Fool for Love (High Rise) Read Online Free PDF Page B

she was done. She didn’t teach on Sunday and Monday, but sometimes came in anyway to catch a colleague’s class. A day without exercise was a day badly spent and it was important to experience a fitness class from the other side as well.
    In between her two Saturday morning sessions, she flicked through a copy of Vogue—only purchased because of a spectacular cover shot of Charlize Theron’s endless legs—at The Bean, keeping a watchful eye on the door. The way Maddie had hugged her goodbye last night didn’t leave much room for misinterpretation. It was a lingering embrace expressing that first inkling of interest. If Maddie didn’t show up for her next class, Alex would have to doubt her sincerity. After what Rita did to her, there weren’t many qualities Alex valued more than sincerity.
    While Alex stowed her belongings in her locker before her last session of the week, Maddie breezed into the dressing room—her presence sparking a prompt change in Alex, as if enough to squash her doubts. Without revealing she was there, Alex peeped at Maddie from around the corner as she changed into her workout clothes. She had good legs, long and toned, and—to Alex's experienced eye—revealing hours of personal training.
    “Hey.” Alex wasn’t really the peeping type. “You made it.”
    Maddie pinned her eyes on Alex. The same burning glance Alex had seen in her fantasy that morning. “Of course.”

    MADDIE

    After class, Maddie waited for Alex outside the studio. The mixture of yoga and tai chi had given her a peace of mind hard to come by of late. Alex stood surrounded by a group of enthusiastic local ladies ooh-ing and aah-ing at something she explained in Chinese. When Alex caught Maddie’s glance through the glass door, she nodded and excused herself to her posse of admirers.
    “That was truly wonderful.” Without thinking, Maddie patted Alex's shoulder. “I haven’t felt this relaxed in a long time.”
    “I aim to please.” Alex shot her a wink. She really had to stop doing that. As innocent as the gesture was probably meant, it seemed to connect with some untouched spot in Maddie’s soul. Oh, who was she kidding? She didn’t use the word soul and the area she meant lay a tad further down south than where one would assume the soul to reside.
    “I was wondering if you wanted to grab some lunch.”
    Alex raised her eye-brows. “Sure. How does organic pizza sound?”
    “Cardboard-ish, but I’ll give it a try.”
    “I hope you didn’t just try to offend my taste in pizza. I am half-Italian, you know.”
    “I wouldn’t dare.” Maddie had guessed some Mediterranean blood flowed through Alex's veins.  
    “Good.” They walked towards the changing room together. “Have you cleared this with your weekend boss?”
    “I believe Isabella is keeping her lunch time schedule wide open for a certain unexpected client.” Alex held the door for Maddie and shook her head.
    “She shouldn’t.” They stopped at Maddie’s locker. “When I left, Nat was still in bed with a massive hangover and a twenty-year-old girl.”
    “That must be quite the den of love on the forty-second floor.” Maddie narrowed her eyes, ready to scan Alex's face for a reaction.
    “Maybe on Nat’s side of the hallway. Sometimes I think I’m only there to give the place a touch of wholesomeness.” Alex sipped from her bottle of water and some drops ran down her chin. “What about the forty-third floor?”
    Maddie looked around her. “Let’s save that conversation for lunch.”
    “You’d better not leave me hanging.” The drops of water trickled down Alex's neck, tracing a slow path to her collar bone. “I’m going to hit the steam cabin for five minutes. Care to join?”
    Maddie had to swallow before she could answer. “Sure,” she tried to say with as much nonchalance as she could muster.
    They undressed and chastely wrapped towels around their bodies. Alex led the way to the steam cabin and Maddie simultaneously feared