Page 2 of Love at First Swim
He was still angry he missed it, but Genna sent him pictures of the fun and activities throughout the day.
One of the pictures caught his eye and made him print it out and put it on his desk.
Okay, not just one if he was being honest.
He had one as his screensaver on his computer and on his phone.
Not just because his niece was in the picture. No. It was the woman dressed up as the mermaid that had caught his eye.
She was beautiful. Like something out of a dream. Or a fantasy. With her red hair and blue eyes. And not just because she was wearing a detailed and amazing mermaid costume.
It was her face. How she lit up from inside. He could see it in her eyes. How she held Cassidy tenderly in her arms as she hugged her close, smiling and being the perfect mermaid.
He picked up the frame and ran his thumb over her smiling face again. He wanted nothing more than to find her and make her his. Which is not something he had ever wanted to do with another woman.
He hadn’t had many opportunities, because he didn’t feel a single thing for any of the women he had seen, and after seeing his mermaid? He was glad he hadn’t.
He stood from his desk. Putting the frame back where it was. He needed to get home to sleep. It was late.
He just needed a few hours of sleep and then he would be back at it, his assistant could handle the office until he came in a little later.
He took one last look at his mermaid and walked to the elevator.
He loosened his tie as he rode in the silence and pulled it off. Then unbuttoned the top button on his shirt.
He blew out a breath when the elevator came to a stop and he walked out to his town car.
He rode in silence. Not checking his phone, just staring at her picture.
They made it to his house, and the gate opened. He liked his privacy. Gunner thanked his driver and unlocked his front door and after shutting it behind him, threw his tie on the floor.
Not caring that it was a pure silk tie.
He took his shirt off and kicked off his shoes.
Then unbuttoned his slacks and dropped them to the floor after flicking open his belt.
He walked up the stairs and fell straight down in bed.
He knew his alarm would go off sooner than he wanted and was asleep in seconds.
* * *
When he woke, he was still exhausted but he pulled himself from bed and went to his home gym.
He wore just his boxer briefs and some tennis shoes.
No one was here, so it didn’t matter. He started the treadmill and ran for a half hour, then did his weights.
He liked being in shape and just because he worked in an office all day didn’t mean he was happy to sit all day and not be in shape.
He finished his workout and showered, then dressed. His housekeeper, Rhonda had made coffee and left it on the small table along with his keys and phone by his front door.
He silently thanked her and made a mental note to once again give her a raise. She took such good care of him.
His car was waiting as always and the drive back down to his office was once again silent and made it to his office just after his assistant Miles did.
Miles could run his office with his eyes blindfolded. And Gunner was grateful that Miles had been with him pretty much from the start and that he had been smart enough to keep him at his side.
