Krista scoffed. “I’ve seen the way you pay attention when we talk, you can’t fool me. You’re just scared you will like it. I’m going to get you to the club one of these nights and prove it.”
“We’ll see.” Alessa responded with her standard reply whenever Krista prodded her to try out the club or the guys’ yacht.
“I vote for a spa treatment. I can come in Saturday morning,” Julie suggested.
“I’m free,” Krista replied then turned to Alessa.
“I have to work, but don’t plan around me.” Alessa answered her silent inquiry with a look of relief.
Sandie put Hope on the spot without remorse. “Are you going to burst our bubble or join us?”
Hope rolled her eyes in mock exasperation, but a kernel of excitement trickled through her at the thought of catching Miles off guard. She hadn’t taken the initiative in anything regarding this short-term arrangement, and from what she knew of all these men, they much preferred being the ones to call the shots. She needed to get the most from what he offered her when they started this to rid herself of the constant cravings to explore this lifestyle. And pushing him to get on with it might work in her best interest of ending this before his curiosity about her, and now her scar, led him to her actions in Atlanta and the cloud under which she’d fled her home.
“I’m in. Where is this place?”
Thursday seemed to drag as Hope spent the day behind her computer struggling to focus on ordering supplies instead of daydreaming about seeing Miles again. She rather liked the private lessons he’d given her the last two weeks and wondered what he planned for this evening. Who knew a gym could be such a fun place to hang out in? By the time 5:00 rolled around, she was tempted to stroll down the street two hours early. Shutting down the computer, she pushed back from her desk, stood and stretched then walked down the hall to the entry.
“You’re done early,” Traci commented as she snatched her purse off the desk. “Are you coming tonight, or will you find another excuse?”
“Hey, I’ve been there, it’s just that last week I was so late, Miles stayed open to give me a private lesson.”
“Oooh, think he’ll give me some private time if I’m late?”
He better not. The immediate, silent response rubbed Hope wrong as she wasn’t normally a possessive person. Yet another sign, along with how much she’d been anticipating seeing Miles again, they needed to fast track their relationship. Maybe once they had sex, that would put an end to this unexpected longing for more.
“He’s too old for you,” Hope told Traci, which only made the younger girl roll her eyes.
“If that’s all you can come up with, I’ll see you shortly. Bye.”
Hope waved her off with a smile then killed some time helping in the kitchen until Martha shooed her out. After visiting with the residents who were already in for the night, and getting an idea of who she could possibly help with getting a job or temporary housing, she went upstairs to change. Maybe she would earn brownie points if she arrived at the gym already dressed in the loose fitting gi tunic top and pants.
As it turned out, her hopes for another private lesson were squashed as soon as she entered the gym and Ed greeted her from behind the long counter.
“Nice to see you again, Hope. Miles is with a group of teens in the small gym, but go on in. Most of your class are already here.”
“Thanks, Ed.” Hope padded over to the double gym doors, pulled the right side open then turned her head to ask Miles’ mentor, “What did you mean last week when you said Miles has been looking out for me?”
Ed rubbed his bristled chin, as if thinking over his answer, then shook his head with a regretful sigh. “That’s something he’ll have to tell you.”
She nodded, took one step through the doorway then swiveled again when he called her name. “Hope. He’s a hard man with a chip on his shoulder, but a good man nonetheless.”
“That I already knew, but thanks.”
An hour later, nearing the end of class, she wasn’t sure she agreed with Ed anymore. If Miles was such a good man, why did he start something with her he apparently didn’t want to finish? Her body ached from the rigorous work-out Sensei McCallum had put them through, and Hope had paid close attention to the instructor’s demonstrations even though her eyes kept shifting to the door that led to the small gym. When Miles finally walked through it, the jolt to her body from just seeing him again affected her as much as the kick to the stomach she failed to avoid from Sandie. It took every ounce of her concentration to stay focused on the class when he kept his distance and didn’t even glance her way. His indifference to her presence after giving her his full attention the last two weeks hurt more than it should have for a sex-only relationship.
“Okay, what’s wrong?” Sandie asked, joining Hope, who sat on the mat to pull on her shoes.
“Who says anything is wrong?” She yanked on the ties to her tennis shoes in a fit of pique.
“I do because I’ve gotten to know you pretty well. I’m guessing it’s Miles. Having second thoughts about our spa reservations for Saturday?” Sandie ran a hand through her short, light brown hair that revealed streaks of blonde and red under the lights.
What would be the point? If Miles was trying to tell her he was done with her, Hope didn’t see any reason to go through with the embarrassing wax procedure her friends had talked her into. “I’m just wondering if we’ve fizzled out already and don’t want to waste the time or money on it if we have.”
Sandie glanced over at Miles, who was talking with two men who’d just finished sparring under his guidance. “I doubt it. I’ll bet he’s just as conflicted about his feelings for you as you are about yours for him.” She shook her head in mock exasperation. “I swear, first Krista, then
Julie, and now you having to jump through hoops to get these guys to set aside what they think are their good intentions to get anywhere with them. Zach may have been an ass when I first met him, and still can be, but once he caved to my wiles, there was no stopping him from pushing me into accepting he wasn’t going anywhere. Maybe I should ask him to have a word—”
“Don’t you dare,” Hope hissed, jumping to her feet when she saw Miles coming their way. Her heart rate kicked up and all her girly parts grew warm, hoping she’d misread him and he was about to extend an invitation for another private lesson.
Dean, their instructor, and Alessa, Julie and Krista merged on them as Miles arrived and cast a critical eye over Hope before turning to Sensei McCallum. “How is this class going, Sensei?”
Dean nodded. “Good. They’re catching on quick, a few taking some punches that should ensure they pay attention.”
“If they have the basics, we can start next week with mock assault attempts. Keep up the good work, ladies.” Miles clasped Hope’s elbow, his light touch, even though indifferent, setting off sparks of pleasure. She ignored Sandie’s knowing smirk as he led her toward the doors, but those sparks fizzled out when he said, “I’ll walk you home after you change.”
Deflated, she pulled away from his hand as soon as they entered the front, glad to see it was now empty. “I wore this here, and I can get home just fine, as I keep telling you. Besides, don’t you have to stick around until everyone leaves?”
“No, Ed’s here and so is Dean. Besides,” he took her arm again and turned her to face his searching gaze, “I insist, and you doing as I say was part of our deal.”
Surprised and still miffed, Hope sputtered as he guided her onto the sidewalk. “But… I mean, you’ve ignored me… I figured you…” Hell. Nothing was coming out right and she blamed her body’s continued, overheated reaction to his nearness. She couldn’t fight him and herself.