In the Fast Lane (Fast Series Book 1) by Evie Anderson Read Free Book Online Page B

movies, eating whatever contraband they could find, and simply enjoying each other’s company. The first time Dalton had put his arm around her, Jessi had thought she would pass out from excitement. When she had finally relaxed enough to rest her head on his arm, she had thought it to be the safest, strongest place she had found since she had won her spot on the team.
    Shaking the memory off, Jessi sat straight up in her chair. She’d be better served to remember how hard that little relationship had crashed and burned. That was what would keep her out of trouble now.
    “What’s wrong?” Dalton furrowed his brows in her direction.
    “What? Nothing. I’m watching tape.”
    “Yeah, but you look like you’re in pain. Does your shoulder hurt?”
    “My shoulder always hurts.”
    “You need to relax, Jessi. You’re not doing yourself any favors by being so uptight.”
    “Yes. I’m sure you’re right. But right now, I’m supposed to be finding out how much I suck, so you’ll excuse me if I’m a little on edge.”
    “Good point. Here.” He stood and walked behind her. “You watch. I’ll rub.” He started massaging her hurt shoulder.
    Jessi jumped at his touch.
    “Relax. Your shoulder’s way too tight. I want you to see Marla when we’re done here.”
    How in the hell was she supposed to relax when he was touching her like this?
    Just as she was about to shrug him off, Dalton’s grip tightened painfully.
    “Ouch!”
    “Sorry!” Thankfully, he eased up and took his hands off her. “Your stroke just looks so much worse from the aerial view.”
    Watching him sit back in his seat and glare at the screen, Jessi ruefully thought that might be the best news she’d heard all day.
     

     
    Well, the massage had been an error in judgment. If it hadn’t been for the aerial image of Jessi’s epically awful stroke, Dalton might have made a fool of himself and lost all the ground he’d made up with her that morning.
    He couldn’t let himself be attracted to Jessi. At the very least, it would screw up any chance they had at being a team. Sawyer’s little Jedi mind game crap had worked, and they were getting along well. The untimely reemergence of romantic feelings on his part would ruin everything.
    More importantly, given their past, there was no way she’d ever believe he was serious about her. She was under the mistaken belief that she had been a fun pastime for him and nothing more. There was no way she’d suddenly see him in a different light now, which was for the best. The truth was, he was dead serious about winning that gold, and a romantic relationship with the only person who could do that for him wasn’t going to get the job done.
    “Crap,” Jessi muttered.
    “What?” Dalton turned his head. Jessi was slouched forward with her head in her hands.
    “I just realized you were right.”
    Dalton couldn’t help himself. “How much did it hurt to say that?”
    “More than you’ll ever know.” She still hadn’t taken her head out of her hands.
    Smug satisfaction settled over him. “Well, you should have listened to me in the first place. Now we have to go tell Golden Boy he was right. Like he needs that for his ego wall.”
    Head still in her hands, Jessi giggled. She seemed to like it when he made fun of Sawyer. He needed to remember that.
    “Yeah, that’s gonna suck.” She sat up, looked over at him, and started to get up from her seat. “Might as well get it over with. According to your schedule, I’ve got thirty minutes before afternoon weights. Let’s get in the pool. I don’t like saying this, but it looks like I’m going to have to do what you tell me to.” She turned and headed for the door.
    “That hurt even more, didn’t it?” Dalton asked Jessi’s back.
    “Yep.”
    He came up beside her and put his arm around her shoulder, giving her a little shake. “Brush it off. You’ll get over it.” He popped a quick, friendly kiss into the blond curls on the crown of her head,