“So, what about serenading you in front of the gym?” He raised an eyebrow and placed his hand on his chest in true Nineties boy band style. “Maybe we should slow dance—right here—your call …”
Sam rolled her eyes, but the hint of a smile tugged thecorner of her lips. “Get your ass inside, Bradley. Slow dancing … singing … stick to the slopes—that’s where your true talent lies.”
Finn burst out laughing. This was the Sam he knew so well, quick with her comebacks and always keeping him in check. He saluted her then motioned to the door. “Come on, let’s show the team what #MeltingPoint really looks like.”
Sam met his gaze as he held the door open for her, and for a moment the teasing was gone. There was something real in her eyes, something unspoken. It was the kind of look that made his heart skip a beat.
“Right,” she said softly as she ducked under his arm, “#MeltingPoint—let’s do this.” She spun away from him and into the atrium before disappearing into the dark gym. Lights flickered on as he followed her.
Dumping his bag beside Sam’s, he dragged off his hat and ran a hand through his hair, leaving it standing on end.
“Good Lord.” Sam half smiled at him, making his heart soar. “Finn. Your hair!”
Finn felt his cheeks heat. “I could do with a cut.” He flattened the spikes of hair that had been standing up all over his head. Sam tugged her sweater over her head, emerging perfect, as if she’d just had a blowout. She was wearing a sleek one-shoulder crop top that highlighted her toned arms and shoulders. He sucked a breath in as she swooped her hair into a jaunty high ponytail. How was he going to make it through a training session—fake or otherwise—with her looking like that.
“You promise to take it easy on me?” He blustered as she bent down to slip out of her sweatpants, revealing thehigh-waisted leggings she had on beneath. His heart pounded as she smoothed her hands over her hips, the leggings accentuating her strong curves.
“I will,” she said, leaning into a stretch. “Nothing strenuous, I just need to loosen up. Maya is on her way. She said she’d be down soon to take a few photos. I think we should try to concentrate on catching a good few shots of us. That way she can post over the next few days. She said Salvaro are more active at liking and commenting on them, so they might be our best bet.”
“Maya’s not here yet?” Finn snorted, trying to get to grips with the idea of posing for photos with Sam looking like that. How could he hide how he felt from the camera? Because it was sure to pick up every little detail. “I thought you said she was up.”
“I said she’s up, not awake,” Sam joked.
Finn breathed out. She was making jokes; that was a good thing.
“Listen, about yesterday,” Sam started. Her eyes dropped to the floor. “At your suite. I think it’s best if we put what happened aside. We need to stay focused—on what’s real and what’s not.”
Finn nodded. His words caught in his dry mouth so that nothing came out. Sam’s big green eyes were staring up at him, her face pale and drawn. He could see the signs of exhaustion beneath the focus she was wearing. It would be wrong to add to her worries and tell her that he wanted her more than anything in the world.
“Of course.” He forced a light-heartedness into his voice that he didn’t feel. “You’re one hundred percent right. Focus.Train. Win.” He mentally rolled his eyes. He sounded like a bad cheerleader.
But Sam didn’t seem to notice. Her face relaxed and her shoulders lowered.
“Thanks, Finn. You’ve no idea what this means to me.”
Finn swallowed, his smile sliding from his face as she dropped to the floor and started rummaging around in her gym bag. She sat back on her heels. “I’ve forgotten my towel. Back in a minute.”
She smiled at him, then turned and walked toward the ladies’ changing room.
“I do know,” Finn said to the empty gym, before picking up the battle ropes from their rack. “I know all too well.”
Five minutes later Maya lumbered into the gym. Flinging her satsuma coat over the first treadmill she met, she yawned and rubbed her eyes.
“This time of day should be banned.” Her gravelly voice made Finn laugh. “It should be illegal.”
“Poor Maya,” he grunted as he dropped the battle ropes he’d been shaking. Wiping sweat from his brow with a towel, he moved toward the bench, placing his leg on it and squatting.
“Oh my gosh! Finn! What fresh hell is that?” Maya groaned as she watched him. “Stop it right now. It looks painful, and you’re making me feel like a loser.”
“Can’t stop,” Finn breathed out heavily. “Almost done.”
“Where’s Sam?” Maya strolled around the gym, stopping to nudge a hand weight with the toe of her boot. “I thought you’d be together.”
“Nah, we’re not together, Maya, you know that. It’sall for show.” Finn gritted his teeth through the last of his squats.
“Well, youshouldbe together.” Maya tried to pick up the weight but couldn’t. “That—” she pointed at the dumbbell “—should also be illegal.”
Finn collapsed onto the bench with a grunt, wiping his hands on his shorts. “Tell me about it. My legs are gonna fall off.”
