Sucker Punched (Resilient Hearts Series Book One 1)

by Owen, L

  “Hello.”

  “Are you crying? What the hell is wrong? What’s happened? Oh my goodness, Stephen hasn’t found you, has he?”

  What? Stephen, why is she asking about him? “Why do you think my tears are about Stephen? Please tell me you haven’t seen him?” She’s quiet for a while, and I begin to panic. My throat closes up, and I struggle for breath as panic courses through me.

  “Look, there’s no need to worry, but he came over the other day. I told him I haven’t seen you in years. He looked like shit, probably not getting any sleep. Not that I feel sorry for him at all, the bastard. I think he believed me though, so don’t fret.”

  “Don’t fret!” My voice raises a few octaves higher than before. “That’s easy for you to say.”

  “I promise, if I hear from him again, I will let you know, ok?” I can hear the hope in her voice that I will calm down, so I take a deep breath and try to relax a little.

  “Ok, deal. But please make sure you do. So if Stephen isn’t why you’re calling, what is it about? Not that I’m not glad to hear from you. I really am.”

  “I have got my time off work!” she shrieks down the phone, nearly deafening me.

  “What!” I exclaim. “When? I can’t wait to see you!”

  “It will be in a few weeks, but I can only stay for a week. I’m sorry. I want to stay longer, but I’ve already used most of my holiday. I know it’s fallen through before, but the flight is booked, so it’s happening for real this time.”

  “You have no idea how happy you have just made me. I was really having a crappy night.”

  “Well, I’m glad about that, but not about you having a crappy night.” She chuckles. “That I made you happy.”

  “Yes, I got what you meant.” I laugh.

  “Come on, Caitlin, what got you so upset in the first place?” she asks me with a sigh.

  “It’s just me being silly, really. That guy I told you about, I saw him at the gym tonight.”

  “What, you mean Mr. Hottie?” she sings at me.

  “Yes, that’s him. He owns the gym with his brother. It’s a long story, but I offended him so after the class I went to say sorry.”

  “Hold on and back it up a minute. How did you offend him?”

  “Umm, that’s really embarrassing.” I tell her about his prosthetic leg and my reaction to it.

  “Shit!” She laughs. “I can see why that’s awkward.”

  I ignore her delight at my situation. “Anyway, after class I went to his office to explain, but there was a bloody topless woman sitting on his desk!”

  “So where was he then?” She seems puzzled.

  “He was sitting in his chair in front of her!”

  She laughs even harder. “Oh, you interrupted his lap dance. This is hilarious.”

  “Shut up.” I’m glad she finds this funny.

  “So why has that made you so upset?”

  “Well, that’s the question, isn’t it? I have no idea whatsoever.” And that’s the truth. I have no claim on this gorgeous guy, so why am I so bothered by it? There’s no way I want or need a relationship, so I should just keep my distance.

  After discussing it further, I still come to no good reason why I feel this way. Beth, however, believes I should do the deed with him, as she puts it, and get him out of my system. That’s not happening...ever. I go to bed feeling a little better but still have a restless sleep.

  ***

  Yet again, the bright sun awakens me the following morning. I drag my tired arse out of bed and get to work just in the nick of time. We get to mid-morning without any drama, thank goodness. Kiaya has been asking all morning about Ethan, wanting to know if I saw him last night. There is no way I’m telling her what really happened; I’ll never live it down, so I just said I didn’t. It’s much easier that way.

  I’m pulled out of my thoughts by Ethan looking through the window at me. “Kiaya!” I holler, suddenly panicked.

  “What! What’s wrong?” she says, coming out from the back room.

  “Swap, please,” I say while rushing past her without waiting to hear her reply.

  “Sure,” she agrees, looking baffled by my strange behavior. I enter the back room and breathe a sigh of relief. That’s a conversation I can do without right now.

  “Hi.” Shit, that voice is not Len’s, and it’s definitely too deep for Kiaya. When I turn around, it’s my worst nightmare. Ok, well he is more of my best dream, but it doesn’t mean I need or want to talk to him right now.

  “How the hell did you get back here?” I swear I didn’t mean to snap, honest. “You need to leave, please,” I say a little less hostile this time.

  “Len said I could, and, no, I’m not going anywhere. We need to talk, Caitlin.” He’s stubborn, I will give him that.

  Looking to the floor I rush out. “Ok look, I’m really sorry about how I reacted when I saw your leg. That’s why I came by your office. It was to explain and say sorry, and I don’t have a problem with it, honestly. It was just a shock because I hadn’t noticed it before. You cope really well. Then I started to wonder how it happened. I didn’t know if you were born like that or if it was an accident. I don’t like the thought you’d been hurt or going through pain.” I exhale a long breath then suddenly blurt out, “And you’re just as hot to me as before, if not more.” The last bit just seemed to slip out before I could stop it. Crap! I’m now rosy red, and he’s grinning, again.

  “You’re really cute when you’re flustered.” That sexy smirk is long gone now, and we’re gazing at each other. I mean, what am I supposed to say to that?

  It’s a few moments before Ethan talks again. “Look,” he says rubbing the top of his head. “I’m really sorry about what you saw in my office. You shouldn’t have seen that, and Nicola shouldn’t have spoken to you like that either.”

  “No, I shouldn’t have barged in,” I admit.

  He chuckles. “Well, that did kind of shock the hell out of me, but I spoke to Asher, and he explained what he did. He’s really sorry by the way. He thought it would help me to get Nicola out of my office. She’s a massive pain in my ass who won’t leave me alone. He had no idea she would be topless, and neither did I.” He’s looking down at the floor as if ashamed.

  It’s all starting to feel a little strained. “I thought she was your girlfriend or maybe it was your birthday and someone hired you a stripper. I felt bad interrupting your lap dance.” I joke, trying to lighten the mood, which seems to work, until three of his large strides later, he’s in front of me. My back is pushed up against the counter, and with his arms either side of mine, he pins me in. My legs go weak, so I have to grasp his huge arms to stop myself from falling. His face is so close to mine that I can feel his breath skating across my cheek. The scent of his aftershave is so good. Beth always says to make sure to sniff a potential date. I have no idea why; she’s weird like that. I can’t look at him this close; it’s all so intense.

  He clears his throat, as if being this close to me is affecting him also. “I don’t have a girlfriend.”

  He dips his head in close, and I know he’s going to kiss me. I’m worried because I think I will let him. “It’s none of my business whether you do or don’t,” I whisper.

  I hear a throat being cleared from the doorway. “Caitlin, I’m sorry to interrupt you, but it’s getting busy again, and I could really use your help out here,” Kiaya says. I can see she regrets asking me, but now that the lure of his charm has been broken, and I’m relieved. Ethan was about to kiss me, but it’s really not a good idea right now. It’s only been a matter of months since escaping the most fucked up relationship of my life, and I need more time to get over it.

  Ethan hasn’t moved a muscle and still maintains eye contact. “I’m working tonight, but can I see you tomorrow?” I snap out of the spell he just had me under. What am I doing? See him tomorrow? No way, I can’t do that, so I lie.

  “Sorry, I can’t do tomorrow; I need to help my neighbor, Grace, run some errand
s.”

  “Well, how about Sunday then?”

  This man may be my dream come true and just the person to pull me from the nightmare I struggle with every day, but I’m far from ready to let him into my life. I’m just going to have to lay it out there for him, be honest. I move out of his arms and back up towards the door. ”Look, I’m sorry but it’s not a good idea. Bye.” I hurry into the shop, leaving him standing there, alone.

  I feel like a massive bitch.

  The pungent aroma of coffee hits my senses as I go back behind the counter after bolting from Ethan. I busy myself with orders trying, but not succeeding, to forget the fact that Ethan is still in the back room. Ten minutes after I walked out on him, he must have realized I wasn’t coming back. The door swings open taking Kiaya by surprise and nearly knocking her flying.

  “Sorry,” Ethan mumbles to her before storming out of the shop, not looking at me, and not saying another word. I don’t see him again for the rest of the day.

  I have mixed emotions about this fact. On one hand, I’m relieved. I needed to get away from him and gather my thoughts before I do something I may regret. It isn’t going to take much for me to lose control with him and give into my desires, which I know can’t happen for many reasons. It’s fast becoming an awkward situation that seems to get worse and more intense each time I’m around him. On the other hand, I want to see him. I’m going to have to admit to myself I do like him, but I’ll keep that revelation private for now, if not forever. It’s better for everyone if I stay far away from Ethan Kendricks.

  The rest of my weekend I spend isolated away in my apartment, so it goes by without any drama, thankfully. Ok, so I’d locked myself inside my apartment, that way I couldn’t bump into anyone. It was lovely, peaceful, and quiet with just me and my Kindle. Monday morning comes around all too quickly. I decide I need to devise a plan to keep my distance from Ethan without being rude. I will do my best not to be alone with him. If I bump into him and have to talk, I will say hello—even make small talk if needed, but that will be it. And under no circumstances will there be any kissing.

  FIVE

  Caitlin

  Three times I find myself at the gym and alone with Ethan over the next couple of weeks. He always manages to time it just right, coming out of his office just before I enter the room to train. I always follow the plan, a simple hello and leave. Every time I do this, the look of disappointment and rejection he gives twists at my stomach, but I tell myself it’s for the best. This is a brilliant but simple plan, and it works well. Right up until Ethan devises his own plan. The sneaky bastard!

  My weekend has yet again been peaceful and quiet, but the dreaded Monday morning has come around too quickly. Meeting Kiaya in the parking lot, we walk into the shop together. Len has opened up and is already sitting at his booth in the far corner, his earphones firmly in place. Len waves but says nothing as we busy ourselves switching on the coffee machines and other appliances, and then begin setting up for the day. The morning rush begins, and it is a particularly busy shift.

  Over the last week, Ethan has taken to coming in every morning while I try my best to keep away from him. It takes all my willpower to keep to the plan, and it’s getting harder by the second. He seems to grow better looking every single day, if that’s even possible. Every time I think of giving in, I see Stephen’s face, and my resolve hardens. My counselor recommends it’s time to start letting people in. I promise to try, but it’s easier said than done. Trusting anyone, let alone a man, is not going to be easy for me. Even the thought of it utterly terrifies me. For weeks now I have worked so hard at keeping my distance from Ethan, but when the morning rush comes and goes, I actually find myself looking for him. Disappointment washes over me when he never shows up.

  The shop always gets quieter around 10:30, about an hour before the lunch rush. So at 10:30 a.m. on the dot, Len, who has paid no attention to us all morning, suddenly says, “Caitlin, by the till is a coffee order for the guys at the gym. Can you make it up and take it over, please?”

  What? “Since when do we make deliveries?” I ask, trying to make a joke of it, but there’s nothing funny about it. Not at all.

  “Since Ethan started paying a fee on top of the coffee bill. Can’t say no,” he replies, still reading his paper.

  I huff out a long breath. “Can’t Kiaya do it?” I plead. “You wouldn’t mind would you Kiaya?” I ask, crossing my fingers behind my back.

  Kiaya begins to say she won’t mind doing it, but Len butts in. “They’re paying for you.”

  I think steam comes out of my ears, if that’s even possible. “What? I’m not property; you can’t just sell me, Len.” To say I’m seething is a massive understatement. I’ll never be anyone’s property to command again.

  This comment seems to get all of Len’s attention because now he’s staring at me, seemingly regretful. “Well, Caitlin, if I had known you’d get this upset delivering coffee, I would never have said yes. Ethan has already paid up for this week, but if it’s too much for you then I’ll just give it back.”

  “How much is he paying?” I ask, a little curious.

  “A hundred bucks a week on top of the coffee. I was going to split it between you and Kiaya.”

  “Really?” says Kiaya, sounding hopeful. Well, I didn’t expect him to do that.

  I don’t care about the money, but I don’t want to take easy money away from Kiaya either. I know it’s a trick to get me alone, and Ethan thinks he’s being clever. I’ll have to be clever, too, and stay one step ahead of him. How hard can it be?

  “Ok,” I finally say walking over to the till as I begin to make the order.

  Although I have agreed, I’m still fuming. If Ethan Kendricks thinks he’s going to get away with this, he is sadly mistaken!

  Ethan

  I’m focused on the security monitor as I anticipate the arrival of my sexy as sin delivery girl, Caitlin. I haven’t been able to concentrate on anything all morning, and the time has dragged on. I can barely contain my grin or the bulge in my pants as I imagine those long legs of hers wrapped around me. She’s a tough one to crack, I’ll give her that, but I’ve never been one to give up easily.

  Spotting movement on one of the security cameras, it alerts me that Caitlin is making her way into the gym, and she’s carrying my coffee. I can’t help chuckling; this is probably really pissing her off, but I can deal with her. For some reason I can’t seem to fathom, she just won’t get out of my head. If having her deliver refreshments the rest of my sorry life is the only way to see her, then so be it.

  I have given Roman and Asher strict instructions to send Caitlin up when she arrives, so I lean back in my chair and wait. Five minutes later, I begin wondering what the hell is taking so long until finally, movement flashes across the camera screen. It’s Caitlin, and she has a huge smirk on her face. Waving up to the camera as she struts next door, her ass sways seductively with an empty carrier in her hand. What the hell? Where’s my coffee?

  Not long after, Roman walks into my office, grinning from ear to ear and holding a coffee cup. I’m disappointed she hasn’t brought it up herself.

  “Is that my drink? I told you to send Caitlin up,” I snap at him, my good mood growing increasingly sour by the second.

  Roman flops into the chair opposite me with a thud. He’s looking so smug it pisses me off. “Nope this is my coffee; you’re not getting any,” he says, taking a sip.

  “What the hell do you mean I’m not getting any?” My voice raises. “I paid for her to deliver three coffees to me, here.” Stabbing my finger on the screen I continue with my rant. “That was Caitlin I just saw walking in with three cups, so where the hell is my drink?”

  Roman chuckles. “I told you this was a stupid idea, brother. She brought the drinks here, and you’re correct; there were three of them. According to her, that’s all she was instructed to do.”

  I’m trying my best to hold in my frustration when I demand to know where the hell my drink i
s. In all honesty, I don’t give a shit about my coffee; it’s Caitlin I want.

  “You and Asher don’t get one,” he says with a shrug, taking another sip. “Caitlin said I’m the only nice one. So I got one, and the other two drinks she’s given to a couple of members downstairs.” He doesn’t even have the decency to hide his amusement.

  I’m done talking about this with Roman. Sliding my chair back with an ear-shattering screech; I stand up, grab my phone, and stomp out of the office. I want my coffee, and I want to see Caitlin. Yes, I’m fully aware I’m acting like a spoiled brat, but I can’t bring myself to care. I can’t work her out. One minute she’s shy and awkward, and the next she takes no shit. I don’t care which of her personalities I’m about to be greeted with, either is hot as hell.

  I see the exact moment it registers with her that I’m making my way over. It’s a look of pure horror, and then she’s running to the back. This shit has to stop; I have no clue why she’s avoiding me. I want answers, and I don’t think it’s too much to ask. I march right past the counter as Kiaya calls to me, something about only staff being allowed back there, but I ignore her. I pass Len and say over my shoulder while continuing on, “I didn’t get my coffee. Caitlin and I need to talk.” I don’t wait for his reply.

  When I enter the back room, Caitlin is standing at the far corner of the room. I’m crazy for this woman. I’m also angry, and it’s not because I’m thirsty. It’s her avoidance that’s leaving me frustrated. But the look of complete terror on her face and seeing her body tremble stop me dead in my tracks.

  “I’m sorry about the order, but you can’t buy me,” she chokes out, trying to sound confident but failing miserably.

  I was about to give this girl a piece of my mind, but now I feel an overwhelming need to protect her even though I have no idea what from. Maybe she feels she needs protecting from me. That thought makes me feel like shit. Taking a calming breath, I try to compose myself.

  “I’m sorry, Caitlin. The last thing I wanted to do was upset or scare you. I just really wanted to see you. That’s all.”