Nat comes through the office door, her cell on her ear. "Lena, I love you. Really, I do, but this isn't up for discussion. You're going to have to learn to deal with it." My brows bunch. This sounds serious. She walks towards me, spots the sandwiches, and does a little dance. She utters into the phone, "I'm turning you on speaker now. Because...sandwiches."

I whisper, "What's up with Helena?"

Nat, not caring Helena will hear, takes a bite of a sandwich and explains a garbled, "My sister has a problem with hearing me have s.e.x."

Helena gasps. "Oh G.o.d, you have no shame, you ho! And by the way, you moan so loud it sounds like I'm in the room with you. Yuck!"

Nat swallows and rolls her eyes. "Dramatic much? It's s.e.x! It's normal! I'm married, for chrissake! It won't be long before I have two babies to look after. I have to get the s.e.x in now!"

Helena responds, "La-la-la-la-la!"

Nat turns to me. "Shouldn't you be at work?"

Helena answers with what sounds like a pout. "I am at work. No one's here yet. Well, people are here, but James isn't here."

James, is it? He always introduces himself as Whit. Why is Helena allowed to call him James?

Nat chuckles. "I was talking to Max, doofus."

Silence, then Helena asks, "What is he doing there? Doesn't he work?"

I sulk at her tone. "I work, thank you very much. I'm doing a delivery right now."

At least she has the grace to sound apologetic. "Oh, right. Sorry."

While I have her on the phone, I need to ask her to check Whit's schedule for me, so I can come have a chat to him. "Hey, cupcake, you're at the center, right?"

Her response is suspicious and drawn out. "Yeah. Why?"

"I need you to check Whit's schedule for me."

Confusion lines her voice. "I don't have it."

Having been at the center about a thousand times, I'm familiar with the surroundings. Very familiar. "That's cool. You need to...wait. Where are you right now?"

"I'm in the admin lunchroom."

I nod. I know where that is. "Okay, you need to head out of there, then turn right. Once you reach a wall of photographs, you keep going forward 'til you reach the children's playroom. You'll see a giant whiteboard with everyone's schedules on it. I need you to tell me if Whit has any time-blocks free."

She utters an amused, "There are photos of Ceecee on here."

I smile. "I know. Look for the one where she's a pilot."

Helena laughs softly. "Turning her chair into a plane..." She utters an awe-filled, "Genius." A pause, then, "G.o.d, she's grown."

"I know. Like a mushroom."

I hear the sounds of footsteps echo through the phone. "Okay, I'm almost there. Ah, yes! I see it."

"Is he free today?"

"He's got one pm free and two pm free."

Cool. "Take a marker and put me in at two pm, will ya?"

Rustling, then, "Done. You're booked in."

"Thanks, cupcake."

She responds quietly, "You're welcome, Max."

And that's my cue to leave. "Okay. I'm out of here. Take it easy, ladies."

As I walk away, they call out in unison, "Bye!"

Chapter Thirteen.

Helena I hate myself for watching the clock. Two pm is getting closer and closer, and I'm having real problems with my reaction to seeing Max. More specifically, to my wanting to see Max. It's one fifty-three and the tummy flutters have started. I bounce my knee and tap my pen on the desk. Actually, I don't have my own office right now, so really, I bounce the pen off James' desk. He looks up from his paperwork and down at the pen, raises a brow, and looks up at me.

I drop the pen with a noisy clatter and whisper, "Sorry."

I'll be shadowing my boss for the next few days. I've already met the three other PTs on regular rotation. The only other man on the team is a guy named Kerr. He's not very tall, but super muscular. He almost looks as if he's a popped kernel of corn with all his bulging muscles. He's got dark hair and eyes to match, and he's so very gay.

How do I know this? I know this, because when Felicity-the token blonde bombsh.e.l.l of our team, with Restylane lips and the body of a salsa dancer-bent over to stretch, he did not look at her perfectly toned a.s.s.

I know what you're going to say: that means nothing. Right?

Wrong!

Exhibit B: When James took on the same pose, Kerr did not just look at James's a.s.s; he devoured it! Mentally, of course.

It was uncomfortable to watch. Really, it was. What was frightening was the thought of James and Kerr together rolling around in the sack turned me on. A lot. Embarra.s.singly so. So when James caught me looking like I was about to swallow my tongue from my impure thoughts and narrowed his brows at me, asking cautiously, "You okay?" I all but yelled a panicked, "Nothing!"

So there you have it. Kerr likes sausage, and I like man-on-man fantasies.

Who knew?

Felicity is tall, blonde, and has fantastic perky b.o.o.bs that match her a.s.s. And, of course, me being me, I a.s.sumed she'd be a complete ditz. Felicity...is not. She is smart, and funny, and super sweet. I like her. The first thing she said to me was, "You look like a garden nymph." That was it. So random. I was sold.

The third member of our team is shy, quiet Willa. She is tall and willowy, graceful, and extremely pretty. But shy. Painfully shy. She has gorgeous hazel eyes, light brown hair, and a smatter of freckles across her nose. She is, for lack of a better term, geek chic. Oh, and she loves James.

So there you have it. Two team members want James 'Whit' Whittaker. No wonder he told me he doesn't date employees. They all want to tear off a piece of him. I don't blame them. He's a special type of fine, but I wasn't lying when I told James I don't date.

I've worked too d.a.m.n long, too d.a.m.n hard, to date then fall in love with a guy who'll likely resent me for working my dream job. Call me selfish, but I'm doing me right now. When I'm at a good point in my career, I'll consider dating again.

The last date I went on was my first year of college. I cancelled...five minutes after the date had commenced. Brad, or Bob, or Brett, or whatever the heck his name was told me I couldn't cancel after the date had already begun. I simply said, "Watch me," then handed him back his cheap bouquet of carnations and walked back to my dorm room.

You would not be wrong if you guessed dating scares me. I'm just so worried about meeting a guy who becomes my everything, only to have to sacrifice my career for him. I mean, why must I sacrifice anything? Why can't I have the whole enchilada? Alas, it doesn't work that way most of the time. My job is demanding, but the fruits of the labor are rewarding. So rewarding, I don't think given an ultimatum I would make love my choice.

I haven't noticed James has finished his paperwork until he coughs. My face snaps to his. A small smile spreads across his face. "Where'd you go?"

Shaking my head, I sigh. "I don't even know. I checked out. Sorry."

He shrugs. "It's cool. Today's a slow day anyways. I wish I could show you more, but I need clients to do that. Sorry it's been a boring day. I wish it were more entertaining." He grins. "Maybe I could twerk on a table for you or something."

I snort. "That I would pay to see, sir."

He winces. "Aw man. You seriously just sir'd me? I feel so old."

I chuckle. He's adorable. "You're not old. If you're old, then I'm old, and if you call me old, you might just catch a shoe to the head, because I am not old."

His small grin intensifies. "I like a woman who's willing to throw a shoe every now and again."

I nod regally. "It's so uncommon these days. Such a shame." He smiles at me. And smiles. And smiles some more. I'm suddenly nervous. My eyes widen. "Why are you looking at me like that?"

After a moment, his smile loses some of its strength and he utters, "I like you."

A look of surprise crosses my face. It's quickly replaced by a blush. I mutter quietly, "I like you too."

A knock at the door snags my attention. Max pops his head in and spots me sitting behind James's desk. He throws a thumb behind him and states, "I can come back."

I quickly stand. "No. We were just talking. You sit."

I move to leave, but James stops me by lifting a palm. "Actually, Max, I completely understand if you say no, given your families are intertwined, but I need to ask. Would you mind if Helena sat in today? She's going to be shadowing me for a little while, just until she gets the hang of how we run things around here."

Max doesn't hesitate. "I don't mind."

Ahhh, Max. Understanding, thoughtful Max. Annoyingly perfect Max.

Shooting me a small smile, he moves to sit beside me and winks. "How you doing, cupcake?"

My brows about hit my hairline. I lean forward and whisper, "You can't call me that here. I mean, I told you to stop calling me that. You can't call me that."

He whispers back, "Sure I can."

My nose bunches. I whisper back heatedly, "I'm not a cupcake."

Leaning closer, our noses almost touch. His warm eyes look directly into mine. "But you smell like one."

James' eyes dart back and forth between us. "Maybe this isn't such a good idea."

But Max waves a hand at him. "It's fine. I'm totally cool with it. She needs to learn, and she knows Ceecee, so let's do it."

James looks uncertain. "Well, if you're sure..." He looks over at me.

I concede with a nod. "Yeah, everything's fine."

James smiles. "Okay then. What did you need to see me about, Max?"

Max gets right to the point. "I need help with Ceecee. She's not exercising, not stretching. She keeps getting cramps and spasms, and she tries to hide them from me. I mean, I'm not stupid, ya know? I know what pain looks like. I don't know what to do anymore, Whit." He bites the inside of his lip in a childlike gesture. His tone makes my chest pang. "She's breakin' my heart, man."

James' face immediately shows concern. "She's not doing her stretches?"

Max shakes his head slowly. "Last time I saw her initiate any form of exercise was about four weeks ago, so I've been trying to get involved, ya know? Like, I try to make it daddy/daughter time, something we can do together, but ninety percent of the time, she ends up angry with me. She'll leave in a huff. She barely talks to me anymore."

James takes a moment to process this, then nods. "Okay. We need to get her moving again or she's just going to keep cramping, and that kind of discomfort is bound to make anyone cranky. How about we get her back here twice a week until I see some improvement?"

Max lifts his arms to rest them on top of his head. His eyes close in relief. "Yes. Yes, please. She's driving me nuts. She knows what she needs to do, I just..." Surprisingly, he looks over to me. "I just don't know what to do anymore. She's shutting me out."

I feel the pain in his voice. Part of me wishes I could wrap my arms around him and hug him until the pain melts away with my warm embrace. But that would be insane, so I'll just sit here, staring back at him with a blank expression on my face.

Nice.

James pulls up his schedule. "I had a cancellation this morning. I can get her in as early as tomorrow afternoon, right after school."

Max quickly stands and reaches over the desk to take James' hand in an enthusiastic shake. "I owe you, man. Thanks. We'll be here tomorrow around three."

I don't even think he realizes he does it, but Max turns, leans down, kisses me on top of my head, and then leaves. The place where he kissed me warms, and I want to feel that warmth on my lips.

As soon as he leaves, James asks me, "You sure this isn't going to be uncomfortable for you?"

I lie through my teeth. "Not at all."

Helena Max was on my mind all afternoon. I saved his phone number from the voicemails he left me. I was so tempted to call, or message, or something. I heard his voice when he spoke about Ceecee. He looked right at me. Into me. If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I wouldn't have believe someone like the flirty, carefree Max I had built up in my mind was capable of such deep emotion. And it seriously rocked something inside of me.

I'm a judgey b.i.t.c.h. That's what it comes down to. I want to change. I made a vow to myself today. I would stop judging and start accepting. What happened with Max at Nat's wedding happened. I'm willing to accept I was bitter. My bitterness was caused by rejection, whether he knew it or not. But he was right. Our friends and families are interwoven, and to hold a grudge over something so stupid is, well, stupid.

We can be friends. I can do this. It won't be hard. Not at all. So what if he looks like a G.o.d and smells like the tears of Jesus? Pffft! No problem. We got this. I just have to make sure he never knows I considered him my fantasy fling for a long, long time. And that will be a cinch. I never told my sisters. h.e.l.l, I never told anyone!

Speaking of dream guys...

Stepping out of the shower, I wrap a towel around my hair, and then myself. I throw open the door and head over to my hand luggage. The zip comes open with a sharp tug and I see him. I breathe, "Johnny."

My hands are gentle as I undo the rubber band securing my main man. As soon as I see his face, I break into a smile. But his face is not impressed. My stomach muscles clench. "Don't look at me like that. I've been busy." I swear, his brow rises, marginally. I swear it. I huff out an annoyed, "Yeah, well, some of us have jobs, Johnny." I don't like the att.i.tude I'm being given. "You wanna stay in the freaking luggage?" If he could roll his eyes, he would.

I unravel him and lay him on my bed. I towel myself off. My gaze veers to the bed to find the upper-half of the poster curls up, so he's looking at my naked body. My nose bunches. "Perv."

I dress in jeans and a black tee that reads 'Cla.s.sy, sa.s.sy, and smart a.s.sy', which was a gag gift from Nina for my last birthday. Being that I'm actually wearing it would bring her to tears. I was mean to be offended. I love it!

Slipping on my white sneakers and placing my phone in my back pocket, I'm just about to head out the door when I spot the mini whiteboard Max left on my kitchen counter. And my heart sinks. It takes me no more than a second before I pick up the whiteboard and head out of my apartment. I ring the bell at apartment 309.