Page 34 of Matched with Her Athlete Boss

I decide to grab the blanket off the couch and wrap it around myself. Why am I being weird about this? It’s not like I’m into flaunting my pecs and abs around, but for some reason, this just isn't the time and place to test that. Kenzie is helping me out with something and she doesn’t need a sideshow.

Pulling the door open, Kenzie is standing outside, a large bag over one shoulder and a steel mug in her hand.

“Good morning. You’re on time,” I say.

She raises her watch to about two inches from my face and says, “Early. Did I wake you?” She gives me an up-and-down glance, her gaze stopping around my upper chest area where the blanket doesn’t cover. “I don’t know why I didn’t take you for a blanket guy.”

“What does that mean?” Has she been thinking about me? Hopefully I haven’t hired some stalker girl who will never leave me alone after the job is finished.

She doesn’t really give off those types of vibes though.

Kenzie walks inside the house and does a small turn, her gaze roaming the room. “I mean, the guys I’ve dated never broke down and used blankets. An ex told me he didn’t feel manly using a blanket.”

“So, no blankets at night? None when he’s sick or when he’s cuddling up to watch a movie?” She shakes her head and I make a funny face, which gets her to laugh. I like the sound of it and it makes me want to recreate it. “Well, yeah, then I can’t relate. I have to have a blanket when I’m watching a movie.”

“What about the movie theater? Are you Linus, hauling a blankie everywhere?”

I laugh and say, “Now that you mention it, I might have to try that next time I go to a movie.” I hold up the corners of the blanket and say, “This one might be a little hot in the summer though.”

Her gaze drops down to my abs and her cheeks turn a rosy shade. And in a moment of self-conscious reflection, I wrap the blanket back around me. Even though Kenzie is cute, I’m not awake enough to enjoy being ogled.

The tops of her ears turn pink and she shakes her head. “I don’t know, maybe an afghan type guy.” There’s a hint of a smile playing at the corners of her lips and I feign hurt at that.

“You mean the scratchy blankets with holes? My grandmother made those for all her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. I think it's still in a bag at my mom's so I won’t ruin it with all my moving. Or in a box in the guest bedroom. They’re not the best blankets though because they always let in the air.”

“Right?” Kenzie says and we both just awkwardly stare at each other for a few seconds. “So, um, do you want to show me what you need from me? Or do you need me to go get a caffeine drip for you to wake up first?”

Funny. “I’m good. Let me just go put this blanket back and we’ll get started.” I hurry to my room, hoping that there is a decent shirt stuck in the boxes that I overlooked before. There’s one in the bathroom and it’s still folded neatly. Just another example of why I need organizational help.

I pull a black t-shirt over my head and walk out into the living room. It isn’t until the shirt is fully on that I realize it’s a cropped version of the ones my sister, Payton, likes to wear. The Breeze logo takes up most of the front but there is enough air hitting my stomach that I know this wasn’t the right move.

“Did you lose half your shirt?” Kenzie asks. “Or is that your girlfriend’s?”

Something about her comment makes me curious. Is she fishing for information?

“This must be my sister’s. She likes to modify all the shirts I pass along and she must’ve left it in the box when I moved here. Then again, I remember you sporting a similar look a few days ago at the mud race.” I wink at her and instead of getting the big smile I’m used to seeing from other women, Kenzie’s eyes go wide and she turns to study the fireplace on the far wall.

“How long have you been here?” Kenzie asks.

“About a month.”

She turns and narrows her gaze at me. Her pointer finger is aimed at the television box I’ve had sitting against a table since moving in. “You’ve been here that long and haven’t hooked up the TV?”

I shrug. “Yeah, well, I’ve been busy and just haven’t gotten around to it, a lot like the rest of the house. The only thing I’ve put together is the gym space over here.” I wave for her to follow and point out the kitchen, guest bathroom, guest bedroom, and the office before we get to the gym.

She nods. “Wow, this is an impressive in-home setup.”

“Do you lift?”

“A couple times a week.”

Again with the awkward silence. “Cool, cool,” I say, trying to keep things going. I’ve never had this hard of a time talking to a woman before. Not that I’m trying to flirt or anything, I guess I’m just intrigued by the fact she’s not begging me to be her boyfriend.

Kenzie pulls out a notebook from her bag. “Okay, let’s go room by room and you can tell me what it is you want there. If you don’t care, I can give you some ideas and see what you think.”

I nod, grateful that not all the pressure will be on me for this. We turn and head back toward my bedroom, standing in the doorway. “All I have is my bed in here. A large dresser would be nice. I gave mine to my younger sister when I moved.”

She starts scribbling something on the notebook and says, “I have some ideas of what could go with the bed. I’m not really an interior designer, but I can give you some options on what could work, and we can find something that’s your style.”

---