His entire body is a work of art.
I’d just jogged up the stairs to grab a sweater, and of course Spanky was hot on my trail, thinking we were playing a game. Naturally when he saw Owen with that towel around his waist, he did what he always does.
It all happened so fast, I couldn’t even warn him. One second, I was standing at the top of the stairs feeling a chill, the next, my entire body flooded with heat as a six-foot-two naked Adonis was unveiled in front of me.
From his broad shoulders lined with muscles, to his rounded biceps, to the cut of his six-pack torso, to the two lines forming a V down to his fully erect penis.
An audible gulp came from my throat. I couldn’t tear my eyes away. Then he stopped my heart when he asked me if I liked it.
His tone was different than it has ever been. It was cocky and teasing, and it did crazy things to my insides. It mademe feel like I was on a roller coaster going over the first big hill.
Excitement raced from my stomach to my throat, but I couldn’t say,“Yes, sir!”Ivery muchliked what I saw…Owen Stone’s naked body is gorgeous.
Instead, all I could do was mutter a quick sorry and dash down the stairs again. I figured I’d use a quilt or one of Mav’s hoodies to get warm. Although, after that encounter, I was pretty sure I wouldn’t be cold again all week.
What had he been doing in the shower… and could I watch next time? My cheeks burned hot at the thought.
Now I’m in the Champions’ locker room with Haddy facing the entire team and going through the names for the fundraising calendar.
The guys are gearing up, getting ready for practice. Half of them seem amused by the idea; the other half aren’t really interested.
Gav and Mav have already headed out to the ice. They have their dates and dogs. It’s the rest of the “models” we have to coordinate, so we’re here, facing a gang of super tall, super-hot, super impatient men.
“As you know, management wants to do something fun to benefit the children’s hospital,” Haddy starts, confident as usual. “After careful consideration, looking at market performance, a calendar seems like the easiest way to do it.”
A rumble of affirmation is the only response.
“The theme is ‘Hockey Hunks and Hounds,’ and I have a list of names…” she continues. “We only have twelve spots, so as much as we’d like to use everyone, we just don’t have enough room.”
Haddy’s brow furrows as she reads off the selections, and it reminds me of my dad breaking the bad news to teenage boys at high school football camp. Clearly, it’s a gene,because none of them seem angry or offended at not being chosen.
The list includes several guys we know, who’ve been to the house for Halloween parties or Friendsgiving events, Donovan Price, Saxon Walsh, and Aiden Akers. The rest I’m meeting for the first time.
“My cousin Gina here is our animal coordinator. She has hounds picked out for each of you, but if you have a dog you’d like to use, please let us know. We prefer actual relationships to arranged pairs.”
With that, she steps to the side with the guys whose names we called to make notes of their pet-ownership status on her roster. I’m left facing the remaining calendar boys, which includes Owen Stone.
I purposely avoided him after our flashing moment in the hall. I wasn’t sure how my nerves would react to seeing him again after that naked encounter.
Today, he stands in front of me, fully clothed, with a grin on his face like we share a secret. “I guess you know I have my own hound.”
“Yes…” Clearing my throat, I nod, not making eye contact. “We can go ahead and schedule your photo shoot as soon as you’re ready. With the season starting so soon, we’re hoping to get all the photos taken before games begin.”
“Tell me the place and time, and I’ll be there, Cherry.”
“Cherry?” My nose wrinkles, and I squint up at him, this time making eye contact.
“You always smell like cherries.”
“Oh…” I exhale a laugh. “My mom’s favorite color is red, and cherries sort of became her thing. I guess it reminds me of her. My dad calls her that sometimes…”
My voice trails off at the implication.
“I like it.” His voice is low, and it’s clear things have shifted between us.
Whereas before, we gave each other space, not blurring the lines or being overly friendly, now he’s standing close, almost touching.
I’m not sure I like this new development. It makes my ears hot and my insides tingly.
