“He really needs the job. He has good work references.” She smiled at him flirtatiously, as if that would help make up his mind. It didn’t.
“I’ve already told you no, Georgia. Rider and Train have, too. We don’t want two family members working in the factory, especially when one is already in a supervisor position. If you want to step down, then maybe…”
“No! No. I love my job.”
Shade knew the woman used her forceful personality to intimidate the other employees. He had already decided to talk to Viper about moving her back to the production line.
He was leaning against the doorway to his office while Georgia talked to him about how much the raise had helped with providing for her children when the door to the factory opened, and Lily came back in with her workout bag. She didn’t interrupt, waiting patiently for their conversation to end.
“Georgia, I’ll see you tomorrow.” He broke into her description of her daughter, leaving her standing to walk toward Lily.
“What has you looking so guilty?” Shade questioned the look he had caught on her face.
“I was thinking that you and Georgia would make a nice couple.”
“Really?” If she had felt a spark of attraction for him earlier, would she be talking up another woman to him?
“That’s when I felt guilty. In case you didn’t know, she’s really not a nice person.”
“I think I can handle Georgia,” he said, walking to the door of the factory and holding it open for her. He could handle three Georgias. Of course, they would all be tied up with their mouths gagged.
“That’s good to know. Then I think you should go for it. She obviously has a thing for you,” Lily said helpfully.
Shade stopped in his tracks. “Lily, have I given you the impression that I want to be your BFF?”
“Noo…”
“Good.”
Lily followed behind Shade’s quick strides.
He was angry with her for throwing another woman at him while he would kill another man over her. When he opened the door to the basement, waiting for her to enter, Lily avoided his eyes as she went inside.
“I’ll go get changed,” Lily said, heading straight to the restroom.
Shade changed into his workout gear and began on the weights while he waited for Lily.
He paused when she entered the room, his eyes going to her new workout outfit. Shade didn’t say anything, but he wanted to ask why she was determined to wear clothes three sizes too large. The black leggings were hanging off her, and the spandex top was also too large with long sleeves.
Shade placed his weights down.
“Come here,” he said, coming to a decision. He was going to find out once and for all if she was ever going to feel attracted to him. If she didn’t, he would be wasting his time.
Lily moved toward him, and he showed her the weights to use then returned to his own workout. He had to stay in shape since he was still called for specialized jobs from the government when targets needed to be eliminated. He had to be ready to leave at a moment’s notice, so his body had to be at its peak performance level to go into the dangerous situations he had been placed within.
Shade spent the next hour with her weight training, making sure the hand which had been broken started with minimal weight.
“Two more, Lily.” She was lying on the bench, lifting weights, when Shade’s hand went to the inside of her thigh. “Keep your legs straight.”
As Shade’s hand guided her leg to where he wanted it, Lily stiffened. Touching her lightly—not enough to frighten her, but to make her aware she was a woman and he was a man—her arms trembled under the weights she was holding.
“Keep your arms steady.” His hand glided up the length of her arm, steadying it. He wanted to surround her with his presence to heighten her femininity.
His hand lay flat on her stomach, well aware of how sensitive she would be there and that the thin material of her shirt wouldn’t provide a barrier against the warmth of his hand.
“Breathe, Lily.”
While Lily took a deep breath then released it, her chest shuddered and her little nipples poked through the material of her bra and workout shirt.
He had his answer.
“That’s enough for today.” Shade straightened, standing above her. He took the weights from her as she hastily got to her feet, her face flushed, eyes wild.
“Two days a week, we’ll work on weight training. The other three, we’ll work on your defense moves.” He brought her back down gently, taking the focus away from a body she didn’t recognize as being aroused.
“That sounds good,” Lily said, not looking at him as she picked up her workout bag. “I appreciate your help, Sir.”
Shade watched her run out the door, letting her leave. He was concerned her reactions might have been more than she could handle.
Shade sighed. There was no going back to the clubhouse, just as there was no going back with Lily.
Chapter 42