Shane (Damage Control 4)

Yeah, time to get up. Putting my elbows down, I give an experimental push, trying to sit up, and a groan rumbles up my chest at the blades of fire digging into my back.

Shit.

“Let me call someone to help,” she’s saying, twisting her hands together, her gaze shifting from my face to my chest, as if she can’t decide if she’s allowed to touch me.

Maybe she really can’t. God knows I’ve scared her lately with my bad mood.

“It’s okay.” My back’s bruised, but this level of pain is manageable. I sit up, wait for my muscles to stop spasming and realize with a start how close our faces are. Her eyes are blue like a summer day, her lips made for kissing, soft strands of pale gold hair framing her face.

What would happen if I gave in? If I tried?

And if it all goes to hell and I scare her away for good?

“Let me, then,” she says and holds out her hands to me. “Let me help you.”

But I don’t think she can.

***

“So you come here often, then?” she asks as I hobble toward the exit of the gym. “To exercise?”

“Yeah.”

“Alone?”

“Sometimes I train with Rafe and the guys.”

She nods, turning and walking backward to face me. “Then I guess I’ll be seeing you around.”

Yeah. I hope I won’t drop any weights on my feet from staring at her. Fuck.

“Why did you come in today? You didn’t stay long enough to do anything. Except save me from hitting the floor.”

“Just came to pick some stuff up from my locker.”

“Run out of clean clothes at home?” She winks at me, and I take a long moment to bring my derailed thoughts back on track.

“Actually, it’s the opposite.”

“You… left dirty clothes here?”

My turn to nod.

“Makes perfect sense,” she says, and I fight not to laugh.

My lips twitch. “Need to wash them.”

“Right, right.” She skips a little as she walks backward to keep up with me. “Hey, are you going to Zane and Dakota’s wedding?”

I stop. “Yeah.”

“Me too.” She smiles, and fuck, it’s beautiful. She’s so fucking pretty it hurts. “Dakota just called to invite me. She says you vouched for me.”

“Yeah, I did.”

“Why?” Her gaze is searching, and I don’t know how to hide from her. She’s so close. Always so close, closer than I’ve ever let anyone in years. “Why would you?”

“Why wouldn’t I?”