Text Me, Maybe - Jolyse Barnett Page 0,2

earlier. “If this time-slot works, I’d suggest you grab it before it’s taken.”

Are you taken? Her eyes fell to his hands. No rings.

He ushered her inside a cramped office. “We can set up your personal fitness regimen.”

“Let’s do it.” Geez, she needed to pay attention or she might accidentally agree to extra fees or illicit acts. She couldn’t afford either, no matter how much his hotness inspired decadent images of the latter.

“Seat?”

“Thanks.” Determined to keep her lust on a leash, Lexie squeezed past him. He was so close. So big. So primal.

Primal? A true tell that I watched way too many nature shows as a kid.

She sank onto the chair and waited.

Staring at Matthew Hennessey could easily become her new guilty pleasure, replacing her current fascination with pinning hot wet guy photos on her private Pinterest board. She shifted on the metal seat and folded her hands.

“We’ll fill this baby out, then head back to the gym in a few.” He set a clipboard on the small table between them and leaned over it, pen in hand. “How active are you?”

“Have to sit a lot for work,” she hedged.

“And what about fun?”

I know what I’d like to do— Lexie cleared her throat. “I read and write, watch TV and movies.” Crap. No wonder her inner Naughty Girl kept chiming in. She could use a little variety in her day.

Better yet, her night.

Matthew waited, pen poised as if expecting more details. When they didn’t come, he checked off a box.

She leaned forward.

Sedentary? That sounds so…lazy.

Well, she was there now, not just for the race, but for herself. The only reasonable choice was to bare her anti-fitness soul for him to scrutinize and reshape.

If only he’d mold her like clay. Get her wet, use his hands—

Am I crazy? So what if he’s perfect from his pecs to his penmanship? I know better.

She peeked at the man next to her and sighed. Maybe if it had been only one stupid jerk—or even three—that had cheated on her, she might give love another try. But considering her track record with men was beginning to rival that of her mother’s, she wasn’t about to risk an organ as delicate as her heart ever again.

No matter how much Naughty Girl might beg.

Chapter Two

With his new client’s schedule attached to the clipboard under one arm, Matthew strode through the main gym and turned to ask her a question he already knew the answer to, having watched her stretch in the weight room after she first arrived. “Warmed up yet?”

Twirling the end of the long ponytail that lay in a silky rope over her shoulder, she nodded.

“Refilled your water bottle?”

“Yep.”

“Great. Let’s head over for some cardio.” Habit had him gesturing for her to lead the way, but as his eyes fell on her swaying ass, he regretted his manners. Ah, yes. She was perfect, just the way she was.

Were her curves the reason he’d had a boner since the moment he laid eyes on her? Never had that happen at work before…

Lexie stopped with him at the treadmills.

Struggling against the tunnel vision that seemed to happen whenever her eyes met his, he said the first thing that came to mind. “That top too hot?”

A strangled noise came from the back of her throat, a cross between a gasp and a sigh. That innocent sound, combined with those soft brown eyes staring up at him, almost undid all his good intentions and common sense. In that moment, there was nothing he wanted more than to mold his body against hers and show her how it could be between them.

And from the red splashing across her adorable cheeks, he could tell she felt the heat between them, too.

She stood there, frozen, her full lips half parted and begging to be kissed.

What the hell’s wrong with you? Begging to be kissed? She’s probably wondering what the hell’s going on with you? You’re staring.

Matthew bit down hard on the inside of his cheek. Yeah, like that insignificant pain could take his mind off the pleasure her mouth promised. “Up to you, of course.” He punched a series of buttons on the treadmill display to customize her workout. “There you go. Just step on and begin walking. That’ll take care of the first ten before you ease into a steady jog for fifteen and back to cool down.”

But she didn’t step on. “Jogging?” She fiddled with the spout on her water bottle.

“You’ll be ready, no worries.”

The red on Lexie’s cheeks spread to her