“See?” Jeremy could hear the smile in Noah’s voice. “Who said you weren’t smart?”
“Love you, Noah.”
“Me too, Jer. See you Sunday.”
They hung up, and reenergized, Jeremy sent Blake a selfie and a text.Guess who’s missing you and your sexy body.
After ten minutes, when Blake didn’t return his text, Jeremy tossed the phone aside and concentrated on his business. He’d decided to take on some additional personal trainers and had to work on their schedules as well as figure out some new advertising. From a quick perusal of his income and expenses, he was holding even from the year before, but that wasn’t good enough for him. Jeremy wanted more. He buried himself in figures, stopping only to order a turkey sandwich when Benny DeMarco, one of his front-desk employees, came in to ask him if he wanted lunch.
“Jeremy?” Benny stood at the door. “Do you want me to bring in your food, or do you want to eat with us?”
Three solid hours of staring at numbers could make anyone crazy, and Jeremy looked forward to the distraction. “I’ll join you.” He stood and let out a groan. “Damn, I’m stiff.”
Benny gave him a hint of a smile. The kid was shy and serious, and Jeremy had a suspicion he had a crush on the flirty, gregarious Gino, his other front-desk guy. “How’s things going out here? You and Gino working well together?”
“Um, yeah.”
Jeremy grabbed his phone and closed the door to his office behind him. No answer from Blake. Jeremy shoved the cell into his pocket and vowed to concentrate on his job like Blake was concentrating on his.
“That’s it? Do you like working here? I know I’ve been preoccupied lately, but I want to make sure you’re happy. You’re still going to school…” Jeremy snapped his fingers. “Pharmacology, right?”
“Yeah. I didn’t think you’d remember.”
“Why? You work for me, which means you’re like a part of my extended family. I like to know everything about the people I bring into my life.”
“That’s nice to hear. And I do like it here. I like the people, and I’m thinking I should take advantage of the gym and start working out.”
They reached the front desk, where Gino was texting on his cell phone, something he warned them about, but Jeremy didn’t feel like being a bastard and calling Gino out. And Gino seemed to know what he was doing was wrong; the moment he saw Jeremy and Benny, he shoved the phone into his pocket.
“Hey, Jer, we got your sandwich right here.” Gino pointed to the wrapped package.
“Thanks.” He took the seat farthest away from Gino so Benny could sit next to the young man. Gino had the dark good looks and flirty smile that made him a favorite of both the men and women who came into the gym, which was why he was perfect as the greeter and the one to give tours to potential clients.
“And, uh, sorry about the texting. I was trying to find someone to go see the newestThormovie with me.”
Unwrapping his sandwich, Jeremy shot a glance at Benny, who sat crunching on a carrot. “What about Benny here?”
In response, Benny choked and began coughing. Jeremy slid a bottle of water in front of him. “Here, drink.”
The red-faced man grabbed the bottle and gulped down the water while Gino watched anxiously. After a few moments, Benny gave them a half-hearted smile. “I’m okay.”
“So what do you say, Ben? You want to go with me?”
In many ways Benny reminded Jeremy of Blake when they first met, and he hoped the guy would say yes and begin to come out of his shell.
“No one’s ever called me Ben before.”
Gino flashed him that toothpaste-white smile. “Good. Then I like being your first.” He picked up his sandwich.
From the deep red blush that crept up Benny’s neck, Jeremy suspected if Benny had his way, he’d like Gino to be his first in other ways.
“Uh, well, um, yeah. So if you’re sure, I’d like to go.”
“Great.” The word came out garbled around his chicken wrap.
Jeremy finished his sandwich, enjoying the bird’s-eye view of what he hoped would be the beginning of a relationship between the two men. Gino could use the quiet, steadying force of Benny, while Benny could stand to loosen up, and Gino would definitely be the one to help him on that path.
“Hey, Jeremy. Is that you?”
