Page 36

I come out of the bathroom, still drying my hair. It takes a while, and I prefer to sit as I squeeze out the extra moisture before putting it up.

Atom is downstairs doing pull-ups. I openly watch him, as I’ve been doing for the past few weeks when he’s in the gym next to my room. I don’t have a phone, so I can’t look up the moves on my own, but when I watch him do something, I can see the technique and try it when I’m alone.

A nightly routine to help me sleep.

At least that’s what I tell myself in the dead of night when images of him invade my mind. That it’s research. Nothing more. And yet I don’t stop looking… researching him each time he’s in his home gym.

He has one of those large muscle tees on. The kind that has no sleeves and the armholes almost show the entire side of his torso. It covers some of him, but I can still watch the muscles in his arms as he pulls himself up and lowers himself back down in easy, controlled movements.

I ignore the extra beat in my heart from looking at him. Practically deny the tingling sensation between my thighs when I see him like this. Sweat rolling down his neck, his shirt sticking to his abs. Cheeks tinged with color from exertion. And still he continues. Doing rep after rep, pushing himself harder and harder for no other reason I know of other than he can.

He hops down and grabs a towel, dragging it over his face and around his neck.

“Want a go?”

I hesitate for a moment before shrugging, dropping my hair towel, and coming over. Better to have someone show me than to guess. At least that’s what I tell myself.

I have shorts and a tank top on, nothing meant for working out, but it’ll work well enough for me to do a few pull-ups.

I take the position he was in and jump up to the bar. And miss miserably. It’s high enough up for Atom not to touch the ground when he’s on it, meaning it’s a little farther away from my jump height.

I might be many things, but I’m not a quitter.

I bend lower, aiming to jump even higher. Just before my feet leave the ground, warm hands grip my waist and push me up high. I grab the bar and hold tight as his hands steady me but never let go.

“Try to get your chin over the bar. Engage your shoulders. Now pull. Good. Cross your ankles so you’re not tempted to use your legs to swing out. Keep going. Don’t forget to tighten your core. You’d be surprised how much you use it during this.” With each word he speaks, I adjust accordingly.

His hands stay at my sides, lighter now. Not there to help but to guide.

After I do ten, I let go and land on my feet. His hands? Still on me.

I don’t turn around as I take another breath to calm my heart from the exertion. Doubt I’ll be able to do many of those without help getting up there, but it’s a workout. My entire body’s sweating, and I need another shower.

I ignore the part of my mind trying to tell me that not all of it is from the workout. That having his hands on me, being this close to me, causes any type of reaction at all.

I look at them and notice something that wasn’t there before. That wasn’t there the night of the wedding.

“You got a tattoo.”

He hums behind me, not releasing me as he raises his left ring finger so I can see the distinct outline of each letter that goes up the inside of it.

“Sunshine,” I read out loud. “What’s it mean?” I have a desire to trace the delicate script with my fingers, but I resist. Just barely.

“Constant. Always there, even if you can’t see or feel it.”

His words hold me almost as captive as his hands on me do.

He gives me a squeeze, a small one, before letting go. One I could have overlooked if I weren’t already hyperaware of everything about him in this moment.

“Pack a bag.”

I turn toward with a question on my face.

“I’ve got to go out of town for a bit, and you’ll need to stay at the clubhouse.”

And just like that, the reminder that I’m not here of my own free will rushes back. I curse myself and my body’s reaction as I turn and storm into my room, slamming the door in my wake.

“Oh my God, he’s so cute. Aren’t you, Drake? Aren’t you just precious?” Izzy coos over Ruby’s kid as he continues to stare at every person who walks close to him like they’re a weirdo. Especially with the faces they keep making.