21. Alex
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
alex
Sitting on the weight bench in the gym, I pull on the back of my neck and stress about how I should behave this morning.
Do I pretend last night was merely a casual dinner between two acquaintances and not one of the best nights of my life?
Act like I didn’t spend most of the night wide awake, trying to find an excuse to spend more time with her.
To get to know her better. To see whether there might be a chance in hell that she’s feeling an ounce of what I am.
My stomach plummets at the realization Chelsi might not even bother to show up to work out. Maybe last night made things awkward for her. Although I tried to keep myself in check, I said more than I probably should’ve.
What kind of man blurts out that if this dinner was a real date, then it would be the last first date she ever went on.
An insane one.
She probably thinks I’m some obsessed weirdo or a stalker. Neither option will win me any brownie points.
“What is wrong with me?” I groan loudly, dropping my head into my hands and pulling at the ends of my hair. “Why do I always screw up the things that really matter?”
“Everything okay, Alex?” Chelsi’s voice carries across the room as she stands by the door, biting the corner of her lip with concern etched across her face. “I can come back if you need a few minutes alone.”
I shake my head, unable to find the words to express how elated I am to see her. All the anxiety I was feeling moments ago dissipates, replaced by the scariest of all emotions for me—hope.
Her concern morphs into a soft smile as she makes her way across the open gym to where I’m sitting. Each step she takes causes my heart to pound faster and my breathing to become more erratic, like I’ve already completed an intense workout rather than barely started.
Placing a hand on her hip, Chelsi arches her eyebrows. “Any chance you’re up for an exercise buddy?”
I swallow hard, resisting the urge to scream “yes” and come across as too overeager. “If that’s what you want…”
“If you’re not interested, I’m sure Shane or Jimmy would be glad to help me stretch again,” she teases, batting her eyelashes at me.
There’s no fucking way I’m going to allow that to happen. As if on cue, the door swings open, and Jimmy walks into the gym. For the first time in a decade of working with him, he’s actually early.
“Morning, gorgeous,” Jimmy calls out, jogging over with a shit-eating grin on his face. “I swear you are more beautiful every time I see you, Chelsi.”
I resist the urge to growl and tell Jimmy to back off. As much as I’m interested in her, I refuse to be the type of man who pees in a circle around a woman. At least not until she’s officially mine, then anyone who dares look in her direction will not like the consequences.
“Morning, Jimmy,” Chelsi replies, rolling her eyes and shaking her head. “Laying it on a bit thick, given the hour.”
Jimmy shrugs. “I like what I see. Can you blame me?” He winks, then takes a step closer, practically invading her personal space. “Need help getting loosened up this morning? I know a few great positions I’m confident you’ll love.”
“Jimmy, you talk a big game…”
“I can deliver. Trust me,” he says confidently with a smug grin. “Never heard a complaint.”
What the actual fuck is happening? Is he seriously hitting on her in front of me? As if we weren’t in the middle of a conversation before he waltzed over.
“What do you think, Alex? Should I test out these allegedly high-quality positions Jimmy is touting, or do I have other plans?” Her brows are raised and she has a sparkle of mischief in her eyes.
She’s giving me an opening. A chance to stake my claim, even if it’s only for a couple of hours.
“Back off, Jimmy,” I growl, shooting daggers in his direction. “Chelsi’s with me.” I hold out my hand, hoping she’ll not make me look like a fool. I’m putting myself out there more than I have in almost twenty years.
“Sorry, Jimmy. I’m with Alex. Better luck in the future,” she says sweetly, placing her hand in mine and sending electric sparks from my fingertips to my toes. The same feeling I had last night when I helped her into my truck after dinner.
Holding her hand, I steer us away from Jimmy and the rest of the band, who happened to walk into the gym moments later.
It’s impractical to think we’ll get any truly private time with everyone else here, but I’d at least like to keep the audience to a minimum.
I’m going to be in my head enough and don’t need comments from the peanut gallery.
“It’s legs day for me. Is that okay with you?
” I ask, stopping in front of the leg press machine and letting go of her hand.
My exercise routine is extremely rigid, and I don’t deviate from it unless I’m too sick to get out of bed, which rarely happens.
However, I’d change up everything today if she wanted me to.
“Always thought you were a leg man,” she teases, playfully hitting my chest with both hands and resting them on my pecs.
When her gaze meets mine, I lose the ability to breathe.
It’s a combination of our proximity, her hands touching my chest through my thin T-shirt, and the intense connection in her eyes.
I’m not imagining it. There’s something brewing between us.
The only question is whether we’re going to do anything about it.
“Probably should start with some lunges to warm up,” I croak.
“I’ll do whatever you say, Alex.” She smooths out my shirt before letting go. “I’m really good at following directions.”
Holy fucking shit.
Am I imagining things? Did she? Would she?
I clench my fists against my legs, trying to urge all the blood to stop flowing to my cock. I can’t exercise with an erection. Actually, I can, but I’d prefer it not to happen when she’s so close.
Chelsi takes a deep lunge, turning her head to look at me. “How does my form look?” she asks innocently with a grin, making me confident she knows exactly what she’s doing and the impact she’s having on me. “Do my hips need any adjustment?”
Yep. Totally going to have a boner all morning. Not sure there is anything I can do about it when she’s around.
“Looks great,” I blurt out, forcing myself not to stare at her ass too hard.
We spend the next ten minutes quietly doing a set of lunges, leg swings, and bodyweight squats before heading over to the row of treadmills.
Thankfully, Jimmy, Zac, and Shane have moved away from this area of the gym and are currently on the opposite side, working out their frustrations on a punching bag.
I hop onto a treadmill, increasing the speed until I’m in a light jog as Chelsi does the same.
Our pace is ideal for carrying on a conversation, and I’m desperate to learn more about her.
The only question is: what to ask? In most situations, I’m a man of few words, and her mere presence often tongue-ties me, making it even harder to speak.
C’mon Alex. Think of something. Anything to say. Don’t screw up your chance to talk to her. Pick a topic you know she’ll feel comfortable talking about.
“You never told me about your hometown. Do you go there often to see your parents?” I glance at Chelsi, catching her side profile before looking straight ahead again. Attempting to jog while staring at her is a recipe for falling on my face.
“When I lived in Chicago, I tried to visit Atlanta, where they live, every few months for a long weekend. I always spend the holidays there. My dad is uber talented in the kitchen. My mom, not so much. I guess that’s where my lack of cooking skills comes from.”
I chuckle. “Kate’s mentioned a few times you’re exceptional when it comes to making a charcuterie board.”
“Probably deserve a Michelin star if we’re being honest. No one can rock a meat and cheese tray like I can. Don’t even get me started on my ability to pair wine with a meal. I’m basically a sommelier without the years of training.”
Damn. She’s hilarious.
“How are you still single?” I ask without thinking. I seriously don’t understand why another man hasn’t swept her off her feet. How anyone couldn’t be enchanted with her incredible personality and beauty.
Her smile falters for a second before recovering.
“I haven’t met the right guy, but I have dated a lot of the wrong ones.
That list is miles long.” She shakes her head and glances at the ceiling for a moment.
“There are times when I wonder if I’m better off being single forever.
Maybe happily ever after isn’t in the cards for me like it is for Kate.
I might put on a brave face when it comes to my shitty dating history, but I want what she’s found with Jake.
A true partner in life, who is also my best friend… ” she says in a solemn tone.
My breath stills. Does a slightly tortured soul exist behind all her humor?
How is it possible that she worries about finding someone to share her life with when there are numerous men in this room who would love to be with her?
Minus fucking Jimmy. He isn’t a realistic option for any woman.
But I know Shane would bend over backward to win her heart if she were interested.
And I’d give up almost everything for a chance with her.
“And of course…he would have to fuck like a god. A girl has to have standards,” she says cheerfully, the previous sadness completely gone.
A deep laugh comes out of me as I turn to look at her, meeting her gaze for a few seconds as we both jog. “We can probably head over to the leg press machine now if you’re feeling warmed up enough.”
She nods and turns off her treadmill as I do the same. We walk across the gym quietly, ignoring whatever nonsense is happening with the guys as Jimmy talks animatedly about something while Shane appears ready to pull his hair out.
“Do you have much experience using one of these machines?” I ask, standing next to the leg press and taking a long drink.
“Nope. You probably didn’t know you were going to take my leg-press virginity when you woke up this morning, did you?”
I choke on my water as Chelsi grins at me, looking innocent, like she can’t possibly imagine what could’ve caused my reaction.
Shaking my head, I wipe my mouth off with the hem of my shirt. “You’re full of surprises, Chelsi.” I take a seat on the machine, grateful I added my normal weights when I first arrived.
“Gotta keep things interesting. I’m like a box of chocolates; you never know what you’re going to get.” She takes a step closer, placing her hand on the equipment and looking down at me. “But I like to think that every piece of me is delicious if you have the right palate.”
My mouth goes dry as she stares into my eyes. All the blood rushes to my cock as images of me on my knees for her flash in my mind. How I’d worship every inch of her skin. What a treat it would be to taste her. To lap her up. To sink my tongue inside her—
“Don’t let me distract you, Alex,” Chelsi teases, dropping her hand from the machine and backing up a few feet. “Show me what you’ve got.”
I swallow hard, forcing myself to break eye contact with her before I do something really reckless—like pull her into my arms and devour her mouth.
For the next few minutes, I focus my efforts on the intense pushing required to move the six hundred pounds of weights. I can feel her eyes glued to my thighs as a devious smile glides across her face.
A warmth spreads in my chest, different from the usual sensation I get when pushing myself in a workout. She’s the reason for this one.
And the kernel of hope I felt earlier starts to grow a tiny bit more.