Sexual attraction was one thing. Because she was an adult and fully capable of keeping a firm grip on her desires.
But the warmth spreading through her chest right now?
It was something else entirely, and she had a feeling it was only the beginning.
CHAPTER THREE
He should not workout in his own house. Victor knew that in the same way he knew not to leave a pan unattended on high heat or to underestimate a five-year-old with a head full of questions and her mother’s stubborn streak. Some lessons were simply understood, while others came with a jolt.
Off-season training meant structure and discipline. It meant reclaiming control of a body that had spent months being battered, tested, and pushed to its limits. It meant early morning runs, controlled breathing, and reps counted in his head.
Every summer since he’d joined the Baltimore Stingrays, Victor had done the majority of his off-season workouts with the team because, despite having a decent gym in his own home, he preferred the equipment at the training facility.
The team gym allowed him to focus and ensured there were no distractions. Like the mail carrier dropping off a package. Or the washing machine buzzer telling him it was time to switch the load to the dryer. Or remembering mid-workout that he forgot to take something out to thaw for dinner.
Plus, he got a better workout with his teammates, who pushed him to go harder and longer.
However, knowing that didn’t matter. Because it was becoming too damn obvious that he was going to keep working out at home this summer.
Despite the biggest distraction of all.
As if his thoughts had summoned her, Belle walked into the gym, pulling up short when she saw him. He was halfway through a set of pushups, his shoulders burning, sweat sliding down his back.
She froze in the doorway like she’d walked into the wrong room.
He was glad he was still in the pushup position because, thanks to the sight of Belle in her oversized T-shirt, one side slipping off the shoulder, and her cut-off denim shorts, he was rock hard, his cock tenting his workout shorts.
Why the hell had he stripped off his shirt?
For a second—one long, suspended second—they just stared at each other, and his brain shut down.
He forgot how many reps he’d done, what set he was on. Forgot how to function as a normal human being. Instead, all he could focus on was how Belle’s wavy brown hair was pinned up in a messy bun on the top of her head, and how much he’d like to pull the hair band out and wrap those soft tresses around his fist.
Yeah. That wasn’t helping him…or his cock. He probably looked like an idiot, holding the planking pose, but without a shirt to tug over his raging erection, he didn’t have much choice if he wanted to hide the impact she had on him.
“Sorry,” Belle said, blushing slightly.
He smirked at the way she tried not to look at his body—and failed.
“I saw Pip come this direction and I wanted to make sure she wasn’t in here using your weight bench as a jungle gym again. I didn’t realize you were working out.”
Victor grimaced, his arms screaming at him. He rolled to his ass, reaching for his shirt at the same time, pretending to wipe his sweaty chest with it when he was really using it as a shield. “I haven’t seen her yet this morning.”
“She probably kept on trucking to the kitchen,” Belle replied. “Her first order of business was to remind me that I promised to make her waffles. But first…coffee.” She muttered the word like it was the answer to all of life’s problems.
Victor chuckled. “I made a pot before coming in here. It should be ready.”
“You are a saint,” she said. “Should I make waffles for you too?”
“Fuck yeah. I’m almost finished here.” He was nowhere near finished. If he’d managed to pull himself away from the house and to the team gym, he would have put in another good hour or two, and he sure as shit wouldn’t ruin the work he’d done by pigging out on waffles drowning in syrup and butter.
Belle gave him a quick smile before heading down the hall to the kitchen, humming as she went. He recalled how he’d bitched about her Mary Poppins attitude to his teammates. Part of him truly had expected her cheery attitude to grate on his nerves, but so far, he’d found sharing a house with her surprisingly easy and enjoyable.
While they were polar opposites—personality-wise—somehow they made a great team when it came to caring for Pip.
Victor remained where he was for a beat longer, trying to will away his erection. Then he dropped his head and powered through the rest of his set like a man being chased. His muscles strained and his breathing sharpened, as he forced his focus back in place through sheer will. When he finally pushed himselfoff the floor, he grabbed the shirt again and dragged it over his face.
Walking out to the hall, he started to head to his bedroom for a quick shower, then paused for a moment, listening to the sounds coming from his kitchen: cabinet doors opening and closing, the soft clink of a mug, Pip’s tinkling laughter as Belle sang some silly song she appeared to be making up on the spot about a lost spatula.
