Page 12 of Booked on a Feeling

Not only did she not have enough time to exercise but her dating life had been nonexistent for the last six months. She could argue that the trial consumed three months of her life down to the last minute, but that wasn’t the only reason for the dry spell. Her starry-eyed dream of finding romance and true love had grown jaded in the big-city dating scene. Well, big-city dating scene for a lawyer.

She mostly dated other attorneys since her social life consisted of mixers and networking events related to her work. Her last boyfriend had been a psychiatrist whom she’d met through a case. He was an expert witness for a co-counsel’s firm. He was intelligent, successful, and handsome in a scholarly way. They lasted a year before they simply drifted apart. Honestly, they probably only lasted that long because they were too busy to see each other more than once a week, if that. Other than the intersection of their professional lives, they didn’t have much in common. That seemed to be the story of her rather dismal love life.

She lifted her feet out of the water and wiggled her bubble-covered toes. In a sense, the only thing going well for her was her career. She certainly hoped it was going well considering the exorbitant time and energy she dedicated to her work. She’d just tried and won her first trial. Of course it was going well. But she felt no joy or excitement over the fact. Did she feel a sense of accomplishment? Maybe a little. That didn’t seem enough, though.

Her stomach dipped with unease. If she couldn’t find meaning in her career, what were all her sacrifices for? They couldn’t have been for nothing. No, she refused to accept that. She was burned out to the core. That was what this was all about. If she just had some time to recharge, she would enjoy her job again. This called for bold, decisive action.

Lizzy quickly scrubbed herself clean and stepped out of the bath. She wrapped her long hair in a towel and cinched her bathrobe tightly around her waist. Snatching her laptop from her desk, she plopped down on her bed and leaned against the headrest. She opened up her work email and typed:

Dear Peter…

His feet pounded on the ground as the wind rushed in his ears. This early in the morning, the tree-lined streets of his neighborhood stood empty, so Jack could run as fast as he wanted. He pushed himself until his lungs burned and he tasted iron in the back of his throat. He was fit from jogging every day, so he had to work hard to make his heart feel like it was about to burst. He ran flat out until he reached the edge of town. His muscles screamed from lactic acid–induced pain, and he gasped for air, bent at the waist with his hands on his thighs.

Still, the restlessness inside him refused to be silenced. All that pain and nothing gained. His sweat-soaked sleevelessT-shirt clung uncomfortably to his back and chest, so he whipped it off in one impatient movement. Tucking his shirt into the back of his shorts, he headed home at a more leisurely pace. There was no need to kill himself when there was no payoff. He was within a block from his house when someone shot around the corner and cut him off.

“Whoa.” He instinctively stopped in his tracks so he wouldn’t crash into the back of the other runner.

It could’ve been an accident. It probably was an accident. Why else would she cut him off in the middle of an empty street? He resumed his jog but took it slow to create some space between them. He didn’t want her to feel like he was chasing after her for payback or anything. But he couldn’t help thinking that the jaunty ponytail swinging on her head was mocking him for being a sucker. Then the strangest thing happened. The woman started running backward. Was shetryingto run him over?

“Hey, neighbor,” she said gleefully, glancing over her shoulder.

“Lizzy?” He blinked several times to make sure he wasn’t seeing things. What in the ever-loving hell? Why was she jogging in his neighborhood? And why was she trying to run him over?

They both slowed to a stop, Jack gaping and Lizzy grinning.

“Explain,” he said, closing his mouth before a bug flew in.

“I decided to take some time off work.” She shrugged as though it wasn’t a big deal. He knew for a fact that she hadn’t taken time off for at least two years. “I rented a little studio apartment over Sparrow Bookstore near Main Street. I found it on Vrbo. The place is absolutely adorable, by the way. The bookstore and the apartment. I got here yesterday evening, but I wanted to surprise you, so… surprise!”

Surprise?Damn right, he was surprised. Why was she taking time off? Was everything all right with her? Why Weldon? Andhow long did he get to keep her here? Lizzy. His Lizzy. Here. His heart pounded in his chest as though he were still running at breakneck speed.

“How did you manage this”—he pointed back and forth between them—“chance meeting?”

“You’re not the only one who knows their best friend well. I know you, too, Jack Park,” she said a smidgeon smugly.

Only if that were true.A familiar ache dug into the corner of his heart.

“I know your jogging schedule, and I figured if I hung out close by your house, I’d bump into you eventually.”

“Let me get this straight.” Joy tentatively bubbled up inside him, unsure if this was real. “You’ve been circling the block so you could jump out at me like a maniac?”

“Precisely. I only had to jog for about…” She checked her watch. “Twenty minutes.”

She seemed slightly out of breath and had a sheen of perspiration on her forehead. While her boxy T-shirt hid part of her figure, her yoga pants highlighted her shapely legs.Damn, she’s beautiful.Pushing away the impractical thought, he headed toward his house in a bit of a daze. Lizzy fell into step beside him.

“Aren’t you… happy to see me?” She glanced at him a little uncertainly.

He screeched to a halt and stared at her as though she’d sprouted a second head. “Of course I’m happy to see you.”

“Well, how am I supposed to know that when you have your Frowny McFrown face on?” She crossed her arms over her chest.

His frown deepened.Shit.He didn’t mean to make her feel unwelcome. “That’s what happens when you jump out at a man on a peaceful morning jog and nearly give him a heart attack.”

“I wanted to surprise you.” She pouted, and he gulped. It should be illegal for someone to be so adorable.

“I’m happy to see you. Okay? Ecstatic.” A cheek-cramping grin overtook his face. There was no holding it back now. He couldn’t believe Lizzy was standing in front of him. “I want to give you a hug to show you how happy I am, but I’m too sweaty.”

Her eyes flicked to his bare chest and lingered for two seconds before they shot back up to his face. His body instinctively caught on fire. Was she blushing? He fought against his own blush.

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