Page 16 of The Biker and the Gamer
Forty-eight minutes later, I’m finally free. With less than ten minutes to make it back to work, I hurry to the elevator, checking my watch as I hit the lobby button, when Alec pops up out of nowhere and sneaks in right before the doors close.
“How was it?” he asks, his gaze fixed on my neck.
“Not fun.”
He clicks his tongue. “Well, that sucks to hear.”
I scan him up and down. “Why do you look like you just walked off the set of ‘That ‘70s Show’?”
He tugs proudly on his vest. “Why are you always knocking my style?”
“Because it’s ridiculous.”
“Or maybe you secretly like it, hmm?”
“Seriously? I’ve never met anyone who dresses as absurd and hideously as you do.”
“And that’s why you secretly like it.”
I roll my eyes. “What do you want?”
He shrugs. “Just following up, is all.”
“Well, I got here on time, did what I was supposed to do, and now I’m leaving to get back to the shop in time,” I say. “That all fits within the contract terms, right?”
He’s staring at my mouth now. “Right.”
My throat constricts and my stomach tightens, my heart thudding rapidly. I wish he would stop doing that. Looking at my mouth like that. It’s making me—
The elevator doors slide open and I’m out of there faster than I can finish the thought.
“Tomorrow at noon?” he calls after me.
Without looking back, I hold my hand up in acknowledgment as I walk out of the building. Because there’s no way I’m letting himsee.
Did I seriously just get turned on by that badly dressed, pretty-faced gamer?
What in the fuck is happening?!
~
Vaughn and Drake Entertainment team steals two hours of my time, every day, for the next week. All outdoor activities. A lot of hiking and running and jumping. We’ve been all over. From Kebler Pass to Bear Lake. To places I didn’t even know existed, andI’mthe one who’s from Colorado.
The team is a motley crew of characters all opposite of what I’m used to being around. They amuse me. But the outings are amazing, adventurous, and I find myself looking forward to them more and more.
Best of all, Alec is no longer there with us. For the first three days, I was rousingly uncomfortable with his presence. Those intense eyes were always watching me, which made it difficult for me to focus. It was torture. There was something there between us and I could no longer ignore it. Except that Ihadto.
On day four when he didn’t show up, I felt relieved. He and Cedric had flown back to Silicon Valley to attend to some urgent business, according to one of the team members.
I’m now able to enjoy the adventures with the team without being turned on the entire time.
Two days before the end of my contract, my luck runs out.
When the neon green Jeep Wrangler careens onto the lot of The Metal House to pick up, with Alec freaking Vaughn behind the wheel, I groan.
So close. So close. Two more days and my palpitating heart would’ve been free of him.
He swings out of the Jeep with the engine still running, a camcorder aimed at me. This time he’s in a weird jumpsuit thingy that cuts off below his knees, complete with colorful diamond socks and white sneakers. His glasses are missing, so I assume he’s wearing contacts, and he appears to have gotten a haircut. Still full, bouncy, and sexily groomed, but a little shorter.
