Stripping down to his underwear, he already felt more comfortable. He grabbed the folded blanket and gave it a hard shake before sending it fluttering down onto the sofa cushions.
“Hey, Flex—”
Cash shifted his attention across the suite to the open door of the bedroom, where Jade stood wearing a fluffy white hotel robe, her hair up in a towel and those eyes wide with wonder. Even at this distance, he didn’t miss the way her mouth dropped open as her gaze darted down, then struggled to make the return trip back up.
“Need something?” he asked, not bothering to shield his body or hide his smile.
Jade blinked and clutched the vee in her robe. “Um . . . yeah. I was going to see if you wanted to order room service and—damn it. Would you put clothes on?”
“I’m wearing clothes.”
She stepped from the room and glared at him. “Your underwear is hugging parts I shouldn’t be looking at.”
Cash couldn’t help himself; he stepped around the couch to give her a better look. “Can’t control yourself, Red?”
She crossed her arms over her chest and cocked her head to the side. “You wish. I think you adore yourself enough for both of us.”
“There’s nothing wrong with being proud of your body,” he told her. “I work damn hard to stay in shape and I know you do, too, with as much as you run.”
Her eyes traveled over him once again. “I love running. It’s therapeutic. So is yoga. I’d say you’re one of those guys who is constantly taking gym pics in the mirror and splashing them all over social media.”
Cash couldn’t help but laugh as he raked a hand over his abs. “I don’t take pictures of myself. I do take pictures of the gym, of people working out, of partners spotting each other. It’s all part of my marketing. I mean, there are photos of me because I’m the business, but I’m not that shallow, Red.”
He took another step closer, and she darted her eyes up to the ceiling. “All right. Put clothes on or I’m giving you this robe.”
“What are you wearing under it?”
Jade groaned and rolled her eyes. “You’re ridiculous.”
“I’m not the one staring at the ceiling because the sight of a man wearing the equivalent of swim trunks is making her uncomfortable.”
Her eyes darted back to his and held them. “Fine. Put some damn pants on and let’s order food. We’re not paying for it anyway.”
Cash laughed. “You really don’t like your family, do you?”
Her lips thinned and one corner of her mouth quirked. “Well, they saved me, but they have regrets, so . . .”
Saved her? What the hell did that mean?
Cash was about to ask just that when she turned back to her room and called out, “I’m ordering room service. When I’m done, I expect your junk to be covered by more than spandex.”
Damn, that woman could make him laugh and drive him crazy at the same time. Who knew this little impromptu trip would turn into him wanting to learn more?
She had so many layers, more than he’d ever given her credit for. Jade might be wealthy, she might have high standards, and she was most certainly out of his league, but maybe they could actually get along.
Of course, there was this sexual tension they had to contend with. There was no way she could deny her attraction, not when her mouth practically had fallen to the floor when she’d come out of her room. The attraction and physical admiration definitely went both ways. Jade was sexy as hell. Just because he was a gym owner and personal trainer didn’t mean he expected a woman to be perfect by society’s standards. He appreciated a woman who took pride in her health, but size had never mattered to him.
He didn’t want this pull toward Jade McKenzie. Sex was one thing, but sex with Jade would seriously make things messy for their tight group. They were all working on this airport renovation. While the other two couples were in committed relationships, Cash had no aspirations of committing himself to anyone, let alone Jade.
But that wouldn’t stop him from agitating her or getting in all the visual licks he wanted.
Her low, sultry voice filtered out into the living area. He chuckled as he thought of all she must be ordering on her family’s dime. While he could pay his own way, he’d let her have this.
As he went to retrieve his jeans, because he had no other pants, Cash kept rolling her comment through his head. What had her family done to save her? Was that why she felt obligated to attend this wedding? Had her life been in danger before?
Sometimes he thought he had her pegged, then other times he realized he didn’t know her at all. Despite the fact they’d grown up in the same town, despite the fact he’d been around her for the past year, Jade McKenzie was one hell of a complex puzzle. And he always did enjoy a challenge.
Cash had just tugged his pants over his hips when Jade stepped from her bedroom wearing a pair of black, snug shorts that showcased her long, toned legs and a gray tank top.