For the rest of Hannah’s workout, his focus was off. To make up for it, he promised to comp her an extra session. She dismissed him with a smile and told him to have fun with his girlfriend.
His girlfriend.
Even if it wasn’t real, he liked the sound of it.
Eight
Rosie and Drewended up at Alma’s Beanery, a local coffeehouse a block away from Northlife Fitness. One thing Rosie loved about downtown Victoria was how walkable it was. The streets near the harbor were lined with gift shops, restaurants, pubs, and coffeehouses. Some areas, like Bastion Square—home to a popular artisan market—and the tourist-friendly parts of Government Street, were pedestrian-only. Unfortunately, tonight’s weather was so rainy that she and Drew were forced to make a mad dash from the gym to Alma’s.
After ordering hot chocolate, they settled into a couple of armchairs. Outside, the driving rain pattered against the windows, making their surroundings even cozier. Across from her, Drew looked as irresistible as ever, wearing a red fleece hoodie and gray sweatpants, his hair still damp from the shower. Thanks to her recent Santa fantasies, she was gripped with the urge to curl up on his lap and rest her head against his shoulder.
Which, obviously, wasn’t going to happen.
But when he placed his hand on her knee—just the slightest of touches—a little shiver danced along her spine.
“Thanks for coming to the gym today,” he said. “And for telling Hannah about us.”
The appreciation in his voice warmed her even more than the piping-hot cocoa. “My pleasure. It’s fun playing the role of your girlfriend. But tonight’s workout might come back to bite me in the butt. It’s been a while since I worked some of those muscles.”
“Make sure to stretch properly. Do you have a yoga app?”
“I still do, thanks to the one you recommended last year. And while we’re thanking each other, I wanted to tell you what an outstanding job you did on Sunday night. Five stars.”
“Do you think your mom liked me?” he asked. “She hugged me before I left.”
He sounded so vulnerable that she was glad she didn’t have to lie. “My mom adored you. Trust me, she doesn’t give out leftovers to just anybody. My dad was impressed, too. He texted me afterward and called you a ‘fine young man.’ He never said that about my ex.”
No surprise, given that the one time she’d brought Erik to Sunday dinner, he’d barely touched the food. Later, he’d said to her, “I’m just not a big fan of Mexican cooking. It’s so heavy and fattening, you know?”
Heavy or not, it was the food she’d grown up with, and he hadn’t made an effort.
“I’m glad Sunday was a success,” Drew said. “But I hope I didn’t screw up things with your boss today. When I crashed your meeting, I didn’t think he’d be there.”
“It was fine. He believed you were auditioning for the role of Santa.” She gave a little snort. “Of course, I didn’t tell him you were theonlycontender.”
“How did the rest of the meeting go?” He licked a dollop of whipped cream off his cocoa, which drew attention to his full lips. Rosie squirmed inwardly, trying hard not to imagine those lips claiming hers in a passionate kiss.
“It went well,” she said. “Preston was on board with all the ideas we picked, as long as we can keep our costs down. Even though it’s going to be a ton of extra work, I love seeing a plan take shape, especially with such a supportive team on my side.”
By the time her boss had left, she’d felt confident that she and the Damsels had set up a series of manageable goals. What was more, they were excited about them.
“Do you like being in management?” Drew asked. “Or does it stress you out?”
The question took her aback, but maybe he wanted to understand what she was dealing with. “A little of both? I’d feel better about my job if it wasn’t in jeopardy right now or if the Duchess wasn’t struggling to survive, but I like my role at the hotel. And I definitely prefer it to working the front desk.”
“Even if it’s way more challenging?”
“Yeah. Maybe I’m a little too driven, but I love a good challenge,” she said. “Why? Are you thinking of getting into management at the gym?”
As he told her about his meeting with Bones and the offer he’d gotten, she was pleased he felt comfortable enough to confide in her. When he was done, he asked her what she thought.
“Personally, I think it’s a great opportunity,” she said. “But only if it’s what you want. Are you happy where you are?”
“Pretty much, yeah. I love what I do. But money-wise, it would make sense to move up the ladder. I’m doing okay, but I barely have any savings. I’d like to build up a cushion in case I get injured or laid off. I never want to end up like my parents—broke and miserable and hating each other because of it.”
This was the second time he’d disparaged his parents. She could have let it go, but since he seemed willing to open up, she decided to delve a little deeper. “What’s the deal with your folks? If you’d rather not talk about it, I understand, but I’m here to listen.”
He didn’t respond right away, which made her worry she’d pushed him too far. But after he finished his cocoa and set it on the table beside them, he spoke up. “You sure you don’t mind? I usually don’t burden people with this shit.”
