“I’m going to the gym before work,” she said as she sat on the side of the bed, putting on her shoes. Her damp hair was pulled back in a ponytail, and she was wearing a pair of sweatpants and a T-shirt. He wanted nothing more than to pull her back into bed and cuddle with her. Holy shit, when had the word cuddle become part of his vocabulary? “Just lock the door behind you when you leave.” She sat looking down at him as if wondering how to say good-bye. He took her arm, pulling her against his chest and gave her a slow, leisurely kiss. If her answering whimper was any indication, she wasn’t even cursing his morning breath.

“Which gym are you going to?” he asked as he licked her bottom lip. When she mentioned the name of the big facility near Danvers, he smiled inwardly. He might work out most days at the office gym, but he also had a membership to Gwen’s gym. Even though he’d prefer to have her underneath him this morning, he would take the other option available to him and join her for a workout. He surprised her by jumping from the bed and pulling her to her feet. He quickly pulled his jeans on and grabbed his shirt and shoes from the floor. “Give me five minutes to change clothes and I’ll be ready.”

“Ready for what?” she asked, sounding confused.

“I’m going with you. I have a membership there as well. We can work out together.”

“You’re going to work out with me?” She seemed to be having a hard time wrapping her mind around that concept for some reason.

“Yeah, babe. Whatever you want to do, I’m game.” He dropped another kiss on her lips and steered her through her apartment, flipping on a light so they could see to navigate. “I’ll be right back, and then I’ll follow you to the gym.”

He jogged to his door, opening it and making a beeline for his bedroom. After packing a change of clothes for work, he put on a pair of athletic shorts and a fresh T-shirt. Just minutes later, he walked back to where Gwen was now waiting outside her door for him. “Ready?” She nodded and let him take her hand.

When they reached their cars, he opened her door and waited until she had started her car before getting into his truck and following her out. It would be nice if they could take just one car, but Dominic’s work hours were unpredictable, and he didn’t want her to have to wait for him. When they arrived at the gym, he again threaded his fingers through hers and walked to the brightly lit entrance of the Sports Complex. Gwen stopped outside the locker room doors grinning mischievously. “You know that I take the water classes here. Are you sure you want to work out with me?”

She stood grinning at him, waiting to see him squirm. He cocked a brow, as he unzipped his gym bag and pulled out a pair of swim trunks. Her mouth dropped open in shock, and he pushed it closed gently. “Checkmate, baby. I’m sure if you like the class, I will as well. Now, let’s get going.” With that, he pushed her toward her locker room door, and he walked into his. Hell, this would probably be his easiest workout in years, and he’d get to see Gwen in a swimsuit. There didn’t seem to be a downside at all.

His first trickle of unease came a few short moments later when he walked out to the pool area and found Gwen waiting for him in what most would consider a conservative, black, one-piece swimsuit. All he could see however were perky breasts and an hourglass body showcased flawlessly by clinging spandex and dear, sweet Christ, when she bent over to put her water shoes on, he felt light-headed. He had been so busy ogling her that he was oblivious to his surroundings until someone yelled, “Hey, Gwen, is that hunk with you?”

Dominic jerked around to find a group of what looked like twenty women staring at him with more than a little interest. As if that wasn’t horrifying enough, he realized that there was no way they’d missed him staring at Gwen’s ass like a horny schoolboy. The only positive he could see in the situation was the avid interest in him had effectively killed the hard-on that Gwen had brought to life with her sexy swimsuit. “He sure is, Gladys.” Gwen laughed as she straightened to look at him. “Ready, sport?”

She didn’t verbally issue any kind of challenge, but he could see it in her eyes. She thought he was going to run. Hell, he wanted to, but there was no way that was happening. He was ex-military and worked security. He refused to be intimidated by some smirking women treading water in a pool. He straightened to his full six-foot-two height and motioned toward the steps. “After you, Red.” Gwen walked past him, and he almost groaned in misery. Letting her go first had been a mistake. Now all he could focus on was the sway of her hips as she took the steps into the pool. Dammit, he was sure she was moving slower than usual. He had no doubt that she knew exactly what she was doing to him.

When they finally took their place in the water, everyone went around saying their names. There was one other man in the group Dominic estimated to be in his sixties. He came over and clapped Dominic on the back, saying, “Hey, glad to see another man here.” They exchanged names and made small talk until the class started.

After the first fifteen minutes, Dominic knew two things with certainty. First, he wasn’t cut out for water dancing of any kind, and second, if drinking pool water killed you, then he was a dead man. He flailed, he fell, he splashed and generally made a complete ass out of himself. The only bright side was that Gwen had probably laughed more during the thirty-minute class than in the entire time he had known her. He was just getting back into place after an embarrassing side kick gone wrong when the instructor, Dolly, called out, “Dominic, why don’t you come to the front and be my partner for the next song.” Was she fucking kidding him? He looked at the gray-haired woman calling him out and wanted to curse over the attention that she had brought on him.

“Actually I think I should just stay back here,” he began, trying to gracefully decline.

She put her hands on her hips and shook her head. “Honey, you need to come on up here before you drown. It’s easier for a beginner to dance in shallow water. The deeper water is only for those who are more advanced.” Turning to Gwen who was trying her best to give him an innocent look, she added, “Gwen, didn’t you tell him how much harder it was in the deep end?”

Gwen shrugged her shoulder before patting him on the back. “I . . . must have forgotten that.”

He circled behind her on his way to the shallow end of the pool, reaching out to covertly pinch her butt as he passed. She yelped, splashing around less than gracefully. “You know what they say about paybacks, right?” he asked lightly as he moved away from her.

Dominic might not be Dancing with the Stars material, but the rest of the class was much easier in three feet of water. He still couldn’t believe that Gwen hadn’t told him. She must have been laughing her ass off as he splashed next to her, looking like Jaws on steroids.

He had to admit afterward that he’d actually enjoyed himself, for the most part. Dolly even told him that she hoped he’d come back. He thought most of the women had enjoyed the comic relief that he’d unwittingly provided. He shook hands with everyone as they exited the pool, waiting for Gwen, who seemed to be taking a long time to make it to the front. When she finally drew even with him, she had the good grace to look just a bit guilty. “Did you, um . . . enjoy the class?” she asked, as she studied the bottom of the pool.

He decided to have a little fun with her instead of drilling her about what she’d done. “I had a great time, baby. I can’t wait to do it again.”

Her head flew up as she sputtered, “Yo-you did?”

Throwing his arm around her, he hugged her against his side before helping her up the stairs and out of the pool. “Oh yeah, it was awesome. You’re right. It’s a great way to exercise and have fun. Maybe we’ll start coming together every morning.”