“You’re welcome,” she saidprimly.
“How’s the fitnessprogram?”
She groaned. “I’m killing myself. The weights, the treadmill. And don’t get me started on the sit-ups.”
He laughed. “The gym makes it seem too much like work. You should get outside for a bike ride or ahike.”
“You’re probably right. But there’s a gym at school, plus the one in our building, so it’seasy.”
On an impulse, he checked tomorrow’s weather on the Internet. The forecast was for sunshine, which had to be a sign. “Why don’t I take you on my favorite hiking trail tomorrow? The weather’s supposed to begood.”
“Oh, um…I wasn’t expecting…I don’t know…I wasn’t expecting to see you untilFriday.”
He rolled his eyes. Couldn’t she cut him some slack? “I’m not inviting you as a date, but as your personal trainer. That’s close to a medicalprofessional.”
She chuckled. “Since when are you a personaltrainer?”
Since five seconds ago. “You should give me a try. No obligation. We’ll even split the supplies. You pack the lunch, I’ll bring thewater.”
Once more he was treated to a reluctant chuckle. “Don’t strain yourself over the water.” He waited, and could imagine her weighing pros and cons until, finally, she agreed. “All right. But this better be good for an inch off myhips.”
An inch off her hips would be a crime against nature in his opinion, but he’d grown up with enough sisters to keep his mouth shut. “I’ll be at your door at eight tomorrowmorning.”
“Allright.”
“Oh, and Shari? Pack lots of sandwiches. I have a bigappetite.”
Then he grabbed his book to check out what he was supposed to do in chaptertwo.
Luke had to admit, he’d painted himself into a tight corner. Ha! More like nailed himself inside a Chinese puzzle box, he decided as he made himself a chicken clubhousesandwich.
When he’d talked Shari into following the first four chapters of his book, he’d sentenced them to a month without sex. At the time he hadn’t had a clue how much he’d want her, the way a man would drool over forbiddenfruit.
If he didn’t speed up the process, he was going to toss the book aside and forget about his science experiment. And yet, half the reason he wanted her so badly was knowing he couldn’t have her. Maybe his willpower would weaken and he’d seduce her his way on his time, but not yet. Half the fun of this experiment was knowing it wasn’t Luke Lawson seducing Shari, but LanceFlagstaff.
And so far, he wasn’t doing such a bad job. Tomorrow, when he finessed her through chapter two without her realizing it, would becritical.
Luckily for him, his sister was smart enough to have thought of a way to fast-track his way into an affair with Shari. In fact, he was so pleased with her suggestion he pushed the redial button and got the same florist. He sent another half dozen roses to hissister.
He demolished his sandwich, crunched a couple of apples and headed out to get some air and maybe stock up on some food at themarket.
At least that was one appetite he couldsatisfy.
The more pressing one would have to wait. But, like a starving man at a banquet, he wasn’t sure how much longer he could resist becoming intimate withShari.
