“Hey, Lily,” Brooks said, settling in beside me. “You okay?”

“Charlie called you?”

“Um, yeah.”

“So, you know trying to stop me is a bad idea, right?” I said, continuing to make my way toward the office.

“Well, I mean.”

I stopped and he barreled into me. I placed my hand on his chest to lightly push him away. “Listen, I’m pissed. He needs to know that.”

He threw his hands up in the air. “Far be it from me to stand in between a woman pissed off and a man who’s going to endure the wrath.”

I patted my hand on his chest. “Good job. Now if you will excuse me, I need to see a man about a canceled date.”

There was a little part of me that was screaming to turn around and go back home, but my dad didn’t raise a quitter. When I had my mind set, I usually followed through.

Through the shades on the office windows, I could see Julian sitting at his desk with his head bent. I took in a deep breath and made my way over to the door. As my hand hit the handle, I could feel his eyes on me. I glanced up and stood there motionless. He had this look that was hard to place. Did he feel bad? Or was he really the asshole I wanted to create in my mind?

He stood up and walked to the door. I stepped back so he could open it and let me inside. “Got a sec?”

I heard the sliding again. He was closing the shades. Before I could say anything, he blurted out, “Lily, I’m sorry.”

“Nope,” I said, sounding a little too pissed off. “You don’t get to just all of a sudden apologize.” I leaned against his desk and crossed my arms over my chest.

He stepped in front of me. “Yeah, so what is okay?”

His scent was throwing me off. Dammit.

“You cancel. Yet, you’re here. Care to share the real reason you bailed on the date you planned?”

“I’m busy.”

I rolled my eyes and pushed off the desk to leave. I realized it was a bad idea coming here.

He wrapped his hand around my bicep. “No, wait.”

“Why?”

“Because.”

I burst out laughing. “Julian, you do know because is not an answer, right?”

He pulled me closer to his body. “I do. I also know asking you on a date was not appropriate.”

“Who says?”

“Everyone.” He waved his arm toward the gym.

“Really?”

There were moments in my life where I did things completely outrageous and sometimes regretted them later. I knew I was going to regret this later as my feet made their way toward the door.

“Where are you going?” Julian asked from directly behind me. I could feel his breath on my shoulder.

I didn’t respond. Instead, I walked over to the front desk. “Hey, Andy, can I see the microphone?”

“Lily, stop.” Julian tried to reach for the microphone, but I managed to keep it out of his reach.

I cleared my throat so I could speak clearly into the mic. “Hey, everyone, Lily here. If anyone objects to Julian and I going on a date, can you come to the front desk.”

Andy had stopped the music playing over the sound system so I could ask my question. The moment the words fell from my lips, the room went silent. Nobody moved.

I turned to face Julian. “So, why did you really cancel?”

“Are you always this direct?”

“To get the truth and not bullshit? Yup.”

He dropped his arms, and I could see a smile emerging. Before he had the chance to say anything, everyone in the gym started chanting “Go, go, go.”

“Looks like they are cool with us going out.” I threw my purse over my shoulder and started heading toward the front entrance. Before I left, I turned and threw everyone an air kiss. I only managed to take two steps out of the building when my body was pushed up against the cement wall. Julian had his arms on either side of my head blocking me in. “Change your mind?”

“Lily, you drive me crazy,” he said in a husky voice that made my insides squirm.

“A good crazy, I hope.”

He closed his eyes and shook his head. “This is all wrong you know that, right?”

“Yeah, I do.”

Before he said another word, he surprised me by leaning forward and capturing my lips with his own. My body was not ready for the invasion. I was still unsure what had come over me. If this was really what I wanted. I knew I needed to find the connection between him and my father. Then he brushed his tongue across my bottom lip, begging to enter. All the worry disappeared, and in its place was desire. His tongue touched mine, causing a little moan to escape from deep inside me.

Against my lips, he whispered, “Can I take you out on a date, Lily Waters?”

My forehead rested on his, and I tried to stifle a laugh. “Julian, you are one confusing man.”

“Yeah, Brooks and Tyler tell me that all the time.” He leaned forward and lightly kissed me. “So, what do you say?”

“I say, on one condition.”

He leaned back slightly. “I’m listening.”

“I drive so you can’t bail.”

He brushed the back of his hand down the side of my face. “Those terms seem fair.”

I ducked below his arm and pointed toward my car. “Your chauffeur awaits.”

As I opened my car door, my phone rang. I sank down in my seat and hit accept. “Hi, this is Lily.”

“Hi, Ms. Waters. This is Angela from AFC. Do you have a moment?”

I turned to toward Julian and pointed at my phone while mouthing the words AFC. His eyes looked like saucers they went so wide. “Um, yes, how are you doing?”

“I’m well. Thank you for asking. I’m sorry it took me a little longer to get back in touch with you.”

“Oh, it’s okay. It gave me time to get settled here in Las Vegas.”

“Did you find a gym yet?”

“I did. Have you heard of Fight It Out?”

“Isn’t that Julian Moore’s gym?”

“The very one.”

“That’s wonderful. Would you like to set up a time to talk with me further about some opportunities with AFC?”

“That would be great. When did you have in mind?”

“Would you be available next Wednesday at ten a.m.?”

“That should be good. I think it’ll be okay with my manager,” I said, winking at Julian. “I’ll check with him.” Julian was next to me, nodding his head so fast.

“Perfect. We look forward to meeting you, Ms. Waters.”

“Thank you for the opportunity.”

I hit end and started screaming like a school girl. When I realized what I had done, I threw my hand over my mouth and gave a side glance in Julian’s direction. He had the biggest grin on his face.

“What?” I pushed at his arm.

“Nothing. You’re cute when you get excited.”

“I’m cute?” I teased.

“Sexy?”

“Much better.”

He surprised me by wrapping his hand around the back of my neck and tugging me closer to him. Right before he planted a kiss on my lips, he stopped. “You’re more than sexy, Ms. Waters. You make me hard just at the thought of your name.”

I let my body relax in his hold. “I guess you’re okay with what everyone will think at the gym, huh?” Reaching my hand up, I cupped the side of his face. “It’s Lily by the way.”

“You don’t like, Ms. Waters?” he whispered.

Avoiding the conversation about my name, I cleared the distance and took what I’d been wanting for weeks. His lips tasted of lemon and a hint of mint. I moaned and brought his face closer to mine, wanting more.

“That’s a no I presume?” he chuckled in between my needy demands.

“Just Lily is fine by me.” Then I brushed my tongue across his bottom lip. “Julian?”

“Yeah, just Lily?”

The silly name took me by surprise, and I burst out laughing. “You didn’t.”

“What?” He shrugged his shoulders. “You said, and I repeat, ‘just Lily is fine by me.’”

My car was not big enough to crawl over the console—but if it was—I wanted him closer to my body. “Shut up.” I tugged at the collar of his shirt, demanding his lips again.

In between my attacks on his lips, he managed to ask, “I thought you were taking me to dinner?”

“Oh, yeah, sorry.”

“Don’t apologize on my account.”

Clearing my throat. I leaned back, threw the keys into the ignition, and put the car into drive. “Okay, what are we having?” Before I pulled out of the parking space, I glanced over to find Julian staring at me. “What?”

“I don’t know if I will be able to keep my hands off of you tonight. You kinda initiated the launch sequence.”

At first I was unsure what he was talking about. Then I let my eyes wander down and saw the bulge in his pants. My heart rate increased, and I quickly glanced away. I rested my head back and closed my eyes for just a second. What was I doing? I had never tried to hump a man so quickly after meeting him. What was it about Julian fucking Moore that had me wanting to ride him like a cowboy? That was a bad expression. More like, I wanted to make him fuck me until the pain of my father passing disappeared.

“Lily. You okay?”

Was I okay? I could still feel my body giving off little aftershocks every so often he had me so aroused. “I’m not sure.” He surprised the shit out of me by reaching his hand over and sliding his fingers closer to my core. Thank fuck I had on leggings. Then he lightly squeezed my leg. Shit, the fabric was too thin. I was a goner if he moved his fingers just a fraction. “Julian, be careful, you’re playing with fire.”

He softly chuckled. “That’s a game I plan to win.”

My body was telling me to find a bed. My mind was saying, slow your roll.

I reached for his hand. “I want you obviously.”

“But?”

Grabbing his hand, I brought it close to my mouth. “I would love to get to know you a little more. I know, boring.” I kissed each finger and inhaled the scent of arousal in the car.

“Lily,” he whispered. “I will have you.”

“I know,” I breathed.

He cupped the side of my face and turned it toward him. “It’s not boring. It’s smart.” He brushed his thumb across my bottom lip. “What is it about you? I feel like I have had a constant erection since the moment I met you.”

I threw my head back and laughed so loud it caused me to snort. Something that wasn’t glamorous about me. Placing my hand over my mouth, I tried to hide anymore snorts that could possibly appear.

“Did you just snort?”

“No,” I lied and continued to laugh.

“Oh, my new life goal is to always make you laugh so hard you snort.”

I closed my eyes and placed my hands over my face. “Why does everyone find it so fun when I snort?”

“We’ll record it sometime. It’s damn cute.” He grabbed his seatbelt and latched the two pieces together. “Now that my body is cooperating”—he clapped his hands together—“what’s for dinner?”

This man was going to get the best of me.

But I was ready for it all.