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I gave him a small smile.It’s okay.

He sighed.Your boyfriend has me nervous.

He’s not my boyfriend.I really liked the sound of that though.

Leaving the large hall where the meetings were held, I went to the receptionist’s desk with Cheesy following behind me.

“Well, whether he’s your boyfriend or not, he sure made it known for me to back off.”

Stopping at the desk, I turned toward Cheesy and placed my hands on my hips. I waited for him to continue. The words were on the tip of my tongue like they usually were, but the more time passed where I didn’t say anything, the more I didn’t actually want to. Not until I met Cyrus.

Cheesy opened his mouth to respond, when his eyes flicked over my head.

I followed his gaze, finding a large black SUV pulling into the parking lot. My stomach tumbled.

When it parked, Sammy left the passenger side, lighting up a smoke as soon as his Shit-Kickers hit the ground. His head lifted, his eyes looking my way. I wasn’t sure if he could see me from where he was standing but it sure as hell felt like it.

I shifted from foot to foot, not liking the hatred rolling off the man I didn’t know.

“Don’t worry about him,” Cheesy mumbled. “He’s a good guy but he’s just angry at...well...life right now.”

I didn’t believe him, but I never questioned it. There was something deeper, something else going on with Cyrus’s brother. It wasn’t my business, but it still made me leery of the guy.

“I’m going to go say hi,” Cheesy said, backing up. “If I don’t come back, send a search party.”

I nodded.Good luck.

Pulling up a chair, I started typing away on the computer.

Setting up a few appointments for Jay, Brogan, Meeka, and Maxine, the ladies who owned the establishment, I was lost in my own little world when a dark shadow loomed over me.

My stomach started doing somersaults, my heart picking up speed.

Breathe, Ainsley. Breathe.I told myself that mantra over and over until the shadow disappeared.

“Hey.”

I looked to my left, finding Cyrus crouching beside me.

“You good?”

My eyes widened when I saw that his lip was split, a dark bruise sat under his right eye while a small bandage sat on his left cheek.

What happened?I reached out to touch him, wanting to make sure he was okay.

He grabbed my hand, running his thumb along the edge of it. “Don’t worry about it, baby.”

I pulled from his grip, brushing my fingers over his mouth before signing,How’s the other guy?

He chuckled. “Went to the hospital last night with a dislocated shoulder and a broken nose. I offered to pop them both back into place, but he refused. Apparently, I’m a big meanie.”

Was this a random fight or are you an actual fighter?

“None of the above, pet. I fight to take the edge off at the moment.”

Do you get paid for it?

“Yes, but I don’t keep the money,” he explained.