“What’s so funny?” Chase asked.
“You couldn’t keep your eyes off your boss. Oh my God, are you crushing on him?”
“Okay, it’s not…” Chase trailed off, unsure of where he was going with that thought. He started over. “Have you seen him? Who wouldn’t have a crush on him?”
Hailey chuckled. “Um, I don’t.”
“Psh, that’s because you’re already happily married to your own dreamboat.”
A beaming smile took over Hailey’s face and her eyes lost focus. “Yeah, I really am.”
Chase sighed. Hailey was so lucky to have found love with her best friend, Avery, and Chase could only hope he’d have a love like hers one day.
Hailey recovered her focus. “I’ve never heard about him dating anyone. Do you think you have a chance with him?”
“Who knows?” he sighed. “I should ignore any temptation from him because I really want to keep the job at his gym. I think it could turn into something great.”
“I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you,” Hailey said. She went to say more but the front desk phone started blaring and Hailey answered it. “Cherrywood Boulders, how can I help you?”
She shot him a sympathetic smile and turned to the computer screen to help whoever was on the other line.
Chase needed to forget about how hot Tobias was and focus on the kids’ class. And making sure Madison had the best time ever. As if his job—maybe both of them—depended on it.
————————
Thirty minutes later, he was surrounded by hyper children, all of them itching to get on the wall behind him now that he’d made it through the lesson on safety and falling correctly.
He couldn’t blame them for their excitement. Kids loved climbing, and the gym’s climbing wall included a mini fort and a slide to get down from the top. Sometimes Chase played on it after hours when Bridget let him.
As the kids started climbing, his newest student hesitated, biting her lip like she was nervous.
He took a knee by her side so he could be closer to her height.
“Hey Madison, do you think you want to try climbing?” he said, trying to hold in his smile as the little girl sighed in exasperation.
“I want to try, but first I have to make a plan of attack,” she asserted.
“That’s smart. Most climbers figure out the path they want to take before they ever touch the wall.”
“Yeah, and if I want to do well, I have to do what the pros do.”
Chase wasn’t sure if he’d ever seen a kid take their first lesson so seriously, and it made him curious. He kept his gaze on the other kids climbing, making sure they were being safe and following the rules, as he continued talking to Madison.
“Do you want to be a pro climber one day?”
“I’m not sure, but Oby says that’s the best way to get good at somethin’. To listen to the experts.” She turned to Chase, her gaze narrowed. “Are you an expert?”
He couldn’t remember the last time a girl made him blush, but this six-year-old managed it.
“Well, I’m not a professional climber myself, but what I’m good at is teaching kids the basics, and that’s where you have to start. When you’re ready to climb onthe big walls, then we can get you listening to those experts.”
She nodded decisively, and Chase kept his face serious. “Okay, where do you think I should start?” she asked.
Letting his smile loose, he explained the path he’d take if he was her.
“Okay, I’ll give it a try,” she said as she stepped forward and began climbing, her little brown ponytail swinging with her movements.
He took a peek toward the wall where parents usually watched from and caught Tobias’ eyes on him, his gaze immediately snapping to Madison.
