CHAPTER TWO

 I pull a pile of papers out of my desk drawer. I’m pretty sure Duke Stevens and I in a boss-employee relationship—hell, any relationship—will be like fire and ice, so I may as well start cleaning out my desk and begin looking for something else. It’s too bad. So far, I love working at the North Hollywood branch of ‘7 Days’. It’s quiet and calm managing the membership applications and processing payments. At the Vegas facility I had a little cubby hole in the back, but here I could gaze out the glass window of my office directly into the gym, where I could see a lot of hunky man candy working out—especially one Mr. Noah Mills. That is a sweet bonus—one of the perks of working at the North Hollywood branch. Of course I have a free gym membership too—not that I ever use it.

As I rifle through my papers, I realize one of them is the New Year’s resolutions I’d made at the beginning of the year. I’d forgotten about them already. I glance down at the paper and read silently to myself…I will lose 20 pounds and look awesome in a bikini this summer. I will learn to parallel park my car. I will learn how to speak basic Spanish. I will find a hot boyfriend. I will try to be more patient with my mother. I will…

“How’ve you been Allie?” a throaty voice says, coming up behind me. Startled, I try to cover the paper with my hand.

“Duke!” God, I’d been so absorbed in my thoughts I hadn’t heard him come in. “I’m, uh, good…um, real good. How are you?”

“Fantabulous! So, I guess you’ve heard that I am now the manager of this place?” He sweeps a beefy hand around the room. “Bet you were surprised to find out I’d be put in charge here.”

I nod. I sure was and it wasn’t the best surprise I’ve ever had.

“Pretty cool, huh—corporate offers me the job of manager here and this is the location you just transferred to. It seems like it was…meant to be.”

I grimace but say nothing.

“Do you realize, Allie,” he grins, “this means that I am now your boss?”

“I guess you are,” I admit dully, arching my brows.

“This means that you will run and get me coffee, massage my feet...basically you will do my bidding.”

Who the hell does he think he is? “Hello?” I say, holding up my hand, “I don’t think so. I’m leaving right now.”

“Allie, I was just kidding.”

I can’t tell if he actually thinks he deserves having his lunch brought to him and his feet rubbed or not, but I do know he is quite the arrogant asshole. I can’t wait to find another job!

“Well, I need to get back to work.” As I turn myself back to my computer, I accidently knock the paper with my resolutions written on it off my desk. As it slides to the floor, I start to reach for it—but it’s too late…

He glances at it as he picks it up off the ground. “So this is what you’re working on, huh?” He grins broadly as he starts reading aloud.

“I will lose 20 pounds and look awesome in a bikini this summer. I will learn to parallel park my car. I will learn how to speak basic Spanish. I will find a hot boyfriend. I will try to be more patient with my mother. I will…”

The paper rips as I stand up, whip it out of his hands and face him. I can feel my face reddening, but I steel my shoulders. This oaf will not humiliate me. I swallow hard.

“One must have goals, Duke. I hope you have goals. Do you even know what they are?” I meet his gaze head on. Duke has piercing emerald green eyes that are framed by his dark hair and lightly tanned skin. It’s hard not to stare at them. It’s too bad he’s such an asshole. I look away quickly.

“Well, what goals do you suggest?” Duke gives me a smug grin. “I know how to speak Spanish. I can parallel park. But I don’t think anyone wants to see me in a bikini...”

I discreetly scan Duke’s body. I can easily envision him in the smallest of small red bikini thongs. He has the body for it; even I have to admit that. His muscular physique looks like he just stepped off the cover of a body builder magazine—firm biceps, and a defined six-pack that tapers down to a toned waist. I could just guess how rock hard and huge his cock could get…damn. He’s definitely a hottie. But I knew from the date we’d had what a jerk he was.

“…and I sure as hell don’t want a hot boyfriend,” he adds, interrupting my train of thought, “but I’d like to be yours.”

“Go away, Duke,” I give him a little shove. What an ass.

He grabs my hands and holds them, looking into my eyes. I return his gaze. I will not let him intimidate me. As I look at him, I wonder how is life fair, when he has beautiful green peepers with lashes out to there, and I have plain old brown eyes and mere stubs for lashes. I feel a little shiver go up my spine as I look at him. Why is it that a guy you know is an ass can still give you a rush like this? I yank my hands away from his.

“Are you working out?” he asks.

“Am I working out? What kind of question is that?”

He gazes at me intently. “It says right here,” he taps part of the ripped paper in my hand, “that you want to lose weight. So…are you working out?”

“Ok, well, uh, no…”

“Why not?”

“Just busy, I guess…”

“You have to make time to work out.”

I grunt.

“Seriously, Allie, if you want to shed some pounds, why don’t you go running with me?”

Working so many hours at ‘7 Days,’ it was easy to fall into the routine of picking up take out, going home, and chilling on the couch while watching old movies or scantily clad people trying to survive naked on islands. I could hardly remember the last time I had taken a walk, let alone gone for a run.

“Why don’t you come running with me?” Duke persists.

“I don’t think so. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to get back to work.”

“Well, think about it,” he turned to go, “and hey, if you ask me, I don’t think you need to lose twenty pounds.”

“Well, that’s nice of you, Duke,” I respond, genuinely surprised. Maybe he wasn’t so bad after all.

“More like thirty,” he adds.

My mouth drops open and I glare at him. Ok, I know he’s right. Being honest, I actually need to lose more like forty pounds. But does he have to say it?

“Teasing, just teasing. You are gorgeous no matter what you weigh,” his eyes soften.

“Yeah, right,” I mutter. But there is something in the way he is looking at me. Does he actually mean that? Nah, this was Duke, he was just gearing up to throw another zinger at me.

“Running is great for your health,” he backs away from me. “Meet me out front for a run at six o’clock sharp.”

“Not that I would meet you if I could, but I can’t anyway,” I say coldly. “I’m working late.”

Duke puffs out his chest. “I’m your boss now, remember? You won’t get in trouble for meeting me for a run on company time. Fitness is a priority at ‘7 Days’. I want you to be healthy and feel good.”

“Well, I…” I guess it’s kind of nice that he wants me to feel good.

“You can come in early and make up the work tomorrow.”

I snort. Wow, the nerve of this guy.

“Meet me out front tonight—six o’clock sharp. Be there or be square.”

I shake my head as he leaves the room. I have no intention of meeting him tonight—none at all. I can’t quit this job soon enough!