Page 10 of The Boss

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The sauna was dimly lit, the air thick with steam, pressing down on my skin like a weighted blanket. The heat seeped into my muscles, loosening the tension from the workout, but it didn’t do a damn thing to stop my brain from short-circuiting every time I snuck a glance at Isaac.

He sat on the wooden bench across from me, towel wrapped loosely around his hips, legs spread wide enough to make my pulse stutter. It was just the two of us there, the sound of our breaths rumbling in the quiet space. His chest rose and fell in a slow, steady rhythm, sweat trailing down the planes of his torso, through the fur on his pecs and the ridges of his abs. If he was aware of just how indecently good he looked, he didn’t show it.

I needed a distraction.

“So, Queen, huh?” I said, leaning back against the wood, letting my arms sprawl over the bench. “Didn’t peg you for a classic rock guy.”

Isaac gave me a look, his blue eyes glinting in the semi-dark. “Are you suggesting I have bad taste in music, Landry?”

“Not at all. Just… quaint.”

He huffed, scratching his hairy chest. “Some things are evergreen. Queen’s one of the greatest bands of all time. Any other opinion is just flat-out wrong.”

My lips curved. “That’s a strong stance.”

“It’s the only stance.” He tilted his head, watching me through the steam. “And, since you apparently know their music, you agree with me.”

I tapped my fingers against the bench. “I mean, I don’t disagree. My dad is a huge fan, so I grew up with their songs.”

“Mm. What’s your favorite?”

I pretended to think. “Hard to choose, but I gotta sayDon’t Stop Me Nowalways puts me in a good mood.”

He snorted. “Predictable.”

“Predictable? It’s one of their best! What, are you about to tell me yours isBohemian Rhapsody?”

He shot me a sly look. “Actually, no.Who Wants to Live Forever.”

I gave a slow nod. “Good choice. Big, dramatic, a little tragic…” I smirked. “Kind of fitting.”

Isaac shook his head. “And what’s that supposed to mean?”

“Just saying, you’ve got the whole brooding intensity thing down.”

He scoffed, mirth laced in the sound. “I do not brood.”

“You do, though.”

“Landry, if you keep running your mouth, I might make you do extra sets next time we work out.”

I grinned. “Empty threats, old man. You’re all talk.”

His eyes narrowed, but there was no real heat behind it. “Old man?”

“Well,” I drawled, stretching out my legs, “I heard you’ve been running Nova for, like, fifteen years?”

“Yeah, so?”

“So…” I squinted at him dramatically. “That means you were, what, already an adult when I was born?”

Isaac exhaled through his nose. “Jesus Christ.”

A laugh escaped me. “Hey, I’m just doing the math.” I tapped my chin, thoughtful. “Did you ever get to see Queen live?”

A glint of amusement danced in his eyes. “As a matter of fact, I did.”

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