Fit for the Job (5 page)

Jay shrugged. “I don’t know. I have to see what the job entails.”

“Everyone in the family took the day off for it, you better be there.”

“I’ll do what I can, Anthony, don’t stress me out.”

“Yes, Anthony brings up a good point,” his mother said. “About someone busting your ass, crude as that was.”

Jay turned to her. “What the hell are you talking about?”

She gave him wide, innocent eyes. “How are you going to
date
if you’re training some brat all day, sleeping in that house every night?”

“No. We’re not having this conversation. And can you please get that smoke out of my face?”

Rolling her eyes, she moved over to the bedroom window, blowing smoke through the screen. “Aren’t you lonely, Jay? Don’t you want to meet someone special?”

Jay clenched his teeth. His mother had adored his last boyfriend, but Jay had been forced to break up with him when he became too jealous, clingy to the point of obsession. But Theresa Capello firmly believed that everyone should be paired up with
someone
, and that anyone who claimed to be fine on their own was simply in denial.

He set his case on the floor and fell back onto the bed, groaning. “I’ll meet someone when I’m ready.”

“What the hell does that mean?”

“It means, Mother, that I’m not going to date just for the sake of dating. I need that wow factor, and I’m not gonna go on a bunch of bad, awkward dates just to seek it out. When it’s meant to happen, it’ll happen.”

“Hold the phone. Who the hell is
that
?”

Jay sat up and frowned at his mother, who stared out the window, looking down. “What?” he asked. “Who?”

She glanced back at him, eyebrows raised. “There’s some sexy, surfer looking guy walking up to your door.”

“Huh?” He jumped off the bed and joined her at the window just as the doorbell rang. Down on the porch stood Bodie, the man he’d met at Eben’s during his interview. His pale brown hair was untied today, blowing around his chin in the breeze, tight white tee shirt showing off that fine physique, tanned arm curled around a notebook. He looked up as though he could sense eyes on him.

“Hi,” Jay called down through the open window. “I’ll be right down.”

Bodie offered a slight nod, then checked his watch, reminding Jay of Eben with his palpable impatience.

Jay’s mother raised her eyebrows at him expectantly.

“He works for Eben,” Jay said. “Eben said he’d be sending someone over with the contracts and stuff.”

She snickered. “That guy works for Eben Wright?”

Jay scowled as he moved away from the window. “Yeah. Why?”

She followed him and gave his shoulder a playful shove. “Wow factor. Right there on your front porch.”

“Shut up. He’s not a wow.”

She followed him out of the bedroom, Anthony trailing sluggishly behind. “Oh, he’s a wow,” she said.

“Don’t embarrass me, Mom. I’ve got to do business with him, so you guys should go. I’ll call you later.”

She grabbed his arm with her bony hand. “Don’t fret, my dear, we’ll go out the back door. Wouldn’t want your skid row family to embarrass you in front of your fancy new friends.”

“Oh come on, Mom, it’s not like—”

“
But
,” she interrupted, “I suggest you try not to embarrass
yourself
. You’re already blushing like a prom queen, Sonny Boy.”

She released his arm and strutted down the stairs and out the back door with Anthony, cigarette in hand, shoulders back in triumph. The problem with mothers was they knew you best of all, and the steely little witch was right—Jay
was
blushing, could feel the heat as he hurried toward the front door to let Eben Wright’s minion in. His palms were even sweating.

What the hell am I nervous for?
His jitters yesterday were understandable, he was interviewing for a job, with someone famous to boot. But this current reaction was grossly out of proportion to the situation. Nerves weren’t something that plagued him very often. He didn’t do nervous, he was confidence-guy. Hell, he inspired confidence in others for a living.

Stuffing the unease down deep, he opened the door.

“Hey, come on in.” He held the door open for the sexy, somewhat irritated looking guy on the porch. Bodie’s eyes gave Jay a quick once over as he passed into the house.

He glanced around Jay’s condo, then looked back at him. “Somewhere we can sit and go over the paperwork?” he asked, tapping a finger on the folder he held.

“Sure,” Jay said. “Come on into the dining room.”

They settled in at the table, Jay taking the seat directly across from Bodie. He studied the man’s face as he pulled a stack of papers out of the folder. Damn this guy was hot, even sexier with his hair down and slightly windblown. He looked up at Jay as he slid a stack of stapled papers over to him.

“Take your time looking through, then sign the last page,” he said. “And here...” He dug into his jeans pocket, then placed a key before Jay on the table. “Here’s the key to the guest house. And here...” He reached a tanned arm across the table and pointed to a set of numbers printed along the top right corner of the front page. “This is the code for the gate. It was open when you drove through it yesterday, but most of the time you’ll find it closed and locked. Punch that code into the keypad when you want to come and go.”

“Okay, thanks.” Jay glanced at the papers before him, then his gaze slid back up to Bodie, who leaned back in his chair, arms crossed in front of his chest. “Um...” Jay chuckled. “You just gonna sit there while I read through this?”

“Would you feel more comfortable if I waited outside?”

“No! No, of course not. Do you want a drink or something?”

Bodie shook his head.

“It’s a hot day. You sure you don’t want a drink?”

He nodded.

“You don’t talk much, do you?” Jay said.

Bodie gave him a closed-lipped smile. He stretched, reaching his muscular arms back, linking his fingers behind his neck. “I guess I don’t.”

Jay shrugged, and commenced reading the contract. It was difficult to concentrate with Bodie sitting there all yummy and smelling good, but he did his best. Most of it was basic confidentiality jargon, which he’d expected. Never reveal anything learned or overheard while under Eben’s employ, on the threat of lawsuit and other ominous consequences. There was a whole lot about cell phones and cameras and how Jay would submit to searches if necessary.

When he reached the last page, he found financial details, his salary listed at the bottom, which brightened his mood. And his willingness to sign. He looked around the table for a pen.

“Here you go,” Bodie said, handing a pen over to him.

“Thanks.” Their fingers brushed as Jay took the pen from him, sending a little shiver up his spine. Forcing his attention back to the page, he stared at the signature block. And hesitated.

“Something wrong?” Bodie asked.

Jay looked at him and frowned. “What’s she like? Sassy?”

A deep scowl formed between Bodie’s dark brows. “What do you mean?”

Jay huffed. “I mean I’ve been trying to pack all day and have no idea what to bring. I’ve got fitness equipment, rollerblades, shit I even packed a Frisbee. I know nothing about this girl. It just feels weird. Shouldn’t I at least meet her before signing off on the job?”

“There’s a full gym at the house, you should have everything you need. If you feel like you need something else you can always run home and get it later.”

“Yeah, I suppose.” Jay frowned at the contract again, tapping the pen on it repeatedly.

“What’s the problem?”

Jay met Bodie’s eyes, then put the pen down. “Don’t you think I should at least meet her, though?”

“You’ll meet her tomorrow, after you move in.”

“But shouldn’t I meet her before I start? It’s her I’ll be working with, after all.”

“But it’s Eben who hired you.”

Jay was starting to really dislike Bodie’s demeanor. His answers were short and clipped, tone impatient, like simply giving Jay the time of day was a burden on him. And he was being pushy, not really listening to what Jay had to say.

“Is there any way I can meet her today? Before I start tomorrow?”

“You mean before you sign the contract?” Bodie asked.

“Well...” Jay looked at the paperwork, and shrugged. “Yeah. I’d like to. If that’s not a problem.” Bodie stared at him, silent. “It’s not a problem, is it?”

The first hint of emotion Jay had seen passed across Bodie’s face. He looked conflicted, then annoyed. After a moment, a forced looking smile appeared, and he stood. “I’ll see what I can do, Jay. Can you excuse me for a minute?” he asked, pulling a phone out of his pocket.

“Oh, sure. Take your time.”

Bodie left the dining room. Jay had no idea where he was going, until he heard him muttering quietly by the front door. He couldn’t make out the words. Unable to help himself, he slid out of his chair and shuffled over to the wall, closer to the door where Bodie stood. He wasn’t one to eavesdrop, but there was something weird about this guy. He supposed it was part of the working for a movie star thing, but something in his gut told him Bodie was trying to hide something from him.

‘
Is Eben there or is he out? I know but I...just let her know so it isn’t a surprise.
’
Pause. ‘
Just let her know, Tate. Okay? She’s not gonna bite you. We’ll be there in about fifteen minutes. I know. I know! Just help me out. Okay
.’

Jay quickly shuffled into the kitchen, making a show of getting a glass of water. Bodie stepped into the kitchen as Jay turned from the sink.

“You okay riding over with me?” Bodie asked.

Jay nodded. “Sure.”

“Ready when you are.”

Jay grabbed his keys and phone and made his way back into the dining room, Bodie following behind.

“You want to bring the contract with you so you can sign it?” Bodie asked.

Jay paused. “Maybe I’ll just leave it here and sign it later. I can bring it with me tomorrow when I come. Is that all right?”

Again, irritation flashed in Bodie’s eyes, followed by a stiff smile. “Sure.”

Bodie drove a blue SUV, and as they made their way down the boulevard, Jay found his eyes wandering. To Bodie’s tattooed arm resting on the steering wheel. To Bodie’s denim clad legs. To Bodie’s handsome profile as he drove. Silent as ever. Jay suspected the guy was straight, and he had no intention whatsoever of trying to find out if he was wrong. But it did no harm to look. His attraction to the man was so strong that simply
looking
gave him pleasure.

But as fetching as Bodie was, Jay wasn’t used to being around someone who didn’t talk. He came from a family of talkers, loud and straight forward. And he’d always worked with chatty, boisterous people in the fitness industry. He hoped this job wouldn’t entail having to interact with Bodie too much. And he hoped young Sassy would be friendlier.

They made their way down the quiet road that turned at a curve toward Eben’s rental at the end, and Bodie parked and got out, punching in a code at the gate. The gate opened and he strode back and hopped in, driving through. Then he hopped out again and closed the gate, while Jay waited, staring up at the house. He could see the side of the guest house, shrouded in tall shrubs up on a slight hill behind the garage. It was a good size, like a large cottage.

The long driveway wound around the side of the house, and Bodie parked in front of an open bay in the four car garage. He shut off the engine and turned to Jay. “How ’bout I show you around the property first, then we can introduce you to Sassy on the way out.”

Jay nodded. “Sure, whatever, that’s fine.”

Bodie led him around the back of the house and Jay was stunned by the stretch of land that hadn’t been visible from the front, several acres it looked like, edged on all sides by a tall, gray fence. He strode along beside Bodie as the security guard showed him the tennis and basketball courts. Rose bushes graced the property here and there, along with two large brick barbeque grills, a small fish pond, and a gorgeous stone fountain trimmed with sculpted cherubs, their tiny arms poised to hold up the vast seashell that held the gushing pool of water. It was serene and peaceful on the property, the scent of blossoms filling the air. The birds seemed to find it suitable as well, as they chirped and swooped from shrub to tree, some of them coming to light on the fountain’s edge.

“This is beautiful,” Jay said.

He hadn’t expected to get a response, but Bodie sighed contentedly. “Yes. It is gorgeous. You want to see the gym?”

Jay smiled at him. “Absolutely.”

Bodie held his gaze for a moment, then turned and headed back toward the house.

They went in through a set of French doors at the rear, and when they stepped inside Jay immediately smelled chlorine, and heard the distinct clank of a weight machine being used somewhere down the hall. His body instantly relaxed, the simple sensory triggers comforting him, making him feel like he was back in his own element.

“This way,” Bodie said, and led him down an empty hallway with clean, industrial carpet.

The chlorine smell grew stronger as they passed a glass wall, a large swimming pool visible inside, still and empty.

“That’s the pool,” Bodie said.

Jay snickered. “Yeah. I guessed that. Thanks.”

Bodie turned to him with a blank stare, and Jay wondered if the man had had his sense of humor surgically removed.

“Gym’s this way,” he said, turning left down another short hallway. At the end, he opened a door, and stood back as he waved Jay inside.

Jay moved through the door and stopped dead for a moment. They hadn’t been kidding. It was a
full
gym, vast with a high ceiling. A row of treadmills lined the far wall, next to that a free weight station, and scattered throughout, every manner of fitness equipment one could desire.

Seated at one of the weight machines, a woman of about thirty-five with very short, white-blonde hair did shoulder presses, seemingly unaware of their presence. Her body was muscular under a jog bra and gray cotton shorts, thick but clearly devoid of body fat.

“Jesus,” Jay said softly, taking it all in. “This house is way bigger on the inside than it looks on the outside.”