Work in Progress

Haley held her breath, pumping again on the leg press.  Her thighs and calves burned.  But that was good.  Exercising to exhaustion was therapy, the only way she could forget her aching heart for an hour or two. 

Focusing on the next rep, she ignored the three men across the room doing sit-ups on the abdominal machine.  They’d been watching her for half an hour.  Two of them had already approached her this week.  One had dared to come back a second time, even after she’d been as cold and rude as she knew how to be.

Today the two who’d hit on her were obviously pushing the third guy to try.  The two were elbowing each other and laughing.  She imagined they were ribbing the guy about being a wuss.  Or worse. 

She pumped her legs again, sweat trickling between her breasts.  If she was honest with herself, she’d admit that the third guy was easy on the eyes.  He was at least six foot four, maybe taller.  And lean.  Glancing toward him, she couldn’t help but notice how his abs rippled beneath the sweat-dampened, white t-shirt he wore.  His cropped hair curled at the nape of his neck and around his ears.  Since she’d refused to make eye contact with any of them, there was no way to know what color his eyes were.  But he was one sexy man.

All the more reason to avoid him like the plague.  A handsome man was the reason she was here now, building a new home, hiding from the world, and trying to put the pieces of her broken heart back together. 

Tears stung her eyes.  Damn it!  The rage at those who’d wronged her had long since waned.  Now the anger was directed at herself for being so blind, so foolish.  And so unable to get over it. 

Six months.  It was six long, blasted months.  The humiliation of being such a stupid, naïve, trusting idiot was too much to bear.  She, Haley Preston, owner of HLP Designs, one of the most prestigious and sought-after interior design firms in the world, had been duped.

Yes, her heart was broken, but more importantly, her pride lay in smoldering ruins.  Somehow she’d lost herself—her identity, and along with it, the desire and drive it took to be the creative, brilliant interior designer the world adored.

 Her muscles protested the continued abuse, but she pressed again, lifting the weights behind her head.  A movement caught her eye, and she stifled a groan.  The third guy had apparently been convinced to make his attempt to pick her up.

He wiped a towel across his face and squatted next to her. 

Without looking at him she didn’t give him a chance to speak.  “Not interested.” 

He laughed.  “Yeah, I know.  But the guys wouldn’t leave me alone until I came over and gave it a shot.”

She finished another rep before answering, panting as she released the weight.  “So now you have.  You can leave.”

He sat quietly for a moment.  “He must have ripped your heart out.”

Startled, her gaze jerked to his.  Green.  His eyes were green.  She swallowed hard.  “What?”

He didn’t smile.  In fact, he seemed angry.  “He cheated on you, didn’t he?”

She didn’t know what to say.  She hadn’t talked about it with anyone.  His eyes held hers for several moments.  Finally she tore her gaze away, pushing again for the next rep.  Exertion strained her voice as she answered, “Yeah, well, I haven’t managed to get the knives out of my back yet.  So, I’d appreciate it if you’d just leave me alone to lick my wounds.”

“I understand.  Sorry I—”

Haley cried out, her calf muscle cramping into a tight ball and sending searing pain through her leg.  She reached for it, tears once again filling her eyes.

He didn’t hesitate.  Grabbing the balled muscle with both hands, he squeezed and massaged until it loosened.  But even before the pain eased, Haley tingled at the feel of his hands against her bare skin.  Heat radiated through her, racing through her blood, waking all her senses.  She sucked in a strangled breath.  His scent, a musky mixture of sandalwood, juniper, and man, set her heart racing.  She closed her eyes, desperately trying to get control of her suddenly awakened libido.

After it was obvious the cramp had eased, he didn’t release her leg.  She lifted her lids and found him watching her.  His nostrils flared.  He didn’t say anything.  At least not with words.  But his eyes told her everything she needed to know.  He’d felt it, too.  A lightening bolt had struck them, its residual energy sizzling and crackling in the air between them.

Haley licked her dry lips.  “Thanks.”