Page 4 of The Hang Up
Balancing the cat on one hip, she pulled the door closed behind her. Jason dropped the towel, pulled the scrubs on, and glanced at the clock again. He wished he could stay here all day getting to know his gorgeous new neighbor with the killer curves and the Peeping-Tom cat and the fuck-me eyes that made him want to call her back to demonstrate just how unoffended he’d been by her apparent interest in his anatomy.
Truth be told, it turned him on.
Which she’d probably noticed, considering how long her gaze had been fixed there. Well, no matter.
He had more pressing things to think about right now than polished brunettes with lingering stares. Like the fact that he was running late for Henry’s appointment.
Or the fact that he was starting a brand-new job on Monday. Holy hell, he still couldn’t believe it. Jason Sanders, CEO of the second-largest sporting goods retailer in America.
Not that he was a complete neophyte when it came to running a recreation-focused business. The executive team at Urban Trax had seemed impressed with his experience operating his own outdoor adventure tour company for the past decade, and Jason certainly had the know-how to lead a large corporation like Urban Trax.
He’d just never held a job that required footwear besides hiking boots.
Jason pulled on the scrub top, relieved to discover it fit well. Miriam had sized him up perfectly. He grabbed the plastic bag that held his muddy clothes and shoes, then pulled open the bathroom door and walked into the living room.
Miriam was seated on the sofa, stroking a hand over her cat’s back while she flipped through a fashion magazine. She looked up as he walked in, and he felt a wave of heat rush through his body.
“The locksmith just called,” she said. “He’s five minutes out, so he should get to your place right about the time you do.”
“Perfect,” he said. “Thanks again for the shower. And the clothes. I’ll wash them and run them by later this week.”
“No need. Keep them. Consider them a housewarming gift or something.”
“That’s a switch from a tray of cookies.”
She laughed. “I’m not much of a cookie baker, so you’re better off with the scrubs.”
It was on the tip of his tongue to use that as an entrée, to ask her if she’d be willing to show him some of her favorite restaurants, maybe let him take her to dinner sometime.
You don’t have time for that,he reminded himself.You’ve got enough on your plate taking care of Henry and Ellie. Don’t get distracted.
Right. He cleared his throat. “Thanks again. Seriously, you really saved my butt here.”
“Don’t mention it. Happy to help. I hate being dirty.”
He bit his tongue again, pretty sure someone as prim and proper as Miriam would not appreciate a risqué retort. Then again, he’d seen how she’d looked at his junk.
“I’d better get going,” he said as he turned toward the door. “It was great meeting you.”
“You, too,” she agreed. “Good luck with everything.”
“Thanks. I appreciate it.”
“Maybe I’ll see you around the neighborhood.”
“Maybe so,” he agreed, pretty sure he’d never see her again.
Pity, that.
* * *
Miriam smoothedher hands down the front of her pencil skirt on Monday morning as she strode into the break room at First Impressions. Her best friend and co-owner, Holly, was already standing beside the coffeemaker with a dreamy look on her face.
“Let me guess,” Miriam said as she nudged her pal aside to get to the coffee. “That hot new husband of yours either gave you back-to-back orgasms or a sausage breakfast sandwich.”
“Both,” Holly admitted, then grinned wider as she scooted aside with a bright yellow coffee mug in on one hand.
“Either way, I guess you got the sausage.” Miriam grabbed a bright red coffee mug and began to fill it. “You ready for this meeting?”
