Total pages in book: 58
Estimated words: 54966 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 275(@200wpm)___ 220(@250wpm)___ 183(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 54966 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 275(@200wpm)___ 220(@250wpm)___ 183(@300wpm)
He seems taken aback by my sincerity. He pulls out two pieces of pizza and puts them on my plate. “You’re welcome.”
We eat in silence for a few minutes, and I’m beginning to wonder if this is a good idea or not. How am I going to stay professional if he’s going to do nice things for me? And even though Jeremy and I are not that serious and nothing has happened between Holden and me, I still feel guilty. I have a feeling the next two months are going to be a challenge for me and not because of my job. That I can do. It’s these feelings that Holden evokes in me. These feelings I don’t know what to do with.
9
HOLDEN
I’m not sure what I was thinking. Did I really think I could work closely with Cat and not want more? It’s been a week since she and Cole moved in, and Cat and I have spent most days together.
She wasn’t joking when she said she was going to stretch me out before every exercise. Every morning, she massages my arms and legs before taking me through a routine of stretches, and then we run three miles. It’s been a week of pure torture.
And this morning is not any different. “I can do this on my own.”
She seems taken aback by my short attitude, and I instantly want to apologize, but the other part of me hopes she concedes. She’s dressed in leggings and a tank top. Her hair is in a ponytail, and she doesn’t have a hint of makeup on, but she’s still the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. There’s no way around it: When she works with me, she’s just too close, and I’m doing my best to keep my distance from her, but it’s getting damn near impossible.
“You know the rules, Holden. Until I think you’re stretching enough on your own, I’m doing it for you. We don’t want another injury.”
Instead of getting up on the table, I rest my hands on it and hang my head between my shoulders. Not another day. “I can’t do this, Catherine.”
She stops next to me, but I don’t look at her. “Well, this sounds serious. Catherine, huh?”
I blink and try to ready myself to look her in the eye. I finally look at her, and I can already feel myself weakening. I can’t let her put her hands on me.
“I’m sorry, Cat. I just mean, I’m an adult. I can stretch myself out.”
“But—” she starts, and I hold my hand up to stop her. “You don’t understand.”
Her hands fidget together in front of her. “Well, explain it to me. We already talked about this, so what's the issue?”
Looking into her big blue eyes, I want to lean in and kiss her. It’s as simple as that. At every turn, I’m fighting this attraction, and I’m about to lose my shit. I can’t let her touch me one more time. Not without me being able to touch her in return.
“You can’t touch me… Cat.”
It’s not until I say it out loud that I realize how it sounds. Her forehead creases in worry. “Holden, I’m sorry. If I’ve made you uncomfortable, I promise you that was not my intention. I didn’t mean…”
Her face is red from embarrassment, and she turns away from me. “I’m sorry… I didn’t think I was—”
“It’s not you… it’s me,” I tell her honestly, but she’s shaking her head in disbelief.
“No, don’t do that. I made you uncomfortable, and I’m glad you said something… Can you tell me what I did exactly and I guarantee it won’t happen again.”
I blow out a breath in frustration. How do I even begin to explain this to her? If I try, it’s going to make things even more uncomfortable between us, plus I have to keep reminding myself that she has a boyfriend. I climb up on the table and lie down, my face buried into the pillow where at least I can try to hide my moans when the time comes. “Look, just forget I said anything,” I mutter.
She doesn’t move, though. When I look up at her, she has her arms crossed over her chest and looks at me with a forlorn look on her face. “Cat… please… let’s just get this over with.”
Worry is evident on her face, and I feel like a grade A asshole. She takes this job very seriously, and I know I’ve hurt her by insinuating that she’s done something wrong. Fuck me, I can’t do this. “Listen—”
She shakes her head. “Talk to me, Holden. For real. Tell me what’s going on.”
I clench my eyes shut and then shake my head. Fuck it. I sit up on the edge of the bed, my legs hanging off the side. “You can’t touch me… because I’m barely fucking hanging on here. I’ve tried to be respectful, but there’s only so much a man can fuckin’ take. I uh, have a reaction when you touch me… do you get my drift?”