"So, how do things look?" Tammy asked, her tone shifting to serious concern. "Honestly."
Adrian tried to focus on the conversation rather than the hypnotic sight of his mate executing a perfect combination sequence.
"It's not the worst situation I've ever encountered," he said carefully, "but it's fairly bleak. The fundamentals are solid, but the cash flow issues are mounting rapidly."
Tammy's expression tightened with worry.
"However," Adrian continued, "I have several ideas that could turn things around if Riley accepts help implementing them."
"That's the challenge right there," Tammy said with a rueful shake of her head. "Riley isn't good at accepting anyone's help. She barely lets her own mother assist when it's desperately needed."
Adrian couldn't suppress a low chuckle at the familiar frustration in Tammy's voice.
"Well, maybe I can convince her somehow."
Tammy studied him with sharp maternal intuition, and Adrian had the unsettling sense that she was seeing far more than he intended to reveal.
"You know," she said thoughtfully, "Riley might be more receptive if the conversation happened somewhere less stressful." She gestured at the surrounding gym. "Away from this place, where she feels like she has to be in complete control of everything. Maybe dinner would be a nice change of scenery."
"Thanks for the tip," Adrian said, filing away the insight. Riley's mother clearly understood her daughter's defensive patterns better than anyone.
Before he could respond further, Riley approached them with a confused frown, sweat glistening on her skin in ways that made Adrian's tiger practically purr with appreciation.
"Mom, what are you two talking about?"
"Just introducing myself," Tammy said innocently, already stepping away with the practiced ease of someone who knew exactly when to make a strategic retreat.
She disappeared into the crowd of gym members before Riley could ask what else they'd discussed, leaving him alone with his mate and the electric tension that seemed to crackle between them whenever they occupied the same space.
"So," Riley said, crossing her arms in a gesture that was probably meant to look casual but only emphasized the curves he was trying desperately not to stare at. "Did you finish your assessment?"
"I did," Adrian replied, his voice rougher than intended. "But maybe we should discuss it over dinner. Somewhere less intimidating. Just numbers and ideas, no pressure."
Riley's expression shifted through several emotions—surprise, suspicion, and something that looked almost like temptation before her defensive walls slammed back into place.
"I don't usually mix business with?—"
"It's not mixing anything," Adrian interrupted smoothly. "It's finding a setting where we can have an honest conversation about your options without the distraction of everything you've built watching over your shoulder."
For a moment, he thought she might refuse. Her jaw tightened, and he could practically see her internal debate playing out across her expressive features.
Then she surprised him.
"Sure, why not," she said with forced casualness. "Why don't I meet you in an hour at Zephora down the street? It's quiet enough for business talk."
"That sounds perfect," Adrian managed, fighting the urge to smile like he'd just won the lottery. "I'm looking forward to it."
He left the gym before he could do something stupid like reach out and wipe the sweat from her face or ask if she'd felt the same electric shock when they'd shaken hands earlier. The afternoon air hit him like a cold splash of reality, but it did nothing to cool the fire that had been burning in his chest since the moment he'd first caught her scent.
His phone rang before he'd made it half a block.
"How did it go?" Mark's voice carried barely contained curiosity.
"I'm having dinner with her in an hour to discuss her financial situation," Adrian said, surprised by how normal his voice sounded when his entire world had just shifted on its axis.
"Dinner already? That sounds promising."
"It is promising, and I can't deny that this is the most intense connection I've ever felt in my entire life," Adrian confessed. "But I can't rush this, Mark. She's human. She has no idea what's happening between us."
