Page 30 of The Billionaire Bodyguard Next Door
Maybe this was a bad idea…
But it was too late to turn around now. Once I committed to something, I committed all the way.
It would help if Beck was a little bit winded. Unfortunately, the man looked unbothered by the exertion, whereas I was on the verge of wheezing and making an absolute fool of myself.
Reluctantly, I slowed my pace and came to a stop in the middle of the bridge under the guise of wanting to stretch.
Beck came to a stop as well, stretching his calf next to me. “Nice place for a mid-run stretch.”
I rolled my eyes and sank into a squat. “Just taking in the view. You know, astop and smell the roseskind of moment.”
He pretended to look around. “No roses around here, Marks.”
“Metaphorical roses,Bennet.”
He kicked my foot with his. “You’re favoring this leg. If you don’t take it easy, you’ll injure it for real.”
“Am not.” I hadn’t noticed anything wrong with my gait.
He shot me a devilish grin. “Are too.”
“And you know everything, is that it?” I raised a brow, while bouncing on my heels to keep my body from stiffening up.
“I know how to prevent knee injuries.” He glanced down at my feet again. “How old are those shoes, anyway? If you plan to keep running, you need better shoes.”
I waved my hands wildly in the air. “According to you, I’m doing this whole running thing wrong.”
He slid his hands in his pockets. Unlikemyjogging wear,hishad pockets. “You said it, not me.”
I narrowed my eyes. My feet started pounding pavement again.
“Are you coming?” I taunted him.
This asshole. If he was going to try to tell me how to live my life, I would make his a living hell and keep on pretending this jog was hurting him just as much as it was hurting me.
“Why are you doing this, Marks?” He kept pace beside me, his breath even. “You know if you tell me, it will make life easier for both of us.”
Talk to Beck about my ex? Hard pass.
Although it was the whole reason I was out here in the first place. Well, that and the mountain of other obligations and to-dos that made my mind reel and my body require physical exertion to help me sleep.
Maybe it would be a good thing to tell him…see how he reacted. At the very least, maybe it would stop him in his tracks and give me a little breather.
Fuck it.
“My ex stopped by the club tonight.”
Beck’s eyes grew curious, glinting under the harsh lights. “Did he do something to hurt you?”
The idea made me smile. “No. He didn't hurt me.”
“Do you still want him?” Beck’s voice was low, harsh even.
That elicited a tiny laugh. “Absolutely not.”
We finally made it to the end of the bridge, then we turned around and headed back toward our respective brownstones. My lungs were on fire and my body would hate me for the hell I'd put it through, but at least my mind would be clearer. The physical strain took away the mental one.
“Let me get this straight. Your ex stopped by your work today, and you'refinewith it.”
