Page 29 of Fresh Tracks
Alright, I’m definitely drooling over him now.
The subtle dips and valleys of his abs are toned just right. Hehas a faint dusting of chest hair running down to his waistband which is infuriatingly hot.
Snap out of it, Grace. Stop eye-fucking shirtless Hot Boss. Damnit, Josie! I’m going to get her back for planting that nickname in my head.
I bring my eyes back to his, realizing he just caught me ogling him. I note the corner of his mouth lifting into a subtle grin. Yep. He knows exactly what I was looking at.
“I could eat,” he says with a shrug. “Just let me put a shirt on.” That subtle grin grows wider when he reaches down to pick up his shirt from the gym bench. He holds my gaze while he stretches those long, toned arms over his head, slowly pulling on the shirt. My eyes clearly have a mind of their own because they drop to the defined V diving into his waistband, where I see the top of a small tattoo that I can’t make out and will no doubt obsess over now. He finishes pulling down the shirt, catching me yet again and he winks at me.
He fucking winks at me!
I just smirk and shrug because the jokes on him. Just because I’m a strong, independent woman doesn't mean I can’t look. He’s a hot, shirtless rockstar that just so happens to be my new boss. My brain can keep those things separate.
As I settle backin his office after getting lunch with TJ at Cowgirl Coffee, I make sure to let Josie know about the hole she helped me dig.
Me: Thanks a lot.
Josie: You’re welcome, babe! What exactly are you thanking me for?
Me: That was sarcasm.
Josie: Rude! What did I even do?
Me: Hot. Daddy. Boss.
Me: I just saw him shirtless. SHIRTLESS!
Me: I’m blaming you for practically banging him with my eyes.
After firing off that message, I get back to reviewing more files. So far, day one is off to a great start, even if TJ caught me eyefucking him before we even had lunch.
I’m opening a new folder when a knock pulls my attention to the hallway. I look over to see a fully clothed and freshly showered TJ leaning in the doorway. He looks so damn confident and relaxed like that, his ankles crossed and his arms folded over his chest.
“Still going OK?” his smooth, deep voice floats across the room.
I lean back in the leather swivel chair, surprisingly enjoying the feeling of authority it gives off, even if I’m the one working for him. I shrug, push off the desk with one foot, and spin the chair, making the room blur around me.
“Yep, hasn’t changed much since lunch.” On my first spin around, I catch him huff a laugh. As I spin around again, I see him striding toward the desk. And as the chair slows down, he’s now beside me, behind the desk.
“Was that fun?” he says, reaching out and grabbing the armrest, stopping the chair with his flexed hand.
I nod, a huge smile spreading across my face. “Absolutely. You should try it sometime. Way more fun than fishing.”
His lazy smile widens, popping his dimples. Suddenly,I feel a little lightheaded and I don’t think it’s from spinning around in the chair.
I reach out, grabbing his wrist and lifting his hand off the chair so I can turn back toward the desk. I can’t help but notice the warmth of his skin and the tattooed music note on his ring finger again.
Prying my eyes away, I look back at my laptop screen and reach for my Nalgene to take a sip of water for my now very dry mouth.
“Jake was really helpful.” Smooth Grace, real smooth.
He just nods, casual as can be. “Good.”
He’s really pulling off the laid-back rockstar vibe. I’m starting to envy how relaxed he is right now because I’m trying hard as hell not to think about those abs under his fitted black t-shirt. “So do you workout every morning? Your gym’s nice.”
He leans back against the desk, bracing himself with his knuckles wrapped over the edge. “Oh, I get morning workouts in four or five days a week. Sometimes I go to the gym downtown to swim laps though. I only have the hot tub here.”
I look up at him, raising one eyebrow. “Wow, really slumming it withonlya hot tub to go with your state-of-the-art home gym.”
