Page 2 of Mr. Green

I hope my timing is right today.

Chapter 2

Lana

Iwalk into the office at the gym, greeted by Scarlett laughing with her head tilted back towards the ceiling. Her long, dark hair is pulled into a ponytail and she’s dressed in her usual outfit of black slacks and the black gym polo. Her fiancé, Matt, is smirking, as he watches her. He’s standing next to her in a long sleeve button-down and tan slacks, ready to put his arm around her or stand in front of her if some sort of threat walks in. I’ve noticed he’s always observant.

Then the tall, broad figure in a navy suit with a diamond-patterned blue tie comes into view. Yup, the butterflies are fluttering in my stomach and my cheeks heat up. I’m sure they’re a bright pink color.

I stare at him, frozen in my tracks. The pull towards him is making it too hard to look away. Instead of the short hair he sported when we were younger, he has a man bun pulled back at the nape of his neck. It’s still a dirty blond color, which is the only familiar thing about his appearance. He used to be clean shaven, but now has a beard brushed down to a V, making him look like a Viking in a suit. It’s the strangest look I’ve ever seen. Most guys choose to be cool or choose to be nerdy. He makes his own rules, and I hate that it makes me even more attracted to him.

Damn. I should’ve stayed in bed longer.

He’shere.

Why the fuck is he here?

It makes my plan of avoidinghimall that more unattainable. Ryan and I always steered clear of people like him. One look at his suit and you can tell money is oozingout of his pores. These people don’t seem to work. They’re just on endless vacations to exotic places and lounge around with some sort of drink in their hands at all times. How are they getting these funds? Drugs? Stealing from hardworking people? Running a sex trade? Selling guns?

My hands start fidgeting on their own account—tucking a non-existent strand of my hair behind my ear, resting my hand on my hip, and then switching to the other side. I stand there biting my cheek, unsure of what to do. My heart has fallen into my stomach and is doing flips. Even though I don’t want to react to his presence, I can’t help it.

Since the housewarming party at Matt and Scarlett’s, it’s like I see the guy everywhere. Maybe not everywhere, but it seems like it. Him and Matt have a real estate business based in Texas—Reding and Green.They just expanded to Washington. Don’t they have work to do? Buildings to buy and shit?

I have to remind myself I don’t want anything to do with guys, especially some rich guy who may or may not be doing shady things. Ryan was always at work. He was the first one in and the last one out. He’d say, “You have to work hard to get anywhere in life,” and he did.

Sure, sometimes I’d cook and Ryan would get home too late, so dinner would be cold. Maybe he would choose work over doing something fun. He always made sure to have his reports done ahead of time, and I was okay with that. I understand working is important. The man in front of me, however, hasn’t gotten the memo.

Grant sees me first. “Good morning, Sunshine.” He has the biggest fucking smile. That gives me some leverage to dislike him. My fist twitches with the urge to punch it away. No one should be this cheerful unless they can fart rainbows.

I glare at him. “Mr. Green,” I respond in a flat tone.

Every time I see him, it’s the same greeting. “Good morning, Sunshine.”Sometimes I’ll get a good evening or good afternoon instead of morning, but basically the same thing.

What the fuck is this Sunshine business about?

Do I look cheerful? Do I have unicorns following me around? No. I’m wearing gray. The color of a rainy day, not a sunny one. I never smile at him. I barely laugh anymore these days. I was just thinking about punching him for having the nerve to be joyful. I’m not understanding the sunshine reference.

Scarlett is next. “Hey, La La! I saw Jason going to the locker room. He should be out to help you soon.”

“Okay, cool. Thanks Scar.” I wave goodbye, only making eye contact with Scarlett. I need to get out of here.

I turn towards the exit and even though I concentrate as much as I can on acting normal, I stumble over my own feet. It’s that thing when you know someone cute is watching you, so you try to act cool and blow it. My face heats from embarrassment as I look around hoping no one saw.

Grant Green makes eye contact with mine, smirking.

Fuck!

I practically run out of the room. Once I’m out of view from knowing eyes, I take a deep breath and lean my back against the wall right outside the office. I’m not sure where I should wait for Jason. I know I don’t want to stay inthere, especially after almost falling andhesaw. I hide my face in my hands, trying to get my bearings.

Grant’s voice makes me lift my head. “What’s the deal with your friend, Scarlett? I never see her smile anymore.”

My heart rate picks up. My eyes glance in his direction even though I can’t see anyone talking.He’s asking about me?

“Lana, you mean?” Scarlett asks. I can tell she’s doing that “I don’t know who you mean” face, while knowing exactly who he means.

“Yeah, she used to be full of life. Now she looks like she hates the world. It’s like I’m seeing a completely different person.”

“She went through a bad break-up and has sworn off men. You sure do pay attention to her a lot.”