Cash pulled out his phone and took a deep breath. Interesting. He hadn’t expected this.
“Hello?” he answered.
“I know you had somewhere to be, but you left rather abruptly after delivering such a bold statement.”
He sat on the edge of his desk and crossed his arms. “Now, Red. I didn’t think you’d be the type to get clingy.”
“I’m hardly clingy.”
He couldn’t help but smile at the edginess in her voice. “No? Well, I must’ve misunderstood. Listen, I have a client due here anytime. We’ll have to talk later.”
“Don’t you dare hang up—”
“See ya, Red.”
He disconnected the call just as she let out a string of curses. Oh, she was such a good time. The woman just opened the door of opportunity to annoy her and he gladly stepped right through. She made it too easy to get under her skin. Besides, he wanted her to be just as off-balance as he was over this . . . whatever they had going on.
There was no appropriate label to put on what he and Jade were doing. The word “fling” seemed too juvenile, and they sure as hell weren’t dating. No, she wouldn’t be seen with him in public.
Even though he saw her side of that argument, he still wondered if she’d ever think they were on the same level. Joining her at her family’s wedding was quite the eyeopener. They weren’t just from money, they were most definitely in a whole other league.
Likely her family didn’t do frozen pizzas or drink their beer from a can. The whole which-fork-for-which-meal was quickly shown to him by Jade during the reception dinner, but he didn’t remember a damn thing. Wasn’t a fork just a fork?
Cash pocketed his cell and pushed aside all the reasons they were different. Why was he even analyzing? It wasn’t like he’d have to know her world, and she would never know his. Just the thought of her seeing how broken his personal life was had his gut tightening.
Relationships were out of the question for so many reasons. A shrink would get lost in all the broken paths inside his head. His mother, his father, his cheating ex-wife . . .
Cash was a walking country song, and even he didn’t want to look too far into all the reasons he pushed people aside.
For now, though, he had clients to train, and with the mood he was in, he’d be working right alongside them. He needed the outlet.
An image of Jade in the shower with her hair slicked back and water droplets rolling down her skin flashed through his mind. That was definitely an outlet he could use, too, but that would have to wait.
Even though he left her frustrated and likely angry when he hung up, he’d also left her curious and wanting more. He may not know her well on a personal level, but he was more than aware of her personality. His Jade would come to him. There was no doubt about that.
Wait. His Jade?
No. She wasn’t his. Jade would never be his, at least not permanently. Which was why he was going to enjoy her . . . for as long as it lasted.
* * *
After eight clients and handling a shipment of the new workout gear with his gym logo he was going to start selling, Cash was more than ready to call it a night.
He stared at the boxes lining the wall behind his desk in his office. He mentally went over the shelving and space he’d need to put out the new products tomorrow. He’d splashed the gym’s social media pages with hints of what was to come. With his gym open for five years now, he wanted to do something to mark the milestone and offer his members affordable options.
“There you are.”
A burst of red caught his eye, as did the angry tone. Cash pulled out his cockiest smile and turned to fully face Jade.
“Right here where I usually am.” He crossed his arms and leaned back against the edge of his desk. “You look like you’ve already gotten your workout in.”
And it took everything in him not to pull her to him and rip off her sweaty clothes. This was the Jade he wanted to see more of, not the one whose clothes were perfect or the made-up one at the wedding that he’d barely recognized. The new Jade he’d seen over the last few months, the one who started living for herself, had really become more attractive and intriguing than he should admit . . . even to himself.
“I’ve taught three classes today, two of those hot yoga.” She held out her hands. “I’m gross, so just stay where you are.”
“You’re implying I’d ravage you here in my office?”
With a quirk