Teagan and I continued hitting the gym together despite how awkward I felt about my unexpected attraction to her. Stupidly, I couldn’t manage to verbalize that maybe it was too intimate to be sweating together each morning.
I did make a point to do my workout separately from hers. That way I absolutely did not stare at her ass. Or notice her long legs. Or stalk her with my eyes across the gym when she’d change machines.
Much.
I reasoned it was normal and harmless to be attracted to a beautiful woman. Hell, maybe it was a good thing, as I could practice flexing my flirting muscles with a woman who was safely in the friend zone before getting back out there into dating waters.
At least she ensured I went every morning. After only five days of eating healthy and going to the gym, I dropped a couple pounds and also started sleeping again. I no longer felt bloated or lacked energy. My body had detoxed from the heavy drinking and junk food, and I was finally feeling back to my old self.
I’d enjoyed learning more about Teagan over the last few days too. I’d learned her favorite color was blue, she didn’t wear pink because it clashed with her red hair, she loved seafood, especially sushi, hated Brussels sprouts with the power of a thousand suns—her words—and had a weakness for cinnamon rolls.
She also loved anything caramel, which would include the caramel macchiato I’d picked up before her arrival at my apartment Saturday morning.
After opening the door to her knock, I found myself temporarily speechless.
“Hi,” she greeted. Her hair was twisted up in a top bun, and she was dressed casually in a T-shirt and shorts. Although I’d always thought she was beautiful, seeing her fresh-faced in my doorframe was causing an unexpected shot of lust.
“Can I come in?”
“Yes. Of course.” I moved aside, allowing her to step into my apartment.
My eyes wandered down to see today’s T-shirt displayed, “I like coffee and maybe three people.”
My chuckle came easily. “If I give you coffee, does it mean I’m one of the three people you like?”
Her gaze landed on the cup sitting on my kitchen counter. “Is that a caramel macchiato?”
“It is indeed.”
She frowned.
“I’m sorry. I thought it was your favorite.”
Her face turned pink. “No, it is. I’m the one who’s sorry because my mind just spaced. Thank you. You’ve made the short list of three, and are the best fake boyfriend ever.”
Funny how when I’d been a real boyfriend I’d hardly received the same amount of appreciation. “You’re welcome.”
I was about to suggest she take a seat at my kitchen table when I noticed the bruise. Lifting my hand up to her face, I laid my fingers along her jaw. I didn’t even realize I’d done so until her eyes went wide at the contact. I quickly dropped my hand. “What happened?”
“Nothing. Just a stupid boxing workout class yesterday. The girl next to me got too close.”
I had no reason to doubt her as it was plausible she’d taken a workout class on her own, and yet I found myself unconvinced. “You okay?”
“Yeah, yeah. It’s fine. But obviously my makeup skills need help.” She sipped on her drink and looked around the place. “So this is your apartment. Nice.”
It was decent, albeit boring, with its white walls and gray modern furniture. But at least as an executive I had my own apartment, unlike Teagan. “Thanks. You prefer to sit at my kitchen table or in the living room?”
She bypassed the quaint table and went for the couch. “This is more comfortable.”
Having her in my space was anything but comfortable. I wasn’t sure why. “How was work last night?” A lot of the staff who accepted contracts to work in Dubai for a year also worked second jobs for extra money, so I wasn’t surprised Teagan had chosen that route too.
But Teagan hesitated in answering my simple question, making me wonder.
“It was fine. It’ll be nice to have next weekend off.”
“Why don’t you give me the name of the place? Always up for trying new things.” Never was there a falser statement. I was a creature of habit. But suddenly I was curious to find out where she spent her weekend hours.
“I may be switching restaurants, but I’ll let you know where I land. You could come in then.”
The timing of her bruise and change of job set off alarm bells. Was it possible she’d been involved in some type of altercation at work? Whatever had happened, it was clear she wasn’t ready to share it, and I hadn’t meant to make her uneasy with the topic.
I switched tacks. “I’m curious. Your year-long contract has been up for three months, correct?”
“Yeah, but I extended for six months.”
Which meant she had three months remaining. “Why?” Most people left after their year was up.
She played with her straw. “I enjoy my job here.”
“You don’t miss LA?”
“I miss my sister and niece, but I’ll move back eventually.”
If it was the money keeping her here, it was clear she didn’t want to talk about it. Her attitude reminded me to insist on paying for her clothes and anything else she’d need for the trip. I absolutely didn’t want to burden her with any expense in doing me this favor.
“What about you? How long will you stay in Dubai?” she queried.
“I signed on for a two-year contract.” I was sixteen months into it now.
“After your contract is up, do you think you’ll go to New York as you originally planned?”
I shook my head. “Definitely not. I applied for another job in Delmont’s Sydney office.” I’d put in for the promotion the regional director had recommended. Australia sounded like a great place to live for a couple of years. Rumor had it the women there were knockouts, so perhaps it was the perfect place to enjoy a single life and have a fresh start. “As far as what we tell people at the wedding, let’s say we plan on staying in Dubai for now.”
She chewed on her bottom lip. “Makes sense. I’ve heard wonderful things about Australia. I bet you’ll enjoy it.”
“I still need to get the job. But I’ve heard good things too. So, I thought we’d go over our favorite movies and music today.”
She smirked. “Did you make a list of things we need to find out about each other before we leave for the wedding?”
My face heated. “I like to stay organized.”
“Which is admirable, but we may want to go about it more organically, so it doesn’t seem rehearsed.”
She had a point. The fifty questions might seem too practiced. “What do you suggest?”
“Deeper conversation.”
“Like what?”
She contemplated while I felt the buzz of my phone.
I took it out and looked at the screen but didn’t recognize the number. It appeared to be from overseas. “I’m sorry. Do you mind if I take this? It might be Aiden.”
“No, I don’t mind at all.”
I stood up and walked to the kitchen to answer the phone, hoping it was my best friend. He was in Iraq now as a government contractor, so I worried about him and hoped he was keeping safe. “Hello.”
“Hi, it’s Aiden.”
I blew out a breath of relief. Hearing his voice meant he remained in one piece. Considering he’d signed on for a dangerous assignment in a war zone, was there any wonder I worried? “How are you? You doing okay?”
“I’m doing all right. Still in Iraq. It’s a shit show here, nothing close to the military, for sure. I could use your help in a personal matter.”
My eyes immediately fell on Teagan sitting on the couch. “Of course. What can I do?”
“I’m leaving next week and heading to LA to see Chloe. I want to surprise her. But to do it right, I need her friend Kendall’s contact information. Chloe is currently staying at her place.”
“You’re in luck. Teagan is here now. Let me ask her for it.”
“Teagan is with you now? I’d love to hear that story.” He chuckled.
“Rain check on that.” I turned to see Teagan now standing, her head cocked to the side at the mention of her name.
“Aiden wants to know if you have Kendall’s contact information. He’s trying to plan a surprise for Chloe.”
Her gaze narrowed, and she held out her hand for the phone.
Amused, I walked over to let her take it.
“Hi, Aiden, this is Teagan. Explain to me why the hell I should help you after you broke my best friend’s heart.”
She stood quietly, listening to whatever Aiden was saying to her. Then suddenly she pulled out her phone, seemingly searching for something. “All right, you’ve convinced me. For now. But know that I have high expectations you will grovel properly once you get to LA and see Chloe. And of course, I fully expect you to make her deliriously happy.”
I couldn’t hear what my best friend was saying, but from the way Teagan had relented about giving him the information, I assumed he must’ve been persuasive. After reciting the details, she handed my phone back to me with a smile.
“You have what you need?” I asked Aiden and heard him chuckle in response.
“I do. To be honest, I feel safer here in Iraq than I will if I screw this up with Chloe and Teagan finds out.”
Now it was my turn to laugh. “I’d say your assessment is fair. Be safe this next week, so you can get to LA. Okay?” He’d already lost half a leg to the war; I certainly didn’t want him to sacrifice anything else—like his life.
“Will do. We’ll talk again soon.”
“Yeah, soon. Goodbye.”
“Bye.”
I hung up, my eyes fixed on the fiery redhead in front of me. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone put Aiden on the spot the way you did.”
She shrugged. “Wasn’t as if I was about to give him the address and say feel free to go break Chloe’s heart again.”
“He must’ve been pretty convincing.”
She rolled her eyes. “He wasn’t bad. I just hope he follows through. She loves him.”
“He loves her too. But he was too stubborn to realize he was worthy of her. Sounds as though he’s come to his senses.”
“We’ll see.”
“Mm, sounds cynical?”
She sat back on the couch and tucked her long legs beneath her. “I’m not cynical, just wary.”
“Why?”
She sighed, clearly not wanting to talk about this subject.
“You’re the one who suggested deeper conversation.”
“Yeah, but more like what is your favorite memory as a child?”
“My favorite memory is from when I was eight years old. It was the summer we went up on a family vacation to Maine. Aiden’s family went with us, and I spent all three weeks swimming, fishing, and running around with my best friend and my older brother. That’s my favorite memory from childhood. Now then, why are you so wary? Bad relationship?”
