Spring Secrets - Allie Boniface Page 0,4
Sienna, someone obviously smart and organized and put together. Someone who’d made all the right choices in and after high school. Someone who wasn’t anything like him.
“You might need some self-defense moves down there,” he joked. “I’ve heard school kids can be tough.”
“Geez, I hope not. Although I guess it would be good practice.” She pulled out her phone. “So should we set up some kind of schedule?”
Hell, yes. He wouldn’t mind spending a lot more time training Sienna. “I have most afternoons free, depending on what time you’re done with work.”
“How’s four-thirty?” She tapped something into her phone. It buzzed, and he saw a text message come up on the screen. She swiped it away without answering it. Another message came a moment later. “It’s fine,” she whispered under her breath. “Stop texting me.”
Dash resisted the urge to ask. A moment later, it turned out he didn’t have to.
“It’s my ex,” she said. “He’s the one who bought me the self-defense training. He wants to know how it’s going.”
“Ah.” So she’s single.
“He hasn’t really gotten the message that we’re over.” She put her phone down. “Do you know Jason Kingsley?”
Dash thought for a minute. “Don’t think so.”
“He’s a good guy. His father is the minister at our church.”
At that, a cold feeling washed over him. Our church. Her casual tone suggested she went on a regular basis. If she had dated the minister’s son, she probably did other church-related things too, like serve coffee and cookies after the service or bring meals to the homebound or pray with the sick. She’s so far out of your league, it’s not even funny. “Which church is that?” he asked, more to make conversation than anything else.
“Valley Presbyterian. Right at the bottom of Sunrise Mountain, before you start over to Silver Valley.”
He’d probably passed it a thousand times. He’d sure never slowed or stopped or gone inside, though. “How’s Tuesdays and Thursdays at four-thirty?” he asked, to change the subject. He felt suddenly embarrassed, ashamed of his life.
She tapped into her phone. “Sounds good.” She pulled on her hoodie. “I should probably go.”
“Sure thing.” He stuck out his hand. “Nice to meet you. We’ll get you in shape in no time.”
She took his hand and smiled, and against his better judgment he said, “Let me walk you to your car.”
“Oh.” Her cheeks pinked. “Okay.”
He held up her coat and waited as she slipped first one slender arm and then the other inside. A touch closer and he could wrap her in his arms. Behave, Dash. She’s a good girl. A church girl. She doesn’t need to get mixed up with anyone like you. He pulled on his own coat and followed her to the door. Their breath came in long white streams the moment they stepped outside. They walked around the building to the parking lot behind.
“Miserable weather tonight.” She unlocked her car, shivering.
He glanced up. “But take a look at that view.” Above them, stars studded the early evening sky. In the distance, Sunrise Mountain was a dark, solid shadow, keeping watch over the town.
“It’s pretty, I’ll give you that.” She blinked and looked upward as well, and her long lashes fell to her cheeks. “Guess I’ll see you on Tuesday.”
This was the moment she would turn and say goodbye, duck into her car, and leave him standing in the falling snow. Except she didn’t. She stood with her back against the sedan, not moving, her chest lifting and falling, the breath still streaming from between her cherry lips. It took everything he had not to lean over and kiss her.
I want you.
The thought flashed in and out of his head, and suddenly he was twenty-three again, lusting over a woman he’d just met. But that was crazy. He’d just spoken to Sienna for the first time a mere hour ago. “Okay, well, I’ll see you later,” he said, and waited as she got into the car and flashed him a smile goodbye.
She beeped as she pulled away, and Dash raised one hand and watched her go. What was he thinking, flirting with Sienna, walking her to her car like he was interested in something more? She was a client, obviously smart and well-bred, and he had no intention of turning into a cliché by sleeping with her.
He pulled his coat tighter against the wind and walked back inside. Dash had vowed eighteen months ago to focus on his mom, then his business, then his friends, in that order. Not women.