From their position in the canoe, half under the bridge, Matthew and Hannah saw it all. He heard her gasp as the cloud of bats swarmed out over their heads, and when he looked at her face, he could see the delight and the wonder.

"That was incredible."

"That's what Selma named her company after. Austin Free-Tail Distillery."

"And her Bat Bourbon," Hannah said, and Matthew nodded. She leaned forward and took his hand. "Thank you. That was amazing."

"We're not done," he told her, then maneuvered the canoe to a small dock that he'd discovered one day. It wasn't in the best shape, but it led to a secluded area in Zilker Park. He tied off the boat, helped Hannah out, then pulled out the ice chest and a blanket.

"I thought a nighttime picnic would be nice."

"That sounds amazing," she agreed as he pulled out pasta salad and fruit, along with crackers, cheese, wine and candles.

They ate by candlelight, sipping wine and talking about their days. She told him about client meetings and statute of limitation issues and an appeal they'd been hired to argue. Her voice when she talked about the research underscoring how much she loved the work, which was enough for him. The actual legal discussion went completely over his head.

"I'm boring you," she said later, pouring him more wine.

"You're not. I'm just not fully on board with the question of whether or not some banking regulation is constitutional."

"Want me to explain?"

"Dear God, please no," he said, making her laugh.

"You know what I want to talk about?"

He laid back on the blanket and took her hand, expecting something sexy or romantic. Instead, she said, "The gym you're thinking about closing."

He rolled over. "You're serious?"

"Where is it? South Congress, right?"

"A couple of miles from here. Why?"

"Let's go see it."

His brows rose. "You realize you're completely changing the tone of my sensual and romantic picnic by the lake." Fortunately, his sister was Selma. And she could bounce from one topic and mood to another faster than anyone on the planet. So he was well-trained to handle wild shifts like this.

She kissed the tip of his nose. "Gyms aren't sensual? Can we walk there? Is the canoe okay tied up?"

"The canoe's fine. But I have a better idea." He helped her up, and they walked the few yards to the road. As they walked, he pulled up a ride share app, and within minutes, they'd been deposited at his South Congress location.

"This is a great space," she said once they were inside.

"I agree. But it's not drawing enough members to justify keeping the doors open."

"I bet it's your location. You're so close to all the shopping on South Congress, and that's geared mostly toward women. Not that women don't work out, but I wonder if this location wouldn't do better as something else."

"Which is why I'm thinking of giving up the lease."

"No, I don't mean leave it to someone else. I mean re-purpose it. You already have two solid gym locations with free weights and machines and personal training. But what if you make this location still be a gym, but switch it up? Spin classes and Pilates and yoga. That kind of thing. You know, draw more women in from the local retailers. Have a juice bar with a happy hour for after work. And twenty-minute classes for lunch breaks. What?" she added, frowning.

"Only that you're amazing."

"Yeah? You like that?"

He did. And it was a testament to his lack of business skill that he hadn't thought of it himself. But now that she'd suggested it, he could see the potential. "I like it a lot," he said, taking a step toward her. "You know what else I like?"

She grinned. "I can guess."

Tags: J. Kenner Man of the Month Romance
Source: readsnovelonline.net