Because he was looking in a mirror to check his form, she was free to study his reflection.
As he bench-pressed enormous plates, she noticed the flex of each of his muscles.
Her heart rate accelerated in a way that had nothing to do with the workout.She told herself she’d never hit the gym with her boss again.He was too dangerous to her physical state.
A few minutes later, he finished his weight training.He lifted a hand in acknowledgment as he passed behind her.
She waited a few minutes to make sure he was gone before ending her workout and crossing to the locker room.
Rather than changing into her regular clothes, she toweled off then reapplied some mascara.
After pulling on a lightweight jacket and slinging her bag over her shoulder, she grabbed her purse and exited into the hallway.
Nathan Donovan stood there, arms folded, leaning against the wall, waiting for her.
She stopped so quickly that her bag slipped to her forearm.
Quickly, he took two steps toward her to readjust it.
“I… That’s not necessary.”And because he raised an eyebrow, she added, “But thank you.”
With her in tennis shoes instead of heels, he loomed even taller, broader.He’d showered, if his damp hair and the scent of the woods after a rain were anything to go by.And he looked devastating.He wore a crisp, white, long-sleeved shirt, with the top two buttons open.His slacks were gray, and his shoes had a mirror-like polish.The addition of a buttery leather bomber jacket was enough to make her weak.
More than ever, she felt as if she were at a disadvantage.The man overwhelmed her.
“I think you should let me buy you dinner.”
To hide her shock, she said, “I’m sorry?”
“Today has been…unusual.I want to be sure we get off to a good start.”
“It’s a little late for that, Mr.Donovan.”
“Which is even more reason to let me buy you dinner.”
She gave him a false smile.“Really, it’s not necessary.”
“I insist, Ms.Lane.”
“I’m hardly dressed to go out,” she told him, especially with him looking so fresh and in charge.Though damn it, her traitorous pulse thundered at the idea.
She wanted to dislike him, and she certainly did on some level.But she also couldn’t deny how much he physically appealed to her.
Her resolve was complicated by the sudden, wickedly hot images tumbling through her mind…of being in his arms, of him looking at her purposefully before lowering his mouth toward hers, of him skimming his fingers up her spine.
She shook her head.Thinking of her boss in that way would be a rabbit hole leading to pure, pure madness.
Damn pheromones.
“We don’t have to go anywhere fancy,” he persisted.
“Perhaps another time.”
“You need to eat,” he countered.“If I’m correct, you skipped lunch, like I did.”
“Are you accustomed to always getting your way?”She tilted her head back.
“Yes.”
