Come with him. Did she ever.
“Sure. Of course I’m coming with you.” She answered far too quickly to be demure or playing hard to get, but she was realizing quickly that standard dating rules did not apply with this man. There was nothing standard about Zeke Hendrickson. “Let me brush my teeth, pull my hair up, and get my shoes and socks on.”
“Okay.” He was rubbing at his neck again.
She hurried to get ready, and he was waiting for her as she stepped out of the bathroom. He gave her a tight smile. She hoped he’d loosen up again today. Last night, she’d gotten a glimpse into this intriguing man. She wanted more. A lot more.
He opened the door and they walked out into the main area. Thankfully, Blaine was not there. “Do you like to eat or drink something before you work out?” Zeke asked.
“Look at you, being all thoughtful.” She bumped his arm with her shoulder.
He startled and stared down at her. What had she done wrong now? Mia owned a successful business, and she could be diplomatic when she needed to be, but she preferred being blunt like her mum. If this guy couldn’t handle blunt, he was in the wrong business.
“What did I do wrong there?” she asked.
His brows rose. He walked around her, went to a cupboard, got a glass out, and filled it from the tap. He downed it in one swallow, set it in the sink, and stared at her.
Mia met his gaze. She wouldn’t back down. She was drawn to him and they were stuck together until her stalker was caught. They had to at least be able to talk. She had to be able to push his shoulder gently without flipping him out.
“I …” He filled up the glass again and took a smaller drink. “Not many people touch me. And I don’t touch anyone. Except to fight or wrestle.” He gave her a half smile.
She cocked her head and thought back through their interactions yesterday, hoping to prove he felt different about her. “But you touched me a few times yesterday.” He’d touched her perfectly last night, cupped her jawline, his fingers slowly moving to and lingering on the sensitive skin of her neck and scalp, and then the thumb trailing along her lower lip. She shivered, remembering the sensation. His eyes got bluer as if he were remembering as well.
“I find that I’m not … repelled by your touch.”
“Not repelled?” Her stomach felt full of rocks. Not repelled? Ouch. So she was a step above repulsive?
Zeke pushed out a breath as if this entire conversation was heavy and out of his element.
Footsteps pounded down from the upper level. Charlie whistled his way into the kitchen. His smile was as big as ever. If he sensed the awkward tension in the air, he didn’t say anything. “Hey, you lovely people. What a cheery morning, eh?” He gestured out the window. “Has anything ever said Christmas like that view?”
Mia looked quickly at the sky lightening pink over the east mountains and the thick green pine trees decorated with mounds of snow. The lake was a grayish-blue that looked like Zeke’s eyes. It was beautiful. He was more beautiful, but sadly impervious to her.
“It’s gorgeous.” Mia managed a smile she didn’t feel. She studied Zeke and willed him to say he enjoyed touching her. Notrepelled? She’d show him not repelled. He could use a whole course on how to flirt and how to touch.
Then she got a delicious idea and wondered how she would execute it.
Charlie gave Mia a hug, a very tight hug, rubbing his hands across her back and concentrating them on the bare skin of her shoulder blades revealed by her tank top. Zeke’s jaw tightened and his fists clenched.
Mia pulled back. She didn’t want to encourage Charlie, but it was a relief she wasn’t repulsive to all men.
“Whew, love. I fancy your hugs.” He winked. “Did you sleep well?”
Mia could only look at Zeke. Every muscle in his arms and shoulders was flexed. He was lovely and blindingly appealing to her. If only he felt the same.
“Oh.” Charlie reared back and looked between the two of them a few times. “Oh, I see. The tension in here is delicious, by the way. I guess you both slept better than me, eh?” He laughed. “Good for you two. Ah, that is going to make Blaine bonkers, but personally I’m chuffed for the two of you. Very nice.”
Zeke strode toward the two of them and Charlie backed up, holding up his hands, his blue eyes growing wary. “Hey, mate, I’m on your side.”
Zeke shocked Mia when he wrapped his hand possessively around her waist, nodded to Charlie, and ushered her through the living area and toward the stairs. She stared up at him. “I thought you didn’t like to touch people?”
“I don’t.” His gaze swept over her, making her hot all over. “But you’re different.”
“Not sure if that’s a good thing or a bad thing.”
“Neither am I,” he admitted, but his blue eyes were smoldering at her, so she’d take it as a positive.
They made it to the basement, and Zeke released her. She tilted her head. “The workout room is this way.”