Free Then Kiss Me by Jade C. Jamison

week.
    And the next day at work, the three lunch cooks were me, Scott, and lecherous Jim.  I really didn’t like working with that guy, but at least Scott ’s presence was like a buffer.  I was stuck on the fryer that day, Jim was support, and Scott was on the grill.  That was nice, because he was literally between Jim and me.  Better, though, I was able to sneak several glances at him.  I loved seeing half his swollen bicep peeking out from underneath the white sleeve of his t-shirt.  And I liked seeing the tips of more tattoos peeking out from underneath it.  And when it got hot in the kitchen—and, believe me, it always did—his skin glistened.  He hadn’t said much so far , but his green eyes were full of sparkle.  He was a mischievous shit, and I suspected he was just glad he hadn’t had to train anyone in a couple of months.
    This was the first time I’d worked with Scott since the party.   I was going to have to say something at some point to let him know I was impressed with his band…but I didn’t want Jim involved, so I’d wait till later.
    The rush still hadn’t consumed us yet.  Things were steady but not overbearing, so my mind and eyes weren’t completely focused on the job.  Jim said, “ Whatcha lookin ’ at, Casey?”
    His words pulled me out of my trance.  “Hmmm?”   Fuck .  I’d been staring at Scott’s bicep again.  Jesus.  I’d have to work on my subtlety.  Well, at least I hadn’t been drooling or biting my knuckles , right?   When I’d been married, I’d somehow managed to turn off the part of me that admired the beauty of men.  Out of respect for my husband, I’d been able to just turn off that switch.  Yep, I could still spot a hot guy a mile away, but I didn’t comment about it and didn’t think about it …and I certainly ha dn’t stare d .
    But I wasn’t married anymore, and I was beginning to appreciate the scenery again.
    Yeah…I definitely needed to work on keeping it in check, much like teenage boys master the art of not staring at a girl’s boobs.
    Still…I had to save myself right now.  I knew there were plenty of ways I could handle it, and playing dumb and out of it was going to be my defense.  I didn’t want to look guilty.  I mean…it’s not like I was staring at his ass , for God’s sake.  It was just his arm .  That doesn’t have to be sexual.  So, the question now was if I could pull it off.  First, I had to pull my eyes off, so I looked over at Jim.  “Hmmm?”   There.  Innocent.   Inside, I nodded, feeling pretty smug about now.
    But Jim knew.  I’m not kidding when I say the guy was a slimeball .  I suspect he knew what I was thinking in the “takes one to know one” vein.  He recognized th e look…I was lusting after Scott and Jim caught it.  “I asked what you were looking at.”
    Still…I wasn’t giving up my cover that easily.  I shrugged.  “Just staring off into space, I guess.”
    Scott became interested and stood back to watch our repartee.  He had five burgers and one small steak on the grill, none of which was in immediate danger of going up in smoke.  Jim said, “ Oh, is that what they’re calling it nowadays?”
    Inside, I was a seething pool of lava.  Man, I would love to tell this guy off.  But I didn’t want Scott thinking I was objectifying him.  Granted, I’m sure he wouldn’t have minded, but he wasn’t the kind of guy I just wanted to fuck and leave.  Yeah, I didn’t know him that well… yet …but there seemed to be so much to him, especially after discovering such a huge secret about him.  He’d managed to keep from me the fact that he was a drummer in a local heavy metal band for well over a month.  How many other surprises did he have in store for me?  I’d never find out if I didn’t try to get to know him.  So…continue to play dumb.  That was the plan.  That and a little bit of subterfuge to throw him off the scent.   So I raised my right eyebrow and