And I’m still waiting.
Instead of dusting my lips in the worlds greatest first kiss ever, he’d whispered, “Have a great summer in Paris, Katie.”
And then I’d never seen him again.
Until right now, staring back at me in his damn salt cave.
“When would you like to start training, Katie?” His question yanked me from my memories.
Never.
“Uhm,” I shifted on my feet, my life growing more mortifying by the moment. “Actually, I’ve got this wedding, my sister is getting married, soon, so…”
“Whoa, Hallie is getting married? That’s great.” He looked genuine.
“For her,” I genuinely responded. “Mom’s already told me she wants me to…slim down. Her words, not mine.”
Sawyer nodded, leaning back against the wall, glowing amber and coral salt lamps causing the harsh slashes of his cheekbones to grow even more angular and delicious looking. I groaned, thinking my own struggle to lose the weight for this wedding would be cardio, turns out it would be keeping my eyes off the trainer and focused on my feet to avoid tripping all over said beautiful trainer.
“So when’s the wedding?” He crossed his ripped biceps over the hard slab of his chest and I had to suppress a groan.
“Less than three months.” I cringed.
“Oh, this is going to be fun, then.” He bounced off the wall, chest coming to within inches of mine before pausing, his eyes on my face and smiling. “It’s my turn to give it back to you.”
“W-what?” I felt crushed by his presence, that flight or fling myself into his arms response tingling to life inside of me again, just like old times.
I pushed it down with thoughts of chocolate cake and vanilla buttercream.
“You single handedly got me through high school. Coach would have benched my ass in tenth grade if it wasn’t for you working with me on Shakespeare, and everything else.” He nudged himself closer, until my breasts were nearly grazing the hard planes of his pectorals. “Now, I’ve got something to give back to you.”
A nearly audible groan stumbled out. Why did it feel like half the things he said were double entendres? And if they were, why did I like that thought so much?
Espresso and cinnamon tiramisu.
I remembered the recipe I’d learned in Italy at a cooking school for tourists on the coast just to distract me from the warm, inviting natural scent of his skin and the manly soap he’d probably used in the shower this morning.
And then I thought about Sawyer, hard and soapy in the shower and I died.
“Katie?” He leaned closer, swiping his thumb along the curve of my neck.
“Y-yes?”
“I asked when you wanted to start. I’ll need you at least once a day–five, even six days a week if you can handle it. Do you think you can handle it? I’m not too rough, I promise to take it easy,” and then he leaned a little closer, grin slipping to one side, “the first few times.”
Raspberry-infused truffle cupcakes with maple sea salt.
My heart slammed like a professional fighter was having a cage fight behind my ribs. My entire body felt tied to his, every motion, every touch, every single look elicited a traitorous response inside of me.
“Tomorrow?” I heard myself squeak.
“Perfect, tomorrow is perfect.”
I nodded, ready to back away and finally escape this den of temptation.
“And Katie?” He cooed, catching my hand in his and hauling me a little closer to him, chests pressed firmly, “I can’t wait to get you sweaty.”
Sawyer
The drive into work the next morning was intense, all I could think about was Katie. Her beautiful smile and slammin’ curves playing non-stop in my mind. She was so damn distracting that I almost forgot to hit the brakes when a car in front of me stopped for a red light. As soon as I saw her last night, everything that I’d tried to push back rushed through me, taking hold and refusing to let go. Seems like nothing had changed, she was still the same Katie and she was still under my skin, driving me crazy.
I remembered how sweet and smart she was in high school. So smart that I was always nervous around her. I was just a dumb jock and here she was, this goddess, and I couldn’t figure out what to say to impress her, so I became her friend. It was easy being around her, she actually listened to me talk and gave suggestions, not just telling me what I wanted to hear, but what I needed to hear. I didn’t always like what came out of her smart mouth but I craved to know what she was thinking or how she was feeling.
Aside from being so patient and incredible with me, she was the hottest girl I’d ever seen. I remembered too many library boners, sitting across from her as she read to me. I could never tear my eyes from her lips as she read the words, a few times I’d needed to run to the washroom to alleviate the tension caused by my sexy little tutor.