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Jesus, what has gotten into me? I need to go home and get some sleep. My face is flushed as I head toward the door. To anyone else it will look like I just had a strenuous workout, when in reality I’m blushing from the embarrassment of my imagination goingwaytoo far.

“Have a good night, Ivy,” James says in a low voice as I rush past him.

I don’t make eye contact, and I don’t think about the way him saying my name sends a pleasant shiver through my body. “You too. Bye.”’

I’m almost home when I realize I left my phone sitting on the leg press machine.Fuck. I turn around immediately and hope that James hasn’t left yet, because Ireallydon’t want to get up early to pick it up in the morning before work.

When I pull into the parking lot, I see that the lights are still on in the building and let out a sigh of relief. Thank goodness. I pull into the closest parking spot and rush to the door, surprised to find it still unlocked since it’s almost exactly closing time and I was the last person there when I left.

I start explaining as soon as I spot James. “I’m so sorry to bother you this late, but—”

“But you forgot your phone,” he interrupts, waving it in the air from behind his desk. I detect the tiniest smirk on his lips.

Yeah, real funny, asshole. I hurry over to the desk, feeling his eyes on me with each step. “Thanks,” I mutter as I snatch my phone from his hands.

Before I can turn away, James stops me with his husky voice. “So, is it true?”

“Is what true?” I look up at him, thinking that he most definitely is insane.

Instead of answering, James gives me another smirk, his eyes sparking with amusement, and nods toward my phone. I furrow my brow, still confused, and click the side button to check the screen notifications. There are five from Elana. One thought, split into a bunch of different messages, as usual. Shit.

“Wait, you’re telling me that an ‘intimidatingly’ super hot guy owns the gym you go to?”

“And he’s an older guy?”

“AND you’re there alone with him?”

“If you don’t fuck him, I’ll hate you forever.”

The final message is just a series of emojis that leave nothing to the imagination, with an eggplant, fire, and a drooling face depicting the unquestionable sentiment. Leave it to Elana to really drive the point home. Heat rises in my cheeks as I shove my phone in my pocket and glance up to see James staring at me. And for some reason, like an idiot, I feel the urge to explain myself.

“Oh, I, uh, just made a joke to a friend and she took it too far and—wait, why the hell were you looking at my phone in the first place?”

“It was vibrating so much, I couldn’t really ignore it. After about six vibrations, I wondered if it might have been an emergency." I give him a look that I hope conveys what I’m thinking:Yeah, right. Liar. He continues with his explanation. “And, maybe it’s unprofessional of me, but I can’t say I wasn’t curious, even if it wasn’t an emergency.”

“Yeah,” I snap, “that isveryunprofessional.” I’m flustered now in more ways than one, and I turn to leave. I only make it two steps when he speaks again.

“You never answered my question.”

I scoff and turn back toward him. “What question?” My mind is reeling, and I’m so irritated and embarrassed he saw those messages that I’d rather crawl in a dark hole than continue talking to him right now.

“That you find me intimidating and attractive.” He says it as a statement and not as a question, casually crossing his arms as he waits for my answer. Cocky bastard.

I think about lying, but he already saw the texts. There’s no point. I try to play off my embarrassment by acting unbothered. I look him directly in the eyes, raise an eyebrow, shrug in the most nonchalant manner I can, and say, “So what if I do?” then turn on my heel to leave. James’ footsteps sound behind me, and his hand is wrapped around my bicep and yanking me around so suddenly that I stumble into his warm, hard chest.

“What the f—“

He cuts me off before I can finish my expletive, his voice low and his lips only inches from my ear as he leans down to me. “So,if you do,” he says, mimicking my words, “You should’ve said something sooner, because I would have stolen you away from that douchebag in a heartbeat and shown you how arealman could treat you. I saw the way he acted toward you and how you had to walk on eggshells around him. I fucking hated seeing you every week like that, so nervous and insecure. You deserve better. To be treated like a goddess.”

I’m at a loss for words, my heart thumping so rapidly against my chest that I’m almost sure he can feel it. One of his hands is still on my arm while the other has crept around my lower back, and his breath is hot on my neck. What the hell do I say tothat?

As if on cue, my phone buzzes, jolting me out of the moment, and I pull away from him quickly. I’m back to my normal, awkward self as I mutter, “I have to go,” and I rush out the door.

CHAPTER THREE

I WALK INTOthe gym with my head held high. I’m feeling great now that I’m closing in on week two of working out consistently. James is at the desk again today, and I’m not sure how to act after the events of yesterday, but I pretend to be unbothered, like nothing ever happened.

“Good evening, Ivy.”

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