She blushed, finding oven gloves I’d left on the side and taking the croissants out. “Second in my football series. It should be finished today.”
“What’s it about? I know it’s romance, but every story’s got to be different, hasn’t it?” I didn’t want to give too much away that I’d read some of her first book — now in more detail than just skimming. It was interesting, seeing what could be construed as a healthy romantic relationship. The sex scenes were hot; I just didn’t let myself think how they were also an insight into what Jerrica might like.
She smiled that smile that made her face light up. “This one’s enemies-to-lovers. You know, they start off hating each other and then they can’t keep their hands off each other. A bit like Rowan and Dee.”
I frowned. “Rowan isn’t like, inspiration for this, is he? Because, just no.” I shook my head, taking out the pre-made smoothie Kitty’s team had delivered the day before from the fridge. She had the right idea: we gave her our menus and she — or her team — put together the shakes and juices for three days at a time.
I added the pre-workout supplement and gave it a shake, bracing myself for the taste of grass. This was one drink that even Kitty couldn’t make taste decent.
“I don’t base any of my characters on a real person. That would just be weird.” She laughed. “Although I don’t need to imagine how my characters might look. I just need to watch a training session.”
I pulled my vest up, exposing my abs, watching Jerrica’s face.
She burst out laughing.
“Subtle, Jesse, subtle.”
“I’m trying to help. You know, provide some of that inspo.”
“Yeah, thanks, but you’re just going to make me avoid looking at you completely. How long will you be at the training complex?”
I took a gulp of the drink and winced. It was as bad as I thought it would be. “We’re doing drills then hitting the weights for leg day. Probably about three hours. Can you manage three hours at Kitty’s?”
I didn’t feel guilty. She knew there would be some waiting around, and it wasn’t that far from the complex that she couldn’t come back to Nate’s. I also knew she would be able to use one of the rooms in the complex to write if she didn’t want to be in Kitty’s for that long. I was also paying her a huge amount for this.
“I can manage a full day at Kitty’s.” She rolled her eyes. “It just means I’ll need to go for a run later, because I can’t resist her cakes.” She slapped her thigh.
It didn’t wobble.
“I’ll run with you later.”
She raised her brows. “I’m not sure that’s a good idea.”
“Why?”
“I’ll be too slow for you.”
“You won’t. I’m not looking to go fast after what I’ll be doing this morning. Just build up stamina.”
She lifted the croissant up to her lips, still looking at me as if she was appraising me. “Is your stamina not good enough already? Have you had complaints?”
The air in the room became charged.
A lungful of oxygen got stuck in my throat. It wasn’t an innocent comment from Jerrica. It was meant the way it sounded.
I should play it down. Mention something about my coaches, pretend to take it innocently.
Even I had my limits.
“Trust me when I say mystaminahas never been an issue.”
Those gorgeously plump lips curved into a tease of a smile. “I’ll have to take your word for it.”
My jaw clenched. My eyes dropped to the short skirt she was wearing that exposed those long legs far more than was good for my health. “My word’s pretty good.” It was a promise.
“Hmmm.” Her eyes danced, her mouth full of buttery croissant.
I looked away, fully aware that I was being tortured on purpose.
