Page 60 of His Reckoning

Probably because the last time I saw her, she was laughing at me over dinner while explaining the finer points of writing extremely graphic romance scenes.

She starts jogging so I move to the weight rack behind her. The mirrored wall reflects everything in the room.

Every few seconds, her eyes flick up toward it, which means, every few seconds, our gazes almost meet. After a few minutes, she slows the treadmill and steps off. She grabs her water bottle and takes a drink.

Then she notices me.

“You’re back,” I say.

“I live here.”

“Temporary housing situation.”

Her mouth curves slightly.

I nod toward the bench nearby. “Trying something new tonight?”

She glances at the equipment beside her. “I thought I’d attempt weights.”

“That sounds dangerous.”

“I resent that.”

Kayla steps toward the rack and picks up a pair of dumbbells.

She lifts them once, then twice. Her elbows flare outward slightly. I watch for a second but can’t help but walk over to her.

“Your form is wrong.”

She lowers the weights immediately. “Wow. No warm-up? Just straight into criticism?”

“You’re going to hurt your shoulders.”

She sighs and hands me the dumbbells. “Fine. Fix it.”

I set them back in her hands and step closer. “Keep your elbows in.”

She adjusts slightly. “Like this?”

“Not quite.”

Without thinking, I reach out and lightly touch her elbow, guiding it inward.

The contact is brief, barely anything, but Kayla freezes.

I notice immediately, which means I also notice how close we’re suddenly standing.

It’s too close, so I step back. “Try again.”

She lifts the weights. Better this time.

“See?” I say.

“Miracles happen.”

She finishes the set quickly, then sets the weights down.

Her movements are sharper now, much less relaxed.