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“How’s the coffee?” he asked.
“Terrible. Is this how you chase girls out in the morning?”
“Yes. One of the many tactics I employ.”
Lydia hummed, taking an exaggerated sip from her mug.
Luke climbed out the window to join her. The morning was oddly cool but not cold, the early-July sun quickly chasing away any lingering chill from overnight. He sat against the railings, his back to the street, just so he could look at her. This was the last of their night together, and he wanted to drink her in, soft and unguarded and smiling. “I thought you might have done a runner.”
Her gaze flickered up from her page, finding his, and for a split second Luke thought he’d made it uncomfortable, but then Lydia laughed. “An unscheduled morning run? As if.”
Luke snorted, knowing just how serious she was. “What are you drawing?”
She passed over the memo pad. “I thought it was pretty, the way the sun hit the buildings this morning.”
“This is amazing,” he murmured, putting his coffee down so he could trace the lines of her sketch with his fingertip. It was a stunningly accurate rendition of the buildings across the street. She’d captured the hard lines of the apartments and the shadowy fire escapes and the intricate design of the bodega on the ground floor. She was talented, there was no doubt about that. Probably a superstar in that office of hers. But then he remembered what she’d said last night at the pub—I feel like I’m in a rut. Like people don’t actually take me or my ideas seriously.How could anyone look at this and not take her seriously? He’d hire her in a heartbeat to design his gym from the ground up if he had the money.
Lydia shrugged, unimpressed by her own talent. “It’s just a sketch.”
“This is good enough to hang on my wall and use as a conversation piece with friends,” he said. He didn’t know how anyone so talented could even begin to doubt themselves.
“If you like it so much, you can keep it.”
Luke passed the memo pad back to her. “You have to sign it.”
Lydia indulged him, scrawling her name across the bottom of the paper. She tore it free of the memo pad and handed it to him. “You all right?” she asked.
“Just thinking.”
“A dangerous pastime.” She tried for a smile but when he didn’t return it, a line appeared between her brows. “Are these dark, haunting thoughts or just the regular kind?”
“Maybe a bit of both.”
“Well, now I’m hooked.” She sat back in her chair, reaching out to nudge his knee with her foot. “Go on. Can’t be any worse than us seeing each other naked.”
He huffed, taking a sip of coffee. He could think of plenty of things worse than seeing Lydia naked. The image of her, touched by nothing but the streetlights, wasn’t one he’d soon forget, or the fact that he’d held her soft curves in his hands, touched parts of her that had made her toes curl. And maybe that was part of the problem. Actually, that was definitely the problem. “I was just thinking about what happened last night, and how that probably wasn’t my smartest idea.”
“You mean sleeping with me?”
“Yeah.”
“Well, I hate to break it to you, but there were two people involved in the decision-making required to get us to the morning after.”
“You’re right,” he said. “But I am sor—”
“Don’t apologize. We didn’t do anything wrong.” Luke frowned at that, and she continued with, “Did you have fun? Did I satisfy you to the fullest extent?”
Luke fought a horrendous blush. “I think you know the answer to that.”
“Then we can chalk it up to a good time.”
“It was still unprofessional of me, and for that I do want to apologize. I usually never cross workplace boundaries.” If Luke was being truthful with himself, he’d made excuses last night. He knew he’d risked their professional partnership. But part of him also felt more clearheaded about the decision this morning. Maybe it was the fresh air, maybe it was the coffee, but he knew what this was, and it sounded like she did as well. But just in case, he added, “So that can’t happen again. Ever.”
“Don’t worry. I still plan on running this race,” she said.
“And I want to help get you there,” Luke assured her. “I’m not trying to shirk my responsibility as your trainer, but if you’d prefer to start fresh with someone else, I’d understand. I could recommend another trainer from the gym—”
“I don’t want anyone else,” Lydia said with certainty. Some ridiculous part of him roared in triumph at her declaration. “I like the partnership we have going. I like the way you’ve set up my training plan. I watched you with the kids yesterday, and it’s no wonder they all wanted to talk to you. You’re a great motivator, and I need someone like that in my corner. I don’t want to start all over again with someone new.”
