A Word with the Bachelor by Teresa Southwick Page B

lunge pose she started with the right leg forward and the left straight and strong, the heel reaching. She repeated switching legs. About an hour later she’d gone through her routine and worked up a sweat. She rolled up her yoga mat and stood it in the corner next to the unpacked boxes stacked there.
    After leaving her room she listened for sounds of Jack and heard none. His bedroom door was opened, meaning he wasn’t there, and she thought he’d either slept upstairs or gone for an early morning run. In the kitchen she pulled a bottle of water from the refrigerator and started to twist off the top when she heard the front door open and close.
    Jack walked into the room and his shorts and sweaty gray T-shirt told her she’d been right about the run. He looked her over from head to toe and there was a dark sort of intensity in his eyes.
    Erin felt the power of that look slip deep inside, tapping into a place where she wanted to be just a tiny bit wicked. He didn’t even have to say a word to make her respond to him. When she felt as if she could speak without stammering, she said, “Do you want water?”
    â€œYeah.”
    She opened the refrigerator and pulled out a bottle, then handed it to him. “So, exercise is the word of the day.”
    â€œApparently.”
    â€œDo you want coffee? I was just about to make a pot.”
    â€œAffirmative.”
    â€œOkay.”
    She turned away to start the process and resisted the urge to look over her shoulder. The thing was, it didn’t matter whether or not she looked. He was there . Right on cue her nerves started that electrical arcing thing. Her hands shook as she performed the familiar, ordinary task of filling the coffeemaker reservoir with water and measuring grounds into a filter. Then she pushed the power button and heard the heating element start to sizzle. Or was that her? It was hard to tell if she was hot all over from yoga or Jack’s scorching look.
    She turned to face him and instantly his gaze lifted to her face. It wasn’t possible to be sure he’d been staring at her butt, although the look in his eyes had turned smoky and a muscle jerked in his jaw. That was the same expression he’d worn when she stood on the porch in her cotton nightgown with the light making it practically see-through. Her exercise clothes stretched over her body like a second skin. Did he like what he saw?
    She had to break the silence and said the first thing that popped into her mind. “So, I heard you pacing last night.”
    â€œYeah. It helps me think.” He leaned a broad shoulder against the wall just inside the doorway.
    â€œDo you want to talk about it?”
    â€œThinking?” One corner of his mouth quirked up, softening the hard lines of his face. “It just sort of happens on its own.”
    She folded her arms over her chest. “Would it kill you to answer a question in a serious, straightforward way?”
    â€œIt might.” He lifted a shoulder in a shrug.
    â€œWell, from what I heard there must have been a lot of thinking going on. That made me wonder if you might have had a breakthrough to discuss. I’m happy to talk about it.”
    â€œYou’re a good talker. I’ve noticed that about you.”
    â€œAnd you’re not.”
    Right behind her the coffee continued dripping into the pot and the warm, cozy aroma of it filled the room. If anyone saw them now, they could be mistaken for a couple starting out their day. Which they were, but not as a couple. He looked as if sleep had been hard to come by. There were lines on either side of his nose that were signs of fatigue and a supersexy dark scruff on his jaw. Her palms tingled with the urge to brush her hands over his face.
    Finally he said, “There’s not much to say.”
    â€œI disagree. I’ve told you practically everything about me, but you’re a mystery.”
    â€œYou know all there is to know about