Her Valentine Hero. Gail Martin Gaymer

could be a friend. Nothing more.

      She eyed her watch and settled on another fifteen minutes, ten to exercise and five to cool down. She tackled the stair machine, keeping her eyes on the digital screen and holding back a groan with each step.

      “You’ve worked up a sweat.”

      Her heart skipped. Amazed, she lifted her eyes to Jonny’s. “I like to call it glowing.”

      He stood beside the machine, a grin on his face.

      “You won’t believe this but I was just thinking of—” She caught herself. Jonny would want to know what she was thinking, and when she told him, he would ask, “Why were you thinking of me?” And she didn’t know why.

      “Thinking of what?”

      “Winding down.” Saved. She didn’t want to lie, but that was also the truth.

      “I was doing laps in the pool.” He gave a head toss in that direction. “I decided to do something different today.” He flexed his shoulders. “Swimming gives different muscles a workout.”

      She nodded, her concentration failing.

      He stood still, watching her as she slowed her steps for the cool down, but her mind slowed, too, and all she could do is gaze at the new Jonny. His gaunt jaw had strengthened and molded into a square chin, today with the hint of dark bristles. She’d never thought of him as rugged, but that’s what he’d become—strong features, classically handsome, with well-shaped lips, cheeks with the glint of a dimple, short dark wavy hair contrasting with his amazing blue eyes.

      She managed to find her voice. “I took your advice and here I am.” She gestured to the workout room. “No personal trainer, but I’m trying to follow the advice from the one I had in Indianapolis.”

      “They’re helpful.” He looked thoughtful. “I think you get a free hour of personal training with your membership, don’t you?”

      “Yes, but I haven’t scheduled it yet.” She slowed to a stop and stepped off. “I’m finished for today. My muscles can’t take another step.”

      “I know a lot about exercise so if you have any questions, just ask. I keep my boys pretty fit back at school.” He dragged the towel from the bar where she’d hung it and daubed her cheeks and forehead before handing it to her.

      Her heart skipped, and it irked her. Those unexpected sensations threw her off balance. This was Jonny. She had to remember that. He looked at her as if waiting for a response. “Thanks for the offer and your assistance.” She dangled the towel in front of him. “You were very gallant.”

      “I wouldn’t call it ‘gallant.’ ‘Practical’ is better. Glow can burn your eyes.” He sent her a coy look. “If you’re heading for the locker room, I’ll walk with you.”

      She gathered her towel and water bottle, took a long swig, and trudged beside him to the locker room. Her legs trembled with each step, and she wasn’t sure if the sensation was her muscles groaning or her unexplained reaction when she was with him.

      When she reached the women’s locker room, he kept going but before she was out of earshot, he called over his shoulder. “By the way I have a proposition for you.”

      Talk about a heart skip. She dragged air into her lungs. “What kind of proposition?”

      He motioned down the hallway. “I’ll wait for you near the door.” And he was gone.

      Proposition. The word piqued her interest. While the shower splashed against her skin, easing her aches, nothing eased her mind. She stood in the spray, sorting through her foolish reaction to Jonny. If she’d met him on the street as a stranger, her resistance would have vanished, but their past relationship ruined that.

      Her body humming with warmth and the apprehension of hearing Jonny’s proposition, she turned off the water, toweled down and donned her street clothes. She ran a comb through her hair and peered at her unadorned face in the mirror. Usually after exercising she didn’t bother with makeup, and even today, reality reminded her that Jonny had seen her looking worse than she did today, but the more she gazed at her drab face, the more the image of Jeannie Hunt’s turned-up nose filled her mind.

      Releasing a sigh, she drew out her makeup bag, brushed blush on her cheeks, dragged the mascara brush over her lashes, and guided lipstick over her mouth. She couldn’t fool him with cosmetics, but at least she felt better. She dropped her towel and damp clothes into her duffle bag, then slipped her makeup and comb into the little zipper compartment and strode toward the exit.

      Jonny smiled as she approached, and pushed open the outside door.

      “Did you wait long?”

      His eyes captured hers. “Seems like a lifetime.”

      The comment held a lilt of humor, but she sensed something deeper in his words. She walked beside him, her tight muscles sending messages to her brain that she’d overdone her exercise today, but she didn’t care. She kept pace with Jonny’s long legs, waiting to hear what he had to say.

      “Which is your car?”

      She pointed to her sport sedan, wondering if he’d forgotten about his proposition.

      “Nice. I like the copper color.” He strode beside her in silence.

      When they reached her car, she hit the unlock button and gave up wondering. “I thought you had something you wanted to propose.”

      He rested his back against the side of her car. “Right. I do.” He tucked his hands into his jacket pocket. “When we were talking about Rainie’s engagement party, I meant to ask if you’d like me to pick you up. No sense in both of us driving.”

      Proposition had held more promise than the offer of a ride. “You don’t have a date?”

      “Me? No.” His smile faded. “Unless you’ve already made plans.”

      “No plans. I thought I’d go alone.”

      His face darkened.

      Her pulse skipped. “But I don’t need to go alone. I’d be happy to have you pick me up if you don’t mind.”

      “I don’t mind at all.” He gazed at her a moment, and then extended his hand.

      She eyed it, realizing he was waiting for a shake. She slipped her hand in his, feeling the heat roll up her arm to her chest.

      He squeezed her fingers, gave a faint nod and released her hand. “I should have asked the other day, but I know you were dealing with little Jonny the pest, and I didn’t know if—”

      “I’m sorry, Jonny. I don’t mean to make such a big deal out of it, but those memories seem to stay in my mind.” Along with the other dark ones she couldn’t get rid of, either.

      “It’s okay, Neely. Maybe in time.”

      In time. Maybe. She studied his classic good looks, his dark hair with those crystal-blue eyes. Maybe one day she’d even remember to call him Jon.

      Chapter Three

      “Auntie.”

      Joey’s squeal made Neely smile before she climbed from her sedan. She opened her arms as he leaped forward, and held him against her, his legs kicking in delight. The feel of her nephew’s cheek against hers, the tightness of the two-year-old’s arms, warmed her inside and out. “Where’s your mama?”

      “In.” He swung his chunky arm toward the house, and she balanced his weight on her hip as she trudged to the screen door and pulled it open. “Ashley?”

      Her sister darted into the kitchen, and when she saw Joey, surprise lit her face. “Was he outside?”

      “Looks like it.” She gave the toddler a bounce, and set him on the floor.

      Ashley knelt in