Saving Face (Mount Faith Series: Book 1) by Brenda Barrett Page B

some space in his mind. He hadn't felt this sense of connection to a woman so quickly before. He always distrusted anything that happened too quickly and always anticipated that it would fizzle out and die. His attraction to Natasha was like a raging fire; he was standing in its lapping glare and he was anxiously waiting for it to cool down, somewhat.
    He turned at the end of his street and decided to jog in the direction of the school's sports center. Maybe he could play a game of tennis or squash, or do some sets at the gym. He glanced at his watch but could barely see the face because of the heavy morning fog; he actually had to slow down and look at it closely. It was almost six—perfect time to find someone to play with.
    He ran to the sports center and was pleased to see that the gates were opened and that students were already on the courts. Music was blaring from the gym when he entered the building. He headed to the squash courts and saw that there was no one in the first room, but there was a lone player in room two. He was dressed in all black and his profile seemed vaguely familiar. Taj stiffened, it was Ryan Bancroft.
    So this was how the beast exercised , he thought uncharitably and was about to move away when Bancroft looked around.
    "Don't be afraid," Bancroft said. "Join me, or are you afraid that I will beat you too badly."
    "I have no racket," Taj said, "completely forgot about that when I came in here."
    "I have extras." Bancroft looked at him with a smirk.
    Taj walked into the room fully. "I must warn you, I am out of practice." He took the racket that Bancroft handed to him and stretched his neck.
    "Excuses before you get a beat down?" Bancroft smirked. "How uncompetitive."
    Taj shrugged, and served first.
    They played for about half an hour they were almost equally matched with Bancroft winning three out of their five games.
    Bancroft sat on the bench in the corner of the building beside his towel and gazed over at Taj. "That wasn't so bad for an out of shape player."
    Taj stretched and was panting like he had been running up hill. He had a burn in his lungs and was thoroughly wet with sweat. He could feel even his curls dripping with sweat.
    "That was quite a workout," he sat beside Bancroft.
    Bancroft handed him a small water bottle.
    Taj opened it—his hands trembling a little—and started gulping it down.
    "Take it easy," Bancroft said looking over at him, "you know you shouldn't gulp."
    "You sound like you care," Taj panted.
    Bancroft shrugged. "I have five children…I have a tendency to give commands to younger people."
    "You also naturally have that tendency I bet," Taj said easily. "You know I call you a beast in my head."
    Bancroft laughed.
    "I also think you have no manners. I met you just yesterday and you have not said good morning to me yet."
    Bancroft chuckled. "My wife, Celeste, says that all the time."
    "It's disconcerting," Taj said.
    "I don't like to waste words on meaningless sentiments. What would good morning do for you?" Bancroft asked curiously and wiped his face with his towel.
    "I can't believe you are the interim university president at a school of higher education and asking that." Taj shook his head. "Little societal mores are learned from a person is young for a reason you know."
    Bancroft leaned his head to one side. "I am sure they are. That's why I still use please and thank you. I am not a complete deviant. I just find the good before morning a bit too much. Why use good? Why not meet a stranger and ask Bad Morning?"
    Taj chuckled. "You ponder these little things because of what...boredom?"
    "No, I ponder them because I hate to be a conformist."
    Taj nodded. "I see."
    Bancroft leaned his head on the wall. "I exercise here every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. You are a good opponent, you can join me."
    Taj looked at him his mouth agape. "But you don't like me. You think I am a young upstart who is out to take your job from you. You are investigating me,