Page 3 of Feels Like Home

“I don’t see any damage,” Ian said. “I think the handle hit your eyelid instead of your eye. Your skin isn’t even red, so I don’t think you’ll have any bruising.”

Two men walked in then stopped when they glanced Jace’s way. This had to look bad.

If either guy said anything to Owen about a naked man crouched in front of Jace, there was no telling what the jerk would do. From day one it had been obvious that Owen didn’t like him, although Jace had no clue why.

As if sensing Jace’s discomfort, Ian used the towel he’d dried his hair with to curl around his waist.

“Everything okay?” the man on the right asked.

“Yeah.” Ian helped Jace to his feet. So far, the headache had remained mild. “He got whacked in the eye with the mop handle. Aside from watering, his eye looks to be okay.”

The men walked to the showers as though the matter was resolved. This was not turning out to be Jace’s morning. “I need to get back to cleaning.”

Ian tilted his head to the side and drew in a deep breath. He chewed on the side of his mouth as his gaze swept over Jace. What was that intense look about? Why was Ian studying him so hard?

The locker room door slammed open, causing Jace to jump out of his skin.

“There you are!” Owen chucked a thumb over his shoulder. “Some sweaty guy leaned against the mirrors and left huge smear stains that need cleaned. Get your stuff and make that gross shit disappear.”

A peculiar noise rumbled in Ian’s chest. It sounded like an animalist snarl. Weird. Jace parked his cart by the utility closet. With glass cleaner and rags in hand, he hurried out of the locker room.

It took him a few minutes to find where the smears were located. Owen had acted like an entire body was outlined on one section of the mirrors. There were four smudges no bigger than the size of a hand.

What a drama king.

In a few swipes, the glass was sparkling. Jace might as well do the mirrors in the locker room since he had the cleaner already in his hand.

“Nothing but pigs,” Owen grumbled as he passed Jace in the hall.

What did the guy expect? People sweated during their workout. Things were touched. Owen was in the wrong line of work if perspiration upset him.

By the time Jace returned, Ian was dressed in a pair of loose-fitting jogging pants and a thin, sleeveless hoodie. His legs apart, Ian stood in front of his open locker and brushed out his long hair. Someone would have to poke out Jace’s eyes to stop him from staring—which literally almost happened. A few strands of damp hair clung to the side of Ian’s neck, the rest falling past his shoulders with each stroke of the brush.

How did his hair have so much volume without using a blow dryer? Some people just had all the luck. Jace’s hair only reached his neck, but he still needed to use a dryer and styling gel to make it look even halfway decent.

Before Ian realized he was being creeped on, Jace headed to the mirrors. He was so into what he was doing that he didn’t see Ian approach until he heard the voice.

“Are you free for dinner?” Ian asked from behind him.

Jace glanced in the mirror. Ian was standing so close that all it would take was a single step backward and their bodies would touch. No one had a right to look that damn good. Some higher power had decided to torture Jace by dangling such a sinfully gorgeous man in front of him.

“Did you hear me over your music?” Ian’s playful grin slayed him.

The music wasn’t on. “Pardon?”

“Dinner.” Ian moved to the side and leaned a hip against the long counter. He crossed his arms, making his biceps even larger. “Should I have asked first if you’re interested in men?” His sweeping gaze scorched Jace. “If you are, I would love to have dinner, kitten.”

“With m-me?”

“No, with your reflection.” The even whiteness of Ian’s smile was more sparkling than the mirrors.

Jace swallowed hard, his heart trying to pound through his breastbone as he struggled to think.

“I have…” Jace’s thoughts floundered. “I have to go to the grocery store for my mom when I get off of work at four. She’s supposed to text me a list of what she wants.”

There were touches of humor around Ian’s mouth and near his eyes. “I like that you run errands for your mom, but I’m not sure if you’re saying yes or no to my invitation.”

“Why do you want to have dinner with me?” Jace clutched the bottle of glass cleaner then set the bottle and rags on the counter.

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