She barely kept her jaw from dropping. This interloper had Steven Gherring’s personal cell number?
“I tried to tell you.” Gary shook his head.
Her face radiated heat. But for the recent spider web, she might’ve crawled under her desk to hide. Instead, she aimed a glare at her boss. “You made an appointment with this man and didn’t bother to tell me?”
“An oversight on my part, Ms. Carson. It won’t happen again.”
His lips curved into the trademark, billion-dollar smile that left most women swooning. Katie, however, was impervious to his charms. Not because he was thirteen years older—he certainly didn’t look it—but because she’d sworn off men two years ago. All men. Including handsome billionaires, like her boss.
And hunky spider-killers who’re too smug for their own good.
“It was nice to meet you, Ms. Carson,” said Gary, apparently unaware of the poison darts her eyes sent his way. “I hope you don’t encounter any more giant arachnids.”
“Thank you for disposing of that one,” she mumbled, more irritated than grateful.
He followed Steven inside the door, but turned to his head to toss over his shoulder, “Just thought you might want to know, I noticed a bunch of empty spider eggs in that web.”
The door clicked closed behind him, but the sound was drowned out by the bass drum her heart pounded in her ear.
2
“How’d you like the new gym equipment?” asked Steven, as he settled into a club chair near the window.
“Hmmm?” Gary was still smiling over his encounter with Steven’s personal assistant. He could’ve stared into those huge hazel eyes forever. Gray-green, with flecks of gold and blue, the color seemed to change as often as her fluxing emotions. Those hypnotizing orbs were set off by sun-kissed blond hair he was itching to run his fingers through.
He had a feeling he’d been privileged to meet her during a rare instant when her control had slipped, because he saw her mask click back in place a moment later. How fun it had been to watch her lose it again when he threw in that wild story about the spider eggs.
“The rotating wall climber. What did you think?”
“You were right—I like it.” As a personal trainer, Gary often visited his clients’ gyms to help them evaluate their training options. But Steven Gherring was by far his wealthiest client, owning three gyms in his downtown skyscraper, his apartment building, and his penthouse apartment. “It gives you a great overall and cardio-climbing-workout. The holds are all easy. But they’d have to be, or you’d fall off the thing.”
“It puts some variety into the workout. Of course, it doesn’t substitute for a real wall-climbing session.”
“That’s one reason I think our climbing gym will be successful, if we ever get it going.” Gary gazed out the large glass wall at New York’s cityscape. “It’s been so long since I’ve been in your office, I forgot how amazing this view is. I don’t usually make it past the gym.”
Steven stared out the window. “I don’t have time to enjoy it. Too much work to do.”
“I think you’re working too much.” Gary sat down in the soft leather chair opposite Steven’s. “Your stats are down the last two weeks.”
“I just need to find more time to train in the gym, but lately I’ve been dreading it.” Steven’s hand rubbed at the furrows in his brow. “I’m forty-nine now. If I’m going to win the Iron Man competition, I need to do it soon.”
“What are you talking about? You won last year.”
“My age division, yes. But, I want to win the overall.”
“Steven, you’re one of my fittest clients, but don’t you think—”
“One of?” Steven interrupted, a fierce crease between his drawn brows.
Gary crossed his arms, giving his friend his best tough-coaching look. “You know, it’s possible to be too competitive. I think you’re pushing yourself so hard, mentally and physically, that your body is pushing back.”
“I don’t believe that.” Scowling, Steven sat forward, massaging his temples with both hands.
“Are your headaches back?”
His telltale hands dropped to his lap, and he sank back in his chair. “I’m probably dehydrated.”
“No, you aren’t getting enough rest and relaxation. You’re driven at everything you do. It’ll be great for you to get out of the gym, out of the city, and go someplace where you can exercise outdoors.”