Page 31 of Ruthless Deliverance

But I still feel the need to say it. “I’m sorry. About everything. I tried—”

“I know you did. And I appreciate you trying to help me out. But it’s really okay.” He lightly hits his knuckles against the bag. “At least now we can be workout buddies, right?”

He wants to work out with me after losing his job? That strikes me as odd. If we’d met another way, I might take him up on the offer, but everything connected to this life will eventually be left behind so there’s no point in striking up a friendship.

“Thanks for the offer, but I think it’s best if we don’t.” For many reasons, one being the asshat who is currently walking over. Shit. What the hell is Creed doing here? Thibaut hasn’t noticed his arrival since his back is to Creed. But it only takes a few moments until he knows it clearly.

Creed steps next to me, draping his arm over my shoulder. “Can’t take a hint?” he says to our former teacher.

“He’s not the only one,” I mutter, shoving away from Creed. I am not in the mood for this right now. What the hell happened to my workouts being a stress reliever? So far, they’re only bringing more tension, but that has more to do with the two doofuses having a stare down.

Finally, Thibaut decides to carry out the first move, taking a step back. “I’ll be around. Let me know if you change your mind, Dani.”

I watch as Thibaut makes his way across the gym, disappearing out of sight.

“You’re not working out here anymore,” Creed’s stupid ass says from beside me.

No. I’m not. But not because of his instructions; because I need some serenity, and this obviously isn’t the place for it. “Why are you even here?”

“Because you are.”

That admission hits me the wrong way. Almost in a good way because he was upfront about it, and I don’t like it. “You need to leave.”

“Come with me. We can work out at my place.”

My fingers press against my temple as I laugh. He’s not going to make anything easy. “Hard pass.”

“Why? Scared you might enjoy it?”

“No. Because I’m not doing this with you. I’m trying to reduce stress, not increase it.”

He moves forward, his arm looping around my lower back as he pulls me to him. “I can think of a few ways we can both reduce some stress.”

To a bystander, the exchange would appear like a playful move between a couple, a natural motion to pull me against him. A little harmless PDA at the gym. But we’re not a couple, and our PDA isn’t harmless.

“Even bigger hard pass.” I push against his chest, his arm releasing me as I drop my water back on my bag and pick up my earbuds. Replacing them, I begin hitting the bag. Maybe he’ll leave. I know it’s highly unlikely, but I can wish. And sure enough, he doesn’t let me down as he pulls one of the earbuds out.

“At least spar with me. I won’t leave you with a black eye.”

“No. I prefer an actual challenge.” I shouldn’t goad him, but it’s the only defense I have right now.

“I’ll be sure to challenge you, but I’ll make sure not to hurt you.”

“That’s impossible. Someone has to get hurt. Otherwise, we might as well be playing flag football or something.”

He laughs and for the first time, it sounds genuine and not sadistic or laced with sarcasm. Removing my other earbud, he drops them on my bag, then slaps his hand on my ass because what the fuck are boundaries to him? And he doesn’t think twice with the out-of-line gesture that does nothing but raise my temper. I’m hot, but not in a sexy way when he says, “Let’s go.” Taking a few steps back, he cocks his head to the side, and I know the taunting bastard is back before he even speaks. “Or are you too scared?”

I really could use the opportunity to throw a few punches at him. Get some of the built-up frustration out. “Fine. But don’t hold back. That way when I kick your ass, you have no excuses.”

“Got it. But when I win, you agree to work out with me in my gym.”

“Nah. I doubt you could keep up.”

His smile stretches as he says, “I’ll die trying then.”

“And if I win, you’ll back the hell off.”

“Deal.” His quick response shows just how confident he is that he won’t lose. “First to three points wins.”