She flushed with pleasure. As she was already red-faced from exercise, she had the comfort of knowing he wouldn't notice. "Thanks, but it's true. You saw me at my chunky best. I'm one uncontrolled corn dog away from that happening again."
What Jackson remembered most about Katie as a teenager was how pretty she'd been, even when she'd threatened to beat him up. He hadn't wanted to waste his afternoon with a kid, but the second he'd seen her, he'd been...intrigued. As much as a repressed, nerdish sixteen-year-old boy could be.
He wasn't repressed anymore, he thought, doing his best not to stare at her br**sts bouncing along in time with her movements. Not only didn't he want to get caught looking, his workout shorts wouldn't hide the inevitable reaction to his interest and wouldn't that make for an awkward moment.
"You worry too much," he told her.
"You weren't ever fat," she told him, her blue eyes bright with amusement. "But it's okay. I've been exercising regularly for nearly twelve years and I'm to the point where I almost like it."
He chuckled. "Is that the goal? To enjoy it?"
"Everyone deserves a fantasy life."
"Is that when you got interested in sports? You were exercising?"
She reached for her water bottle and took a long drink. "No. I've always loved sports. I think it's my dad's influence. My mom says instead of reading me fairy stories at night, he would read the sports page. I grew up interested in football and baseball."
"Do you play any?"
She shook her head. "I wish. I've tried them all. The best I can say for myself is I wasn't hideously bad at soccer. I wasn't close to good, but that's okay. I'm just not coordinated. Or fast. Or athletic. You met Aunt Tully. Physically, I take after her. So it's that old saying--those who can do. Those who can't write about it. I went to Ashland College to learn how."
"Where you studied sports communications."
Something flashed in her blue eyes. "You remembered."
He'd remembered nearly everything she'd said, he thought. She was the kind of woman a man would have trouble forgetting.
"You're my first sports communications major," he said lightly. "A guy remembers his first time."
She laughed. "You're good. Seriously. Have you been back to your high school reunion?"
He shuddered. "No, thanks. I'd rather face the fires of hell."
"You should think about it. You're the guy who will cause quite the reaction. All those girls who blew you off will be all over you."
"Maybe I don't want them all over me."
"You're not into revenge?"
"No. I don't need their approval to enjoy my life." He studied her. "Are you into revenge? If you are, this is the weekend for it."
She wiped her face with a towel. Even sweaty and hot, she looked good, he thought. Her hair stood in spikes, her br**sts continued to bounce. This was his idea of a great morning.
"To quote you from a second ago, no, thanks. I'm not interested in Alex. He had his chance with me and he blew it."
"The man's an idiot."
Katie smiled. He felt the heat of if all the way down to his groin.
"You say the nicest things," she told him. "Courtney can be a pain. But you have to understand the context. She was sick when she was a kid. Cancer. Everyone spoiled her and when she got better, we all kept treating her like she could die any second. She got used to the attention, and then she grew up gorgeous and guys kept falling for her. She'll grow up someday, and when she does, she'll be a good person. For what it's worth, I think Alex really does love her. This is their weekend. I want everything to go well for them."
Although his workout was over, he kept going until she was done. They walked out of the gym together and headed for the stairs. On the main floor, he was about to ask her to breakfast, when someone touched his arm.
"Jackson? Hi."
He turned and saw Ariel standing in the lobby. She was still tall and beautiful, with golden-red hair and eyes the color of spring grass. Pretty enough, but not anyone he'd missed after she'd left.
"Ariel," he said, then shifted his attention to Katie. "Katie, this is Ariel, cake decorator extraordinaire."
Katie glanced between them, then gave a smile that didn't seem happy. "Great. We're thrilled you're here. Have you had a chance to see the kitchen yet? We spoke to the staff and they've set up a work area for you. The pastry chef made the cakes last night, so they should be cooled and ready for you to work on. We all really appreciate you helping us out."
Ariel focused on him instead of Katie. "No problem. This gives me a chance to take care of a few things myself." She gazed into his eyes for another second, as if willing him to understand something, then looked at Katie. "I haven't been to the kitchen."
"Why don't you two take care of that now," he said, wondering why Ariel was acting strange. Was she pissed because he'd called her about the job? If she hadn't wanted it, she could have refused.