by Dixon,Jules
Emerson’s head spun like something from The Exorcist, her eyes glared, and her jaw hardened. She rotated back to Jude. “Her? You’re fucking interested in her? You have to be kidding! You want a fatty slab of porterhouse when you can have a fine filet mignon every night?”
My eyes popped open. I’d heard enough. Being compared to a cut of beef was beyond what I ever imagined could come out of Emerson’s hateful mouth.
Rahl walked in the front door and waved his oil-covered hands. “I’m gonna go wash up.”
I smiled lightly and nodded. He cocked his head at me in question of what was happening but after I waved him on he walked down the hallway to the restrooms. I didn’t want to get him involved in what I needed to handle myself.
I stood and grabbed my purse. “Emerson Welch, grow up and get over yourself! Your opinion of me means less than you seem to think. Actually, I think you’re all talk.” I stepped closer and she backed up a step. “That’s what I thought.” I turned to Jude. “I’m not feeling well. Please give Rahl my apologies.” I threw my bag over my shoulder and hightailed my way out the door.
“Presley, wait!”
I kept walking. Jude caught up to me as I got to my car.
“Presley, just one more minute of your time. Please.”
I backed against my car door. “What, Jude? I’m tired of listening to your excuses and reasons. So make it quick.” My purse fell off my shoulder as if it were just as frustrated as I was.
“I was a fucking idiot! There, I said it and I mean it. When it comes to last Saturday and telling you I should only be your personal trainer, I thought I was wrong in pursuing you because of a three-hour sexual harassment seminar at Triple R. I was totally off base because I knew there was something between us from that very first day.” His posture was straight but his shoulders slumped. He rubbed the back of his neck.
He continued, “For some reason, I’m failing miserably at doing and saying the right thing, but I want to keep going because I know you’re worth it. Normally relationship stuff comes easy to me. But nothing about this is easy. It feels kick-me-in-the-nuts and heart-twisting and I actually think that’s a good thing. It means something when it feels this way. Presley, I didn’t mean to hurt you. I promise you that.” His eyes lifted. “Just one more chance, please.”
“You are a fucking idiot,” I mumbled quietly back.
I’d never said that to anyone and part of me didn’t like calling him that. He wasn’t an idiot. He was … Jude. Handsome. Honest. And he wanted me. I just said it so he knew I’d been listening.
Jude chuckled. “Right.”
I sighed. “I’ll think about giving you a chance, tomorrow.” I gazed into his eyes and they seemed to relay the right words. “All right last chance. Good night, Ponytail.”
His lips broadened into a big smile. “Okay, I’ll see you after drawing class tomorrow. Good night, Presley.” He opened my car door and I got in.
Tomorrow… I will see him … all of him … again. Crap.
Chapter Twelve
Jude
Emerson met me in the vestibule between the wine store and the restaurant.
“At least you stayed where I told you to.”
“I can’t believe you’re interested in her, Jude! Don’t you know what she used to look like?”
“Stop! Presley was right. You seriously need to grow up. I’m done with you and I don’t give a flying fuck if you ever give me another referral. I can find another gym to work at, and no, I’m not giving you a ride home. Figure it out yourself.”
She huffed and stomped her feet as I walked away.
“Rahl?” I walked to the booth and pulled out my wallet to lay money on the table. “Presley wasn’t feeling well. She went home. She asked me to apologize on her behalf.”
“I thought she was in the bathroom,” he said. “I’m sorry to hear that.”
His eyes told me he didn’t believe for one second that was why she left. I’d have to come clean with him soon if Presley and I worked things out, but for now I’d just leave it. No need to give him more ammunition to be an ogre to me. Plus, tonight I’d seen another side of him and maybe there was a chance he and I could be friends. Maybe.
I finished my beer. “I’m going to head out, too. My coworker is staying. In case you’re interested, I’m going to let you know that she’s a complete monster and any guy who thinks the outside of that package is representative of anything on the inside is in for a rude awakening. She is possibly the most disrespectful and miserable person I’ve ever met.”
“I’m surprised you didn’t get that Friday. I could smell her foul stench a mile away. She ever talks about Presley or anyone else like that in front of me again, and—”
“Agreed.” I held up a hand to stop him from finishing his threat. Or his promise. I assumed he was the second type of guy. “I’ll bring a shovel and you can carry the body, Rahl.”
He stood and clapped my shoulder. “Deal.”
He really isn’t an ogre. Huh, wonder if Sage meant him?
“Good night, Rahl. Have a good weekend off.”
“If you need someone to fill in for you, call me, please. I could use the extra money.”
“Will do.” We shook hands.
“Later, Jude.”
Outside, Emerson leaned against the passenger door of my truck.
“Just a ride home. I won’t ever ask you for anything else.” She flipped her blonde hair over her shoulder.
Since I wasn’t an asshole, I’d do it. I told her I would get her here and home and I kept my promises.
“Fine, but not a word on the way there.”
She pretended to zip her mouth shut. If only that could happen for real.
I drove her to her apartment in silence. She slammed the truck door. I accidentally honked the horn when she was right in front of the truck. Letting out a small shriek, she glared at me while I backed out of the parking spot.
I’m a nice guy, Emerson, not a pussy.
****
The next morning, my day off, I made it to the gym. I was halfway through my routine when I caught Emerson talking to Blake, and she was flailing a fake fingernail in my direction. She brought a manila envelope from behind her back, pulling out the piece of paper, and Blake’s eyes met mine in the mirror. I dropped the weights onto the rack and made my way to where they were standing.
Blake watched me do a set. “Jude, can I talk to you in my office, please?”
“Yes.” I followed him, ignoring Emerson’s childish glare while passing by.
Closing the door behind us, Blake rounded his desk and threw the manila envelope onto it.
Presley’s drawing.
“Want to explain that to me?” He pointed with his eyes.
I wiped my face with a towel. “What did Emerson tell you?”
“She thinks Presley is sexually harassing you.” His voice lifted like it was a ridiculous thing to say.
I laughed at the absurdity of that statement, then collected myself. “You want to know the truth or am I going to be fired no matter what I say?”
“I want to know the truth.”
It wasn’t lost on me that he didn’t confirm I wouldn’t be fired, but I didn’t give a shit anymore. I could find another job. I was the best at what I did and by now Blake knew that. Presley was what mattered.
“I agreed to be a nude model for a friend’s private art class.” I stood my ground as Blake crossed his arms. “By fluke, Presley is a student in the class. I saw her drawing, really liked it, and told her I’d love to have a copy. She dropped the envelope off at the desk on Friday after her session. Emerson kept the envelope and is using the drawing as blackmail against me because I won’t have a relationship with her.”
Blake’s eyes narrowed at me while we stood in a male showdown. “I need you to be honest with me, Jude, and I think I already know the answer to this question, so no bullshit. Do you want to have a personal relationship with Presley outside of training?”
Blake sat and rocked back in his chair. “Please, have a seat.” He turned his attention to his computer and worked the screen silently for several minutes.
“Have you engaged in any sexual contact with Presley?” he asked.
“No.”
He raised an eyebrow and typed something into the computer.
I have dreamed and fantasized about doing anything and everything with and to her, but no … not yet.
“Have you engaged in any sexual behavior with Emerson?”
“Fuck no!”
Blake laughed at my response and typed additional information into the computer. He straightened in his chair and leaned forward. “Okay, now that we’re both on the same page. Jude Saylor, are you ready to be the man that Presley Bradenhurst deserves?”
My heart beat faster. “Absolutely.”
The word didn’t even come close to the honest truth. For a woman I only met ten days ago, she’d made her way into my head and heart, and if I couldn’t help her to see I was the right guy for her to take a chance on, I would compare every woman to her from here on out. None would compare.
Blake leaned back in his chair, his jaw tightened. “Here’s the deal. I was ready to fire Emerson before this happened. She claimed Mitch sexually harassed her. I knew she was lying but she kept screaming ‘lawsuit’ and I let him go instead of her. That explains the excruciatingly long and boring seminar on Saturday.”
“The seminar that had me nervous to pursue Presley?”
He shook his head. “That was unfortunate timing. Sorry. Anyway, I’d like Mitch and the clients he took with him back and to mend fences with him and those gym members. He’s a great trainer.” Blake leaned forward. “Maybe as good as you.”
“Thanks.”
“At this point I don’t give a fuck about Emerson. She’s toxic. It’s a lesson in hiring family that I won’t forget. She’s my sister’s daughter. I thought maybe she would mellow out over time but she hasn’t. Should’ve known, my sister is a nutcase, too. Emie will be gone before the top of the next hour.”
He went back to typing into his computer. In a few minutes, he raised his head again. “I’m moving Presley to Kai. Do you know what that means?”
“I’m hoping I’m not going to be gone with Emerson.”
Blake’s demeanor relaxed. “No, Jude, you are staying. Presley’s moving trainers because you can’t date someone you’re training. It’s unethical and you’re not that guy. And I fully expect to hear that Presley and you are going on a date by the end of the week. Do I make myself clear?”
I nodded, smiling. “Yes, sir. Can I tell Presley about the changes tonight at drawing class?”
“Yes, but make sure she knows she did nothing wrong when it comes to Emerson being let go or to her being moved to Kai for training.”
“I guarantee I’ll be crystal clear with the information. You want to keep the drawing or can I take it?”
“By all means. Presley is quite talented.” He smirked. “That’s all for now. Good luck, Jude.”
“Thanks, Blake.” I stood, grabbed the envelope, and opened the door.
“And Jude?”
I turned to face Blake.
“Hurt her and I reserve the right to act as her big brother, kick your ass, and fire you on the spot.”
“Understood, sir. I’ll do everything I can to keep any of that from happening.”
I left the gym without saying another word to anyone. I didn’t want Emerson asking me any questions or pissing me off more than she already had. I spent the rest of the day hanging with Zane and explaining the Presley situation.
“Wow, brother, you are an idiot,” Zane repeated the sentiment I was starting to accept.
“Will people stop saying that?” I mumbled semi-bitterly as Ninja jumped on the couch to see me. He’d been floor-friendly after he did an impressive gymnastics move off the top of my dresser last weekend.
Zane contorted his lips into a kind of smirk-scowl. “Yeah, when you stop being one.”
“I’ve heard that, too.”
He grinned. “Are you ready for tonight?”
“I’m packed. I’m hoping to talk to Presley before class starts.”
“Um, bro … maybe it’s not a good…” Zane made a weird face, then waved off whatever he was thinking. “Never mind. Good luck. I hope you get the girl. Now, can I talk to you about something else?”
“Sure.”
While his leg bounced with nervous energy, Zane told me that he was going to enter into a committed polyamorous relationship with both Yori and Britney. He was in love with both of them, they wanted him to move in, and he wanted that, too. This meant I would be living alone. Zane encouraged me to get a roommate but I told him I was too old to put up with another guy’s shit. I could barely stand his. Plus, he would need some place to crash when he was exhausted from all the polyamoring he was going to do.
He laughed but became serious. “Really, Jude, thanks for being cool with this. I’m shit-scared to tell Mom and Dad, but I was nervous to tell you. I value your opinion. You’ve never judged me in the past. I figured you wouldn’t start now, but still, it’s not exactly conventional.”
“I think it’s kind of cool.” I stared at my baby brother and wondered how he’d grown up so fast. “It’s hard enough to love one woman and let her love you in return. That you have enough love to share with two women and keep them both happy, you’re probably more of a man than anyone I know. I guess my biggest question is—are you happy, Zane?” I watched for any signs that his answer might not be the case.
“Happier than the last eight years of mind-numbing dating. Now I have two wonderful and gorgeous women, and I couldn’t imagine life without both of them.”
“Then why would you care what anyone thinks? I like Yori, I like Britney, they seem to really like you, too, or at least what I hear through the walls indicates they do. On that subject, I definitely won’t miss hearing their exaltations of your abilities. At all.” I deadpanned the comment.
Zane laughed. “I bet. I’m going to start the move tomorrow.”
“Sorry I can’t help. I have to work. Maybe Saturday, but I bartend this weekend at four p.m., which sucks. Hoping to get a date in with Presley, if she’ll forgive me.”
“She will. Plus, as Mom always says, ‘The best things in life are worth a wait.’ No problem on the move. I asked a couple of friends from work to help and I think Britney can carry more than most women. She’s very … solid.”
It was my turn to chuckle. “And hey, don’t worry about Mom and Dad. They’ll come around. Dad will probably buy you a cigar for your impressive catch … es. And Mom, well, she’ll probably come around to seeing Yori and Britney as the daughters she never had, and that, my brother, might be far worse than her disliking them.”
Zane and I laughed at that truth.
I stood. “All right, it’s go time.”
“Good luck and go get ‘er, pumpkin!” With the creepy pep talk, Zane followed me out to go to the girls’ side.
“Fuck off!” I blew out a huge breath of nerves as I walked to my truck. “But thanks.”
And said a small prayer to the relationship gods.
Chapter Thirteen
Presley
My day was about as bad as it gets. My brain was stuck on Jude and it caused me to forget about other things. Important things.
I closed a sale in the morning, but forgot to put the “In Transit” stickers in the windows and the wife got pulled over on her way back to work. They returned to the dealership in the late afternoon all kinds of pissed off. I had to fight hard to keep my career unsullied with the huge mistake. After apologizing over and over and offering the previously lovely couple, now my worst nightmare couple, complimentary factory all-season floor mats and a six-visit detail package, they had a reasonable, forgiven-not-forgotten attitude.
When I finished with my begg
ing session, I was walking down the hall, and Dixless came up behind me.
“You have a beautiful body, Presley. Like a work of art that I could gaze at for hours, if you’d let me.”
I turned to ask, “What the hell?” and, like the jerk he is, he ducked into the men’s restroom. What shocked me most about the interaction was that normally I would’ve just walked away, or more likely run away. Not this time. I followed him into the bathroom, but had to pretend I walked in the wrong door when I absolutely walked in on Charlie using a urinal. I apologized profusely while exiting, all the time hearing Dixless laugh in the bathroom stall.
Later, I remembered tonight was my drawing class. I had no clothes to change into, and all my supplies were in my old car, which was stored in the used car lot. Three miles away. Thus, I had to retrieve my supplies at lunch instead of closing myself in my office like I needed and wanted and desired so badly. Once I was outside, I savored getting out in the spring air. On the way back, I caught my face in the rearview mirror, and I wore a huge smile.
When it was finally time to leave, I wondered if going to class would even be worth it. Since sleep was relatively nonexistent last night, as I couldn’t stop thinking about what Jude would have to say, I dragged today. At Brix he was blunt with his feelings, but still, my trust in him wasn’t high. I’d been burnt before, and I wasn’t sure I was ready to expose the new skin to possible heat again.
And although I’d stood up to her and was slightly mortified at my behavior, the whole Emerson thing was in the back of my mind, rolling around and feeding my insecurities. I needed to know he was really done with her, and I didn’t know how I’d get that closure. Without it I just didn’t think there was going to be trust. And without the trust, there was nothing.
I drove on autopilot to Graphite and Acrylic Art Studio. My mind wandered to the fact that Jude would be modeling again tonight.
Ugghh.
Didn’t know if I could handle seeing him and seeing all of him.