Three.
I row until my breath catches in my throat and I’m panting, my calves and upper arm muscles aching with use. My stomach protests as I bend forward a final time, placing the handle in its catch and sliding my trainer clad feet out of the metal pedals.
Reaching for the hem of my all black t-shirt, I use it to wipe the beaded sweat from my forehead. Cool oxygen kisses its way across my bare abs, quickly followed by pinpricks of heat which at first, I mistake for blood flow.
But when I drop my shirt and look up, across the floor of the gym, it’sherelectric blue eyes on my body causing my skin to heat.
In the past two weeks since I started my job, we haven’t crossed paths since that first day. Something I chalked up as a right shame, but I was too busy settling in to do anything about it, and she certainly hadn’t come to find me.
But now…
Her gaze stays on my stomach for another heartbeat, even after I’ve hidden my toned six pack with my t-shirt, until she herself looks up and her blue eyes meet my green ones.
Without meaning to this time, it appears I’ve once again caught the attention of the pretty, long dark-haired dance teacher who’d threatened to call security on me when she saw me peep through the window of her dance class.
It had been a true accident, I promise.
Although… I wouldn’t mind doing it again if I got to seeherin another pair of killer heels, moving her body in ways that should be illegal.
I feel the corner of my lips uptick into a smirk.
My smirk only grows when I notice the slightly pink tinge beginning to flush her cheeks.
I don’t think she meant to get herself caught checking me out.
And yet, she’s not looking away.
Rising to my full height, I hit pause on the music track blasting through my ears and pocket my headphones.
It takes me all of five strides to reach her.
“Have we met before?” I ask, standing toe to toe with her, but leaving but an inch between our feet. “You look familiar.”
Miss black haired beauty isn’t impressed by my joke.
Like the last time I saw her, she crosses her arms over her body and takes half a step back, putting space between us.
“Har har.” Sarcasm drips from her tone. “Very funny. You know damn well where you recognise me from.”
I drop the joke and try a different tact. “Looks like you recognise me too.”
Those pretty blue eyes of hers narrow in displeasure.
“Unless you were just checking me out for the fun of it,” I continue, not even fighting the Cheshire grin which threatens to overtake my lips. “I can’t say I mind either way. Although, I have to admit, the second option seems much more fun than the first… don’t you think?”
“You really shouldn’t be flirting with me,” she says, but her voice lacks the conviction I think she was meaning to convey. I don’t know who she’s trying to convince more; me or herself.
A noncommittal hum slips out from my throat as I watch her twist a single gold band on her left-handed ring finger.
Shit.
She’s married?
Wait.
I look at her hands again, noting the way she uses her thumb to spin the shiny gold band on her… middle finger.
Thank fuck. For a second there, I really thought…
