Settling the Score (The Summer Games #1)(43)

“What are you doing?” he asked with a smile.

“I can’t talk to you if you aren’t wearing a shirt. It’s very distracting.”

He laughed and reached for my hand to pull it away from my eyes. “You’re mad.”

“Fine, but if I start to drool or something, you can’t hold it against me.”

He shook his head and glanced away, almost as if he were embarrassed. Dear god, he couldn’t look like that and be humble; my brain would short-circuit.

“Are you done with your training?” he asked, glancing back to me and dragging his gaze down my body. I was wearing yoga pants and a tank top, nothing too glamorous, but he seemed to like it well enough.

I shook my head. “Lisa wants me to do another set.”

He arched a brow. “And do you always do what Lisa tells you?”

“It’s easier if I don’t test her.”

Freddie nodded, taking in my answer for a moment before reaching for my good hand.

“Let me buy you dinner tonight.”

His fingers were laced through mine the same way Lisa’s had been, but Freddie’s grip was tight enough to make my heart skip a beat. His thumb dragged up the inside of my palm, sending a shiver down my spine.

“Dinner?” he repeated.

No. I couldn’t do dinner. Dinner was a bad idea. Dinner would be a slip in the wrong direction. Dinner would be me handing over another piece of myself, a piece he didn’t deserve. Not after he’d kicked me out of that bathroom. Not with Caroline still in the picture.

“I’m busy,” I said, meeting his eyes once again.

“With who?”

“The team,” I lied.

“You’re lying. Your hand, maybe.”

I’d thought I was going to survive the conversation without him bringing up our phone call, but I was wrong. I bit back a smile and tried to keep my cheeks from burning red.

“Cancel. Tell them you’ve got something important to do,” he continued.

It was so tempting. I mean, I was staring at shirtless Freddie, a sight more beautiful than any of the world’s wonders. What was Giza compared to his chiseled, tan six-pack? Who needed the hanging gardens of Babylon when you could have the low-hanging fruit of his loom? I lingered on his abs, indulging in the sight for another moment before finally coming to my senses.

I shook my head. “I can’t.” Freddie and I couldn’t just date.

He narrowed his eyes.

“What about after—”

“Foster.”

I turned over my shoulder to find Lisa standing there with crossed arms and a deep frown marring her facial features. “I’ve been looking for you for the last five minutes. Are you ready to finish up? I have other athletes to train.”

I blushed. “Oh, right. Okay.”

I’d expected her to stay on the phone for a little longer.

I flashed Freddie a quick, grim smile and then moved to follow after Lisa with my head down, but before I could get far, Freddie reached out for my hand. He pulled me back with a gentle tug and kissed me square on the mouth. It was shocking and the feeling of his mouth on mine was enough to erase the rest of the room. There was Freddie’s lips on mine, his hand on my neck, and his claim on my heart. Lisa’s annoyed huff? The whistle from across the room? They were the last thing on my mind as Freddie kissed me senseless.

I pulled back, fluttered my eyes open, and took a breath. “Umm…”

He smiled and let go of my hand. I hated that he had to let go of my hand.

“Better get back to that training session.”

“Yup.” I nodded, but I didn’t move.

“Go Andie,” he said with an amused smile.

“Yes. Right-o.”

I turned back around on shaky legs. I didn’t care that Lisa was about to put me through hell; I’d just experienced heaven.





CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO


Freddie




I WIPED MY towel down my face and tossed it aside. My water bottle was empty, so I reached for my t-shirt instead, pulling it over my head and shaking out the excess water from my hair. I’d just finished my last lap at practice; I was bone tired and ready for lunch.

“Your times are insane,” Thom said, dropping his towel beside mine on the bench.

I nodded, but kept quiet. Good times are good times, nothing more. It was easy to psych myself out if I focused too much on the numbers.

“We’ve only got four more days before our races start,” Thom added, reaching for his water bottle.

I threw him a glare over my shoulder. “Thanks for that.”

“Oh c’mon, you can’t be nervous. You’ve done this a million times.”

He was right. This was my third Olympics games and I’d lost count of how many races I’d competed in over the years. “Expectations have never been higher.”

He nodded. “True.”

Everyone was looking to me to break my records from the last games. I’d had a team of trainers working with me for the last four years, helping me build strength through the offseason. I was stronger than I’d ever been, and my times were showing it. As long as I didn’t muck it up during the races, I’d be going back home to London with six medals around my neck.