Chapter 62

JORDAN.

I WAS RESTLESS.

I couldn't explain why; there were no new problems at work and so far everything had been smooth. I just get like this sometimes and when I did, I either buried myself in work, hit the gym or swam in the pool.

However, this time I figured work was part of the reason for my restlessness- I'd started to catch up with all my paperwork to avoid a scenario like the factory incident or at least prevent it from getting that bad- so I decided to head straight down to the gym.

I changed into shorts and a sleeveless shirt and grabbed a towel. As I hung it over my shoulders and walked out of my suit, I wondered where Melanie was. She'd been so focused on the project I gave her lately. Some nights when I passed her room her lights would still be on, sometimes she'd fall asleep in the study.

It was the first time I'd seen her attack something that wasn't a heist with such passion, and she was a marvel to watch. I checked the time as I passed a clock, 7.

If there was still no sign of her at 8:30, I would call.

With these thoughts in mind, I opened the door to the gym and proceeded down the stairs. It wasn't until I got to the bottom of them that I registered the sounds of splashing. I looked around for the source of the sound and spotted a figure in the pool, cutting through the water as gracefully as a shark's fin.

I should leave, I should leave right now. But I couldn't. I was captivated by the way the water got so still when she dived under, mesmerized by the way the water cascaded down her hair when she came back up. My feet were still planted when that body of hers bent and started a backstroke.

Iron determination took me. This was my house, my gym. I wouldn't be the one to leave it for her, she could if she felt uncomfortable. With that in mind, I walked further into the gym, dropped my towel and started doing some stretches, keeping my eyes on her the whole time. I started on the treadmill at my normal speed. Her head turned at the noise and she jolted when she saw me, the water rippling at the sudden motion.

She swam to the edge of the pool and used the iron bars to pull herself up. The water slid down her barely-there shorts and a bikini top that was little more than tiny strips of clothing.

“Hey. Sorry, I didn't know you were in here”, she said a little sheepishly. I fought to keep my eyes on her face instead of her chest.

“You’re welcome to use the place. I don't enjoy Lauren chewing me out”, I said with a shrug. She laughed a little, then seemed to realize she was standing there almost fully naked. She walked towards the towel rack and I noted the way the lighting caught on the tiny beads of water clinging to her skin.

“So” I began, trying to banish the image of me licking the drops off.

“How’s your project coming along?” I asked.

Her eyes lit up immediately and she smiled, brightening the room even more.

“It’s great. Today I went to supervise the cleaning and you'll be amazed to see how shiny the place is now. I also arranged for a cleaning crew to come in once a week”, she rambled.

I nodded in approval, “I can't wait to see the finished product.”

Her demeanor changed, she became unsure and started to wring the towel instead of drying off with it.

“Jordan, there's something I've been meaning to ask you. Some of the equipment in the factory is outdated. I checked and there are newer models on the market. The old ones could be hazardous to the workers, with all the smoke and the noise-”

“I’ll get the newer models”, I cut in.

She stared at me, “R... really?” she stuttered.

I resisted the urge to smile at her cuteness.

“Melanie, you don't need to prepare a freaking Powerpoint presentation to get me to do something for the factory. It brings in enough money for me, so why wouldn't I want more efficiency?” I said, raising an eyebrow.

“Well, when you put it like that…”, she trailed off.

I stopped the treadmill and stepped off, picking up the dumbbells next.

“In fact, I should be thanking you for pointing it out. I knew you'd be perfect for the job”, I said again.

I was surprising myself because I'd never been one to shower praise on workers. Sure they'd get a handshake and a bonus for a job exceptionally done, but that was it. What was wrong with me?

Her eyes went soft as she pulled on sweatpants and walked closer to me.

“I don't know how or why you thought so, but thank you for the opportunity. I've never felt like I could do something useful to help better the lives of people, but you showed me that I could. I won't forget that”, she said solemnly.

I stared into her eyes which looked more blue than gray today and for the first time, understanding passed between us. I felt like I had just fixed another piece of her puzzle. However, when we kept staring at each other for a moment too long the understanding passed and something else crackled in the air.

Her blue-gray storm traveled from my eyes to my biceps as I lifted the dumbbell.

“I’m going to need you to stop looking at me like that”, I don't know when my voice became the hoarse whisper it was. I also don't know which one of us had moved, but we were suddenly too close to each other. Dangerously close.

“Melanie”, this time my tone held a warning.

She still didn't answer, just lifted one hand and placed it on my arm.

The heat was instantaneous, traveling from my arm straight to my groin. Her eyes didn't leave mine as she stepped impossibly closer and squeezed. I held back a groan; one small touch and I was barely holding onto control.

It was no different from Rome, she'd just smoldered at me from across the room and I was a goner. We both jolted at the sound of the door at the top of the stairs opening and closing. By the time Blaine appeared in the room, we were a safe distance from each other.

“Blaine”, I wasn't expecting him.

“What are you doing here?” I asked.

He rolled his eyes, “Great to see you too buddy. I know you've missed me.”

I ignored his lame sarcasm. “You shouldn't be out of bed, let alone coming here. How did they let you out of the house?”

Blaine walked over to Melanie as he replied, “You’re worse than all three of them combined. They let me out because I had a good reason for wanting out”.

He looked down at Melanie with a soft smile, “A date with a gorgeous girl who, by some lucky twist of fate, happens to be my girlfriend.”

I couldn't explain the feeling that took hold of my insides and twisted, but I had a mad urge to say Melanie was never his to claim. I have never felt this way because of any girl Blaine had ever dated, she was twisting me up in ways I couldn't imagine. Ashamed of the thoughts running through my head, I watched them disappear through the doorway together.