Page 17 of Rewrite the Rules

six

Adler

My phone is not at all intimidated by my bugged-out glare. It just stares back at me in a stalemate telling me it’s five ’til six in the morning.He’s not coming.I’ve been up since three o’clock because my hyperactive nerves are feisty little shits. They didn’t want to sleep. They wanted me up and pacing.

The streets of Denver are quiet this morning. Saturday night partiers have finally exhausted themselves and have retreated back into their lairs. The sky is still the darkest shade of navy and the lights glow against it like a Lite-Brite board picture of a city skyline.

There’s no way he’s coming.I would’ve heard from him by now.

If I was hiking with Noa, according to our usual ritual, I would’ve gotten three texts by now. One message around five o’clock when she’d leave her house with an upbeat—On my way!Another about fifteen minutes later asking—Do you want the usual from Starbucks?By five fifty I’d get the final text—I’m outside. Take your time. Also do you have an extra [insert whatever Noa forgot that morning]?

This is crazy. What am I doing? I mean, I know what I’m doing and it feels a little bit like dancing too close to a well-fueled bonfire. My abstinence has never bothered me before. I can’t explain why I’m suddenly like a pent-up, horny moth to a flame.

I checked the employee handbook—there is nothing against office romances. Then again, our employee handbook is pretty much a sticky note from Steve that says, ‘don’t do dumb shit’, but still! There’s no real rule because it’s never been an issue before.I’m the only woman in the office and I’ve been wearing a giant ‘closed for business’ sign around my neck for the past three years of my employment at Aura. It took Brett a little while to take the hint, but even he caught on eventually.

I can’t stop thinking about thewayJoel said he doesn’t do relationships over our lunch on Friday.

His eyes went dark behind his frames as he said it. His normal honey-browns sank to an almost dark chocolate as he wrapped caution tape around his pants that screamed ‘Adler! Do not cross!’

But why?

There’s no wedding ring. No complaints of a bitter divorce. He hasn’t mentioned having any religious confines to abide by. As we’ve established, he’s not gay. Is it me? Is he not into me?

I don’t do relationships.It’s a straightforward command. But I’m the queen at finding loopholes.

We don’t have to be together for me to enjoy watching his sexy ass climb about a gazillion stairs today. Provided he shows, I have my plan all mapped out. I’m going to feign a side-stich so I have to lag and then I’m going to enjoy the off-limits view of my new boss’s broad muscular back and perfectly formed glutes from behind. Don’t judge me. Any woman with eyes would do the same.

Windchimes.

My preset alarm goes off at six o’clock. It’s so loud it almost drowns out the sound of a soft knock on the door. My heart jumps right out of my throat. I catch it, swallow it down, and allow it to sink then settle into my chest cavity where it belongs. I open the front door in just a little disbelief.

“You look surprised.” Joel smolders—I mean smiles—at me.

His baseball cap is tipped low. His Active Fit athletic shirt hugs his body with a gentle caress. I can make out all the hard lines of his firm chest and tight abs but there’s still enough room between his skin and fabric to easily slide my hands right up in there.Adler, seriously. You’re out of control. Stop drooling and form human words…now.

“I am surprised. I really thought you’d bail. It’s early.”

“That it is, but here I am. You ready?”

“Are you?”

Joel lets out a heavy sigh. “If this hike kicks my ass, are you going to be able to carry me back down? Like Kevin Costner inBodyguardstyle?”

I grab my camelback and brush against Joel as I slide out of my apartment. He tenses. “Sure. You’re only double my size so that seems feasible. You’re not going to be embarrassed of a woman carrying you down the mountain?”

“Not at all. I find strong woman incredibly sex—” He stops, lifts his glasses, and rubs the space between his eyes. “Sorry. Inappropriate,” he mumbles.

My back is to him so he can’t see me roll my eyes. But then again, I rolled them so hard maybe he felt the ground shake.‘I don’t date.’ Ugh! Why? I’m going to get answers before this day is over, I can promise you that.

“Hey, are you not going to lock your door?”

“Nope,” I call over my shoulder.

“Isn’t that incredibly careless and kind of dangerous?”

Yep. But that’s kind of today’s theme. “Come on, Joel, we’re burning daylight. The mountain waits for no one.”

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