“Watch where you’re going!” Paula’s voice shook. Her palms stung as she pushed herself off the gravel. A warm hand steadied her arm. “I don’t need your—”
“I’m so sorry…”
She looked up, her gaze climbing lean, tanned legs to a broad chest, finally settling on the most handsome man she’d ever seen. Frustration melted like snow under a noon sun. Still, he was the reason her new Adidas were scuffed. He wasn’t getting off that easily. “…Look where you’re going.”
“Hold on,” he said, stepping back. “You bumped into me.”
“I was checking my heart rate,” she countered, thrusting her Fitbit toward him.
“And I was checking my pace,” he mocked, waving his own watch. His smile made her pulse spike—something she could easily blame on the cardio.
She held out a hand. “I’m Paula.”
A grin spread across his face. “You’re kidding. I’m Paul.”
They held each other’s gaze, the sun reflecting in his eyes. They stood there, hands clasped, until the first drop of rain caught them by surprise. The heavens opened, making Paula squeal. “That wasn’t in the forecast!”
“I don’t think any of this was,” Paul said. He restarted his watch. “Enjoy the rest of your run. It was nice to meet you.”
Paula inhaled deeply, catching a breath that had nothing to do with the jog. She picked up the pace, her clothes already soaked.
As her house came into view, the rain eased. A rainbow arched overhead. She slowed to a walk, skin cooling, heart rate finally dipping. Her new trainers were a mess, but she didn’t care. All she could think about was Paul. There had been a connection, hadn’t there?
“You again?”
Adrenaline tingled through her. It was him. “Paul? Are you following me?”
“Don’t flatter yourself,” he teased. “I live here.” He pointed to the house across the road.
“You’re kidding? I live right over there.”
“No joke.” He jingled his keys.
Too good to be true, Paula thought. She’d be seeing this man every day. She was already half in love.
Then, his front door swung open. A glamorous woman with golden hair stepped onto the porch. Paula squinted as the woman reached him. A kiss. A casual, intimate lean. Realization hit like the cold rain—they were together.
Paul shot Paula one last friendly wave before disappearing inside with her.
Paula’s cheeks flushed, her pulse racing once more. Obviously just the running, she told herself. Nothing more than that.
Marie Lott Writer 