“How’s the training going?” I ask, remembering how he mentioned signing up for the Phoenix half-marathon to raise money for the hospital his sister works at.
He groans. “Honestly? It’s awful. I hate running.”
I laugh. “Then why did you sign up for it?”
He pushes off the doorframe and strolls in, casually settling on the edge of my desk. “Apparently, I’m a sucker for a good cause.”
“It can’t be that bad,” I say, stacking glue pots and sliding them back into the cupboard.
He grins. “Come running with me and see for yourself.”
“Absolutely not.” I laugh. “You’re on your own with that torture.”
He chuckles. “So, you’re not a fan either?”
I shake my head. “Nope. Gym girl all the way.”
“I should have stuck to the gym.”
“Too late now,” I tease.
“Gee, thanks,” he says, his voice tinged with humor.
I gather up the glitter tubs, somehow managing to get even more glitter over me, and store them in the cupboard with the glue. When I turn back to Ben, he’s grinning.
“I think you might have more glitter on you than the kids did,” he says.
“Good thing it’s nearly Christmas. I’ll fit right in if I’m leaving glitter everywhere I go.”
“I actually came in here to see if you wanted to get a drink before heading home. I’m not sure you can go out like that, though,” he says with a chuckle, his eyes sweeping over me again.
Nerves erupt in my stomach. He’s actually asking me out on the day I look like shit.
“I have a change of clothes,” I say. “I keep one here in case someone throws up on me.” His eyes widen in horror, and I laugh. “Oh, it’s happened! That’s why I’m prepared.”
“So, that’s a yes?” he asks softly.
I nod. “As long as you don’t mind a little glitter in my hair.”
He laughs. “I think I can handle it. I’ll let you finish up here. Just swing by my office when you’re done.”
“Will do. Won’t be long.”
He gives me a smile before heading out of my classroom.
A fresh wave of nerves rolls through me, and I quickly tidy up what’s left on the floor before I head to the storage cupboard tucked in the corner of my classroom. My spare outfit, a pair of capri pants and a silk cami, hangs inside. Not exactly date-night material, assuming that’s even what this is… but definitely a step up from my current glitter-covered look.
I slip inside and get changed, my mind working overtime at the thought of spending some more time together, just the two of us. Glancing in the full-length mirror on the back of the door, I smooth down the cream cami, trying to settle the fluttering nerves in my chest.
My heart’s racing, and I try to tell myself that it’s nothing. Just two colleagues, hanging out, only it doesn’t feel like that. It feels like something’s shifting between us, something that’s been slowly building since that cooking class. The way he always finds his way to my classroom at the end of the day, the way his eyes linger a second longer than they should, and the way his smile makes my stomach twist in the best kind of way… none of it feels like nothing. And that’s exactly what has my heart racing.
I leave my classroom and head to Ben’s office. His door’s open, and when I stick my head around the frame, he’s sitting behind his desk.
Since he stopped by my classroom, he’s ditched the jacket and tie, the top button of his shirt undone, revealing just a hint of skin. His focus is on something on his desk, and while he hasn’t spotted me yet, I take a moment to take him in.
He’s effortlessly gorgeous, with sandy-colored hair, striking blue eyes, and just the right amount of stubble along his strong jawline. He’s built, too, and my gaze drifts to his white dress shirt, the fabric pulling snugly across his broad chest. The sleeves are rolled up to his elbows, revealing tanned, toned forearms, and I swear my mouth goes dry just looking at him.
I’d guess he’s older than me, maybe ten years, so mid-thirties maybe, but you’d never know. He clearly takes care of himself, and he does it well.
