Page 14 of Theirs to Hunt

I stare at him, stunned into a full second of silence. Did he just...? Yes. Yes, he did.

I jump as a warm arm slides around my waist.

"Babe, I was waiting for you to join me."

I glance sideways. Yep. It is him. The drool-worthy treadmill god, now up close and personal. I roll my eyes at him, because of course. Of course, this man moves stealthy and has the nerve to play the hero.

"Well," I say dryly, tilting my head toward the Barbie clone on the treadmill, "Gym Barbie took my spot, so I was moving on."

I barely notice gym bro’s hasty exit.

His scent is intoxicating. Clean sweat and expensive soap. I want to bury my nose in his chest and inhale. His hand is firm, possessive, and somehow the safest I have felt all week. Which is terrifyingly unfair.

Gah. Quit thinking this is hot. Be cool. "I did not realize we were doing pretend boyfriend today," I mutter.

He leans in, mouth brushing just behind my ear. "You looked like a deer in the headlights," he says, low and smooth, "and needed the save."

My heart stutters.

Deer.

Not girl.

Not woman.

Deer.

My stomach flips, heat crawling down my spine. It could be a coincidence. It could also be a warning.

He leans in, presses a kiss to the corner of my mouth. Soft, brief, and way too casual for how intimate it feels.

"Do not be jealous, Bambi," he murmurs. "I have not looked at anyone else since I saw you."

Then he pulls away and walks off like nothing happened.

Like he did not just hijack my nervous system and rewrite my entire afternoon.

I am still standing there, PVC pipe in hand, mouth slightly open.

What the hell just happened?

My brain has short-circuited.

Mouth still open.

Heart racing.

Thighs fully betraying me.

Great.

Now I am not the deer in headlights.

I am the deer in heat.

Nothing in my life has prepared me for how to deal with this.

I am supposed to be the wolf.