DJ let out a snort.
Rosie rolled her eyes before turning back to the stove and taking the bacon out of the skillet, placing it on some paper towels. She served the eggs and bacon and put a plate in front of me and DJ before going back to the stove and placing the leftovers in the warming section, no doubt for Gabby.
“Thank you, baby,” I murmured, watching as she picked up her coffee and leaned forward on the countertop, taking a leisurely sip.
“Yeah, thanks, Mom,” DJ said, tucking into his eggs.
Her eyes softened on her boy, and then they swung to me and turned to liquid. “Eat up,” she ordered gently. “It’ll get cold.”
Picking up my fork, I shoveled a spoonful of eggs into my mouth, grinning at the sight of Rosie’s fantastic tits spilling onto the counter.
I began to think about the banter, the jokes, the smiles, and the easy conversation. And finally, Rosie walking around in a teeny tiny PJ set, with no bra in sight, whatso-fucking-ever, and that body...
I smiled as my inner voice whispered,A man could get used to this.
—————
As much asI wanted to stay around and enjoy the Rosie show, I ate my breakfast, told her to be ready for seven, then drove to the gym to check on things, shower, and change. What I really wanted was for us to shower together so I could lather up that hot little body of hers, but I told her I’d work for it, and I would.
My gym was my pride and joy. It had taken me and Callum months to refurbish the place, and we’d done a stand-up job.
Most gyms had the clean, white aesthetic going on, but mine wasn’t like that at all. The walls were painted a slate grey, which complemented the slick, modern equipment I’d had brought in. The huge windows, which took up the upper half of the walls, let in so much sunlight that it stopped the place from looking dull. My gym was dark, chrome, sleek, and sexy, and I got a thrill from it every time I walked through the doors.
I’d never owned much in my life. Never had a house or anything of any value. It was only recently that I’d even bought myself a truck. Military life was transient, so I never knew where I’d be from one year to the next. If I were honest, that was the attraction at the time. I wanted excitement, and a life that would challenge me, and it was how I’d been able to save a fuck ton of money and buy the gym outright, with just the help of a small business loan to cover the refurbishment.
The place did well; it wouldn’t make me a millionaire any time soon, but I wasn’t hurting for cash. Memberships and my personal training sideline brought in a nice chunk of change, and when I got the exercise classes going, the place would perform even better.
I’d even spoken to Tristan about making the place more female-centric. My gym was for people who were looking for serious places to train with the best equipment and experts to give advice and guide them. However, I was aware that particular environment could be intimidating for women, andI didn’t want to alienate anyone from my gym. Everybody was welcome.
I had an area on the other side of the locker rooms that Tristan suggested I convert into a solarium to use for spray tans and sunbeds. It was a good idea, but I’d decided to take things a step further and ask my buddy if he wanted to get involved in a project with me.
I made a pot of coffee and poured myself a cup, then climbed the stairs to my office to check my messages before I went down onto the floor.
As well as a desk, phone, computer, and filing cabinet, I had a couch in there that pulled out into a bed. There was a small kitchenette downstairs and, of course, the showers in the locker rooms, so I lived at my gym quite happily and comfortably.
Mam wanted me to stay with her, but that would only ever happen over my dead body; plus, I was a man of simple tastes and didn’t need much. When I was in the Army, I’d slept in the worst places imaginable, so in comparison, my office was luxurious.
I clicked my answering machine on and wandered over to the window to survey what was happening in the gym.
Adam, the assistant manager at the Shamrock, also worked for me as a personal trainer. He’d had an early session with a client that morning, so he’d opened for me alongside Mason, who was always here before the birds.
Additionally, I had two other trainers, Gael and his wife Emma who was also a PT and worked on a part-time basis. A lot of our members already knew their training routines inside out and didn’t need advice, so between the four of us, we had it covered.
Mason—or should I say, Karma—was at the weight pulley, working on his arms with Arrow, who was ass to the mat, drinking from a bottle of water, and resting. The treadmills werealmost full, which was good to see, and a couple of regulars were doing leg curls over the other side of the room.
The first couple of phone messages were from reps who were trying to sell new equipment. The next one was my buddy from the Army, Riley, who popped smoke the same time I did. I was taking a sip of coffee while also making a mental note to call him later, when the last message came through.
A woman’s voice said,Good evening. My name is Tia Brown. I’m a social worker calling from the Division of Children and Family Services in Scottsbluff, Nebraska. I’m looking for Mr. Callum O’Shea and was told you could help me contact him.
I lowered my coffee cup.
Huh?
Please call me back at your earliest convenience,the woman continued before reeling off a number.Thank you so much,she finished before the line went dead.
Frowning, I went to the desk, set my coffee down, and clicked to replay the message, thinking that maybe being so close to Rosie’s sweet ass had made my brain glitch.
Nope.
