Sinjin concurred. “I know, pal. We’re both under her spell. That’s good for you. Not for me.”
He rolled out of bed and decided to shower at his place. The last thing he needed was to be surrounded by her scent. Muttering a curse, he strode to retrieve his clothes from inside her doorway where he’d dropped them last night, only to find them neatly folded on the couch with a note on top.
His gut tightened and apprehension squeezed his spine as he neared. Yeah, he enjoyed being with the woman last night. A lot. A hell of a lot. But he didn’t want her to get any ideas. Christ…had he been clear enough with her? He couldn’t exactly remember. He thought he was.
Holding his breath, he read the note.
Had an early class. Can you please take Loki out before you go? Thanks, Isla
His exhale echoed through the cottage as relief erased the stiffness from his neck. No endearments or demands. She had understood. Smiling, he reread the note.
No mention of their night.
His smile slowly faded as a vaguely familiar emotion whispered through him. It took a moment to recognize it was disappointment swirling in his gut.
Damn, he hadn’t felt that in years. Hell, a good decade or more.
What was his problem?
She’d wanted a night of stress relief and he’d delivered. His muddled brain remembered her mentioning it at some point betweenrelief sessions. They both wanted one night and that’s exactly what they got.
So why wasn’t he grinning like a guy who’d gotten his rocks off three times, instead of brooding about her leaving him in bed? Because that was usually his role. Tables were turned.
What did it matter who left?
Didn’t change the fact it was an agreed upon one night—one hell of agreatnight—but one night, just the same.
“Need my head examined,” he grumbled, and Loki barked in agreement.
Shaking his head, Sinjin pulled his clothes on and took the dog outside.
A beautiful, sexy woman had her way with him, using him to relieve stress through releases they both enjoyed, then saved him from dealing with the awkward morning after speech, and he was acting butt hurt.
He was an idiot.
The situation with Isla was good. They were in a good place.
Loki finished his business and walked over to set his paw on Sinjin’s leg. “Woof.”
He glanced down at the dog, who thumped his tail on the ground. “The name of this county should be Hopeful, since even the rescues are optimistic.”
He led the dog back into Isla’s cottage, made sure he had fresh food and water, then locked up and returned to his place for a quick shower before heading to ESI.
The distance between his place and work was approximately a block. The three-story brick building that butted up against the backyards of the cottages on his side of the street was owned by Mac and the ESI headquarters. He walked past the front door and turned down the alley to enter through a large baygarage door that the guys usually had open during their morning sparring sessions.
Sinjin nodded to Carter and Dex, who were currently beating the shit out of each other on the mats occupying the center of the bay. SUVs were parked outside to make room for the morning workout. He walked to where Mac sat on a bench with Hunter in front of a large cage where two cockatoos roosted. Both birds rooted for their owners sparing together.
“Feeling lazy today?” Mac asked, nodding toward Sinjin’s jeans and ESI polo.
Both men he approached wore sweats but were shirtless, no doubt waiting for their turn on the mat.
When he nodded, Hunter’s brow raised along with the corners of his mouth. “Not like you.”
Truth be told, he’d had just enough energy to shower, dress, and drag his ass to work. A certain sexy neighbor had syphoned all his reserves. There wasn’t an ounce of pent-up energy or aggravation in him at the moment.
A smile tugged at his lips. It felt good.
“Pretty sure he’s already gotten a workout in, Mac,” Hunter said, a grin evident in his tone.
