“Because it doesn’t matter what other people think.” She crossed her arms over her chest, cradling her elbows in her hands. “I won’t deny the attraction. We both know it’s there. But I can’t date you and work for you. It’s a line I’m not willing to cross.”

“So how do you explain that kiss?”

“That was…It was a one-time thing. I’d love to call it a mistake, but—” She shook her head. “I can’t. It wasn’t a mistake. But that doesn’t mean it can happen again.”

“Even though we both want it.” He didn’t frame it as a question, because there wasn’t any question that, if circumstances were different, they would both be open to sharing so much more than just a kiss.

“It’s not something I’m willing to even discuss.” After a heartbeat, she added, “Not yet.”

His brows peaked. “Yet?”

Taylor pulled her bottom lip between her teeth. She could only hope she didn’t live to regret dangling this small bit of hope, but an all-out rejection of there ever being anything between them was too harsh to bear.

She lifted her shoulders in a hopeful shrug. “My contract ends in a month.”

“So that’s our only option?” He expelled a gruff, exasperated laugh. “Working together and being together—like, really being together—are mutually exclusive?”

“Yes,” Taylor said with an emphatic nod. “That’s the way it has to be, Jamar. Once we cross that threshold, lines get blurry and it’s…it’s just not something I’m willing to do.” She lowered her voice, even though they had the gym to themselves. “Things are messy enough with this pretend dating thing. If we decide to explore a more…” She paused, trying to come up with the right word. Intimate? Real? “A personal relationship,” Taylor continued, “it will have to wait until after we’re done with our professional one.”

A muscle flexed in his jaw as he chewed over her words.

“What if I don’t want to give you up as a trainer?” he finally asked.

Taylor’s head jerked back, her eyes narrowing. “Are you considering hiring me for longer than our original two-month agreement?”

“Why don’t you answer my question first?” He stayed her with a hand. “Wait, no. Don’t answer it.” He pressed the heels of his palms against his eyes, then dragged both hands down his face. “You’re right. Fuck.” He returned his gaze to her, his eyes fraught with frustration. “We shouldn’t blur the lines.”

“We shouldn’t,” Taylor said, as much as it pained her to admit it.