Page 16

Dustin

“H ow did you know we needed a new water heater?”

I turn, meeting Tina’s green eyes, bracing for the impact they always make—it’s like drowning in springtime. I’m surprised my curious little mouse waited until the last leg of the journey to the gym before asking the question. I smile. Did she get my innuendo about the cold showers?

“I don’t know if you know this, mouse, but you like to talk in the shower.” It took herculean strength not to join her and find out what else she liked to do in there. Her brows pinch in confusion, so I enlighten her. “When I brought your coffee and clothes—you’re welcome, by the way—I heard you loud and clear. I believe your exact words were, ‘I’d sell my soul for hot water like this at home.’” There are so many things Tina and I can’t seem to fix, but the water heater isn’t one of them. “One call to your grandpa and I had my answer.”

She clasps her hands in her lap and looks out the passenger window. I grip the steering wheel hard to keep from placing one of mine on top of hers.

We ride for a while in companionable silence. My mind wanders to the phone call I got from Lucius earlier. This weird sort of panic filled me when he told me he and I would be sharing a room at the hotel. All day I’d been thinking about getting Tina alone. Feeling her slipping through my fingers again, I bristled for a good five minutes.

“You need to do this for me, Chip.” Taken aback by his desperate tone, I agreed in the end.

I can see our destination in the distance now. My heart starts to race. Once we step out of this car our alone time will be over.

Before I can say anything, she beats me to the punch. “I’m looking forward to getting to know Rosa better, so thanks for switching rooms.”

I don’t bother correcting her on who did the swapping. What’s the point when she clearly doesn’t give two shits about it anyway? A part of me was hoping she’d argue and tell me she wanted to be with me instead. When will I learn?

The gym space is almost identical to the one back home. Three boxing rings sit in the center of the massive warehouse with the usual workout shit in the perimeter. The only difference is the climbing wall Rosaline is currently scaling. She looks like a natural while Lucius watches from the ground, every line of his body ready to spring into action if shit goes south.

My attention is drawn to the four dudes in the distance, laughing and looking like they’re generally getting along. Good. The last thing we need is a bunch of meatheads with puffed-up chests working in one of our gyms. Jack’s is first and foremost a family, a home away from home for most of the kids who come around. The first sign of tension between the staff and they’ll bolt. They get enough drama at home.

The moment the guys notice our presence all the chatter stops. From the way their gazes linger on Tina, I’d say I’m sharing the spotlight this time. And I’m okay with it as long as they keep their hands to themselves. I take a half step to the right, effectively blocking her.

One of the guys steps forward, arm extended. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.” He seems friendly enough. He’s the biggest of the four, eye level with me, and matching me in shoulder width. His blond hair is neatly trimmed, but not in an I-just-got-a-haircut-for-today kind of way. “I’ve been to a few of your fights. Impressive, man.”

Damn straight. Right away there’s something I don’t like about the dude. It could be kiss-asses don’t do it for me. Or maybe it’s the way he’s trying to get a better look at Tina while doing it. My thanks sound more like “fuck off” even to my ears, but it doesn’t faze the guy. His blue eyes remain fixed over my shoulder and I’m this close to adding some black into the mix.

Tina clears her throat, stepping out in the open. “I’ll leave you gentlemen to it and join Rosaline.” She grips my elbow briefly, but it’s enough to slow my racing heart and soothe the beast about ready to rip this guy’s head off.

The kiss-ass laughs. “Gentlemen? Have you been talking to my grandma?” He winks, laying it on thick, and I feel my right eye twitch with annoyance. What a douche . I glance at Tina, expecting her to be equally unimpressed, only to find her cheeks flushed and her green eyes bright. Her focus is on Fuckface as he continues his pathetic flirting. “She’s the only one who calls me a gentleman.” Like he did with me, he offers his hand to Tina. “Name’s Cliff.”

The dude’s about to get thrown over a cliff if he doesn’t let go of her hand in the next five seconds.

Tina’s shoulders lose their stiffness, and she giggles. Giggles! Come on, mouse. There’s no way you’re letting this guy and his pathetic flirting be the one to break your dry spell. Tina flips her hair behind her shoulder. Shit. I need to punch someone. I eye Fuckface, sizing him up, deciding a little hands-on job interview is in order.

With a nudge of my hand, I get Tina moving in Rosaline’s direction. She stumbles a little before giving me a dirty look over her shoulder. That’s more like it. I turn back to the guys so she doesn’t see me smile.

Unfortunately, even Fuckface checks all the boxes. I tell myself at least having him in Vegas is preferable to having him anywhere near Tina in Heaven. If things keep going this smoothly with work and the gym setup, we might be heading home sooner than we planned. I should be pleased. So why does the thought of calling it quits—going our separate ways again—open a hollow feeling in my stomach?

“That seemed to go well,” Tina says after the last of the guys leave.

“You seem enthusiastic for someone who hates fighting.”

She wrinkles her nose. “It’s not my favorite, no.”

“Maybe I can convince you otherwise.”

She looks at me with those cute little frown lines between her brows. I want to smooth them with my finger. Instead, I shove the bag with workout clothes inside at her chest.

She looks down at the bundle. “What’s this?”

“You, mouse, are about to get an up-close-and-personal workout with yours truly.”

“Wait. What?”

When she chases after me, I think, It’s about damn time.

An hour later, I’m questioning my thought process. The snug bike shorts and sports bra were supposed to make her uncomfortable, but the little red number accentuating her curves only makes it hard to concentrate on my strategy. Luckily, I managed to get through a quick defense lesson without touching her. Much.

“I’d say that was a failed plan if I ever saw one.”

I’m so startled, water shoots from my mouth. “New rule,” I say, wiping droplets off my chest. “You need to wear a bell. I’m sick of you sneaking up on me.”

Lucius shrugs. “Maybe you should be more aware.” He nods to where Tina is talking with Rosa. “In more than one area, it seems.” The former looks our way and smiles, clueless her tits and ass look edible in her new outfit. Why did I think it would be funny to buy her a top a size too small? Joke’s on me.

“Yeah, it wasn’t my best idea.”

Lucius shakes his head. “You’re an idiot.”

Not many people talk back to Lucius, but I’m not like many people. “Pot calling the kettle black much?”

His eyes turn fierce. “Come again?”

Laughing, I jump to the ring’s edge, bending through the ropes to escape his reach. Growing up, I spent every day roughhousing with my brothers. Our parents used to say they never bought nice things because the four of us would break them. Some of those things, scuffed and weathered, have sentimental value now. With everyone married and busy with their own lives, there hasn’t been a lot of time to beat each other’s asses. I miss it and I could use it right about now.

I egg Lucius on. “I’m just saying I’m not the only idiot around here. Besides, you started it.”

He takes the bait, following me into the ring. He’s stripping out of his shirt and kicking off his shoes as he prowls towards me. “I’m about to finish it too. Come here, kid.”