Page 24 of Marring an Athlete

Chapter Nine

Anna

Anna had been mistaken when she thought that it would be awkward to stand in a cabana with only a sheet around her. It was so much worse than awkward. Why people got massages with no clothes on boggled her. Clothes should be essential. Maybe even snow pants. Anything to keep her protected from the outside world.

It wouldn’t be as awkward if McKenna had been allowed in. Or if they’d been able to switch their couple’s massage to a friend massage. But the lady at the desk refused to let them switch, and Michael was adamant that he wanted to do this with her, so Anna gave in even though it went against every warning bell going off in her head.

Someone pulled open the side curtain, and heat raced to Anna’s cheeks. Michael came strutting into the cabana with the sheet tied around his waist. As much as she tried not to stare at his muscular and tanned chest, she couldn’t help it when her gaze dipped down to it. Since when did he get so sexy?

When she realized she was staring a bit too long at his body, she brought her gaze up to meet his. He was smiling.

“You gotta stop checking me out, Miss Anna. You’re going to make me blush.” He brought up his hands under his chin and batted his eyes.

“I’m not—I wasn’t—” Every sentence she tried to form in her mind came out making her sound ridiculous, so she just gave up. The cabana felt as if it were sweltering now. Reaching up, she pulled her hair onto the top of her head and tied it. The cool air hit her neck, helping her relax.

When she glanced over at Michael, he had a funny expression on his face. Like he was uncomfortable all of a sudden. The cocky persona he always exuded seemed to have faltered. That made her feel relieved. At least she wasn’t the only one completely out of her element.

“Are you nervous?” Michael asked as he made his way over to the massage tables and sat down on his. He placed both hands next to him which caused the muscles in his arms and shoulders to flex.

Heat permeated her skin. Perhaps she should sit as well. Keeping a tight grip on her sheet, she shuffled over to the table next to his and scooted onto it. He raised his eyebrows as his gaze dropped to her shoulders. Feeling self-conscious, she brought her hand up to cover the spot he seemed to be looking at.

“I have a confession,” she said.

His eyes widened as he brought his gaze back to her. “Okay,” he said.

“I’ve never had a massage before.”

Relief flooded his face as he smiled. “Really? Why not? They’re amazing.” He leaned back, placing both hands behind him to prop himself up.

“Doesn’t feel that way. It seems. . . exposing.” She waved toward the sheet.

Michael shrugged. “Eh, once they start, the feeling will transport you and you won’t even notice that you’re naked anymore.”

Anna could have sworn she saw his gaze trail down the front of the sheet, but before she could process it fully, two women appeared next to them.

“Are you the Jones’s?” the curly red-haired one asked. She was holding a clipboard and studying it. When Anna didn’t reply right away, she glanced up.

“Jones—yes. We’re the Jones.” Anna wasn’t ever going to get used to that. Which was okay. It wasn’t like this relationship was going to last forever.

The woman nodded, scribbled a few things down on the paper, and then set it on a metal rolling cart next to her. “Perfect. I’m Greta, and I’ll be working with you.” She motioned toward the table.

“So I just. . . lie down?” Why didn’t she feel more confident about this?

Greta nodded. “That’s the general idea.”

When Anna glanced over at Michael, he was already lying face down on the table. She swallowed, thankful that he was preoccupied with his massage instead of noticing her complete lack of confidence.

“Okay.”

Greta held up her hand before Anna could flop over. “Sheet,” she said.

Anna stared at the sheet she’d wrapped around her body about fifty times. “What?”

Greta smiled. “You need to take that off.”

Heat rushed to her skin as she stared at the sheet and then up to Greta. “But I’m naked.”

Greta smiled again. In a way, she reminded Anna of a caring grandmother. As if this was a daily occurrence. “It’s okay. It’s just you and your husband.” She nodded over to Michael who, thankfully, hadn’t lifted his head off the table.

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