Page 90 of Body Check

“Whatheart thing?” Emotions flooded his body faster than he could handle and his own heart suddenly beat too fast and too hard.

Thad looked stricken. “Oh shit, you didn’t know.”

“How would I fucking know?” Gavin snapped. “They haven’t spoken to me since your arrest. They blame me for everything that happened.”

“Fuck, Gav—” Thad reached out for him. “I’m sorry. I?—”

Gavin shook the touch off. “Forget it. But when you see them, tell them I saidMerry Christmas.” He spat the words, turning on his heel and disappearing down the tunnel.

This time, he walked straight out of the arena and into the frigid Boston air.

NINETEEN

Dakota’s stomach churned as he rode the elevator up to Gavin’s condo.

After his chat with Violet, he’d gotten a somewhat odd message from Gavin, saying he could come over whenever he wanted, and to use the key to let himself in. It had been strangely terse, not friendly and flirty the way the rest of their texts had been lately.

Since Violet knew about him and Gavin anyway, Dakota had asked Violet and Jeff to drop him off at Gavin’s place before returning to Quincy with the kids. There had been a leaden weight in Dakota’s stomach the whole time and the closer they’d gotten to his condo, the more sure Dakota became that he had to end their hookups.

Violet was right. It was ridiculous for them to keep this up. He’d already screwed up his life once over a guy. Why would he do itagain?

Now, in the elevator, Dakota kept repeating that to himself over and over, trying to drill it into his stupid brain. Arriving onGavin’s floor, he sent him a message letting him know he was nearly there.

Gavin hadn’t answered the message by the time Dakota fitted the key in the lock, so he called out his name as he stepped into the condo.

“In here!” Gavin called, sounding out of breath.

“I don’t know where ‘here’ is,” Dakota called back.

“Workout room.”

Dakota walked down the hall toward the primary bedroom. But rather than turn right, he turned left.

Gavin was jogging on the treadmill, red-faced and dripping sweat. “Almost done,” he said, pushing the touchscreen and allowing it to slow. “Just need to do a quick cool down.”

Dakota frowned, perching on the weight bench nearby. “It’s fine. Actually, um, I think we should talk.”

Gavin glanced over at him, lifting the hem of his muscle shirt to wipe at his brow. “About what?” He still sounded out of breath.

Damn, Gavin was pushing himself today. Dakota couldn’t deny how good he looked though, damp clothing clinging to his muscular body. “Uhh. Are you sure you’re okay?”

Gavin was the one to frown now. “Why wouldn’t I be?”

“You seem like you’re going really hard,” Dakota pointed out.

Gavin lowered his speed again. “No, I’m fine. Just a little sweaty. Hope you don’t mind.” He winked, but something about it seemed … off.

Dakota smiled tightly, not knowing what else to say.

But despite the prickling unease in the back of Dakota’s mind, he couldn’t tear his gaze away from Gavin. Couldn’t stop his gaze from lingering on the width of Gavin’s biceps and the solid curve of his ass and strong thighs.

Gavin finished his workout a few moments later, pulling off his shirt as he stepped off the treadmill. Dakota’s breath caught at the sight of his sharply defined muscles, glistening with sweat. He was … he was going to miss this.

Miss Gavin.

Because Dakota could tell himself all he wanted it was casual, but the truth was, hewasstarting to care about him. No, it wasn’t love. They’d only been doing this for a few weeks, but he did care about Gavin and his relationship with his brother and his family and if that wasn’t a sign Dakota was getting in over his head, he didn’t know what was.

Dakota rose to his feet, trying to summon up the courage to tell Gavin that Violet knew about them, but the look in Gavin’s eyes made him freeze. It was heated and hungry, filled with need, and Gavin stalked toward him, his gaze roving over Dakota’s body.

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