“What are you afraid of, Natalie?” He asked, his voice just above a whisper as he repeated the question I’d asked the first time he set foot in my room. It felt heavier this time. Everything with Rhodes felt heavier.

“Loving you.”

He frowned, two perfectly symmetrical lines forming in his brow. Chewing my lip, I looked back to the sky, afraid that maybe I’d said too much. Did I love him already? I loved being with him. I loved the way he made me feel. To me, that was dangerously close. And it was the truth — there was nothing I was more afraid of than waking up one morning to find my heart belonged to the one man I knew could break it.

One single firework broke the sound barrier before the finale began. As lights and booms chased each other over the water, Rhodes tilted my chin toward him, catching my eyes with his own. Then, he closed the distance and pressed his lips to mine. It was a slow kiss, passionate and calculating. Maybe he was telling me it was okay to be scared, or that he felt the same fear, too.

Or maybe, he was telling me to leap.

“Natalie,” Rhodes warned, leaning his broad chest against my hamstring to apply pressure again. I felt the stretch deep in my muscles and I moaned louder. Rhodes instantly dropped my leg, letting it fall to the floor as he sat back on his heels.

“What?” I feigned innocence. “It feels so good, Rhodes. I can’t help it.”

He shook his head. “You’re going to get me fired.”

“How? You’re just stretching me out. I’m your client.”

“Yeah, but if stretching leads to you moaning which in turn leads to me fucking you against the wall in the sauna, I think that might go against club policy.”

My mouth grew dry at the image he’d painted and I chewed my lip. Lifting my left wrist, I thumbed through the options of my watch until I found the voice recorder. “Note to self: Ask Dale to install a sauna in the pool house.”

“You have a pool house?”

“Yep. Come over tonight and I’ll give you the tour.”

Rhodes chuckled, standing and making his way toward the back office. “Can’t, Bug.”

“Why not?” I asked, scrambling to my feet to follow him. It wasn’t easy, and I internally groaned. Rhodes had been pushing me hard all week. I was getting stronger, and he was testing my limits — though I couldn’t really complain. Every time he showed me how to lower into a new squat position or illustrated a glute exercise, I took advantage, touching him longer than necessary or leaning my body into his. We were garnering glares from nearly every woman in the gym, but I didn’t care.

I was branding him, just like he’d branded me.

“I have to be somewhere.”

I swallowed, staring down at my sneakers as Rhodes filed through paperwork on his desk. His t-shirt was ripped at the sleeves and the sides drooped down low, giving me full visual access of his ripped abdomen. The muscles flexed with each small movement as he shuffled random client files into place.

I hadn’t thought about the possibility that he might still be offering his after hour services. I clutched my stomach. “Are you… do you have to meet another client?”

Rhodes’ eyes met mine, his brows knitted together in confusion. “What?” When realization hit, he dropped the papers in his hand and crossed the room to me in two full strides. “Oh fuck, Natalie, no. I’m done with that. It’s me and you now, okay? I’m only touching you. And you’re the only one touching me.” He weaved his hands into my still damp hair and forced me to meet his gaze. “I swear.”

Sighing, I nodded. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be. You had every right to assume.” Clearing his throat, he stepped back, filtering through the papers once more. “That’s actually part of why I can’t hang out this evening, though. I have a job interview.”

“A job interview?”

He nodded. “It’s at this new bar they just opened down at The Crawl. Nothing big, but it’ll be enough to cover what training can’t.”

“Oh God.” My hands flew to my face. “You have to get a second job. Because of me.”

Rhodes chuckled, tossing a paperclip in my direction. It bounced off my forearm and landed next to my sneaker. “Stop, Bug. This is a good thing. I don’t want to do what I’ve been doing to earn a living.” I peeked at him through my fingers and his nose flared slightly. “I’m worth more than what they think I am.”

My heart squeezed and a smile met my lips. Was it possible Rhodes was finally seeing what I’d always seen in him? Still, I knew the extra money he made wasn’t just spent on worthless material things. I frowned. “What about the private investigator for your sister?”

He moved to me again, taking me in his arms. “I’m giving him his last payment tonight. It’s time for me to start letting go, and this is step one.”

“Wait.” I pushed my hands into his chest. “I can help. I’ll pay for him to keep looking. This is my fault, and I know you still believe she’s out there.” His jaw tensed. “Please, let me help. How much do you pay him?”

“Stop.” Rhodes pinched the bridge of his nose, but still kept the other arm secured at my waist. “You’re not paying for him. After this week, his services are done. And that’s it. And we don’t talk about it again. Okay?”

I wasn’t happy about that decision, but I nodded. I knew there was no point arguing with Rhodes, but a part of me still ached thinking I was possibly responsible for him giving up on the search for his sister.

Forcing a smile, Rhodes pulled me in for a quick kiss.

“It’s okay,” he promised against my lips. “I think I’m ready. I think I need to start letting go.”

Fisting my hands in his wet t-shirt, I pulled him closer. “I can help.”

His throat constricted and he slid his hand into mine, pressing his index finger hard into my wrist. “You already have.”

Willow called to catch up the next day while I was enjoying my day off from training. She was so excited about her program and everyone she was meeting at Appalachian State. If I didn’t have Rhodes, I would have been jealous. Since I did, I was able to be completely happy for her. We only talked for twenty minutes before she had to run, but it was nice hearing her voice. Especially when she squealed after hearing I’d worn the swimsuit she bought me.