Page 33 of The Rival (Looking to Score 2)
Eden tilts her head, her mouth opening and closing like a very confused, very irritated fish. “Does he always walk around with his shirt off?”
I choke out a laugh. “N-no . . .” My fingers twitch at the memory of how strong his bare chest felt when it flexed under my touch last night, with Alex pinned between my legs. The way he hardened and swelled against my ass when I—
“Anything happening there?” she asks, her big blue eyes narrowing with suspicion. Leave it to Eden Wynn to cut to the chase. The woman is known to be direct, and she doesn’t disappoint.
“Me and Alex? No.” I scoff, lying so easily to the woman who signs my paycheck that I almost believe it myself.
“Okay, good,” she murmurs, lowering her voice. “He’s trouble, Aspen.” Her tone is softer now, less accusatory. “I wouldn’t want to see you get hurt. You’ve already been through so much. Is he at least behaving himself?”
“Yeah, he’s been very respectful. We’re getting along fine.”
Eden’s eyebrows jump. “You’ve been hanging out, then?”
I nod, afraid to say anything more. If I do, I might confess the whole crime.
Crime? I’ve done nothing wrong, so why do I feel like I’m being interrogated?
“Correct me if I’m wrong,” Eden says, “but I thought you were going up there to recoup, sweetie. And now you’re sleeping under the same roof as the enemy?”
Alex doesn’t feel like the enemy. Not to me, anyway. “It’s been fine, Eden. I promise.”
She shakes her head, concern creasing her brow. “You say that now. He’s probably still on his best behavior. Just wait. Please call me if anything changes. If he becomes an ass, I want to know about it. I’m saying that as your boss and your friend.”
My gut clenches uncomfortably at the genuine concern in her eyes. Eden was with Alex for a really long time, so it’s safe to assume that she knows the man better than I do. How hurt would she be if she found out about our little arrangement?
I’m not looking for a relationship with the guy or anything, but sex has a nasty habit of complicating dynamics, especially in the workplace. Being at a remote cabin has made it so easy to distance myself from reality. Is sleeping with Alex really worth risking the last bit of stability I have left in my life?
Ugh. My brain is one big scrambled egg. I’m sure the answer is no, but my body is screaming for me to do it.
Before Eden can notice me spiraling, I smile. “I’ll be okay. I’m a big girl, I promise. Anyway, don’t you have another call soon?”
Eden gasps, glancing down at her dainty gold wristwatch. “In five minutes, actually.” Her sigh is exasperated but her smile is soft. “Thanks for always keeping me on track, Aspen. Think we can touch base again like this next week? Or sooner, you know . . .” She trails off with a look that says, if Alex gives you any trouble.
“Works for me. ’Bye, boss.”
“’Bye, girl.”
Eden signs off, and I close my laptop.
Little does she know, Alex may be giving me a whole lot more than trouble this summer. Like multiple orgasms, if we make good on our arrangement.
I chew my lip, twisting in my seat to peer out the window. Alex is hosing down the deck, a fresh sheen of sweat making his burly chest and arm muscles glisten in the sun.
How am I supposed to make any headway on my to-do list when he’s looking like that? We’re gonna need to enforce a stricter clothing policy if we intend to get any work done this month.
Even though it may not be my brightest idea, hooking up seems unavoidable at this point. I pretty much blew the lid off that can of worms when I drunkenly climbed onto his lap last night. And judging by his reaction this morning, it doesn’t seem like this sexual frustration is going anywhere unless we channel it in a more productive way.
Heck, maybe if we explore our attraction for each other now, we’ll be tired of each other by the time the season begins. After all, what happens in Canada, stays in Canada, right?
Is it naive to think that way? Can I trust Alex to be professional and keep our secret when the season begins?
Eden had me conditioned into thinking Alex was a loose cannon, moody and selfish. And maybe he was. Before.
But the man who gave up his summer plans for me? The man who gave me an unforgettable birthday? The guy who helped that dad and his kid at the grocery store? That’s not the Alex I was told to watch out for. Now that I know him better, it seems like his whole world was upended after the breakup. It wouldn’t surprise me if losing a girl like Eden left a mark. Heartbreak changes people. At the very least, I owe it to Alex to decide for myself without influence from anyone else.
