Page 25 of Loving the CEO

I walked out of the bedroom and heard the unmistakable sound of someone running on the treadmill. The vibrations carried through thefloor. I hesitated, then decided to ask Leo if he was okay with me getting dinner ready. Now that I was here, I was feeling a bit like a leech and needed to earn my keep somehow.

I knocked at the door, but there was no reply. Figuring he probably listened to music while working out or something, I decided to just walk in.

I opened the door and hoooooooooly shit. Leo wasn’t wearing a shirt. That back of his was so damn impressive, his trapezius and lats and all the other muscles on full display.

As I tore my eyes from his physique, I noticed Leo had quite a professional weight room, and clearly he used it. I stayed in the doorway, staring at him for longer than I realized. I just couldn't take my eyes off him. But I couldn't stand here and ogle him like a creep.

I cleared my throat, but he didn't acknowledge me. I slowly walked around to the front of the treadmill so I wouldn't startle him.

He saw me out of the corner of his eye as I approached, and if I thought his back was impressive, it was nothing compared to his front. That six-pack was absolutely insane. And those V lines. My God! I didn't think those were actually real.

I wanted to shame myself for appreciating a man so soon after my breakup, but I couldn’t. Nope, I just could not.

Leo took out an ear bud. "Hey, I didn't hear you."

"I figured."

"I won't keep you long." I forced my eyes to stay on his face. Not an easy thing.

He was running at full speed and had a thin sheet of sweat on his chest. Somehow, that made him even sexier.

"I wanted to cook dinner. Do you have a preference? Anything in the fridge you’d like me to make?"

"Why don't we hit town instead?"

"Because I want to do something for you."

He shook his head. "Tory, there'll be plenty of time for you to cook dinner if you want. Wouldn’t you rather go out and explore a bit?”

My face exploded into a grin. "I'd love to go out and explore, see if we can find any of our old hangout places."

Leo winked. "I know better ones, and I'm happy to be your guide. Just give me half an hour or so. More like forty minutes so I can clean up."

“Sure. I'll be downstairs."

"Feel free to grab a bite if you're hungry."

I nodded, walking past him, then looked over my shoulder. I needed to ogle that backside just a few more seconds.

I had no idea why I couldn't look away. I'd always known that Leo was handsome and sexy, but somehow I'd been able to push that to the back of my mind. Right now, though, I simply didn't have enough willpower. So I took my fill of him for a few seconds more before leaving the gym.

I descended the steps, glancing around the living room again. This place was quintessentially Leo. Back in college, he’d lived in a cramped space but always talked about how one day he’d have a huge house with all the luxuries. This definitely fit the bill. I sat on one of the bar chairs and swirled around, taking everything in as I enjoyed the peace of relaxation.

Only fifteen minutes later, Leo came down and stood in front of me. “What do you think?”

“You look great. I’m kind of surprised you asked. You usually don’t fish for compliments.”

“I meant about the house.” He laughed and moved forward, totally catching me off guard as he tickled me under my arms. I laughed so hard that I almost felloff the chair.

“Thanks, Leo. I needed this, the getaway, you know? To be with a friend.” I felt like things would work out after all. That one day I’d feel normal once again.

“I'm all yours, babe.”

Annnnnd I almost melted.

“You said you’d need forty minutes.”

“I cut my training short just for you.” The wink he gave me just about won me over.

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