Page 17 of Now and Forever
He turned and smiled at her in surprise before frowning, his observant eyes taking in her sock-clad feet before looking at his watch. "Gaige said he was picking you up in another hour."
Golden grinned at his accusing tone. "I got out early and figured I would save him a trip and just walk," she paused and inhaled deeply. "It smells amazing whatever you're making."
He made a tsking sound at her and walked past her and out of the kitchen only to return a few minutes later with a brand-new pair of creamy white slippers. "Here, I bought these for you a few weeks ago, just for occasions like this." He set the slippers in front of her, watching her put them on before giving her a satisfied nod.
Golden beamed under his doting attention. She seriously loved Omar. "Thank you!"
He always made her feel as if she was part of the household.
"And I'm making chocolate walnut cookies. Would you like one?" he asked over his shoulder as he opened the hot oven, exposing two huge trays of cookies.
I would like a whole tray of them, she said mentally as she inhaled the wonderful chocolatey aroma. Instead, she answered, "Yes, please."
After eating two cookies with a speed that would put the cookie monster to shame, she made her way down the long hallway toward the gym where Omar informed her Gaige was located.
Golden wasn't sure what she was expecting when she pushed her way through the door and suddenly froze. It certainly wasn't the sight of two shirtless men sparring with each other. Like a broken watch desperately trying to work, she was able to make her brain remember Gaige practiced Taekwondo despite the heart-stopping scene before her.
Sweat glistened on the planes of Grayson's defined chest as he lifted his leg unbelievably high to kick at his son's head. Both men were wearing bright red padded helmets and loose white pants belted with a braided black belt at the waist. Once more the failing cogs in her head somehow turned once more allowing her to remember that Gaige had told her his whole family including his dad, uncles, and even his younger cousins Gavin and Ebony practiced the sport.
Gaige returned a series of fluttering kicks to his father's flanks which he blocked with his elbow. Hopping on the balls of his feet to kick at his father again, Gaige's eyes widened within his mask as he caught sight of her.
Snatching off the mask, Gaige scowled at her. "What are you doing here?" he demanded as he checked his watch.
Golden smiled at his mussed hair. Gaige was normally so neat it was fun to see him like this. However, her grin only grew wider as her eyes magnetized back to his father who was now taking off his own helmet.
"I…I umm, got out of practice early," she answered, not able to take her eyes off Grayson as he smoothed down his hair. He was shirtless. So gloriously shirtless. His chest was even more defined than she had previously suspected, his pecs were thick and raised from his abs.
She was just about to focus on his nipples when Gaige stepped into her line of sight giving her an impatient look. "You were supposed to wait for me or call me."
Pulled out of her trance, she blinked up at Gaige. Realization Rayed on her and she stepped backward toward the door. "I'm sorry. Was I not supposed to be in here?"
She had been in the huge private gym before while Gaige worked out but never before while he sparred. And never ever while Grayson was here. Maybe sparring was a private thing.
Seeing her guilty expression, Gaige relaxed, letting a smirk play at his lips. "No. It's fine. I just didn’t want you to walk all the way here."
"I agree," Grayson's husky voice appeared next to her as he carried the matching jacket to his uniform slung over one shoulder. "I would rather you call Gaige than walk."
Now only a few feet away from his bare chest, Golden couldn't pull her eyes away as she nodded to whatever he said with a silly grin.
"Jesus Christ," Gaige murmured before taking her hand and pulling her behind him. "Let's go."
With one last look at Grayson's amused expression, Golden followed Gaige out of the gym.
Half an hour later she was lying on Gaige's bed reading some of his old comics while Gaige sat at the edge of the bed drying off his hair from his shower. They had hardly spoken a word once they came upstairs and she was more than relieved when he didn't say anything about her ogling his father. But now she could feel his grin directed at her without even looking at him.
"So?" he purred evilly. "Was it everything you dreamed, you little pervert?"
Golden pretended not to hear him.
"You were so smooth down there," he continued, the grin evident in his voice. "Staring directly at his chest and never making eye contact. I'm sure he didn’t notice at all."
Pulling the comic across her face, Golden let out a sound of pure embarrassment. Dear God, he was right. She had absolutely no poker face, something friends had told her often throughout the years.
Gaige laughed and she felt his hand on her foot. Snatching the comic off her face, she looked at him in horror as he held a soccer ball up in one hand. Before she could say anything, he threw the soccer ball at the wall just above the headboard, letting it thump loudly against the wall before catching it again with one hand. Flashing her a menacing grin, he repeated the action again and again, throwing the ball against the wall and catching it while holding her foot with one hand.
"Gaige, stop!" she cried, trying to roll to the side and out from under whatever game he was playing with the wall. But his grip on her foot kept her mostly in place.
He ignored her and bounced the ball twice more.
