Chapter 12
Rosalie
Ihum Winter Wonderland to myself as I go through my checklist for the Christmas event. I’d arranged for food and drinks. I’ve got a Christmas playlist ready to go, and the decorations are already up.
Next, I needed to work on the flyers and get the word out.
“You look like you need a break,” Leo says, startling me. I look up and see him leaning against the office door frame.
He looks good in his new t-shirt, his large biceps pushing at the seams as he grins at me.
I had suggested all staff, which was comprised of the three of them and me, wear matching branded t-shirts to help push our new brand identity, and help them be seen as the owners and not customers.
They are army green with the logo on the left breast and staff written in thick bold letters across the back.
I didn’t realize t-shirts were so sexy until the new uniforms arrived and they put them on.
I may have ordered them slightly too small as well.
I underestimated the size of their broad chests.
“I’m just working on the flyer for the Christmas Open House,” I tell him as I subtly wipe my mouth to check for drool.
“You’ve been in here for hours. Why don’t you come out and we’ll practice some self-defense?”
I switch the monitor off and nod, moving around the desk, but he doesn’t move from blocking the door. Instead, he pushes off the doorframe and pulls out a bag I hadn’t seen hanging at his side.
He holds it out towards me.
“What’s this?” I ask, biting my lip as I take it from him.
“It’s for you.”
I peek into the bag and see some white fur. Curious, I place the bag on the ground between us and reach in, pulling out the beautiful white snow boots.
“Leo!” I gasp, turning them in my hands. “They’re gorgeous!” They are almost entirely white with gray laces up the front and white fur lining the top. They look like they’ll go to my mid-calf and look far nicer than something I’d choose for myself. “I can’t—”
“Yes, you can,” he says, cutting me off. “They’re a gift, and you obviously like them.”
“I love them,” I say quietly as I look back down at them. I don’t think I deserve them, but the thought of finally having warm feet outside makes me hold my tongue. Besides, if he was anything like the other two, he would not take no for an answer.
I place them back in the bag and look back up at him. I feel a little emotional about the gift. All three of them had seen me struggling, seen something I needed and taken action to help me.
In all the time I’d been with Scott, he never bought me anything as thoughtful as this, not even for my birthday.
“Thank you, Leo. I really appreciate it.” My emotions get the best of me as I step forward and wrap my arms around his waist in a hug.
After two seconds, I realize I’m hugging my boss and have totally crossed over the line of professionalism.
I push back, noticing he’s hugging me back as I shake my head and apologize.
“I’m sorry, I don’t know why I did that. ”
He laughs, and I glance up at him. “Clara, you don’t have to apologize for hugging me. I love hugs.”
“I’ve never seen you hug anyone,” I say with a frown.
“Let me clarify; I love hugs from you.”
Did he really just say that? What does he mean by it?
“Come on, Asher’s waiting to show you some new stuff.”
I quickly put my boots in my locker in the staff room then follow him out to the mats where Asher and Grant are chatting.
“Are all three of you doing it, too?” I ask.
“Yeah, it helps if you have different opponents. No two people will try to move the same way.” I shiver at the memory of Scott touching me. I hope I never have to feel that again.
He moves to the side with Grant as Asher comes to stand in front of me.
“Instead of trying to get out of holds, I’m going to show you how to block a punch,” Asher tells me, and I nod. If I could avoid getting hit, I’d have a better chance of getting away.
He steps in close, his voice low but firm. “First thing, Clara. Don’t freeze. The easiest way to get hit is standing still.”
I nod again, my palms starting to sweat. He raises his hands, demonstrating how to position myself.
“Keep your hands up.” He lifts mine gently until they’re level with my face. “Like this. Elbows in, fists loose. You’re not throwing yet; you’re protecting.”
He positions me just so, one foot slightly forward, knees soft. “Now if someone swings,” he says as he slowly arcs his arm toward me in slow-motion, “you use your forearm to redirect. Not your hand; it’ll break.”
I flinch anyway on instinct, even though I know he won’t actually hit me. He pauses, and silence stretches between us.
“You’re safe here, Clara,” he says quietly, and something in his voice makes my stomach twist as I nod.
“I know, sorry. It was instinct.”
He frowns as if he doesn’t like my answer, then he moves behind me, arms reaching around to adjust mine from a new angle. His hands are warm and solid, and when he speaks again, his breath brushes the shell of my ear.
“Picture it like a shield. This,” he taps my forearm, “is your armor. You keep it between you and them always.”
I nod, but I’m not sure if I’m shivering from nerves or the heat of him at my back. Maybe both.
“Good,” Asher murmurs. “Let’s try it again. Faster this time.”
He moves back in front of me as the other two watch us silently. Asher pulls his arm back and throws a slow punch toward my face, not hard, not fast, but more real than before. I flinch again, but this time, I get my arm up in time. It connects to his forearm and redirects it off to the side.
“Better.” His mouth curves slightly, like he's pleased. “You’re a quick study.”
“Because I have a good teacher,” I say, a little breathless. My heart’s pounding too hard for how slowly we're moving.
“Want me to try?” Leo asks, eyes flicking to Asher with a teasing glint.
“Be my guest,” Asher says. “She’s warmed up.”
Leo steps in front of me, taller than Asher, but softer around the eyes. He gives me a reassuring smile as he raises his hands into a defensive stance. “Same thing. I’m gonna come in slowly. Show me how you block it.”
I nod and mimic the motion Asher taught me, catching his forearm just in time. His touch is feather light when it lands, more like a tap than anything threatening.
“Good,” he says, nodding. “You want to try a little faster?”
I nod my head and we go again. He still manages to keep his punch light even though it’s a little faster. I barely get my forearm up in time, but I manage to push his fist away at the last second.
“Don’t tire her out,” Grant calls from behind him. He strolls over with a smile. “I haven’t had a turn.”
He takes Leo’s place as he says, “Alright, Clara. Let’s see what you’ve got.”
I square up, nerves zipping through me again. Grant’s presence is heavier somehow. Not threatening, but solid and unshakable. I feel the tension rising between us.
“I’ll go slow,” he promises, already reading me too well. “You just react.”
The next half hour passes in a blur of practice. Leo is careful and encouraging, correcting my form with gentle touches and quiet words. Grant is firm but patient, pushing me a little harder. And Asher hovers nearby, always watching, always ready to step in.
By the time we’re done, my arms are trembling and my breath is short, but for the first time in forever, I don’t feel like I’d be completely useless if Scott found me.
I just hope he doesn’t.
I climb onto Asher’s bike, behind him, my new boots, coat and gloves keeping my feet warm as a cold wind whips through the parking lot.
“We won’t be able to take the bike much longer,” Asher says as I adjust the helmet and wrap my arms around him.
“I’ll miss our bike rides,” I tell him honestly.
“Me too,” he says as his hand lands on mine and gives it a small squeeze before he grabs the handles and starts the bike.
Instead of taking the usual way home, he takes a different road today, one that seems to lead us out of town and into the mountains. I don’t feel nervous about where he’s taking me. Maybe I should, but I trust him.
He’s driven me to and from work every day, making sure I’m always wearing his helmet. He’s been teaching me how to defend myself and how to throw punches or a well-placed kick. I never feel safer than when I’m with him.
My arms tighten at that thought as we seem to move up the mountain.
He’s your boss, Rosie!
I scold myself, and try to remember that just because he’s helping me doesn’t mean there’s anything more between us. Even if he does kiss my forehead every night before telling me to be a good girl and reminding me to text him later. That’s totally a thing bosses do… right?
And as much as I liked Asher, like really liked Asher, I also felt strong feelings for my other bosses, too.
His bike rounds a bend, then he pulls off into a small dirt patch that looks like it’s used as a makeshift parking lot, but would only fit three cars. He switches the engine off, and I climb off and lift the helmet from my head as he stands beside me.
“What are we doing here?” I ask, gazing around to see why he chose this place to stop.
“I wanted to show you something. We can’t take the bike here once the snow falls, so it might be our last chance.” He takes the helmet from me and places it on his handlebar, then grabs my hand and leads me away from the road to the other end of the dirt lot.
My heart leaps at his touch. Now he’s holding my hand?
He’s your boss, he’s your boss, I chant over and over in my head to stop me thinking of this as a date.
“Here, see?” He pulls me to the edge, and I can now see we’re at the edge of a lookout. You can see for miles all around, and down below I see a town.
“Is that Silent Pines?” I ask, taking a small step forward to try to peek further over the edge.
“Careful!” he says, pulling me back against him as he wraps his arms around my shoulders. My hands shoot up to grab his forearm as my heart thumps heavily.
He doesn’t let me go, and I don’t pull away. I feel his chin rest on my head as he breathes steadily behind me.
Okay then…
Was this normal for him? It certainly wasn’t for me. But I enjoy his comforting embrace, so I try to relax and enjoy the view.
“Below is Silent Pines, and to the right is Maple Ridge,” he says, answering the question I’d completely forgotten I’d asked.
His phone buzzes, making me jump. He smirks at me as he pulls it from his pocket and grabs my hand, leading me back to the bike.
“It’s Leo; he’s wondering where I am.” I nod, reaching for the helmet as he asks, “Do you want to come back to our place for dinner?”
I look into his warm brown eyes. Now he’s asking me to dinner?
I’m desperate to ask what this is between us.
I know this isn’t normal for a boss and employee, but I’ve never felt like their employee.
They never tell me what to do or when to come to work.
I’ve been dictating my own hours from the start, and, if anything, I’m the one bossing them around, telling them how to dress and how to run their business.
Besides, I can’t ask him what he wants from me. Even if he wanted something more, which I doubt since he’s way out of my league, I’m just as much into the other two as I am him. It wouldn’t be fair to start something with any of them, knowing I liked the others.
The only option was to remain friends with all three of them.
“Sorry, I can’t.”
He looks disappointed but resigned as he nods. “Another time then.” I nod, knowing I’ll never be able to go to their house. That would be like putting a steak in front of a lion. And they were delicious-looking steaks.