Michael spoke up. “Actually, if you don’t mind, I was thinking I’d hang out here for a while. If we’re going to do that mud run next weekend, then it probably wouldn’t hurt to get in a little pre-event training.” His eyes cut to Preslee, and he gave her a flirty smile. “You’re going to join us for the mud run, right? It’ll be fun.”

She wasn’t planning on it. But before she could tell him as much, Adam stepped sideways in front of her, blocking her body as if he were protecting her from his brother. “She’s busy,” he said, his low, menacing voice sounding like a warning.

Preslee blinked. What? No, she wasn’t. But even if she were, it wasn’t Adam’s place to speak for her. Her temper stirred, heat spiraling through her. Where the hell did he get off? She was a grown woman, and she could damn well answer for herself.

She maneuvered around Adam to see Michael’s smiling face. “Actually, I’m not busy, and I’d be happy to come along. It sounds like fun.”

Whoa! Why the hell are you agreeing to this? It doesn’t sound fun. It sounds like…torture.

“Good,” Michael said, nodding with approval. “It’ll be…uh, interesting, I’m sure.”

Adam glared at his brother through narrowed eyes as he ground out, “Preslee, we really need to get started on your workout.”

“Okay,” she agreed warily, still not quite sure what was going on.

Thick tension hovered in the air around them. It was almost palpable. Clearly, there was some weird dynamic going on between the two men that didn’t have anything to do with her. At least not as far as she could tell.

Michael cleared his throat. “If you don’t mind, Preslee, I’d like to tag along and work out alongside of you. I’ve never seen Adam in action. I’d love to get a feel for what my brother does with his clients.”

A muscle ticked in Adam’s jaw. “Why? So you can report back to Mom and Dad and tell them all about—”

“Knock it off,” Michael demanded, anger present in his tone. “I already told you they don’t know I’m here. I’m a grown man, and I’m here of my own volition. Our parents don’t have a say in what I do.”

Adam scoffed. “Well, that’s a fucking first.”

Preslee glanced around, noting that other gym patrons were beginning to stare. While it might be none of her business, she didn’t want Adam to look bad in his place of business. She placed a hand on his arm. “Adam, stop. Please. You’re causing a scene. This isn’t the place.”