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“Nah, it was a long day in the saddle, and I’ve got a job hunt to continue tomorrow, remember? Thanks for the cupcake, Merry. Don’t believe anything she says.”
“Good night, Walker,” they both sang as he left. He ate the whole cake in one bite as he closed the door on their laughter.
God. Charlie. He was never going to figure her out. But he damn sure wanted to try.
CHAPTER NINE
CHARLIE WOKE UP ready to run five miles. She hadn’t felt this good in months.
Her lecture to Walker last night had inspired her. She’d been trying to keep him from making the same mistakes she’d made in taking the job at the resort, but maybe she could take her own advice. She didn’t have to be miserable. She could go into work with a good attitude instead of feeling as if she were heading to an execution. It was a good job at a beautiful resort and she was no longer trapped in that studio apartment.
She was also damn proud of herself for not knocking on Walker’s door last night after Merry had left. She’d wanted to. Badly. She’d wanted to push her way in, shove him onto the bed and fuck him until they both passed out from exhaustion. But she hadn’t. This waiting game was fun. When they finally did it, she was going to go off like one of those glitter cannons at a pop concert, in a giant explosion of shiny fun.
Grinning in anticipation, she hopped out of bed to get dressed.
Unfortunately, her good intentions were met by rain. Not warm Nevada rain, but ice-cold, pouring Wyoming rain, so Charlie packed up a bag and headed for the resort to use a treadmill in the workout room. The pool and hot tub hadn’t been filled yet, but the workout room was fully outfitted with high-end equipment and ready to be used.
She forced herself to smile as she drove up the long driveway that led to the parking garage. She even winked at the camera as she let herself in. This was fine. She could do this. She wasn’t working in a meatpacking plant for minimum wage. She wasn’t scrubbing dirty floors for twelve hours a day knowing all her hard work would mean nothing if immigration agents raided the place. She was, for the most part, sitting at a desk in the warmth and comfort of her own office, and compensated with a decent salary and good benefits. And, of course, watched over by the careful eye of her employer.
Her smile wavered. She put it back on and marched to the workout room.
The first three miles of her run went well. Unlike in most hotels, the Meridian workout room was on the main floor, with a beautiful view of the valley beyond. A misty view, but much nicer than a blank wall, and the sight of the wet day stretching out in front of her let Charlie lose herself for minutes at a time. And the music in her ears let her think. Her mind drifted to plans for building up her team of employees. She’d been so worried about her own experience at the resort that she hadn’t spent enough time being a manager.
That would change this week. No matter what else was going on, she owed it to her employees to lead them.
When the music switched to a dark, sensual beat, Charlie’s mind drifted away from work. She found herself watching her body in the mirror, thinking of peeling off her clothes for Walker and watching his face. She’d been skinny and tall her whole life, which had made her feel awkward in high school, but she enjoyed it now. She enjoyed the sight of her strong legs, the muscles flexing beneath the skin with every stride. They’d flex like that for Walker, too, if she worked hard enough.
And if her breasts were barely a small rise under her running top, at least they led down to a slim rib cage and flat belly. She wasn’t curvy or soft or voluptuous, but that did
n’t mean she couldn’t be proud when she stood naked before a man and let him look his fill. If a man didn’t like it, he didn’t have any business getting her naked anyway.
But Walker liked it. She smiled at her reflection and stepped up her pace. He was going to like it even more very soon.
“Charlotte?”
She yelped, and a quick stutter-step of shock nearly sent her flying off the treadmill. She caught one of the handholds and jumped her feet to the sides and managed to save herself from an ugly fall.
“Sorry,” the man’s voice said from behind her while she scrambled to turn off the machine.
“Oh, my God.” She stole a quick look over her shoulder, saw Keith Taggert and collapsed against the controls to try to catch her panicked breath.
“I’m sorry, Charlotte. I thought you heard me come in.”
She yanked her earbuds out. “I didn’t hear you.”
“Thank God you didn’t fall off. That would’ve been a hell of a lawsuit.” He laughed uncomfortably. His deep voice should have made it a booming laugh, but he always seemed to swallow it, as if he weren’t allowed to have fun. He’d probably picked up that habit after his marriage to Dawn.
Charlie was suddenly aware of her running shorts and tight shirt. She hadn’t gotten weird vibes from him, despite Dawn’s obsession, but she’d never been half-naked and sweaty with him before.
Once she’d caught her breath, Charlie hopped off the treadmill and grabbed her water bottle. “What can I help you with?”
“Oh, right! There’s a society benefit tonight I’d like you to attend if you could.”
“A what?” Her brain immediately flashed to a nineteenth-century ball. Women danced by her eyeballs with feathers in their hair.
“A Night Under the Stars. It’s an annual event.”
“Oh, I’d have to be sure I can find something appropriate to wear. Is it—?”
