Tyler knew that the track wouldn’t stay empty for more than an hour. By seven thirty the students
and faculty would begin to arrive, and this quiet bubble of infinite possibility would come to an
end. Recuperation sucked.
“Come on,” he urged, feeling the burn of exertion in his legs. One step at a time.
As Tyler rounded the curve of the track, the first rays of sunlight began to streak the sky. Dew
glistened on the grass like scattered crystal, and the air was still crisp and cool. He focused on his
breathing, in and out, in time with each stride, trying to ignore the stiffness in his legs and the
lingering weakness from his heart attack. Tree. Cloud. Man.
Because right then, Tyler saw him.
A tall figure in the distance caught his eye, a muscular guy wearing a coach’s uniform, jogging
toward him onto the track with an easy confidence that seemed almost magnetic.
Damn, Tyler thought, his eyes tracing the stranger’s impossible build. Who is that?
The man moved in perfect balance, his chiseled body, square jaw, and sandy hair gleaming dark
gold in the rising light. No dumb gym body either. This guy had a build like a professional
athlete—not football, but more like baseball or hockey maybe. He gave off an aura of command,
authority even, that looked effortless and earned. Nothing exaggerated, nothing fake, nothing for
show.
Tyler thought, quite clearly, Now that right there is a man I’d follow into any kind of trouble.
He blinked in genuine desire, battling the urge to close the distance between them and get a
better look. Was that even possible?
Curiosity aroused, he tried to quicken his lumbering pace. His heart pounded in his chest—not
just from exertion but from honest-to-God excitement. It had been so long since he’d allowed
himself to feel anything like this, to want someone real, and it thrilled him as much as it scared
him.
Still, he knew good looks were an awful basis for any relationship. And heaven knew he’d dated
plenty of hot jerks. This was something else.
Easy there, tiger, Tyler admonished himself, struggling to catch his wheezing breath as he closed
in on the handsome figure. You’re still healing.