Chloe gave him a sharp look before finishing the bite she’d been chewing. “Don’t do anything until I get in there. It will only be a couple minutes.”

As Nick walked away, he thought about what a contradiction she truly was. She obviously took her job very seriously because she didn’t want him hurt. And it was more than clear she was attracted to him, but she wanted him to know there was a line she wasn’t going to cross without one hell of a battle.

It must be hard to walk around as uptight as she was, he thought with a chuckle as he slowly moved through his large house. If she even had an inkling of his thoughts, he had a feeling she’d kick his ass. Nick was adding strong women to his list of “types” he found attractive from the opposite sex.

Pausing as he pulled the lateral bar down, Nick enjoyed the burn as he held it for several seconds before releasing it back up. He completed his set, then leaned back, knowing Chloe was in the room with him.

When he turned, this time he expected the zap of electricity that passed through him. He kept his gaze trained on her, saw the awareness in her, and felt power in their connection. What he didn’t understand was her reasoning in holding back. If he could comprehend that, then maybe he’d give her some breathing room.

“What is your secret, Chloe?” he asked, surprising them both. Her eyes widened for the tiniest moment before she blanked her expression. Her lips turned up, but there was no amusement in the expression.

“I’m an open book, Nick,” she said. She kept her distance.

Nick had no doubt she was lying to him. He didn’t know why, though. And what was even more shocking was that it didn’t affect how he was feeling. Shifting on the bench, he decided to watch her actions and expressions rather than focusing on her words.

Chloe’s lips moved as she said something, but he had no idea what she’d just said. She moved a little closer and her floral scent wrapped around him, fine-tuning even more of his senses. Sight, smell, touch. Who needed sound? Not him, unless it was her moans filling the air.

His mind took him back to the pool, to the feel of her lips against his, how they’d been so pliant, soft, and flavorful. He had never fantasized about a kiss before, never replayed it over and over again in his mind, had never become hard from fantasizing about where else he’d like to kiss one particular woman.

His imagination continued on as he pictured running his fingers through her silky hair, and then down her smooth shoulders, over her plump breasts and down to her hot center. How was he going to work so closely with her day after day without living out his fantasy? He wasn’t sure he’d accomplish the task.

“Did you even hear what I said?” Chloe snapped. Then her expression became concerned as she moved even closer to him, prolonging his torture of her nearness. “Are you okay, Nick?”

“What?” he asked, almost in a trance.

“Nick, I’m worried. Are you having a seizure? Stroke?” She bent down and reached out to him, but she didn’t touch. It was the most beautiful agony he’d ever endured.

Nick felt like stone as he pinned her to the spot with the intensity of his gaze. The connection between them was so real―but he’d always been open with his feelings. Maybe he was misreading the situation. Nick didn’t even know anymore.

“I’m feeling a bit hot,” he said honestly. “But I’m not having a stroke or anything else.”

“Are you being real right now?” she asked. The concern was genuine on her part. It was just another reason he respected this woman.

“Yes, but I’m not ill,” he told her with a sigh.

A look of understanding crossed between them. Nick was surprised when she didn’t back off. But there was a look in her eyes he didn’t know how to interpret. There was determination, sadness, and a hint of desire. She was fighting it, but there was more reasoning behind it than she wanted him to know about.

“Nick,” she began with a sigh. He thought about interrupting her, but he waited for her to finish, though the pause seemed to draw out for an endless amount of time. “I’m not a fool. I won’t lie and say I’m not attracted to you. But nothing can come of it.”

Now it was his turn to pause. She didn’t say anything more.

“Why? I don’t get it, Chloe. We’re both adults, and we like each other. What’s wrong with doing something about it? Is it because you don’t see me as a whole man?”

He said it with a smile, but underneath his forced expression, he felt an ounce of insecurity. He couldn’t move how he’d once moved, and he couldn’t pick her up in his arms and carry her off to his bedroom. Maybe she was slightly repulsed.

Chloe instantly reached out, touching his cheek as a sheen of tears entered her eyes. She blinked them back.

“Never would you be considered anything other than a whole man, Nick. You are the epitome of sexiness,” she said with a slight smile.

“Prove it,” he told her, his grin returning.

“You are also hopeless. Can we please just focus on your recovery?” she asked, almost sounding desperate.

The softness in her touch and expression in her eyes gave him hope of something more happening between them. It gave him the strength to push through this. Maybe if he focused on his recovery, the rest would fall into place.

“Okay, doc, we can do it your way for now,” he said.

“For now,” she agreed.

It was a start.

CHAPTER SEVEN