Plus, she wore the bathing suit.
She thought it was about me getting her into it when I’d much rather have her out of it, but it was so much more than that. It was about how when she doubts herself, she becomes flustered and then defensive. Her not wanting to wear it had nothing to do with her damn coworkers and what she deemed were their perfect yoga bodies. It had everything to do with her and how she sees herself.
Not sure what that douchebag of an ex did to her self-esteem, but fuck him.
I’m making it my mission to rid her of her insecurities one by one.
It’s the least she deserves.
Her laugh sounds off again, and my balls tighten. This woman. She has gotten a hold of me somehow.
“The reason I really stopped by is kind of embarrassing,” Gemma says and catches my attention.
“What’s wrong?” Blakely asks.
“Oh. No. Nothing is wrong,” she says, and when I peek through the blinds, I can see her blushing and shifting her feet. “It’s more . . . I just wanted to say how envious I was of you today. We all thought the whole paddleboard yoga thing was more for Heather to show off how good she is at it instead of bringing us together as a team.”
“She is good at it,” Blakely says softly as I step into my shorts and pull them up. “But why were you envious of me? I fell off the paddleboard and couldn’t stop laughing.”
“Exactly,” she says, her smile growing more certain. “You and Slade were laughing and having so much fun while the rest of us were afraid to breathe wrong for fear of getting reprimanded. You just didn’t care.”
Blakely sighs in that way that says she is treading lightly so as not to offend, but at the same time, says she hears her coworker. Such a perfect boss sound. “Of course, I care, but—”
“We can all see that she’s out to get you, and yet, you aren’t afraid.” She giggles nervously, as if she can’t believe she just said that. “It’s about damn time.”
“Oh. I—I wasn’t aware it was so obvious.”
“We see more than you think we do—or, at least, I do,” she says. “Do you want to walk to our next session together?”
“Um, yes. Sure. Let me change out of my suit first. I’ll be just a second,” Blakely says.
A second later, the door opens and shuts and Blakely stares at me as if she’s shocked.
“Don’t look now, but I do believe another thing is getting crossed off our Blade To-Do list,” I whisper so Gemma won’t overhear.
“You heard us?” she whispers back as she walks over to her suitcase.
“I did.”
Her back is to me as she slides her arms out of the bathing suit straps and begins whatever voodoo it is that women do to get their bras on. “She’s one of the ones I thought was a die-hard Heather cheerleader.”
“Not anymore, it seems,” I murmur, rather enjoying watching her get dressed. There is an efficiency to it that is equal parts admirable and sexy.
“All because we were laughing.” She pulls a shirt over her head and it hangs just below her butt. “All because we were having a good time.”
“You proved you weren’t scared of Heather’s wrath.” She steps out of her suit and slides a rather sexy pair of lacy panties up that mile-long stretch of legs until I can’t see them anymore. “Hope can be contagious.”
She glances over at me again and laughs. “Hope?”
“Hope.” I take a step toward her. “When people give it to them, even in such a simple form as laughter, it’s contagious.” She steps into a pair of jeans. “I see it all the time in the hospital.”
“I think you’re giving me too much credit here.” She turns as she tucks in her shirt and fastens the waist. “For all I know, I’ll go to this next session and this whole conversation will be moot.”
“I doubt it.” I take another step toward her. I brush back a lock of her hair that’s fallen loose from her ponytail and tuck it behind her ear. “But if I’m wrong, I’m going to be pissed we were interrupted.” I lean forward and kiss her smile.
“I’ll make it up to you.”
“Famous last words,” I say and walk toward the door and open it. “Hey, Gemma. You doing okay? Not too sore after too many Downward Dobermans?” I joke. “What’s Ted up to?”
Her laugh says it all. “Frustrated that he has to be here. He isn’t exactly a yoga man.”
“I think it’s apparent that I’m not either.” I grin. “It hasn’t exactly been a blast for the men.”
“Should I worry that you’re formulating another plan?” Blakely asks as she closes the door behind her.
“I am.” I wink at Gemma. “I plan on changing the male perspective a little while you ladies do whatever it is you’re doing next. You okay with that?”
“Do I want to know?” Gemma asks.
“Nope.” I press a chaste kiss to Blakely’s lips. “But you’ll thank me for it.”
Blakely
“Hey man, I hate to ask, but can you check on her for me?” Slade walks from one side of the dock to the other and chuckles softly. “Nah. Same old bullshit. They have to wait for her to wake up. No decision until then.” His shoulders are tense, and he pinches the bridge of his nose in what seems like frustration. “I appreciate it. Yeah, I can hold.”
Slade doesn’t speak for a few moments as he waits.
“Christ,” he finally mutters, his shoulders sagging. “Thanks for checking. I know the position I put you in by asking.” He nods. “Sounds good. Later, man.”
“Shit.” He hisses the word to himself as he takes a seat on the end of the dock.
Watching him for a few seconds, I debate whether to leave him be or approach him. He
