Midnight Run

Chapter Seven

Since Nora wasn't working on Sunday, she gave her parents a call in the midafternoon, but nobody answered. Maybe they're at a thing at the greenhouse, she thought idly. Growing up, Nora had almost considered the small garden center downtown her second home; her mom had volunteered there every weekend of Nora's childhood, teaching various classes on plants and garden care, and as far as Nora knew, she was still at it. A little prickle of guilt wormed its way into Nora's mind when she thought about the greenhouse. Her mom had been after her for years to drop by and help out when she was home, but she never made the time. Gardening was a nice hobby, but she'd never caught the same passion for it that fuelled her mother.

Her passion had started when she picked up her first pair of running shoes, but now she had other things on her mind. The next night, Nora considered smearing on lip gloss before she headed out to meet the running group, but she decided against it. It's not like he'd notice, she told herself, trying to kill the sense of anticipation she felt at seeing the handsome guy again, but no matter what she said, her heart was racing by the time she got to Central Park, and she eagerly looked around the group for his tall, lean frame. She waved when she spotted him, and he grinned and waved back.

Before Nora could get up enough courage to go over and talk to him, Lynne blew her whistle, and without preamble, the group assembled on the pavement. This time, Nora ran near the middle on purpose; she had a good view of Tex's broad shoulders rippling through his tight shirt, and the sound of her feet on the pavement was drowned out by the thudding of her heart. What would it be like, she wondered, to run her hands along his back? Every inch of the Texan was muscular, but he wasn't too ripped, not like some photoshopped cover model. No, he's just right, and he's very real, Nora thought to herself with a delightful shiver. She almost didn't notice the second part of the run, and when they finally stopped, Nora wasn't entirely sure if she were panting from exertion, or from the fantasies her mind had started to spin.

Lynne blew her whistle again, and everyone turned their attention toward her. "We've had a few new runners join us this week, so I thought instead of our usual cool down, we could do some partner exercises. So grab a buddy; new folks, find someone more experienced and get to know them!"

Nora bit her lip. Would it be too creepy if I asked him to be my partner? Before she could decide, however, someone tapped her on the shoulder and Nora turned around, steeling herself to be nice to whoever it was. Her disappointment died as soon as she saw a pair of familiar gray eyes, almost silver in the darkness, staring down at her.

"Want to buddy up, hon?"

The soles of her feet started to melt, and Nora nodded at him. Maybe wishes can come true, she thought, following the Texan to a patch of grass near the group and sitting down across from him, mirroring his posture.

"So," he began, stretching his legs out in front of him into a wide straddle, "I didn't catch your name."

Nora pressed the toes of her sneakers to his, opening her legs wide to reach, and tried to steady her breathing. "Nora. What about you?"

"Kingston."

She couldn't help herself; a laugh bubbled up past her lips. "What, as in Jamaica?" She tried to bite back the stupid comment, but it was too late.

Kingston just smiled. "Nope. As in Samuel Kingston Price the third." He reached for her forearms, clasping his large hands around her, and Nora shivered in delight. After a beat, she remembered that she was supposed to be doing what he did, and she wrapped her arms around his forearms, resisting the urge to stroke the fine, dark hair that covered his arms.