CHAPTER SEVEN
JULIET
The sleep I got last night was better than I could ever remember having any night before. I thought it would be difficult to let my guard down enough to fall asleep in a stranger’s home. Especially with what I went through with my stepbrother. Yet somehow, the second I closed my eyes, I was out.
Maverick has been nothing but kind and caring and has done everything he could to make me feel safe. When he offered to lock himself in his own bedroom, I almost burst out laughing.
With all that he’s given me, I’m going to prove that I’m worth hiring.
I’m prepared to work hard and bust my ass so I can show him how grateful I am.
I don’t want him to have any regrets. I’ll do as he suggests for now and save all I can before I find another place to stay.
It would be nice to have a small nest egg and not worry about being one paycheck away from being homeless again.
I also want to ask him what my hours are. Would that be rude? Depending on when he needs me to work, I might be able to get a second job. I’d noticed when I entered the gym that the smoothie place next door was hiring. That would be really convenient.
So far, the tasks assigned to me have been simple.
It’s spreadsheets and numbers, but I’ve always been good with those.
It’s not difficult, but it needs to be done.
It’s more tedious than anything, but I took a class on spreadsheets in high school, and I know all the short codes.
I’ve even fixed his so they are adding up on their own.
If you know how to use spreadsheets, tasks can be completed in a third of the time.
After I’m done with my initial tasks, I debate if I should go and find Maverick and tell him I’m done with all he’s given me.
He asked me to stay in his office after he showed me around, but since then, he’s been popping in and out.
I can’t help the flutter I get each time the door opens, though I’m trying to temper it.
I could crash out hard for this man, but I can’t do that.
I’m not going to be one of those girls fawning all over him when he’s been helping me.
Thinking he might check back in soon, I find a few cleaning supplies in the bathroom and start to straighten up his space instead of going to find him.
“What are you doing?” I spin around at the sound of Maverick’s voice as a small scream leaves me. “Shit, I didn’t mean to scare you.”
“Sorry, I startle easily,” I say as he closes the door. I’ve always been jumpy.
“You don’t need to clean.”
“I was trying to keep busy, and I have no problem cleaning. I can even do your place upstairs,” I offer. “Oh, and I could cook too.”
Maybe that would be a way of pulling my weight since he’s letting me crash with him for a while.
“You cook?” He cocks his head to the side.
“I’ll get a cookbook.”
“A cookbook,” he chuckles. “You don’t have to cook for me, little mouse.”
Between his smile and calling me little mouse, the flutter in my stomach comes back tenfold.
“Actually, it might be fun to learn. I mean, it’s a life skill I should have.” Well, I guess that’s not true for everyone. My stepmother always kept a chef on staff. They came in a couple of times a week and stocked up meals.
“If you are anxious to learn, then I guess I don’t see a problem with it. I just don’t want you thinking you have to.” He makes his way over to his desk. “How are things going?”
“I’m all done.”
“You’re all done?” His dark brows rise.
“Yep, it was pretty easy.”
“Well damn. That shit takes me all day at the end of week.” He says it with a smile, and I spot the slight trace of a dimple in his left cheek.
The more time I spend with Maverick, the less imposing his stature becomes. Oh, he’s still big, but now he’s more like a big bear that might be cuddly at times.
“That’s why I was cleaning to keep busy.”
“I have someone that does that already,” he says.
“Oh, well, is there more I can do? Like fold towels or—” I try to think of what might need to be done around a gym. “If not, that’s okay. I can clock out.” Now that I think about it, I’m not sure if I clocked in. “I was thinking about the smoothie place next door and—”
“Are you hungry?” he asks quickly.
He brought me a giant lunch, and I ate all of it. It was a burger with fries and a shake. My stepmother would have died if she saw me eating it. The chef she had on staff made everything very healthy and in tiny portions.
“I’m stuffed,” I laugh and pat my stomach. “You’re going to plump me up.”
“Nothing wrong with that,” he says quietly, and it wasn’t the response I thought I would get. Maverick is in phenomenal shape, so I assumed he would like his women that way too.
“This is a gym,” I say, and Maverick glances around, fighting an amused smile.
“It is,” he agrees.
“Well, I meant you’re supposed to be healthy and strong.” I hold one arm up and pretend to flex it playfully.
“Having meat on your bones doesn’t mean you’re unhealthy, but if you want to build strength, I can help you with that.” He’s making the offer, but I’m already shaking my head. “Are you turning me down?”
“I suppose,” I say and shrug. Personal trainers are crazy expensive.
“That’s a first,” he says and grins at me. I glance away from him, not liking where his comment made my mind go. “Shit, that sounded bad. I didn’t mean it like that. I meant that was the first time someone turned me down on training them.”
His explanation shouldn’t make me relax, but somehow it does.
“You’re already doing so much to help me,” I tell him.
“It wouldn’t be that big of a deal. I’ll participate in the workout with you so it will help me out. I’ve gotta do it anyway, plus a membership comes with the job.”
“Why do I get the feeling you’re just saying that?” I narrow my eyes at him, and he grins.
“It’s true, I swear, but only for the women employees.”
“Really? I’ve never seen any here before. Is there another woman that works for you?”
“No.” He shrugs, not at all ashamed of creating this rule just for me.
“You’re too sweet,” I say, and he chuckles.
“That’s another first,” he says. “No one has said that to me before.”
“Sounds like I’m getting all of your firsts.” I start to laugh but then realize how that came out. Heat rushes to my cheeks, and he chuckles.
“Come on little mouse,” he says as he nods toward the door and then to me. “I suppose I should introduce you to the rest of the staff.”
Maverick’s good mood slips a bit, and he doesn’t appear happy with this chore.
“You don’t have to. I’m happy to stay here if you’ve got some more work for me.”
“Nah, it needs to happen.” He stands up from his desk like an idea hit him.
“Hang on, I’ve got what you need.” He walks over to the closet door and grabs a black shirt out of it.
“Here’s a uniform.” Maverick hands it to me, and I glance down at what I’m already wearing.
It’s basically the same thing, and when I look up at him, he points to the bathroom. “Go ahead and try it on.”
I duck into the bathroom to remove my other shirt before putting the new one on.
It’s black with nothing on the front, but across the shoulders on the back in bold letters is his last name.
Is this a uniform? What do I know? I slip it on, and it practically swallows me whole.
It’s massive, and I step out to show him.
“May I?” he asks and nods to the shirt. “I can fix it.”
“Sure,” I tell him before he gets down on his knees in front of me. He manages to tie it on the side, and though it’s still pretty big, it’s a lot better.
“I’ll see about getting you smaller ones,” he says, and I’m about to tell him he doesn’t have to when he keeps going. “We’ll go get your smoothie first, and then I’ll introduce you to everyone.”
“Smoothie?”
“From next door. You said you wanted one.”
“Oh! No, I was going to say they have a sign up that they’re hiring. I thought, depending on the hours I work here, I could get a second job.”
“Juliet, whatever hours you want, you can have them right here. As many or as few as you like. You don’t need to go anywhere else for work.”
“Are you sure?” I ask, trying not to fidget nervously.
“Yes, I’m more than sure,” he says, his deep voice low and soft. “I want you right here.”
“Mmkay,” I find myself agreeing, and the flutter inside of me hits harder than ever before.