“Like you’d ever do such a thing,” Garrett responded. He leaned closer and whispered so Tobias couldn’t hear. “Don’t let the boss scare ya. He’s a big teddy bear underneath.”
“If you say so.”
Chase had already gotten a glimpse of that softer side with Madison, and he was dying to see more.
Garrett walked away to stretch before the workout, and Chase made his way over to Tobias, his heartbeat accelerating with each step.
“Chase, welcome back. You ready for today’s core workout?”
“Born ready,” Chase said, internally rolling his eyes at himself. “Although I’m not sure if everyone else is. I guarantee I’ll make at least one person cry this morning.”
Tobias’ lip twitched. One of these days, he’d make this man smile. It was his self-assigned mission.
“Nah, they won’t cry,” Tobias said. “But they sure will whine.”
“Do you wanna bet?”
Another lip twitch. He’d fight for each one.
“What are the stakes, Townsend?”
Chase’s mind raced with everything he wanted from this man, but nothing he could think of was appropriate. He inwardly cheered when an idea hit him.
“If I win, you have to do an acroyoga seminar with me.”
Tobias’ brow furrowed. “What’s that?”
“It’s partner-based yoga mixed with a bit of acrobatics. I’ve always wanted to try it, but I’ve never had a partner who could keep up with me,” Chase explained, using the opportunity to check out Tobias. “I think I finally found one.”
If Chase wasn’t watching Tobias so closely, he might have missed the pulse of his jaw.
“And if I win?” Tobias asked warily.
“Then, you can have whatever you want.”
Chase watched the bob of his throat as he swallowed. Tobias cleared his throat and said, “If I win, you have to help me make a plan for starting kids’ classes here.”
Thoughts of what he really wanted Tobias to ask for flew out of his mind. This was even better. Or, at least, it was just as good.
“Kids’ classes, really? I would dothat for you anyway. You’re the boss, remember?”
In the gym, anyway. If he ever got this man near a bed, Chase would be in charge.
“Why don’t you think about something else you’d want while I run class this morning?” Chase asked, noticing how Tobias’ lips parted at his words. Chase wished he could read minds. He winked and then turned to the group ready to work out, leaving Tobias to think on his own.
Maybe he shouldn’t have been flirting so openly with his new boss, but he couldn’t help himself. Talking to Tobias was like interacting with a walking wet dream. How was he supposed to restrain himself?
He took one last glance at Tobias before starting the class and was delighted to catch Tobias’ eyes on his ass. It was hard for Chase to keep the smile off his face for the rest of class, and it was even harder not to laugh listening to all the whining.
Everyone’s competitive sides came out when Chase asked them to get into a V-sit pose and hold it for as long as possible. It was basically making a V with your body while balancing on your ass, arms stretched above your head and legs straight, but the whining continued amid the trash talk. Chase didn’t even offer anything to the winner, but bragging rights must have been enough.
“Oh my God, it burrrrns,” Josh cried.
“You can take it. Keep going,” Riley said.
“Geez, it sounds like a porno in here,” Cole shouted.
Garrett simply growled through the pain, while Carson, a quiet guy Chase hadn’t talked to much, was shaking from head to toe, his glasses sliding down his sweaty nose.
