“Okay,” I say, returning to the safety of looking in front of me.
He places his jacket over my shoulders, and I grab the top to stop it from slipping off. The caring nature hits me hard in the chest. Why does he have to be so thoughtful? My mind is a jumbled mess…but I need to give myself time.
“Are you sure? Won’t you be cold?”
He chuckles. “Not at all. I’m used to running in the very early mornings, so to me this isn’t cold.”
“How early are you talking?” I ask, sliding my arms into the jacket sleeves, and it takes every part of me not to pull it up and take a big sniff, but I don’t want him to think I’m a weirdo.
His masculine spice hits me in the nose, so I subtly take a deeper inhale, loving his scent surrounding me.
“Five.”
“That’s awful. And you choose that?” I ask.
“It’s the only time I have.”
“I don’t exercise. I think the only time I do is the constant moving I did around bar work, and now walking everywhere.”
“You never workout?” he asks.
His unusual tone has me asking, “Why is that so hard to believe?”
“Your body’s perfectly toned.”
I grow hot from his compliment. “Well, thank you.”
It’s silent before I speak again.
“So you exercise because you’re scared you’ll gain weight?”
He laughs loudly. “No, and yes. I like to stay in shape, but it’s also a mental thing. It keeps me focused for the day.”
“I don’t see how running at five in the morning for half an hour—”
“An hour,” he corrects me.
My jaw slacks before I shake my head. “I don’t even know what to say to that.”
“Maybe you could try it one day?”
“With you?”
“Either that or by yourself. It’s really good for thinking.”
I half laugh, half choke. “Nice hint.”
“Oh no, I didn’t mean that.”
“Sure,” I tease.
“No, I mean it,” he says, seemingly horrified.
I gently push him. “It’s fine. I’m playing with you.” He takes a breath, shaking his head with a small smile.
“I’m just up here,” I say, pointing to the street ahead.
“Did you buy the apartment?”