I could feel my heart pounding in my chest. His already gorgeous face was even more beautiful in the soft lamp light. It softened all the tension and lines I saw at the office. Or maybe, that was just because he was looking at me.
“I’m sorry,” I shook my head quickly to pull myself together, “I didn’t mean to be forward, or even imply that anything would... I mean, you’re my boss, and we don’t even know each other, and—”
“And it’s against the rules,” he finished.
I took a deep breath. “Yeah. It is.”
We stared at each other for a moment longer. I felt like there was a good chance I might actually faint with the amount of tension in the room, but his eyes were sparkling as he leaned closer. His head came down until we were even—so close that I could see the golden flecks in his ocean colored eyes. For a split second, I thought he might actually pull a Michael and kiss me, but he merely smiled, staring down at me with that same mischievous look in his eyes.
“Goodnight, Jenna.”
I caught my breath.
“Goodnight, Tom.”
And he left.
Chapter 7
“FEEL THE BURN! I SAID FEEL IT! IF YOU’RE NOT SCREAMING, YOU’RE NOT GOING FAST ENOUGH!”
I got off the bicycle and discreetly left my cycling class.
The idea of peddling my ass off without actually going anywhere had never sat well with me, and the fact that my instructor was some sort of neo-fascist sealed the deal.
I patted the back of my neck with a towel, gulping down half of my water bottle in one fell swoop. Since I’d started my internship last year, I rarely got the chance to go to the gym in daylight hours. It was usually just an after work, expel the frustration, take-my-mind-off-things calorie burn. I usually got home after midnight and never had the opportunity to take any of the classes I saw advertised on the billboard on the way in. But perhaps that last part was for the best. After all, that’s how cycling happened...
“So what? Did you feel the burn?”
I spat out a spray of water. How...was this happening again?
Tom calmly wiped his face. “I couldn’t tell if that was a cycling class, or if that man was shooting an Adderall commercial.”
I laughed in spite of myself—that breathless, nervous laughter I always tried so hard to avoid. Tom seemed to like it though. He smiled back, politely refusing to let his eyes stray below my chin to the yellow sports bra and little yoga pants below.
“Yeah, it was unclear. I think there were also subliminal messages going on. I feel the sudden need for a Sprite.”
This time, it was his turn to laugh. And did my ears deceive me, or did he sound as nervous as me? I took a second to study him while he was still gazing over my head into the cycling room. I was not as polite as he was, and let my eyes take in the whole glorious thing.
He was wearing simple workout clothes—black, athletic shorts and a matching t-shrit. But while there was nothing inherently flashy in the clothes, I saw at least two women trip over the elliptical machine as they walked past. I could see why.
The shirt clung to his chest like a second skin—showing every muscle, displaying every chiseled curve. My eyes dilated slightly, and I couldn’t help but wonder how the hell a man who worked as many hours a week as he did had time to work on his body. Something that delicious didn’t just happen on its own—there was time involved.
And speaking of going to the gym...why exactly was he at mine?
I might not stalk the Larchwood brothers for their looks like so many other people did, but I stalked them for their business prowess. I knew for a fact that neither brother had a membership here. And yet, I’d seen them both within the last week. Michael, I guess I could understand. But Tom? Tom was a different story altogether. No matter how hard I tried to figure him out, I could never quite guess what he was thinking.
“I didn’t know you go here,” I said with a coy smile.
He hesitated for a moment, before, “I don’t. Just trying it out. It’s close to the office, you know,” he added for good measure.
Interesting. Same line as his brother. And yet, when Tom said it, it made me smile.
I nodded quickly, playing along. “Well, I’m just off to the—”