Sheryl Lister - Still Loving You

“Or maybe not. Look, Malcolm, you have a job to do. I’ve never seen you let anything, much less a woman, interfere with that job. You’re both professional enough to deal with whatever issues you have.”

He sighed wearily. “I know. I just didn’t expect to see her, that’s all. I’m fine.”

Khalil checked his watch. “I have a client in ten minutes, but if you want to talk more, you can come by the house later.”

A smile curled Malcolm’s lips. “Lexia won’t mind?”

At the mention of his wife’s name, Khalil’s face lit up. The two had gotten married nine months ago. “Nah. She’s gotten used to all the impromptu visits and phone calls at all hours of the night.” The siblings were all close, and it wasn’t unusual for one to show up at another’s home unannounced. However, now that all but Malcolm were married, the visits occurred less often.

He stood. “I’ll see.” Lately, he had begun to feel like the odd man out, especially every time his mother tried to tell him he would be happier if he found a nice young lady and settled down. Except he didn’t see any reason to settle down at the moment, not when he enjoyed his single life. He had plenty of time to think about marriage and kids.

Khalil came to where Malcolm stood, and the two shared a one-arm hug. “See you later.”

Malcolm took the stairs down to the main level and pushed through the doors leading to the parking lot. In his car moments later, he toyed with going home but decided to go directly to the facility. “Might as well get it over with,” he muttered and started the car.

When he arrived forty minutes later, he sat in his car contemplating how he wanted to handle this first encounter. A riot of emotions swirled in his gut, most of them not good—anger, irritation and, somewhere deep down, a hint of desire. Finally, he got out and entered the building. He stopped to talk to a couple of the staff members then continued toward the offices. The closer he got, the harder his heart pounded.

Malcolm heard Lauren’s laughter before he saw her. The same laughter he used to love.

“Thanks for your help,” he heard her say. A moment later, she rounded the corner. “Oh, Malcolm. Hey.”

He mumbled something he thought passed for a greeting.

They stood in awkward silence for several tense seconds before she said, “Um... I was just making...copies... We can talk in my office.”

He gestured her forward but didn’t comment. They stopped halfway down the hall at her door, and he followed her in. She had a pretty nice setup—spacious, expensive furniture, great view. Malcolm sat at the conference table and waited. As she walked past, he was treated to a view of her shapely backside in a pair of navy slacks that clung enticingly to her curves. The familiar scent of the soft citrusy fragrance she always wore wafted across his nose, and he closed his eyes briefly to block out the unwanted memories.

“Are you okay?”

Malcolm opened his eyes and met her concerned gaze. “Fine,” he said tersely.

Lauren regarded him thoughtfully. “It’s good to see you, Malcolm. I’m happy you’ve been able to live your dream.”

“Thanks.” Too bad he couldn’t say the same about her. “Let’s get this over with.”

Lauren sighed softly. “Malcolm, I—” She squared her shoulders and opened a file folder. “They’ve already done the DEXA scan, and your bone, muscle and fat percentages are all excellent. For your diet—”

“I already emailed you that information, so we don’t need to repeat it. My goals are to maintain where I am. Simple. This is my eighth season, so it’s not as if I don’t know the drill.” Malcolm didn’t know how much longer he would be able to sit in this confined space with Lauren. He was torn between wanting to lash out at her for what she’d put him through all those years ago and kissing her senseless. He prided himself on having a good amount of control, but felt it slipping as the minutes ticked off.

Her pen stilled, and she looked up from the pad where she had been writing notes. “You did.” She rose and retrieved a sheet of paper from her desk. “Height, six one, and weight, two hundred fifteen pounds. Diet consists of fish, chicken, lean beef and a variety of vegetables and fruits.” She tossed the paper aside. “Look, Malcolm, I know this is awkward for both of us.”

“Awkward? Is that what this is?” Malcolm leaped to his feet, and she instinctively took a step back. “Awkward doesn’t begin to define what this is. Why are you here?”

Lauren frowned and folded her arms. “I don’t know what you mean.”

“You could’ve taken a job anywhere. Why here?” he asked through clenched teeth. “I don’t want you here.”

She placed her hands on her hips and leaned up in his face, her dark brown eyes flashing with anger. “Because this is where I wanted to work. I was offered an opportunity few get, and taking it meant being closer to my family. What was I supposed to do, check with you first? News flash, Malcolm Gray, I don’t need your permission for my job choice, and whether you like it or not, I plan to be here for a long time!”

Something within him snapped and before his action registered in his brain, he hauled her into his arms and crushed his mouth against hers in a hungry and demanding kiss. Malcolm expected Lauren to push him away, slap him or make some kind of protest...anything, but she didn’t. She kissed him back. And in the way that drove him crazy, like only she could.

“Malcolm,” Lauren whispered.

Finally, sanity returned, and he jumped away from her as if he had been burned. What the hell am I doing? His breath came in short gasps, and his heart thumped erratically in his chest. His gaze was drawn to Lauren’s lips, still moist from his kiss, and the rapidly beating pulse in her neck, which didn’t help matters. He needed to leave now. Malcolm stepped around her, crossed the office in three strides and snatched open the door. He paused and turned back. “This changes nothing. I still don’t want you here.”

He strode out and didn’t stop until he reached his car. He couldn’t be around her for the next three years, especially not now. Not when he still wanted her.

Chapter 4

Several minutes later, Lauren still stood in the middle of her office, body pulsing, heart racing and mind reeling from Malcolm’s kiss. Why hadn’t she stopped him? And why had she kissed him back?

Memories of their relationship sprang up with such clarity she closed her eyes to block out the images. It didn’t help. Lauren recalled every moment of the two years they had dated. But she couldn’t let herself get caught up. She startled at the knock on her door. She glanced down at her watch. It was time for her next client. As she crossed the office to open the door, Lauren told herself she had a job to do, and that was the only thing she planned to focus on. She beckoned her next client in and, putting Malcolm out of her mind, sat and focused her attention where it needed to be—on her work.

Lauren didn’t leave her office until after seven that evening and was back in the office at six Friday morning. She had her rookie training session at nine and wanted to make sure she had everything ready. At eight thirty, she met one of the office staff members in the room she’d be using, which happened to be a smaller version of the auditorium she had been in the first day. The woman gave Lauren instructions on how to work the video and audio equipment and departed. Lauren had just finished laying out the materials she wanted each player to take on his way out and making sure her presentation was on the correct page when the players started drifting in. At precisely nine, she began with an overview of nutrition and how it impacted performance.