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  Then something started happening over at the big guy’s table. They were nudging him and laughing and needling him. When the guy from the gym jerked a thumb in her direction, she waited, curious. She prepared herself to turn down whatever this new attention meant.

  He took his time, watching her as he approached. The big guy seemed steady. She hadn’t seen him drink much. He was huge but trim. Broad shoulders, narrow waist. She’d caught a glimpse of that washboard stomach at the gym, and she knew he was something to look at it. But what was he like inside? What did he want? How did he spend his time? So many things she didn’t know.

  A small voice said that giving him a chance would help her get to know those other sides of him. But a much louder voice told her she’d been there before and now was not the time to fall for the same nonsense all over again.

  But she couldn’t help her interest or the immediate attraction she felt to such a man. When he finally stood in front of her, he smiled, and she melted a little bit. She bit her cheek so she didn’t smile back.

  “I’d like to get to know you.”

  Nice beginning.

  “I’m Xander Smith.”

  Ah, the Xander Smith. She’d read about him. More or less forced to retire or ride the bench for his last few years. The pundits hadn’t stopped talking about him or trying to predict what he would do with his life. So far, all she knew about were the gym and the night club. Must be nice to be so free that you were bored.

  “Hi, I’m Sammy Goldwin.”

  “Sammy? I like it.”

  “Actually most people call me Sam. I don’t know why I said Sammy.”

  “I don’t want to be most people, so I’d like to call you Sammy.”

  She dipped her head, not feeling much like arguing over something that didn’t matter. She doubted he’d have much opportunity to use her name. Maybe at the gym. The thought made her happy, and she tried to tamp out the happy expectation. But it grew the more she looked at him.

  One of the women at her tables waved a hand.

  “I’ve gotta get back to work.”

  “I’ll wait here for a sec.”

  “Suit yourself.”

  She brought the table another round and checked on the others. Just as she predicted, she would make bank if they all tipped well. The tabs just kept rising. When she was finally finished checking on everyone, she made her way back to Xander. He’d taken a seat at the corner of the bar and was watching a game, his old team.

  “Do you miss them?”

  “Who? The team?” He shook his head. “Yes and no. I got some of them here with me tonight. But it’s not the same.”

  “Yeah, I love to see my squad, but nothing will ever be the same as when we served together.”

  “Were you enlisted?”

  Why had she started to share about herself? That was information she usually kept safely guarded. “Sorry. I’m talking too much.”

  “Not at all. I like hearing you talk.”

  She didn’t answer, just kind of half smiled at him. “So, what’s got the guys all interested?”

  They were watching and laughing and passing around money.

  He glanced over his shoulder. “Don’t pay any attention to them. They’re…well, they’re good guys, mostly, but it depends how you know them.”

  “How you know them?”

  “Right. Like, see Jay over there. You saw him at the gym. He’s a bit funny about women. But on the field, there’s no one else I’d want clearing the path for me, you know?”

  She wanted to concede she did know. That she’d trusted the guys in her squad with her life, but that didn’t mean she wanted to hang out with all of them on the weekends. “I’ve got people like that. So, what’s going on here, some kind of bet? What did they get you to do, coming over here, all charming?”

  “Am I charming?” His overly pleased reaction made her want to turn away. No. She couldn’t let this go anywhere.

  “What’s the bet?” She crossed her arms, waiting.

  “Well, now, just a second. This has nothing to do with those guys.”

  She raised an eyebrow.

  “It doesn’t. Honest. They might be interested, but I’ve been wanting to talk to you since I saw you at the gym.”

  “Why? You got something to say?”

  “No. Well, yes. I don’t know.” He ran a hand through his hair, which mussed it up in such a sexy way, she had to physically stop herself from reaching out to touch it too.

  “Okay, well, one of the things I wanted to talk to you about is the NFL alumni dinner.” He smiled. “I was hoping you’d go with me.”

  “Just like that? Isn’t it a dinner for families and girlfriends and things?”

  “Well, for some it is. The rest of us find a pretty girl and go have a good time.”

  She shook her head. “No.”

  “No?”

  “No, I won’t go to the alumni dinner with you.” She had nothing to wear. And furthermore, she had no desire to be on display as someone’s arm candy.

  He floundered for a minute. She could see him try to regroup and felt a small amount of sympathy, but she couldn’t even consider such a thing. That group was so far out of her comfort zone she knew she would be miserable, embarrass herself, and maybe start to fall for this good-looking man in front of her.

  He fiddled with the counter, then he leaned closer, the sincerity in his eyes disarming. “Can I…can I talk you into it? If you don’t want us to be a thing, it can just be for fun. Lots of the guys just bring a girl for the night, you know? Someone who might enjoy it.”

  “So, like a one-night stand?”

  He turned red, which surprised her. “Maybe for them, but that’s not what this is about. Honestly, Sammy. I want to do other things, too, date, get to know you…”

  He was really stumbling over his words, and as much as she was enjoying this refreshing and sincere side of a football player, she decided to put him out of his misery. “Look, thanks for thinking I’d be a good fit for this dinner, but I really can’t go. I don’t have time. Or a dress. And it’s not my thing.” There, she’d shut him down nicely. “So go tell the guys so they can see who won the bet.”

  “It’s not like that.” He shook his head as he turned away. “Maybe I’ll see you at the gym.”

  “Maybe.” That was more her speed, anyway. Walmart gave her a free gym membership as part of their employee self-care program, and she was grateful every day for it. Sometimes the chance to really push her body was the only thing helping her work through the trauma from her time in the army and some equally messy bits with her family.

  She knew she should be seeing a counselor. She’d seen one for a bit, but she wasn’t suffering like some. She didn’t have anxiety or anything, just some lingering memories that were hard to work through or relive. She just didn’t know how to make them go away. And should they go away? She couldn’t wish away the memories of her friends’ deaths as they gave their lives in the service of their country.

  His feet dragged him back to their table, where the guys roared with laughter. A part of her burned in anger, and all sorts of scenarios where she put them in their place ran through her mind. But she knew it was best to let it all go. She didn’t have time to deal with these kinds of guys. And she needed their tips. If they were all NFL players, they could be her biggest hits of the night.

  She made her way through her section again. When she stood in front of Xander’s table, the guys couldn’t stop snickering. Xander frowned at them, and Sam winked. “What else can I get you gentlemen?”

  Jay reached a hand out and placed it on her waist. “I couldn’t help but notice we have the same eye color.”

  Everyone else at the table snorted into their drinks.

  “No, really. And I’ve got tickets to a dinner with all the big players. Come with me.”

  She studied him then shook her head. “Thanks guys, but this dinner just isn’t my thing.” She wanted to squirm away from his overly large hand, but s
ometimes these things were best handled more subtly.

  But before she could do anything more, Xander slapped his hand. “Lay off, Jay. She’s not interested.”

  His eyes flashed back, and Sam’s finger hovered over her fight button. The call button she was to use if anything started to get heated. They had bouncers to take care of that sort of problem before it got out of hand. But Xander just stared Jay down, and after a moment, Jay looked away. “Whatever. I’m gonna go dance.”

  She stepped out of the way so he could make his way onto the dance floor. She took drink orders, and as she turned to go, Xander stood. “Sorry about that.”

  “It’s okay. Thanks.” Their gazes connected, and she sucked in her breath at the happy electricity that passed between them.

  He sat down, and she went back to work. But she couldn’t get over how she felt when Xander was near. She felt special. And she hadn’t felt important to another person in more years than she cared to count. What would it feel like to share her life with someone else? She had no idea. But the thought of Xander actually being a good guy made her happier than she should be. He probably wasn’t—she knew that. Anyone in the world would tell her the same.

  But she liked being near him. And that was a dangerous thing to feel. Even though she told herself she wanted to get away from him, the feel of his gaze on her made her feel noticed and safe. And even though she should be running, her eyes found his so many times, she stopped trying to prevent their shared looks. She’d likely not see him again anyway.

  3

  Xander didn’t know what to do with a girl who’d turned him down. Should he send her flowers? What did men do when they wanted to win over a woman?

  He went to the gym at the same time for three days straight and hadn’t seen her at all. He knew where to find her in the evenings, but he preferred the gym. He thought he’d have a better chance of having a real conversation without the guys watching. But she’d been a no-show. Maybe she’d changed the time she came. Why couldn’t he just get the woman’s phone number?

  He ran harder on his treadmill. She wasn’t likely to give him her number, was she? He frowned. And besides wanting to get to know her, he really needed a date for the dinner. The alumni committee was asking for a name to put on their tags and at their seats. It was coming up, just a week away. If Sammy wouldn’t go with him, then he would need to look up some of his past dates. Which didn’t make him super excited.

  No one seemed as interesting as Sammy. He didn’t want to go with anyone else. And for some reason, his date for this dinner mattered. Now that he knew there was someone like Sammy in the world, no one else seemed good enough.

  He slowed his run, disappointed again that he yet again hadn’t seen her pretty yellow hair. Would she ever come back to the gym?

  But then she jumped on the treadmill next to his. “Is that all you can do?” She started hers up going Mach five and challenged him. “Race?”

  “Oh, you bet.” And even though his body was screaming at him again, he would never step down from a challenge from a beautiful woman, from Sammy.

  He picked up his pace.

  She matched his incline. And then she increased her speed.

  So he increased his. They raced together, and exhilaration rushed through him, his adrenaline kicking in almost like it did for his games. And his awareness was so intense—every one of her breaths shuddered through him, every flip of her long, silky hair sent happy sensations over his skin as though it fell across him. The pounding of her powerful thighs, the tensing of her muscles. Every drop of her sweat on the belt at her feet. His own pains were distant as he let the rush of awareness run through him.

  They ran side by side, and he felt their pace even out and match. Their breathing became one, and a synergy between them pulled him to her in a way he’d never felt before. For a time, running at her side, he wondered what it would mean to be truly at one with a woman. They kept at it. Xander wasn’t going to stop, not for anything.

  Eventually, she slowed. “Wow, you’re something. I’m done.”

  He slowed with her. “We can pace it back.” He stayed with her, keeping their steps in unison until she went down to a walk.

  He chugged his water, knowing that his sweat was pouring off him in great drops. He wrapped his neck in a towel.

  “Want to go for a swim?” Her voice surprised him, and he nodded before he had even processed what she was asking.

  “Great. I’ll meet you out there.” She pointed to the pool doors.

  “Okay.” He calmed his breathing, but at this point he couldn’t tell if his heart was pounding from the run or from her offer to swim. More time with Sammy? Absolutely. Sammy in a swimming suit? No brainer.

  Now, if only he could say or do something to impress this woman. ’Cause he needed a date. And no other date was gonna work as far as he was concerned.

  He stood in an ice-cold shower to rinse off the sweat. Then he changed into a different pair of shorts and entered the pool deck.

  She was already swimming laps. He recognized her immediately. Her tight thighs fluttering as the rest of her pushed through the water. She was absolutely the hottest woman he’d ever seen. But that’s not what was drawing him in. There was something about her that was not like any other woman he’d met. The woman had enlisted, for one. She drove a pile-of-junk car. Worked out with a vengeance, and pranced around like a bunny to earn tips every night.

  There was so much there to unpack, but he just wanted to get to know her at the pace she was willing to share.

  But something about her also brought out his typical masculinity. He took a running leap out into the pool, drenching her with the biggest cannonball of his life. He landed right in front of her, sending great waves rolling in all directions.

  She ran into him then came up sputtering. “What!” She coughed then splashed him full in the face.

  “Oh, no you don’t!”

  He didn’t even care that they were disturbing the water aerobics class on the other end of the pool. He chased her down and sent a huge wave of water toward her face, but she laughed and ducked under before it hit her. She tried to swim away, but before she could get far, he grabbed her ankle. “Aha!” He dragged her back and then lifted her up out of the water and high above his head.

  She screamed. “What are you doing?”

  And then he chucked her. She landed with a splash about ten feet away. At this point, the lifeguard whistled and told them to stop. So they meekly moved to the hot tub.

  He got there first so he could enjoy her slipping slowly, beautifully into the hot, steamy water. She leaned back against the edge. “Oh, this is nice.”

  He just grinned at her.

  She opened her eyes. “What?”

  His laugh surprised him. It sounded open, fun. He hadn’t been this relaxed in a long time. “I’ve just never been splashed by a beautiful woman before.”

  “You so deserved that.”

  “And you deserved to be thrown.”

  She laughed. “You’re strong. I’m no lightweight.”

  “No, you’re not. You’re one powerful woman. But let that be a lesson. As powerful as you are, I can still throw you.”

  She snorted.

  “Just thought you should remember.”

  “Because…”

  He shrugged. “I don’t know. I was proud of that.”

  “As you should be, I guess.”

  He sunk down up to his mouth and moved toward her. “And what if we repeat the experience?”

  Her eyes widened. “No.”

  “You scared?”

  “Never.” She looked around. “A little. They might throw us out.”

  He sat next to her, as close as he dared without touching. “Well, we can’t have that.”

  She shook her head and then, for the first time, really looked at him. Her eyes were wide and open. She almost looked vulnerable, something he’d never previously imagined her being. His interest amped up. And a new emotion, close
to protection, rose. He was ready to be her strong front to shield her from whatever would make her scared.

  “So tell me, Sammy. What do you do for fun?”

  Wrong question, apparently. She closed off immediately. Her eyes shielded, and she shrugged. “Nothing really.”

  “Sorry, personal question?”

  “No. I just don’t have fun.”

  “What? How can you not have fun?”

  She laughed. “Well, I don’t expect you to understand, but I work two jobs. I’ve gotta leave in exactly twenty minutes for the first job, and you saw me at my second. Where in all that is the fun?”

  He felt sympathy for her, but he wanted to see her smile again. “Well, I’m just saying, your car jam looked fun.”

  She laughed. “You know, okay, you’re right. That’s my fun. I have fun at the gym. Right now, I’m having fun. I jam out on the way to Smelters. And sleep is fun. Once my head hits the pillow, I have a blast sleeping.”

  “Now we’re talking!” He was super stoked that one of her few moments of fun included him. “So, when do you get off work?”

  “Late. Don’t even go there. I go home and have my fun sleeping.”

  “Okay. And we’ve tried to have a conversation at Smelters. That was the worst.”

  “The worst?”

  “My guys made it the worst.”

  “I have a job to do there, you know, at my job.”

  “Yeah. So, maybe the gym is it.”

  “It? For what?”

  “For us to have fun. Together.”

  “Are you planning for us to have fun?”

  He eyed her a moment and decided that she needed a little fun and a good man in her life, whether she knew it or not. “Yes. We are going to have epic amounts of fun every time we work out.”

  She studied him. At first she looked serious, and then a delicious sparkle lit the corner of her eyes as she said, “You know, I believe you. Workouts are gonna take on a whole new level.”

  “What time do you get here in the morning?

  “I have to be at work by nine. So I usually get here at seven.”

  “Let’s make that six thirty.”