Like seriously, the guy looks like he could model for the covers of romance novels. Thick, light brown hair, deep blue eyes, and a jaw line that could cut glass. Max is easily more than a foot taller than me, and he is BUILT. No way he didn’t play hockey when he was younger, and I bet he still keeps up a wicked exercise routine now.
So. Fucking. Hot.
And so very very much out of my league! He’s probably married anyways. Even if he isn’t, I doubt he would be interested in someone who looks like me. But wouldn’t it be so freaking awesome if he was? It didn’t go unnoticed that he was trying to keep me comfortable during that unconventional interview and he didn’t even bat an eye when I overshared like a total idiot. So maybe there’s a chance he’s not just another asshole like Brad or, even worse, crazy dangerous like Chuck.
Not that I can ever do anything with Max. It didn’t exactly work out well for me last time. He is my boss. I am his employee.It will just have to stay that way. Not that it will stop my wandering mind from fantasizing about it. Just gotta keep it in my pants and we will be fine.
With nothing better to do now that I am awake, I hop in the shower and spend a long time getting myself ready. Never thought to ask if there was a dress code, but the rink was cold, so I opt for an oversized sweater with my nicest black leggings. By nice, I mean my least see-through, well-worn pair. Maybe I should do some clothes shopping with my first paycheque. I spent so much on clothes for the office that I don’t really have anything appropriate to wear to my new job.
I took a long time getting ready, so surely it should almost be time to head out. I glance down at my phone. 6:37 A.M.
Okay, perhaps not.
There is also another text from Brad. Just a “?” sent after I went to bed last night. Just going to swipe that away and deal with it later. Probably never.
I can’t believe how much time I wasted wondering why he wasn’t texting me back. I had been so desperate to get to the bottom of what was happening but now that there’s some time and distance between us, I have absolutely no desire to speak to him. I really hope that Kara did spread that information around the office and Brad’s suffering for it. Still doubt he would get fired, but he was all about his reputation and this would ruin it.
Shit, maybe that’s the real reason he kept us a secret and out of the office. He thought I was too embarrassing to be seen with.
Shaking that depressing though out of my head, I make myself a coffee and wander around the house while I sip it. My mother has changed basically nothing since I last lived here so when I spot the new bookshelf in the corner of her office, it sticks out like a sore thumb.
I wander over to it and start looking at the titles. I didn’t even know that my mom was much of a reader. Must be a hobby she picked up in retirement. Setting my coffee cup down on one of the shelves, I choose a book and open it to a random page in the middle.
Pablo removed Carmens bra, eyes darkening with desire as he gazed upon her heaving bosom.
Oh my god my mom reads spicy books. Eww.
I mean … good for her, I guess. I love reading smut too, but this is one hobby I will not be sharing with my mother. I’m happy with our, at worst, PG-13 conversations. And don’t even get me started on my dad.
I take another quick glance over the titles and realize the whole shelf is basically just the best kind of romance novels. I’ve read some of these already, but there are a lot I haven’t. I decide to start Pablo and Carmen’s story from the beginning, and that eats up the last bit of time before I have to go. Which is unfortunate because it was just starting to get good.
Tucking the book away in my purse to read on my lunch break or something, I make the quick drive over to the skating rink where Max is already waiting at the door for me. Has he somehow gotten more attractive since I saw him yesterday? He’s wearing dark blue jeans with a black, long-sleeved shirt. His light brown hair is tousled playfully, and he smiles warmly at me before unlocking the door to let me in. I step through the door and he shuts it behind me before turning to face me.
“Good morning, Charlie. Excited for your first day?”
I offer him a small smile, “You bet, Mr. Jones.” I had decided to call him by his last name after the dream last night. Better to keep things formal and professional. And maybe a little awkward but I wouldn’t be me if I didn’t make it weird.
Max grimaces at me dramatically. He’s still handsome, even with that ridiculous frown on his face. How is that fair? “Nope. We’re not doing that.”
“Doing what?”
“Mr. Jones is my father. I know I’m your boss, but please just call me Max.” He smiles at me, and it does something funny to my stomach.
“Is Max short for something?”
He cocks his head at me and smirks, clearly debating whether or not to tell me. “It’s short for Maximus, but don’t call me thateither.” He laughs.
I laugh too. “Okay fine Mr. Maximus Jones, just Max it is.”
He doesn’t say anything about my teasing but smiles at me again before leading me over to the rentals desk. Max gives me a rundown of everything that I will be responsible for, and I gotta say, this job is going to be really freaking boring. All I have to do is wait for someone to show up and ask for skates. I go find them their size, bring them out, and the cost is exactly the same for everyone. Max also tells me that I’ll be working Monday to Friday, but most of the people coming in during the week are here for lessons and will likely have their own skates.
“So, you may want to bring in a book or something. I don’t mind if you read on the job as long as the checklists get done at the beginning and end of the day.” Max says, shrugging his shoulders at me. The checklists were basic things like making sure there wasn’t any trash left on the floor and shutting the lights off before leaving the building.
“That’s kinda funny. I actually brought a book with me today.” I start to pull it out of my bag before I remember there is a half naked dude on the cover and shove it back in quickly. Why did I think bringing this book here was a good idea? I’ll need to invest in some fabric covers or something.
Max smirks at me, but there is no way he saw what was on the cover. I might die of embarrassment if he did. “I’ll make a different deal with you. You can read as much as you want on the job, but you have to tell me what the book is about when you are done.”
My eyes widen in horror for a moment before I respond, “Okay. Deal.” I shake his hand, which feels weirdly formal after the whole “just Max” stuff. I’ll have to figure out how to skip over the raunchy bits when I do tell him. Or maybe if I’m lucky he’ll just forget to ask.
