The Elite: The Complete Series of Boomer and Player (With Bonus) Read Online Free Page B

frustration when I found Hunter had pushed his water bowl off the shelf it sat on and had managed to splash water all over the kitchen floor.
    He ran up and licked my cheek as I knelt down to mop up the mess. “Get a puppy, she said. It’ll be fun!” I cast a sidelong glare at Hunter. “Right.”
    When the mess was cleared, I put him out on the patio to do his business on the artificial grass puppy pad, and went back to my bedroom to get dressed for the gym. I reluctantly let Hunter back inside before going down three flights to the condo maintained gym. I put myself through my usual routine, treadmill, free weights, and polished off with a few yoga poses. I was by no means a fitness model, but did what I could to keep myself in shape.
    “Hey, Holly.” I craned my neck at the sound of my name, and saw Greg, the guy who lived in the condo next to mine, smiling at me.
    I popped my earbuds out and returned his easy smile. “Morning, Greg.”
    “How’s your little pup?”
    I smiled, remembering that the last time I’d seen him in the hall, Hunter had tugged his leash right out of my hand as I’d been trying to open the front door. “He’s a handful. But he can also be very sweet, which is pretty much the only thing saving him right now.” Greg laughed. “Thanks for asking.”
    I resisted the urge to give him a once over. Greg wasn’t movie star hot, but he was tall, had a solid build, and an easy smile. He worked in software sales and drove a very fancy sports car. We’d been neighbors for a few months, and had exchanged casual greetings here and there as we met in the hallway or parking garage. He was always polite and friendly towards me. After I’d introduced him to Rachel, she’d insisted that he was “into me,” but I refused to believe it. Greg was nice to everyone.
    Truthfully, dating Greg—or anyone else—was so low on my list of priorities that I didn’t even spend much energy thinking about it. Rachel was far more interested in getting me back onto the market, but even she’d backed off her matchmaking attempts since I started my accounting business. Getting it off the ground and going through my first full year of acquiring clients, balancing the workload, and pulling off my first tax season as a solo CPA, with no support staff, had been my full focus, sixty plus hours a week for so long, I doubted I would have even taken a date with Brad Pitt.
    Not that he was asking.
    “Hey, I was thinking of heading out this afternoon to catch a movie. Any chance you’re free? We could get lunch or something before, if you’d like?”
    Greg’s question caught me off guard, and my mouth opened before I had an answer to spit out, so I stood there like a gaping fish for a good half a minute, before my brain power kicked back on. “Oh, um, Greg, thanks for asking. I’m actually headed out of town this afternoon.”
    Greg chuckled and glanced down at his watch like it was a nervous habit. “No problem. I figured you were busy.”
    Before I realized what I was doing, I reached out and set a hand on his arm. His blue eyes met with mine, alight with hope. “No, really, Greg. I’m heading up the coast to Holiday Cove. I have a rental there for a couple of weeks.”
    “Oh.” He nodded and his smile came back to life. “That sounds great. Do you need anyone to water your plants or get your mail? I’d be happy to help out.”
    “That’s sweet, but I got it under control.”
    “Right.” He nodded again. “Well, maybe when you get back then.”
    I sputtered again and pulled my hand away. “Right, well, maybe…we’ll see.” My eyes drifted over Greg’s shoulder to the large clock on the far wall of the gym. “Listen, I should go, but thanks again.”
    I turned and hustled out of the gym before further embarrassment could ensue.
    “God, that was weird,” I muttered to myself as I waited for the elevator to arrive. I glanced behind me to make sure Greg hadn’t followed me out. Rachel’s sing-song