None of it was working today.

It would have helped if his “Soothing Sounds” playlist hadn’t filled the room with the sound of gentle raindrops. The moment he heard them, his mind immediately went back to that secluded spot at the summit of Mount Bonnell and the feel of Taylor’s body pressed against his. He felt her hands cradling his face, her hard nipples against his palms as he massaged her breasts through her wet T-shirt.

How was he supposed to relax when every molecule in his body craved her, when her taste still lingered in his mouth? How was he supposed to continue with this pretend relationship after getting a glimpse of what the real thing could be like?

“Fuck,” Jamar whispered. He should have told Alec Mooney the truth from the very beginning. Just two weeks into this fake dating scheme and they were already in too deep to call it off.

His phone rang, startling him. He set the phone to Do Not Disturb while in his tranquility room, so the only people who got through were those he deemed worthy enough to have on his favorites list.

Jamar smiled at the name on the phone. Andrea Cannon, Silas’s older sister by three years. She was one of the few people he always had time for.

“Hey, Drea. What’s up?”

His smile faded as he listened to her share that her grandfather had gone into the hospital. He could tell she was trying to keep her tone even.

“I’m on my way,” Jamar said.

“That’s not necessary, Jamar. I just wanted you to know about Big Silas.”

“Okay, thanks for calling,” he said. He hung up the phone and immediately started for his room. As if he would sit here doing jack shit while Silas’s grandfather lay in a hospital bed.

He grabbed his leather duffel and threw in some clothes, along with a Dopp kit embossed with the Hill Sports Management logo.

He called Taylor as he bounded down the stairs.

“I was just about to call you,” she greeted, answering after the first ring. “I finished the last of your meal prep. I should be there in about an hour.”

“Hey, I’m sorry, but I’m going to have to cancel our workout for today and tomorrow,” he said. “I need to go home—to Katy,” he clarified.

“Is everything okay?” Concern colored her voice.

“I’m not sure. A close…” How could he describe Silas’s grandfather? He wasn’t just a family friend. He was so much more than that. “The grandfather of a really close friend is in the hospital. I need to make sure he’s okay.”

“Do you want me to come with you?”