Chapter 13
TJ
GYM LIFE
I take one last long stroke before letting out a long breath. The water runs over my bare skin when I reach out to grab the side of the pool and finish my lap.
Two sets down, one to go.
Taking a drink from my favorite dented aluminum water bottle, I look around the empty indoor pool.
It’s eerily quiet, almost like a scene out of horror movie.
I guess I shouldn’t be surprised that it’s empty on a Friday night.
Everyone’s probably out at the après ski bars, so I have the place to myself which is fine by me.
Maybe Jake and Sutton are right. I need to get out more often.
I see Sutton at Gloria’s all the time and I’ve gotten to know Kelsey and Monica at the coffee shop, but otherwise I don’t really get out much.
Building a social life can wait for another night though.
The last time I really even went out with anyone was that night in Bend with the Chapmans for karaoke.
Swimming, fishing, kayaking — anything near the water is always how I like to clear my mind and relax.
Maybe I could have more of a social life, but I’m still always going to find time for myself like this.
Something about being around water always lets me zone out and block out the noise from the rest of my life.
It used to be my way to drown out the lyrics and riffs constantly running through my mind and give myself a moment of calm.
Whether it was school field trips, summer camps on the lake as a foster kid, or relaxing by the hotel pool when I was touring with Teal Tigers.
Maybe I was a diva back then asking them to shut down the pool so I could have it to myself, but I needed that quiet time for me.
Even today, I always keep getting drawn back to water.
After catching my breath, I turn to start my last laps for the night. I push off the side of the pool, starting a backstroke. Looking up, I watch ceiling tile after ceiling tile go by, hearing the water rush past my ears with each stroke.
I see the skylight above me creep into view, meaning I’m near the far end of the pool. I start to reach out to push off the side when I hear a whoosh underwater and I feel a spray of water across my face.
What the hell?
Did someone just jump in the damn pool?
I turn toward the source of the sound, irritated that I’m not the only one here anymore and that someone would jump that close in a giant pool like this.
“Hey! What the—” I yell out, but my voice gets stuck in my throat when I see Grace, treading water in the corner, grinning at me mischievously. Any trace of irritation I was feeling is instantly gone.
My eyes soak her in and I can feel my pulse hammering, not just from my workout.
Her long, color streaked hair clings to her shoulders, covering some of her tattoos but I can still see the straps of her floral bikini top.
Her perky, full breasts are just above the waterline, with water beading down between them.
Her hard nipples push against the wet triangles of fabric and I can see the outlines of her piercings.
My mind goes back to that morning on the Deschutes and the memory of just how perfect her tits look with nothing covering them. That image and the way she smiled at me has haunted my dreams for months.
I feel the blood rush to my cock and I’m instantly glad I’m in chest deep water. Perfect tits aside, it's her damn smile I can’t look away from.
Her smile always steals my breath away. The way her nose scrunches and the apples of her round, freckled cheeks lift, radiates her unbridled passion for life. Her wet bangs stick to her forehead, finally bringing my attention to her emerald eyes.
It feels like far too much time passes by silently as the waves from her jumping in finally ebb to a stop.
“You really need to stop sneaking up on me,” I finally say, taking a few strokes to swim closer to her from my lane.
She smirks and cocks a tattooed shoulder, bringing my eyes back to her top, where one of the straps is dangerously close to slipping off. “Karmic retribution.”
I shake my head. “Fair point.”
Her lips part like she’s about to say something else when I see her eyes flick to something behind me.
I raise an eyebrow at her in question, but it’s too late.
A flurry of limbs and hair comes flying from the side of the pool and in an instant, Grace and I are both covered in water from the splash.
I scrub my hand over my face, brushing my hair out of my eyes to find Grace cackling with a strawberry blonde woman that I don’t recognize. She shakes her head, sending beads of water flying from her short hair before looking at me.
“Hey, Hot Boss. I’m Josie.” She grins and looks back at Grace. “You weren’t kidding, he’s even hotter IRL.”
I’m not sure if I should be flattered, knowing Grace has noticed me enough to tell her friend, but something about it strokes my apparently still existent male ego. Maybe I should be more worried though because I can only describe Grace’s expression as pure mortification.
I decide to spare her any more embarrassment and ignore the nickname that I’m not entirely mad about. As much as I want to savor the notion that a world might exist where I have a shot with her, I probably shouldn’t pile on.
“Nice to meet you, Josie. You can just call me TJ.”
Josie turns back to me, her eyes shamelessly track down my chest and back up.
“Seriously, like really hot,” she says to Grace, as if I’m not even here.
“Hi,” I say, waving a hand. “Still right here.”
Grace finally makes eye contact with me, her eyes pleading a silent apology, before she turns to glare at her friend.
“This is why I can’t take you anywhere.” She raises one arm out of the water, cupping her hand, and splashing Josie.
I snort a laugh. “You two enjoy your Friday night.”
And with that, I swim back to the lap lane to finish my workout.
After hitting the sauna to wind down for the night, I make my way out of the gym.
From the lobby, I can see a few inches of snow coating the ground and more coming down by the minute.
I’m sure the roads aren’t great at this point, but the sports car I keep here has all-wheel drive and snow tires. That’s just life in the mountains.
On a Friday night, I’m used to the gym parking lot being empty.
As I make my way outside, I see two camper vans parked toward the back of the lot.
Standing next to them, I spot Grace and Josie.
Curiosity gets the better of me, and I start to walk through the snowy parking lot.
Even in my grippy boots, I mind my steps so I don’t slip or fall and look like an idiot in front of them.
Nope. Too late.
My feet come out from under me on an icy patch only a few steps away from them.
Between my post-workout soreness, the cold weather, and the hard pavement, everything in my body protests the sudden impact.
I rock side to side on the ground groaning, but glad it seems like I’m intact, except for my pride.
“Hey! You OK there, Hot Boss?” Josie looks down at me with a smirk.
“Josie! Shut up!” Grace whisper shouts with a mortified expression.
I’m starting to see that Grace’s friend is a handful. I’m also starting to understand why Grace and Lizzy get along so well now that I think about it.
Josie ignores Grace, still smirking at me. “Can you get up or did you break your hip?”
An exasperated Grace tosses her head back before giving her friend a playful shove and gesturing at me. “You’re the worst. Help him up.”
I raise a hand, signaling for her to stay where she is. “I’ll manage, but thank you.” I prop myself up on my elbows before carefully standing, dusting the snow off my sweats and jacket.
I look at Grace who’s leaning back against her van and that’s when I notice what she’s wearing.
She’s in a gray robe, chunky socks, and slippers.
I notice Josie’s dressed just as casually in plaid pajama pants and an oversized hoodie.
I guess they’re not going out anywhere tonight and heading straight back to their campsite.
Something about knowing she’s just having a low-key Friday night with her friend instead of hitting the bars takes the edge off my nerves.
“The roads are going to be pretty rough tonight. Let me follow you back to your campground. Make sure you get there safe.”
“Oh, Hot Boss is protective too,” Josie says, flicking her eyebrows at Grace, who glares back unamused. “Are escorted rides on snowy roads part of her benefits package?” She pops her lips, emphasizing the last word.
“Oh my god, Josie. Stop,” Grace says under her breath.
I chuckle to myself, waiting for Grace to look back at me. “If you want that as part of your benefits package, sure.” I smirk at her playfully, earning me a cute little eye roll. “But really, I just want to make sure you two get back alright.”
They exchange a knowing look before Grace sighs. “We’re actually already at our spot for the night.”
I look back and forth between them trying to understand. Grace must sense my confusion because she gestures between the very empty parking lot and their vans.
The realization finally hits me.
No, they’ve got to be kidding.
There’s no way they’ve been parking and sleeping in their vans in the gym parking lot. I thought they’d be somewhere safe, like a campground or in one of her relatives’ driveways or something.
I guess that explains the slippers though.
My face must give me away because Grace rolls her eyes and glowers at me. “Oh relax, TJ. You said it yourself, you lived in a van while touring with a band.”
“I know, but—,” I start before Josie chimes in.
“But what? You think us girls can’t handle it?” She gives me a look that says she knows I just dug myself a hole. Shit.
I run my hand through my hair and sigh. “No, that’s not what I meant. I would just feel better if you were somewhere safe. And what would your brother or grandparents think if they knew you were working for me and staying overnight in the gym’s parking lot? They’d think I’m the shittiest boss.”
Grace’s eyes flick to mine, worry flashing across her face.
I raise my hand between us. “Not that I would tell them,” I reassure her, remembering she was very adamant she wanted her family to find out she was in town on her terms. “Seriously, do I not pay you enough?” Jake was supposed to make sure she was paid more than fairly.
She shakes her head adamantly. “No. You’re paying me more than enough. Honestly, too much probably,” she says softly before smiling and tilting her head to her friend. “We’ll be fine. This isn’t our first rodeo.”
Something about this still doesn’t sit right with me. “Why don’t you follow me back to my place? I have a guesthouse.”
“Oh, that sounds fun,” Josie says grinning, but Grace’s expression hardens.
“No, TJ. We’re not taking your guesthouse. I said we’ll be fine.” Her expression doesn’t waiver and I find myself admiring her even more for being so determined to not rely on other people.
But I can be just as determined.
“OK then. At least park your vans in my driveway so I’m not worried about you getting hassled by a security guard or the sheriff.
” I know law enforcement in town has started cracking down on places not designated for camping, especially when they need to plow after a big storm like this.
The last thing I want is for them to get in trouble when I could do something about it.
Her stance softens and I can tell she’s considering it, so maybe I can sweeten the pot and seal the deal. “You’re welcome to use the hot tub too, if you want. I won’t bug you.”
“I wouldn’t complain if you joined, Hot Boss,” Josie says, prompting both of us to look back at her. She shrugs and raises her palms. “What? He’s your boss, not mine. You know I prefer to work solo anyway. Don’t rain on my parade by complaining about your job perks.”
Grace shakes her head and smiles. “Are you sure?”
“Yes, absolutely,” I say emphatically and relieved. “And you said it yourself, your heater’s been acting up. So please, give me some peace of mind. You can plug your van in, charge your batteries, whatever you need. Hell, use my gym if you feel like it. Come and go as you please.”
Josie claps her hands together. “You drive a hard bargain, but looks like we have a deal. Lead the way, Hot Boss.” She heads toward the driver side door of her van, opening it and hopping in.
Once she shuts the door, Grace turns to me. “Like she said, lead the way,” she says with a soft smile, her eyes expressing the gratitude she doesn’t want to voice.
“Is she ever going to not call me ‘Hot Boss’?” I ask, tipping my chin at Josie’s van.
She lets out an amused laugh. “Nope, you’ll forever be known as Hot Boss to her. I’m sure the notorious Teal Tigers’ frontman Tommy Jacob has been called worse.”
“Yeah. You’d be correct on that one.”
She looks back at me and those green eyes that haunt my dreams soften. “Are you really sure it’s OK if we are hanging around your place?”
“Yes. I already have Sutton coming and going all the time like he owns the place.” I shake my head and snort a laugh. “I still travel a decent bit too and I’m not around all the time. So yeah, it’s totally fine.”
“Thank you,” she says softly and I can see by her smile that she might finally feel OK about the idea.
“Anytime.” I nod and start carefully walking to my car, taking one last look over my shoulder. “See you at my place, Rainbow.”