13. Charlie

The next morning, I wake before my alarm clock, feeling energized and ready to take on the day. It doesn’t even matter that Marissa and I stayed up until well past midnight getting our stories straight.

Today’s the day to prove myself in our next meeting, and I can’t wait to get started. There’s nothing that could lower my energy.

After a quick shower, I throw on my gym clothes and head down to the hotel gym, determined to kick off the day with a solid workout.

The gym isn’t too crowded, giving me plenty of space to move around as I warm up. As I begin my reps on the bench press, I think back to Marissa last night.

Her eyes were alight with determination as she went over our game plan for today. The way her brow furrowed in concentration, her lips pursed as she took notes… God, she’s so focused and ambitious.

And beautiful.

“Nope,” I mutter under my breath, pushing the barbell up and away from my chest. “Not going there.”

I made a mistake flirting with her during our first meeting — a mistake that was only one in a series of many. I meant what I told her yesterday: I’m serious about making this work, about reviving my career.

Which means I need to keep my mind on the task at hand. Today is important, not just for me, but for both of us. We’ve got to convince today’s rep that we’re the real deal — as a couple and as professionals.

As I switch to the treadmill, I crank up the speed and let the rhythmic pounding of my feet drown out any lingering thoughts of Marissa. Sweat beads on my forehead and trickles down my temples, but I welcome the burn in my muscles; it’s a good distraction.

“Good morning,” a familiar voice says from behind me.

I glance over my shoulder to see Marissa entering the gym, dressed in her workout gear and her hair pulled back into a tight ponytail. My stomach both drops and does a flip at the same time. So much for not being distracted by her.

“Morning,” I pant, trying to sound casual despite my racing heart. “Getting in a workout before our big day?”

“Absolutely,” she replies, stepping onto the treadmill next to mine. “No better way to start the day and clear my head.”

She sets her treadmill on an uphill climb, the machine groaning in response. I watch as she begins to move, a graceful rhythm that’s both captivating and inspiring. Her focus is on the task before her, and it’s like everything else fades into insignificance. She’s determined and resolute, and it ignites something inside me.

“Agreed,” I reply, turning my gaze back to my own treadmill.

The numbers on the display blur into a mess of red light as I increase the speed even more. The hum of the machines around us blends with our pounding heartbeats and ragged breaths.

I take a deep inhale, focusing on the sound of my heartbeat and the steady rhythm of my feet hitting the treadmill. I’m in a trance until my alarm goes off, at which point I hit the buttons to decrease the speed.

Stepping off the treadmill, I grab my towel and look over at Marissa. She’s already off her own treadmill, though, and walking for the door.

Walking right in front of me.

In tight leggings that hug her hips and lift her ass so that it…

I bite my bottom lip and suppress a groan. Nope. Not doing it. Not thinking those thoughts.

This woman is my agent, not some girl at a club that I can have one night with and then never think about again.

Closing my eyes, I march forward, determined to —

Pain flashes through my forehead as I walk right into the wall.

“Damn!” Popping my eyes open, I rub at the sore spot above my eyebrows.

Marissa hurries up to me. “What happened? Are you okay?”

“Yeah, I’m fine,” I lie, aware that the other people in the gym are looking at me. “Just… wasn’t paying attention.”

“Be careful.” She grins, and I swear she knows exactly what’s going on with me. “See you in the lobby in thirty?”

She doesn’t wait for an answer before leaving the gym. I’m left standing like an idiot, rubbing my head.

If this is how things are going to be between us, I should probably consider wearing a helmet everywhere we go.

Just like she asks, I meet her in the lobby in thirty minutes, after a quick shower and a bite grabbed at the breakfast line. We rush to the airport, hurrying through the terminal to catch our flight to Orlando.

The boarding line shuffles forward, and Marissa and I step onto the plane, bags in hand. My stomach churns with a mixture of excitement and nerves. We’ve prepared as best as we can for this meeting, but last time’s fiasco plays on repeat in my mind.

As the plane takes off, I tighten my grip on the armrest and force myself to breathe. I’m not afraid of flying, but I am afraid of falling on my face.

But this time will be different, I tell myself. I have to make sure of it.

* * *

“Mr. Elwood, Ms. White, welcome.” Noah, the Florida team rep, greets us as we enter the conference room. He extends his hand, and I shake it firmly.

“Thank you for having us,” I say, placing my other hand on the small of Marissa’s back.

She stiffens slightly at the touch, but her eyes don’t waver from the man in front of her. It’s a little off-putting since she told me to touch her this way in front of the rep. So am I missing something?

“We’re happy to be here,” Marissa tells Noah.

The rep responds with a genuine smile. His gaze flits between us, studying our dynamic. “Let’s get down to business, then, shall we?”

“Of course,” I agree, maintaining my hold on Marissa as we sit down.

I smile, hoping that he can’t tell how damn nervous I am. Marissa and I have rehearsed this moment, but a part of me still doubts that I can sell it the way she needs me to.

Yet, I do my best.

Throughout the meeting, I use body language to convey just how crazy I am about Marissa. I find myself leaning in closer to her, brushing my hand against hers whenever I reach for a document. I notice the way her breath hitches when our fingers touch, and I wonder if she’s as affected by this charade as I am.

When a strand of hair falls across her face, I take the opportunity to gently brush it back with my thumb. The softness of her cheek sends a shiver down my spine, and I suddenly realize how much I’m enjoying these small moments of intimacy.

“Your proposal is quite impressive,” Noah says after we’ve finished our presentation. “We’ll be in touch.”

“Thank you,” Marissa replies, her eyes sparkling. “We appreciate your time.”

As we leave the conference room, basking in the success of our meeting, I can’t shake the lingering warmth from my fingertips where they touched Marissa’s skin. But I push those thoughts aside, reminding myself that they won’t take me anywhere.

As we walk out of the building, the warm Florida sun greets us, its rays glinting off the windows around us. The energy between Marissa and me crackles with every step we take, our bodies brushing against one another as we navigate the crowded sidewalk. My heart races, and a new kind of heat rises within me.

“Great job today,” I tell her, my voice slightly breathless. “We really pulled it off.”

“Thanks to you.” Her arm brushes against mine as we walk. The simple touch sends shivers down my spine, leaving me with a dizzying mix of excitement and desire.

“You were the one that coached me.” I force myself to focus on our conversation and not the lingering sensation of her touch.

She stops walking and turns to me. “All I have to say is, thank God you kept to the script.”

“Hey,” I say with a laugh. “I’m not that much of an imbecile.”

“No, you’re not.” She smiles and blinks. I know she’s not trying to be flirtatious, but the way she’s batting her eyes has me thinking dangerous thoughts.

“Today was a step up,” I say, “but we can do even better at the next meeting.”

Her face lights up like she’s surprised to hear me say that. “You’re right. We can.”

We start walking again, and she glances sidelong at me. “I like this new attitude.”

I shrug, feeling pretty damn happy with myself. “New attitude, new Charlie.”

“Hm. Just don’t get rid of the old Charlie completely.”

“Oh, yeah?” I study her profile. “And which parts of him would you miss?”

Suddenly, she seems to get flustered. Her face turns pink, and she looks anywhere but at me. “We didn’t eat lunch. We should pop in somewhere. Yeah, let’s do that.”

She speed-walks ahead of me, and I follow behind, grinning. The two of us might have a weird and hard-to-pin-down dynamic, but I’m enjoying it — even though it’s frustrating.

Then again, that could be the taste of success talking.

Who knows if today’s rep will actually call us or if we’ll never hear from him again. Either way, I’m not worried because one thing is clear: we’re on a path to success, and there’s no stopping us.