She hitched her hand on her hip. “You said that you like my company.”
With a furrowed brow, he stroked his beard. Up and down, he caressed his face with his thumb and forefinger. Hypnotized, she couldn’t look away.
Enough!
“I think I got the wrong idea about us,” she said, breaking the silence.
“Because I said I like hangin’ with you? Idolike it.”
“I loved hooking up with you, but we can’t keep doing that. If you asked me to move in, you know, for the sex?—”
“I didn’t.” He paused. “I want you to know… my last relationship ended badly, so I’m gonna take things… I’m makin’ sure?—”
She put up her hand to stop him. “Got it.” She couldn’t bear to hear another word.
Her heart shattered, the words cut like a razor. At least he’d been honest. She appreciated his directness. It would havesucked if he’d made her think this could turn into something permanent.
“Work out with me,” he said.
He just shredded me and he wants to exercise?She couldn’t begin to understand him.
“I’ll meet you in the gym.” She was forcing herself to act normal, but she had no idea how they’d derailed so fast.
Rolling her suitcases down the hall, he caught up to her.
“What’s goin’ on? he asked.
“Nothing,” she snapped. “Nothing is going on.” She stopped in front of the first room, realized it was his home office, then moved to the next.
In the doorway of the guest room, she said, “Why don’t you go downstairs? I’ll be there shortly.” She rolled in the suitcases and shut the door.
After changing into a tank top and shorts, she pulled on her sneakers, and left the room. Rebel was sitting on the ottoman strumming his acoustic guitar.
“I thought you went downstairs,” she said.
“I waited for you.”
Men confused her, this one especially. “Do I need the keycard for the elevator?”
“Only on the ride up,” he replied.
“You didn’t have to wait.”
No response from him.
They rode down, went into the gym. The equipment was super nice, very new, and they practically had the place to themselves. Just a handful of people were there. Two on the treadmills, one on the elliptical, one using the weights.
Exercise would help clear her head, so she beelined to the treadmill. Only problem? Rebel was lifting directly across the room. She shifted her attention, but seconds later, she was checking him out again.
Hard not to do with a body like that.
After adding more weight to the machine, he started doing curls. His already bulging biceps strained against his cotton shirt. She started counting. When he got to twenty, he stopped. His gaze found hers, he flashed a smile.
That delicious zing of attraction skittered through her.
She smiled back. To be polite, of course.
He adjusted the pin, picked up the bar, and began lifting again, this time with more weights. He strained against the bulk, but he did twenty more before dropping the handle bar.
