by Ali Parker
"I don't have time." She glanced back down, pressing a few buttons on the register to bring it to life. "Besides, no one trusts a thin chef."
"There's always time to work on your health, Sis," Drake responded.
She jerked her head up, her glare too harsh seeing that Martin took a step back. "I'm not interested in you soliciting in my shop today, Drake. It's Sicily, and I'm busy. So is Martin."
"Sure am. Nice to see you again, Mr. DeMarco." Martin waved and slipped behind the counter, walking into the back room as Sicily held Drake's stare.
The determination on his handsome face was insanely hot. It took everything inside of her to push back the desire to agree to the training just to feel his hands on her, to spend more time with the cocky bastard.
"When are you going to stop pushing so hard against me?" He leaned in as she took a step back. No way was she ready for him intimidating her into their awkward partnership with him as trainer and her as the love-sick fat girl.
"When you back off. I'm not interested in having you put me with all the other trophies on your wall. I have work to do. By a full-fat pastry or get out." She crossed her arms over her chest.
A smirk lifted the side of his mouth and he nodded. "I'm going to get your chocolate powder. I'll be back shortly. You're coming to the gym tonight, not for me or anyone else, but for you."
"Are you calling me fat?" She lifted her eyebrow, her chest constricting painfully. She would not break down in front of him, or anyone other than her closest friends. If he attacked her in this moment she might not have a chance to push back her sorrow any further though.
"I would never do that. I'm sick of watching you mentally fuck yourself." He moved around the counter and she took another step back. "Stop running from me. I want to help you find yourself, Sicily. I'm not the dick you make me out to be."
"No clue what you're talking about." She shrugged and bent over, pulling a five dollar bill from her wallet. "Thanks for going on the errand for us."
He snatched the bill from her and growled softly. The sound of it rushed across her skin, searing its way down to the pit of her stomach and making her feel desire like she never had before.
Let it go. He's not interested in broken down chunky girls. He wants someone who takes care of themselves. That's certainly not you.
"Be at the gym at seven tonight. If you're not... I'm going to come and get you myself."
To be continued…
Author Note: I had such a great time telling Sicily’s story, namely because a lot of it was mine. At least the struggling with weight parts! I’m not dating a mafia man. My guy is found in Sicily’s friend, Kari’s book, Jaded. The main man is a Junior High coach named Jake. *smiles* That’s my hubs. If you enjoyed that opening for Judged, feel free to grab a copy HERE.
About the Author
Ali Parker is a full-time contemporary and new adult romance writer with more than a hundred and twenty books behind her. She loves coffee, watching a great movie and hanging out with her hubs. By hanging out, she means making out. Hanging out is for those little creepy elves at Christmas. No tight green stockings for her.
She’s an entrepreneur at heart and loves coming up with more ideas than any one person should be allowed to access. She lives in Texas with her hubs and three kiddos and looks forward to traveling the world in a few years. Writing under eleven pen names keeps her busy and allows her to explore all genres and types of writing.
If you enjoyed her writing style, please check out her other pen names at the pen names link below!
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Parker’s Posse ~ Pen Names
Ryder
Copyright © 2017 by Ali Parker
All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
The novel is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and plot are all either products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons – living or dead – is purely coincidental.
First Edition.
Editor: Mary Wolney
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