Page 37 of Beauty Beneath the Sorrow
She glances up at me with a sparkle in her tired eyes. “I’d love that.”
I follow Lina over to the swings. Similar to the park in Denver, the ground under the swingset is covered in woodchips. We’re silent as we walk over with only the crunching of the woodchips to break the tension between us. She grips both chains, then hoists herself into the rubber seat.
I come behind her, placing my hands over hers. Lina angles her head down, in my direction. “So, you’re not dating anyone?”
I give her a gentle shove, then step back. “I thought we already went over this?”
She chuckles coyly. “I guess I thought I’d ask again.”
“I’m not dating anyone.” My palm taps the small of her back before giving her momentum to move through the air. Her long ponytail whips me a few times in the face. I don’t mind because I get whiffs of her coconut shampoo.
“Were you ever married?” she asks with an unsure tone in her voice.
“No.”
“Did you ever think about getting married?”
“No.”
“Why?”
I exhale and give her another push. “I never found anyone who I wanted to consider that with.”
“Me either. I actually never even thought about gettingmarried. I’ve always been worried that if I gave my whole heart to someone, it would make me more vulnerable.”
I rub my lips together, understanding where she’s coming from, but that has never been my concern. I’ve always been more concerned with freedom. The freedom to live the life I wanted the way I wanted. It only started to change just recently. But, if I would have met the right person over the years, I would have gladly given up everything for them.
“I understand that—” My phone vibrates in my pocket.
Christian: Hey! We need to reschedule my nephew’s flying lesson next week. He has football tryouts.
Me: No worries. Just let me know a better day and time and I’ll look at my schedule.
Christian: Awesome. Thanks, man.
I glance up after tapping out a quick response to see Lina popping off the swing.
“All done?”
“Yeah, I should probably head home. I have a lot to do before I fly out again tomorrow morning.”
“Okay. When can I see you again?” I ask, following quickly behind her toward the parking lot.
“We’re on the same flight crew on Wednesday to La Guardia.” How does she know that? “How do you know that?” My mouth curves up on one side.
“I have my ways.” She plays, skipping to her car.
I jog to eat the distance between us. “You checked to see when I’d be on your flight.”
“Maybe.” She leans against the side of her car. “You are the sole man responsible for my cardio for the time being, so I needed to make sure you’d be able to get my heart rate up.”
Fuck.I know she’s just playing, but it’s making my dick stand at full staff. The amount of things that I want to do to this woman that have nothing to do with running, jogging, or working out is unfuckingreal.
“You’re all mine then.”
Her lungs rise with a sharp inhale. “I guess so.”
Chapter Eleven
