Page 73 of Blake

“It helps with our unpredictable schedules.” Blake shrugged. “Go ahead. I’ll wait.”

To Gwen, Devon said, “Just let me know when you want to meet up again, and I’ll be here.”

Gwen smiled. “Works for me.”

Devon gathered her water bottle, towel, and duffel she’d brought with her before bringing her gaze back to Blake’s. “I won’t be long.”

“Take your time.”

Gwen waited for her to disappear through the rear door before she spoke again.

“She did well.”

Blake smiled. “She’s tougher than she thinks.”

The look in Gwen’s brown eyes somehow left him feeling exposed.

“What?”

“Nothing.” She shrugged.

“That’s never true when you say it.”

Her lips curved. “Just haven’t seen you look at anyone like that before.”

Blake glanced toward the locker room. “Like what?”

“Like you’d happily rearrange your entire life if she asked you to.”

He didn’t respond. Which, judging by Gwen’s ever-widening smile, was answer enough.

“Damn,” she murmured. “You’ve got it bad.”

“Don’t you have something productive you should be doing?”

She laughed and walked out the door.

Wearing a smile he couldn’t quite hide, Blake checked his phone. No new messages from Draven or Emmett.

Good.

Selfishly, he wanted a couple of hours when he wasn’t staring at computer screens or trying to figure out who wanted Devon dead.

He wanted lunch.

With her.

Somewhere normal, like two normal people. And if he could convince her to hold his hand across the table, that wouldn’t hurt, either.

Twenty minutes later, Devon emerged from the locker room wearing the jeans and pale blue blouse she’d brought with her. Her damp hair was pulled back into a cleaner, neater ponytail.

“Feel better?” Blake grinned.

“Much. Although, I think the muscles in my legs are already plotting their revenge.”

“Want me to carry you?”

She looked horrified at the thought.