Lea gasped when she caught a glimpse of what Rachel was really checking out. The bulge beneath his shorts tipped to one side, revealing the outline of the impressive shaft. Even relaxed, it stole Lea’s breath. Colin was all male, a thickly built package of testosterone and strength wrapped up with a sexy muscular bow.
“You’re staring,” Rachel said as she leaned over and patted Lea’s hand.
“No, no I’m not.” But she was. Holy hell, her soul was damned. She was staring at her best friend’s son.
From the tip of Colin’s cropped dark hair, over the bunched muscles of his chest when he lifted and lowered the heavy weights, down his flat stomach, all the way to the tempting bulge and the thick length, Lea looked her fill.
“I told you! I knew it!”
“Knew what?” Stacey asked.
Rachel leaned back. “I knew Lea wouldn’t be brave enough to go out with the guy I tried to set her up with from Scott’s office.”
Lea sighed, grateful for the save.
“What guy?” When Colin turned around, the scowl on his face was directed at Lea. “I don’t think it’s a good idea for you to go out with a total stranger. It might not be safe. What about someone you already know? What about m—”
Lea coughed, shook her head, and dramatically waved her hand. “I don’t think I want to date anyone right now.”
“What about that girl from the clinic?” Colin asked, talking to Stacey while keeping one eye on Lea. “Dad said she’s cute and interested in me. Maybe you could hook me up with her?”
Lea’s heart clenched. She hated her body’s reaction but couldn’t stop the boiling sensation passing through her head. “I thought you said dating strangers wasn’t a good idea?”
Colin twisted all the way around, straddling the bench. Lea’s breath caught. The loose hem of his shorts revealed more of his thighs, the smooth muscles traveling north to a place she wanted her lips to explore. Damn him.
“Sometimes, the best risks are right in front of you. You have to take them and see what happens. I’ve always been one to jump on an adventure and see where it takes me.” He smirked. “What do you think? Should I go out with her—take her to dinner?”
Lea didn’t know what to say. She felt like she’d put herself out there plenty of times and always swallowed the disappointment. She understood his point, but this situation could end with all three brokenhearted.
Giving her blessing for Colin to date other women might ease some of her guilt for lusting after Stacey’s son, but it did nothing for the heaviness in her heart. She needed to be an adult and put the practical before the desirable. “If you think it would be enjoyable,” she said, followed by a deep swallow. “It could be a good idea.”
Colin dipped his head, wiping his hands with the towel. “And what if it wouldn’t be enjoyable? What if I only want to take one person to dinner, but I’m afraid she’ll say no if I ask her out?”
Well, hell, what did she say to that? She pressed one of the buttons on the display, not caring which one. She needed to redirect her attention—keep the anticipation of him asking her out far away from reality.
Before she could respond, Stacey said, “Colin, things don’t have to be so complicated. You meet a woman, you fall in love and make a million grandbabies. It’s not all about taking risks in the fast lane. You make things so hard sometimes.”
He turned back around. Lea caught his mumbling voice as he lay back down to position the weights. Before he lifted, he said, “I’m going to ask out the woman I want to be with and, dammit, she’s going to say yes.”
Lea covered her mouth. The heat traveling through her cheeks was enough to tell everyone about her excitement, but adding the goofy smile she sported was plain ridiculous. She had to admit the fantasy of sitting at a table across from Colin for a romantic dinner sounded perfect. Instead of another five star restaurant with a one star guy, a date with Colin would be fun and relaxed.
The men she’d dated were always so dull, one beige color painting a flat canvas. Colin was oranges and blues, greens and reds—everything she’d grown to feel. Being in the prime of her life meant no more beige and boring. The life of a single, attractive, smart woman meant she had choices. She pedaled faster. This phase of her life should be filled with excitement and exploration. Colin was right. A canvas full of colors was so much more fun.
CHAPTER FIVE
Lea turned under the water letting the spray massage her tight neck muscles. She’d managed to get an interview in for the paper, edit two columns, and get some work done on a book project she’d been babying for months. The long hours in front of the computer had taken a toll.