Friends and Lovers by Tara Mills Read Free Book Online Page A

don’t really see me hitting anything.”
    “Picture your brother-in-law and you might feel differently.”
    Lauren nodded slowly, clearly intrigued by the idea. “Maybe you’re right.”
    Pleased she was considering it, Wes didn’t give her a chance to backpedal. “Good, let’s go.”
    * * * *
    Wes followed Lauren to her apartment and waited while she got proper clothing. Then they headed to his house so he could toss a bag together.
    Lauren didn’t know what she expected as far as Wes’s house went but it wasn’t the cute little white bungalow tucked among other similar single story houses with their hipped roofs and tidy little yards. There were sidewalks on both sides of the shaded street, connected to each small home’s modest walkway. Charming, the neighborhood was flat-out charming.
    While Wes gathered his gear, Lauren snooped. His dark chocolate brown sectional took up most of the living room area. There was an oversized matching ottoman in the center with a wooden tray propped against it. Apparently the ottoman served as a coffee table too.
    A large unframed picture of the woods hung directly behind the sofa. It picked up the color scheme of the room, but it looked stark and flat. Wes caught Lauren frowning at it when he came out of his bedroom with his gym bag.
    “What do you think?” he asked.
    “It’s nice,” said Lauren diplomatically.
    He smiled. Walking over to a wall switch, he flipped it up and the lights directed at the painting came on. The transformation was amazing. The colors and textures came to life. It was now a living, breathing forest. Wes adjusted the lights and the time of day changed.
    “How did you do that?” she asked breathlessly.
    “It was painted to reflect nature and show the subtle changes of daylight. Watch this.” He adjusted the lights again and she was bowled over. “The only thing I can’t get is winter—obviously.”
    “Incredible.” She shook her head and walked closer.
    Wes snapped off the switches with a smile and brandished his bag. “Are you ready?”
    Lauren sighed. “I suppose.”
    He jostled her with his elbow on the way out. “You’re going to love this.”
     

Chapter 6
     
    After dressing in what had to be the ugliest locker room in existence Lauren walked out and saw Wes talking with Bob along the far wall. His dark gray tank clung to his chest like oil and he looked so sinfully hot in those silky black shorts that Lauren actually moaned.
    Oh man, had he changed. This was not the body she’d fixated on for so many years. Wes was truly a man now and filled out in all the right places from what she could see. The strength, the power of his form was devastating to her healthy ovaries.
    Both men turned and nodded as she approached, but Wes added a smile and it bolstered Lauren’s shaky confidence until she felt the stroke of his gaze run over her body in turn. Before she could stop herself she glanced down at her formfitting top and clingy bottoms. When her chin came up he was waiting. The look that passed between them could have melted a glacier.
    “Cute ponytail,” he said with a cocky little smile, then he tipped his head at the far doorway. “Bob says we can use the mat room. You should be more comfortable in there.”
    Bob scowled at a couple of men who were giving Lauren their undivided attention. “Yeah, I’d rather you didn’t distract these idiots.”
    Lauren raised her hand in agreement. “Works for me.”
    “Good.”
    * * * *
    Wes led Lauren off to find a pair of gloves to fit her small hands, then they left the noise of the main gym behind, taking possession of the smaller gym where Wes taught his defense classes.
    “You should stretch out a little, warm up first.” He pointed to the mats and dropped the gloves and tape on the floor.
    While he walked over to the hook on the wall and unwound the rope, slowly lowering a suspended bag, Lauren stepped onto the mat and spread her feet wide. Bending forward, she placed her palms