5. Kendra #2
On Thursday, I arrived at the spa a bit later than everyone else.
It was in the Gold Coast, the most upscale neighborhood in Chicago, in my opinion, and it was pretty intimidating.
The walls in the reception area were draped with dark blue silk curtains, creating the illusion of small recesses everywhere.
The lighting fixtures were silver, casting a diffused light.
The friendly receptionist gave me precise instructions to reach the pool, but I got lost twice in the narrow corridors lined by bamboo rods.
In the changing rooms, I only took off my shoes and put on flip-flops. They looked a bit ridiculous with my crisp white office dress, but it was forbidden to walk with street shoes in the pool area.
I was extra jumpy, and I knew it was because a certain hot hockey player was nearby. I couldn't believe he’d invited the kids here. Tyler Maxwell was in a league of his own when it came to generosity and just being an overall decent human being. I wished more people were like him.
Pulling my hair up in a tight bun because it would curl from the humidity in the pool room, I held my chin high as I walked out of the locker room.
The pool was great, and there were a gazillion slides around it. The kids were already having fun. There were no other guests here. I glanced around carefully, looking for Tyler. My body seemed to be aware before I finally spotted him and his lips curved into a smile.
This day was starting great. I was still embarrassed about my mishap with the message, but since there was no hiding, I had to own up to it. I smiled wildly as he swam to the edge of the pool closest to me.
"Kendra, I thought you might not make it."
"I have to be here, remember? Besides, I couldn't miss a chance to see Tim and his friends have fun."
"Damn, and I thought you couldn't miss a chance to see me."
I felt that molten gaze travel through my whole body.
“Did you now?” I teased.
He pushed himself out of the water, and I blinked rapidly, taking a step back.
Is this guy real? Holy hell, who even has this many muscles?
“Aren’t you joining us in the pool?” he asked.
“No. I’m not supposed to engage, just observe.”
“Damn. I assumed you would. I was already imagining you in a bikini.” His voice was a low, deliciously sensual whisper. His eyes were playful and hot at the same time.
I fidgeted in my spot, and my flip-flops squeaked against the tiles.
“I’m going to corrupt you into joining us,” he declared in a serious voice.
Fighting a smile, I folded my arms against my chest. “I don’t have a bathing suit.”
“There’s a shop upstairs. And skinny-dipping is always an option. But only after I evacuate every single person.”
I swallowed hard. “There are cameras.”
“So if there weren’t any, you’d agree? I’ll file that information right here.” He tapped his temple.
My goodness, I’d walked right into his trap. I laughed, bringing a hand to my ear out of reflex, intending to push a strand of hair behind it, but it was up in a bun. I patted my head as if I was checking if there were any hair bumps or strays. Way to be awkward .
“Tyler… there are kids around,” I whispered.
He looked at me intently. "Right. We're supposed to be role models."
"Exactly."
He came closer—close enough that I could smell the spicy notes in his cologne. "I have a hunch you're going to be that role model, Kendra, because I won’t. I intend to look a lot, and I will make no secret of it," he said right before diving into the pool.
All right. My panties aren't combusting or anything .
I sat down on one of the lounge chairs, wishing I could get in the pool and feel the cold water against my skin.
I looked around, grabbing some pics with my phone. The kids were so giddy that it made me laugh too.
A few feet away, I saw Tyler showing Tim how to do some back strokes after he came down one of the slides. This was too good of an opportunity to pass up, so I took a good look at those washboard abs before focusing on the pics again. Don't be greedy, Kendra. You can look more later.
I only managed a few minutes before I gave in to temptation, risking another glance at Tyler.
This time I admired his biceps. The one downside about hockey was that you couldn't see the player's body underneath all those pads and that bulky jersey they wore, especially the goalies.
But you could assume they were super muscular.
Tyler was sinfully sexy even in the bulky uniform.
Him wearing nothing but swimming trunks was simply delectable.
He caught me looking that time, and my entire face flushed as I quickly glanced away, trying to mind my own business. I’d snapped enough photos, so I opened the email app on my phone and started answering the most pressing ones.
“Trying to hide in plain sight?” a teasing voice said from next to me a few minutes later.
“Holy shit,” I exclaimed, jumping a bit. I hadn't realized he’d come up beside me.
“You don't have to hide. You can admire me to your heart's desire.”
I laughed even though my cheeks heated up.
“Do you enjoy putting me on the spot? It's not very gentlemanly.”
“I know, but I like the way you blush for me.”
And that just made my cheeks feel hotter as he sat next to me.
“You’re different today than last time.”
“You mean even cockier? I was holding back before.”
I burst out laughing. “Were you?”
“Oh yeah.”
“Well, I wouldn’t say cocky. You’re confident.” I came to that realization sometime between him offering to bring the kids here and seeing him in the pool. “That’s different. But you’re… daring .”
He smirked. “And I’m still holding back when it comes to that.”
I laughed, and he added, “You're having fun, aren't you?”
“Yeah, it's a great day, and look at them. They're just so happy, which makes me happy.”
He glanced at me with an intense gaze, but it was different than before. “The program you benefited from as a kid was this same one?”
“No, but it was very similar. I started working here right after college, and my sister too.”
“I didn’t know you worked together.”
I nodded. “We even share an office. It’s a lot of fun.”
“Your parents must be proud of you.”
I sighed. “They both passed away, but I think they would be.”
He dipped his head. “I’m sorry for your loss.”
“Daddy passed away when I was six. He was working for the railroad and had an accident. My mom was so devastated. She didn’t even have time to mourn him properly.”
“Why?”
“Because we started having financial problems right away. The bank took our house because Mom couldn’t afford the mortgage.
We moved into a tiny, run-down apartment in a shady neighborhood, and she had to take on a second and third job.
She always felt so guilty for not being home.
We had to make up stories so the neighbors wouldn’t call child services. ”
He frowned. “Why would they even consider doing that?”
“Because we were home alone a lot. A couple times, they did contact them, and I convinced my sister we were playing hide-and-seek and had to stay hidden in the apartment and not answer the door. But eventually they did find out, and after that, they constantly checked on us, even threatened to take us away from Mom.”
Tyler looked stunned.
“Um, sorry. Too much information. I miss my parents a lot, so once I start talking about them, it’s hard to stop.” He didn’t need to hear about all that.
“You don’t have to stop. I’m interested in you, Kendra.”
Whoa…
“Yes I do, because you’ve got to go back to the kids.
I don’t know what makes Tim more excited, that you brought them to a pool or that you’re here with them.
” I looked at the kids, then back to Tyler.
“Go on, go back to them. Tim’s been looking at you this whole time.
They’ll treasure this forever. When I was part of the program, they took us to watch Cinderella once.
It was so magical. I still remember the whole day. ”
“You’re the most fascinating person I’ve ever met.”
“I don’t believe that,” I said playfully.
“Actually, you are, and I’m more than happy to prove it to you. In fact, I’m eager to. You’re real, Kendra. I miss that in people. It’s a quality I only see in my family and the team these days.”
I blinked, at a loss for what to say, but Tim saved me from having to reply.
“Tyyyyyyyyyyyler, come back in the pool, please.”
I chuckled, pointing to him. “Told you he’s been looking at you the whole time. You’ve only got about ten more minutes before we have to leave.”
Tyler was still looking at me intently as he stood up, and I melted into my seat.
Lowering my eyes to my phone, I quickly drafted an email where I summed up today’s events.
I was also required to keep a spreadsheet where I noted what I did in chunks of twenty minutes.
Some coworkers considered it a chore, but I didn’t mind.
I liked being efficient, and it was rewarding to look back on my day and see all I’d accomplished.
Just as I was wrapping up my notes, Tyler startled me again. “Kendra, all good?”
I nodded, looking up from my phone. We were alone.
“Everyone’s gone?” I asked. My heart rate quickened.
“Yes. Their parents picked them up in front of the building.”
How hadn’t I noticed?
I got up, putting my phone in my purse and then slinging it on my shoulder. The air between us shifted. I was far too close to him, and he had nothing but swimming trunks on.
“Okay, then, I’ll go too.”
We walked side by side at the edge of the pool.
I took a sidestep, needing some distance, and nearly went into the shower that was mounted just next to the pool entrance.
Fortunately, I didn’t walk into it. Unfortunately, the shower had a motion sensor, and it turned on instantly.
I shrieked, instinctively lifting my arms to keep my purse dry.
I could, of course, have stepped out from under the spray, but my brain was running its own show right now. Today shall always be known as Kendra’s Awkward Day .