“Good,” James calls. “Again. Drop your left shoulder. Left. Right. Right. Hook. Left. Good job, Savannah.”

Sweat pours down my back as I train harder and push myself further. James has helped me stay in shape and on my toes since we met. He never asks too many questions, filling in most of the blanks on his own. He works to keep me in the best shape, because he knows this is life or death for me.

“Take a break, Savannah.”

I fall back on my heels from where I was bouncing on my toes. I pace the ring, slowly bringing down my heart rate. I feel James watching me. Sometimes I think he has some paranormal sense that can change the mood around him by his presence. I can feel questions floating around him. He’s waiting for me to break.

Not this time, buddy.

Nope. That’s how he got my story out of me. He stares and waits. And then, you’re spilling your life’s secrets. Laying them at his feet as if they’re his cross to bear. And the damn thing is, he takes them. He quietly shoulders the burdens of each person he cares about. He won’t reveal his secrets. I’ve tried. I know they’re there. I feel his haunting past every time we’re around each other.

I will not break. I will not speak first.

I stop pacing and turn toward him. I stare right back. God, does this guy even blink?

I sigh. “Dammit,” I mutter. I see the tiniest twitch of his lips. Bastard. “Spit it out, pop tart.”

“I wish you’d stop with those damn names,” he grumbles.

“Is teddy bear feeling grumpy today? You know you like them.”

He glowers at me. I give him my sweetest smile in return.

“Is it goin’ good?”

I know he’s asking about Liam and me. We haven’t seen each other since our last date, but we’ve texted several times each day this week, but the nights he was free, I wasn’t and vice versa. Twice this week, I fell asleep talking with him on the phone. He’s kept me laughing. I insist I’m immune to his charm. It’s been fun. It’s been more than fun.

“I love when I’m right.”

“Right about what?” I ask, confused by his sudden change of subject.

“Right about the two of you. I knew you’d fit. I admit, I was worried when I saw him staring at you with his tongue hanging out. I didn’t know the dude. Didn’t know if he just liked playing games, but after a conversation or two, I knew the two of you would fit.”

“You couldn’t know that.”

“But, I did know that.”

“It has been good,” I admit. “I haven’t seen him since last weekend.”

“I wondered,” he says, going back to his short answers.

“We’ve both been busy. I had to work late a few nights this week and he did, too. He jumped right into some big project at this new company.”

“Didn’t know what was going on with you here on a Friday night.”

I personally like Friday nights at the gym. They’re mostly empty, people working out early in the day, so they can jump in and enjoy the weekend. I look around the gym. It’s just the two of us here. Another reason I like coming here on Friday nights. James has time to work with me in the ring without an audience.

“He had to go to a dinner with the partners or something.”

James nods.

I ask him, “Where’s Hudson?”

He gives me a look that says everything I need to know. Hudson is out scoring with some woman that he will surely never call again. He’s a player, but at least he’s upfront. I’ve seen him point-blank tell girls it will be a one-time deal. It will mean nothing and he tells them if they aren’t cool with that, they can end it with no hurt feelings.

“I’ve got some paperwork to do. I’ll leave the door open, let me know when you’re heading out. Holler if you need me.” He helps me down from the ring.

“Thanks for the coaching tonight.” I walk past him and over to the treadmills, ready to get in my cardio for the night. James saunters back to his office, leaving his door open just like he promised.

I’m running on the treadmill, zoned out and listening to my sexy romance audiobook when I see someone step onto the treadmill right next to mine. Annoyance prickles in my system—I’m the only person here and they decide to use the one right next to me instead of one of the other twenty available?

I look over, ready to scowl, but my lips split into a smile instead.

“Hey, gorgeous. I’ve been texting you. Dinner ended earlier than I thought.”

“I left my phone in my bag,” I say, glancing down at the bag I keep at near me. “I’m sorry. How was dinner?”

“Not a problem. It’s a nice surprise finding you here.” He gives a slow grin. I face forward so I don’t fall. My heart rate is accelerating, seeing him here in loose shorts that hang low on his hips—and no shirt. Then he gives me that smile, melting me into a pile of goo.

“Hey, man,” Liam calls. I look over to James’ office, he must have poked his head out to check on me when he heard voices. He raises his chin in Liam’s direction, then goes back into his office, shutting his door. The bastard. I’m not safe! I might pass out if I look at Liam’s body again.

I still keep my eyes off Liam, but notice our strides match. I ask him again, “So, dinner?”

“Yeah, I’ll have dinner with you, gorgeous.” He winks at me.

“Not what I meant,” I tell him. I try to stop the smile, but I can’t before it spreads across my lips.

“Dinner was good. Some young guys started the company. It’s a nice change of pace from Chicago. Their work is innovative and intriguing. I’m going to have a lot of fun working there.”

“I’m sorry, but what is it you do? I know you explained last weekend, but I think I was confused by beer consumption.”

He chuckles. “It’s cool. I’m not sure many understand what I do. I’m a software engineer. I boss things around.”

He’s giving me his sexiest smirk, and the glint in his eyes is mischievous. I raise an eyebrow at him. “You boss things around?”

His eyes run up and down my body, causing my goosebumps break out. I place one hand on the railing of the treadmill to keep my balance. His eyes meet mine again and his lips spread into a slow, seductive smile. “I command things through code. I tell a product or thing how to act or function.”

Heat spreads through my body at the implication that he wants to command me. How is it fair that this man has a set of abs I want to lick, a face that would make artists land on their knees and beg to capture, and a brain that could rival tech giants in Silicon Valley? And, how can a man make coding sound sexy?

We continue our run without speaking. When I hit the five-mile mark, I slow down for my half-mile cooldown. Liam slows to match my pace.

“Spend the night, Savannah.”

My head whips around. Bad idea. His eyes are smoldering, lip tugged into a crooked grin. I face forward, searching for an excuse.

“I have to warn you though,” he says. “I’m not putting out tonight.”

A shocked laugh flies from my mouth. I did not expect that. I thought he was asking me over for that reason. As much as I wanted to see Liam again, I can’t believe I let it go as far as I did—and as fast as I did. I’m not ready for him to see me naked. I can’t deny I want to spend more time with him.

I turn my head toward him. Gone is the smug, demanding man—in its place, a hopeful smile waits for my answer.

“Not putting out, huh?”

“Nope. I want something real with you, gorgeous. I want to get to know you.”

I give him a shy smile. I want that, too. We’ve talked on the phone for hours at a time a few nights this week, but getting to know someone in the dark of night without technology adds another level of excitement and intimacy. I want to lie with him in a dark room that feels safe enough to spill any secret or dark thought. I know I won’t be spilling any secrets tonight, but I want to feel as if I could. I can also read between his lines. He knows last weekend moved too fast for me. We’re slowing it down now. I’m thankful it isn’t something I have to say aloud.

“Okay,” I say quietly. The cooldown that just slowed my heart rate is thrown out the window. My heart starts galloping from the grin and gleam in his eyes when I say yes.