Total pages in book: 37
Estimated words: 35498 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 177(@200wpm)___ 142(@250wpm)___ 118(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 35498 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 177(@200wpm)___ 142(@250wpm)___ 118(@300wpm)
“Damn, that was rude, right? I didn’t mean to be.” Oliver set his free weights down, unable to hide the flush that tinged his cheeks. “I tend to lose track of things when I’m in the zone. The time, my manners...” He stuck out his hand. “Nice to meet you Matthew Finn. I’m Oliver Garcia.”
He hadn’t had anyone try to shake his hand since he moved to the States. A nod or a fist bump seemed to be the local greeting, but he wasn’t about to turn down the opportunity for physical contact.
Oliver’s grip was as strong and steady as his gaze, and damp from his workout.
Or was that Matthew’s nerves? His fingers flexed, tightening in reaction to the touch.
Oliver’s eyes lowered to their clasped hands and up again in silent query, and Matthew told himself he needed to let go before things got awkward.
Way too late. Shit.
He released him and made a fist at his side in case he was tempted to reach for him again. “I didn’t mean to interrupt your zone time.”
“Then why did you?”
Matthew blinked at that. “What?”
“Why did you leave the nosy family you’re still getting used to just to introduce yourself? Did the handsome suit at the front desk ask you to get me to leave? He’s usually pretty impatient to close up by now.”
Matthew’s smile slipped and he rocked back on his heels. He could have gone forever without hearing Oliver call Robert handsome.
“The suit is always impatient, but since he’s in charge of promotions for the grand opening next week, he needs to be here anyway. And you’re a paying member, so he’d never ask you to leave.” I wouldn’t let him. “If this place fills up the way he says it will, he’ll finally start to relax and have a social life again. There’s a woman at work I’m planning on setting him up with. She’s just his type.”
Jesus, did he really just say that? Did he make a gesture at his chest to imply Robert’s type was large-breasted? Was he actually jealous? Of Nora?
“That’s too bad.” Oliver’s shoulders fell in a subtle slump.
“It is?”
“I enjoyed having this place to myself. Not that I’m hoping your brother’s business fails or anything. Especially since it looks like he’s about to be a father at any minute.” He winced. “Now it sounds like I’m calling his wife fat, when she’s always been so nice to me. Have I mentioned I have no social skills?”
They had something in common after all.
“Bronte is about as pregnant as someone who isn’t having triplets can be, and she blames my brother for it on a weekly basis. It hasn’t slowed her down any, though. She’s out dancing right now.”
“She is?” Oliver’s lips quirked. “I knew I liked her. Thank you for the save. Now that I’ve managed to stick my foot in it twice in the last two minutes, why don’t we get back to why you came over now after staring at me for days? Was it just to let me know front desk guy is straight? Because I figured that out last week when he almost broke his neck checking out the curvy delivery woman.”
Matthew’s smile returned with a vengeance. “You’re very blunt, aren’t you? I like it.”
It was refreshing. Adorable.
“Nobody likes it.” Oliver’s beautiful brow furrowed in disbelief and suspicion. “It’s rude and incredibly off-putting.”
Had someone told him that? If so, Matthew wanted a word with them. “I’m sorry to burst your bubble, but it’s not putting me off at all. I like knowing where I stand.”
“You’re the first then.” Oliver bent down to grab his water bottle and his shirt rose up, revealing a strip of skin where his lower back met that award-winning ass.
Matthew nearly swallowed his tongue.
Had he really thought talking to him might break the spell? If anything, it had made things worse. He still wanted to utterly defile the beautiful Legs he’d been lusting after for the last few days, but now the need to protect the adorable, outspoken Oliver was coming into play as well.
No, that wasn’t entirely true. Even adorable Oliver was in danger of being bent in half and fucked into next Tuesday.
So. Screwed.
“Do you like coffee?”
Oliver drained his water, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand as surprise flickered in his eyes. “That’s what this is? You’re asking me out?”
“Looks like it.” He hadn’t planned to. Not yet, anyway. His mission was to say hello and swap some small talk before reporting back for further instructions. He had totally fucked the mission.
“Did you have a particular day in mind?”
“Tonight? I mean, whenever you’re done with your workout. Unless you have other plans?”
Jesus, where had his old playbook gone? Confident with a touch of apathy had worked like a charm since puberty. Right now, he sounded eager.