Just One Night Together (Flatiron Five Fitness #3) - Deborah Cooke Page 0,20
innocent in a way. She’d seen a lot, but didn’t know so much about herself. She hadn’t begun to guess what she could accomplish, and he wanted to watch her make that discovery.
He wanted to help.
But Damon knew his limits. He had wounds that were deep, too deep to expect any one person to heal them. He savored the unfamiliar urge to linger, to be here when she awakened, to entwine his life with hers, but as seductive as the possibility was, he knew better.
He would suck Haley dry of her giving nature. He would destroy her and it would be for nothing, because he would still be wounded himself. The last thing she deserved was a taste of his hell. That would be unfair and it would be wrong.
It would be wicked.
Which was probably why it was so tempting.
In fact, she’d already given him far more than he deserved. He was going to remember this night for a very long time.
Haley stirred in her sleep, murmuring something. Damon frowned and leaned closer to listen when she spoke again.
“Garrett,” she said, then sighed and smiled.
Damon’s heart clenched at the sweetness of that smile. Who was Garrett? Judging from Haley’s expression, he was the guy she loved. What had happened to him? Damon watched her and wondered.
He had no doubt that she was dreaming of Garrett and that it was a good dream.
Had she been making love to Garrett instead of him? Damon didn’t want to think about that. In fact, her whisper was an excellent reminder that he should leave.
He slipped from the bed, washed then dressed as he watched Haley sleep. He told himself that it was good that she loved another guy, because then she’d have no expectations from him. It had been sex, just sex. Great sex, but just sex.
It was simpler when no one expected more, when it was just a transaction.
He checked the time. He had a class to teach at seven at the club, a kind of punishment from Kyle for taking every Friday night off.
But Damon didn’t mind the early class. He was the last one to complain about anything about F5F, because he felt lucky to be a part of it. He’d work every day and every moment, except that he needed to help his mom.
He hoped she’d slept well.
He checked his phone but there was only one missed call, from Kyle at the club, recorded just after Damon had left the hospital with Haley. That the hospital hadn’t called or left a message was probably a good sign.
He tugged on his jacket, then took a minute to examine the photograph on the fridge. There. That had to be her younger brother in the second row. Same chin. Same coloring. Same smile. Even with a buzz cut, the resemblance was clear. Damon wished the kid well, then turned to leave.
Haley had rolled into the hollow in the bed he’d abandoned, as if seeking his heat.
She was still smiling.
On impulse, Damon tugged a day pass for F5F out of his wallet. He wrote a quick note on it, then left it on the kitchen counter before he could change his mind.
By the time the apartment door had locked behind him, Damon regretted the impulse, but there was nothing he could do about it.
In fact, he had to get moving if he was going to get home, change and get to the club before that class started.
He shouldn’t have left the card.
He shouldn’t have added the note.
He shouldn’t have made love to Haley.
He shouldn’t have taken, even though she had so much to give—but she’d been irresistible. One night would have to be enough.
Damon hoped that Garrett guy knew what he was missing.
He listened to Kyle’s message as he walked home.
Haley awakened alone.
She wasn’t surprised, but she was disappointed. She sat up, sighed, then did her stretches, as if it was a Saturday morning like any other. She had a shift starting at noon and needed to get some groceries. She started to make a list of errands and rearrange it according to importance, her usual mental triage, when she saw the card on the counter.
Flatiron Five Fitness.
She was on her feet immediately, knowing Damon had left it. Was it his number? An invitation? A suggestion that she call or they get together again? Haley thought of a dozen possibilities, each better than the last, by the time she picked it up.
It was a day pass to use the Flatiron Five Fitness facilities.