not. “Yes.”
“And?”
“He said no.” A brief frown touched my lips as I remembered his refusal to train me.
“What? I don’t believe it. I’m telling you, he was checking you out all day.”
A tingle moved through my stomach, but I dismissed it. I’d talked to him, after all, and he was not interested in me. “He only looked at me once, and he was frowning.”
“That was because Darla tried to seduce him.” The sound of Mariska walking through her apartment filled my ear. “She’s such a cougar. I’m pretty sure I saw her lick her lips when he unloaded those weights.”
“I’m sure she did.” Chewing my bottom lip, I told myself I didn’t care if a sexy gym member made passes at him. It wasn’t my business.
It was a lie.
“I bet she loaded those weights herself just so she could pretend she needed help taking them off.”
That made me laugh. “He is amazingly ripped.”
“And that ink! What do you think he’s hiding under that shirt? A map to buried treasure?”
“Hidden treasure.”
“I knew it!” My friend squeal-laughed. “You’re into him. Are you going in the morning?”
“Of course. It’s my daily routine. I don’t plan to change just because he might be there.” If only he might be there .
I dismissed the stubborn thoughts in my head. While Saturday made me believe I was ready to venture into the dating waters, Tuesday verified I only made bad choices when it came to men. Even if Slayde Bennett had saved me, everything he did demonstrated his still waters hid some seriously deep shit, and it wasn’t anything he wanted to share.
When she spoke again, Mariska’s voice was serious. “Are you okay... otherwise? Since Tuesday, I mean?”
Inhaling a cleansing breath, I answered truthfully. “I think so.” I nodded even though she couldn’t see me. “I mean, yesterday was hard. I’m still a little shook up, but I’m okay. I’m not hurt. It was a really close call, and I’m so thankful it wasn’t worse. But I’m okay.”
“Oh, god, Ken, I’m so sorry I left you alone.” She sounded near tears. “Can you ever forgive me?”
Pressing my eyes closed, I pushed back against self-pity. “You didn’t leave me alone, you were talking to Pete. I was the dumbass who
I didn’t answer. I could only watch as she pushed through the door and made her way to a shiny new Honda in the parking lot.
As sure as I was standing, I’d be here in the morning.
Chapter 10: “Have the courage to live.”
Kenny
––––––––
R olling onto my side, I tried to focus on the flickering television, not Slayde Bennett. All day I’d done my best to avoid him, but like little rebels, my eyes found his whenever my thoughts drifted. Twice they’d met in the gym, and both times my chest clenched like some silly teenager with a crush.
I would not let myself fantasize about him this morning, dripping with sex as he hit the heavy bag like a pro, and I would definitely not let my stubborn brain remember him struggling for control after flattening the asshole who’d attacked me on the beach.
With a shudder, I thanked everything I could think of for helping me escape that costly mistake. The flash of what almost happened to me sent a roll of nausea through my stomach, yet the feeling of Slayde’s presence, how he handled all of it, covered me in calming warmth.
I closed my eyes and pictured his slim, muscular body, his clear blue eyes and dark brown hair, the faintest hint of a beard along his square jaw, and that line in the center of his chin. Too much!
Flipping onto my stomach, I reached for the remote just as my phone started going off. The picture told me it was Mariska, and I scooped it up hoping for any kind of distraction.
“Did you ask him?” Her voice was breathless with excitement.
Mine by contrast was not. “Yes.”
“And?”
“He said no.” A brief frown touched my lips as I remembered his refusal to train me.
“What? I don’t believe it. I’m telling you, he was checking you out all day.”
A tingle moved through my stomach, but I dismissed it. I’d talked to him, after all, and he was not interested in me. “He only looked at me once, and he was frowning.”
“That was because Darla tried to seduce him.” The sound of Mariska walking through her apartment filled my ear. “She’s such a cougar. I’m pretty sure I saw her lick her lips when he unloaded those weights.”
“I’m sure she did.” Chewing my bottom lip, I told myself I didn’t care if a sexy gym member made passes at him. It wasn’t my business.
It was a lie.
“I bet she loaded those weights herself just so she could pretend she needed help taking them off.”
That made me laugh. “He is amazingly ripped.”
“And that ink! What do you think he’s hiding under that shirt? A map to buried treasure?”
“Hidden treasure.”
“I knew it!” My friend squeal-laughed. “You’re into him. Are you going in the morning?”
“Of course. It’s my daily routine. I don’t plan to change just because he might be there.” If only he might be there .
I dismissed the stubborn thoughts in my head. While Saturday made me believe I was ready to venture into the dating waters, Tuesday verified I only made bad choices when it came to men. Even if Slayde Bennett had saved me, everything he did demonstrated his still waters hid some seriously deep shit, and it wasn’t anything he wanted to share.
When she spoke again, Mariska’s voice was serious. “Are you okay... otherwise? Since Tuesday, I mean?”
Inhaling a cleansing breath, I answered truthfully. “I think so.” I nodded even though she couldn’t see me. “I mean, yesterday was hard. I’m still a little shook up, but I’m okay. I’m not hurt. It was a really close call, and I’m so thankful it wasn’t worse. But I’m okay.”
“Oh, god, Ken, I’m so sorry I left you alone.” She sounded near tears. “Can you ever forgive me?”
Pressing my eyes closed, I pushed back against self-pity. “You didn’t leave me alone, you were talking to Pete. I was the dumbass who
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