Blocked

by Lisa N. Paul

  “Umm, well, I guess I just thought a woman can always stand to look a little better.”

  “Oh, that’s interesting,” April answered stiffly, “being that Ember got a big ol’ tub of caramel popcorn. Yeah, she’s beautiful, but I didn’t realize she was fu… fluffing perfect.” The knot in April’s throat tightened, as did the grip of her sister’s hand.

  Her mother let out an exaggerated sigh. “No, dear, I just figured there are probably a lot of very nice men at such a high quality gym. I was hoping maybe you would meet someone.”

  April watched as something akin to uncertainty crossed over her mother’s face. Pulling in a deep breath then exhaling, April looked around the room at her family. Elijah was playing in the corner, unaware of the drama going on around him, her siblings and father sat motionless, gaping between her and her mother as her mom kept her vision trained on her hands.

  “Okay.” April’s voice was slightly above a whisper. “Well, thanks for the gift, it was… generous.” She nodded as she placed the certificate back in the envelope and stood from the floor. “I’m going to get some fresh air. Please keep an eye on Eli for me.” She reached over to the sofa, swiped the thick chenille blanket from the arm, and walked out the door.

  * * *

  THE SQUEAKING OF the porch swing came as more of a comfort than a discontent as April creaked back and forth in the freezing cold air. “Here’s a gym membership, fatso.” April mimicked her mother’s voice and then her own. “Oh gee, thanks, Mom, you’re so fucking kind. I feel blessed. What? No facial for my old crusty skin? I’m so disappointed.”

  “Uh, sis, I hate to admit it, but maybe Mom was right.” Her brother’s mouth ticked up just a bit on the corner, showing off the cocky smirk that April loved to hate. “I mean, look at you sitting out here, talking to yourself like a loon. Maybe a hard workout and some gym friends are exactly what you need.” He chuckled as he plopped himself on the swing next to her.

  “Bite me, Aug.” April’s words held no malice. Her brother was one of her closest friends, and regardless of the teasing, he’d always come to her defense. The two siblings sat in a comfortable silence as the tired old swing creaked back and forth.

  “Look, Tiny…” April’s heart went soft when her brother used the nickname he’d bestowed upon her back when they were children. “I’ll never understand why mom says and does the things she does, but if we’re being honest, she isn’t the issue here.”

  April’s stomach clenched. She knew where this conversation was heading, and she still wasn’t ready to deal with it.

  “I made you a promise more than four years ago, do you remember?”

  She remembered quite clearly the promise her big brother had made. She’d hoped after all the time that had passed without him bringing it up that he’d be the one who forgot. Silently, April exhaled and pulled the blanket tighter around her shoulders, staring into familiar green eyes. Maybe if you don’t answer, he’ll stop talking. But when August squeezed her hand and began to speak, she was reminded that feigning ignorance never worked with her older siblings.

  “When that son of a bitch left you, I promised you that you wouldn’t spend the rest of your life alone.”

  “I’m not alone, Aug. I have Eli, and we’re doing great.” The forced brightness she infused into her voice was useless, and they both knew it, so instead of looking at him, April glared down at her own hands. Tears stung the back of her eyes as the words escaped her mouth. “I’m a great mom and a successful teacher. My son has never wanted for anything.” April inhaled a shaky breath, realizing that her eyes no longer stung because the tears were no longer trapped. Brushing away the wetness, April looked up at her brother’s sympathetic gaze.

  “Tiny, I’ve never doubted your parenting for a second. Eli is the best kid ever, barring the whole Fuck-Frenzy thing.” The joke cracked some of the tension between them. “But you know damn well that I wasn’t talking about your son. It’s time, April. You’ve been hiding behind Elijah and work and heartbreak for long enough. It’s time to get out there and start dating again.” Her brother seemed to scan her face, his brows lowered briefly before he continued. “You’re really beautiful, sis, but if you sit around waiting too long, you’re gonna end up looking like old Ms. Elkridge next door—all frumpy, dumpy, cranky, and bogged down with a house full of talking birds.” August cringed. “Have you been in there lately? You can’t say anything without it being repeated twenty-five times. It’s a fucking nuthouse.”

  “Well, at least she has a support system who agrees with her decisions,” April deadpanned and shrugged her shoulders. “That must feel nice.” She smiled at her own humor and laughed at her brother’s frown. “Stop pouting, Auggy. I understand what you’re saying, and while I think it was a monumentally bitchy call on Mom’s part, I have heard amazing things about that gym.” She watched as her brother’s face lit up. “Don’t get too excited. I’m only going to work out, not to boost the already inflated egos of the pretty boys who spend more time romancing themselves in the mirrors than they do lifting weights.”

  August rolled his eyes and laughed. “That’s the open attitude I’m looking for, little sis. Keep that up, and the dates will be pouring in.”

  “Whatever.” April shook her head and smiled as she leaned into her brother’s strong embrace. He wasn’t wrong, and she knew it. It looked like the new year was going to include a new work-out routine. That wouldn’t suck at all.

  Chapter Two

  Gallant Behavior

  NO DOUBT ABOUT it, the woman was stunning in more ways than one. He watched in the mirror as the blonde’s pert ass rounded with each perfectly executed squat. Her exercise routine was definitely a total body experience for…Decker. He had to constantly remind himself, and his dick, to pay attention to his own damn workout, because her leg routine nearly brought him to his knees. But thanks to the mirror, he could appreciate the view discreetly without looking like a complete jackass. The same could not be said for Mr. Meathead, who’d started out blatantly leering at her before upping the ante by adding touch.

  The blonde had just racked her weight bar, evidently taking a break between sets, when the Schwarzenegger-wannabe swaggered up behind her and snaked his hand around her hip. Fuck. Decker placed his dumbbells on the ground and watched the encounter through the mirror. He noticed how her eyes went round at first but quickly narrowed as she removed her ear buds and looped them around her neck. Between the clanking of weights and the music pumping through the gym’s sound system, Decker couldn’t hear much of their conversation, but he couldn’t misconstrue her unimpressed and extremely irritated body language. Funny how he could pick up those vibes from across the gym and the guy standing right next to her couldn’t clue in. It was when she removed his leather-clad hand from her body for the second time and cocked her head to the side, her brows furrowed in what appeared to be frustration that Decker decided to intercede.

  “Hey, beautiful, everything all right over here?”

  Decker placed a protective hand on the sweat-slickened shoulder of the woman he’d spent weeks not-so-subtly flirting with at the gym. They’d swapped smiles, exchanged a few words here and there, and even engaged in a brief conversation the day he’d assisted an older woman who had sprained her ankle after falling off the treadmill. He’d led the injured senior to a bench so she could rest her leg while he went to get an icepack and a staff member to aid the woman further. When he returned to find the sexy blonde tending to the woman, offering a small, warm smile and her cell phone, his heartbeat kicked up a notch. Other than knowing her work-out schedule, because clearly it was the same as his, and the fact that she seemed as kind as she was beautiful, not much about their acquaintance should have made his blood pressure spike the way it did when he’d caught the gym-jerk approaching her with a smarmy smile and lust-filled eyes. No, it shouldn’t have pissed him off… but it did. He knew she usually didn’t notice other men’s attention. In fact, other than the rare occasions when Decke
r spoke to her, she kept to herself, earbuds in, body in motion... and oh, what a body it was.

  He knew touching her was risky, especially after seeing the disgust that marred her face when Meat Hook grabbed her. Over the years, he’d seen that same guy repeatedly hit on several women at the gym, making it clear that his skull was as thick as his muscles and left no room at all for his brain. The man never took no for an answer, so it would take more than words to get the point made. He just hoped the woman played along.

  Decker wasn’t sure what surprised him more: her reply to his question or the fact that she tightly wrapped her arm around his waist, effectively pulling him closer to her. “Everything’s perfect, honey,” she cooed, staring up at him with the most incredible pale green eyes he’d ever seen. “I was just telling Rocco here that while my boyfriend does appreciate my”—she glared at the moron who still hadn’t figured out that he was unwanted—“what did you call them, Rocco? Oh yeah, my delectable ass cheeks, and while he does agree that a real man could spend a whole night buried between them”—she turned her stare back to Decker and smiled—“he doesn’t particularly like to share them or me.” April’s brows lifted as she punctuated the end of her statement. “But since you’re here now, maybe you could explain it better, baby.”

  “The fuck?” Decker snarled, wrapping his arm around the slender woman to bring her even closer to his body. He allowed his hand to run from her shoulder down her arm, a gesture that would appear possessive but hopefully not make her feel uncomfortable while he dealt with the trash in front of them. “Listen here, Rocco,” Decker growled, staring down at the shorter man, “you think I haven’t seen you struttin’ around this place, trying to pick up anything that isn’t nailed down?”

  Rocco’s cockiness clearly prevailed over his sense of preservation. “Yeah, old man, I’ve got skills. You jealous?”

  “No, boy.” Decker smirked. “I’m not jealous... just nice. I’m giving you a warning to stay away from my girl here, or you’re gonna need to find skills that don’t include smiling, cause you won’t have any teeth. Got it?”

  Rocco’s toothy smile faltered as he lifted his hands up in a defensive pose. “Sure, dude, whatever. But you should really keep your chick on a leash, because she was throwin’ out mixed signals. Shit, she was practically beggin’ me to come over here and check her out.”

  “I was not, you bloated piece of shit.”

  Decker nearly lost his footing when the woman lunged forward in attempts to do who knew what to the clearly IQ-challenged idiot egging her on. He quickly firmed up his stance, keeping the angered woman tucked safely in his arms. “Tsk, tsk, Rocco. I’d walk away if I were you,” Decker warned. “She doesn’t like being compared to a dog, and I’d say that leash comment just crossed the line.”

  When Rocco laughed in response to Decker’s remark, the tenacious woman spoke up once again. However, this time, to Decker’s surprise, she was the perfect blend of calm, stern, and funny as hell. “Listen here, Puffy McPufferson,” she addressed Rocco directly but stayed rooted to the spot next to Decker. “Your advances were neither solicited nor wanted, and I can guarantfuckingtee that the other women who work out here feel the same damn way about your Rico Suave act. So I suggest you take your steroid-injecting, Axe-body-spray-wearing, grunt-while-you’re-lifting, sorry ass out of here, or I’m gonna get you thrown out.” He felt her triceps flex beneath his hold as her hands balled into fists at her sides. “Was that uncomplicated enough for you?”

  Shit, the woman was a riot of surprises, each one more breathtaking then the last, but this time, she’d literally stolen his breath and his words. Trying his hardest to contain his reaction, Decker bit down on his tongue. Bite till you bleed if you have to, man, but don’t you dare let it out. Don’t you dare.

  * * *

  HOLY SHIT, DID those words just come from my mouth? April inhaled, realizing for the first time just how quiet the space around her had gotten. The solid arm that had been holding her tight just moments before was trembling, as was the body it was attached to. What the… hell? She tilted her head to the side and looked up at her make-believe boyfriend, whose focus was still set on Rocco. However, his face no longer showed the same overwhelming sense of acrimony it had possessed at first. His bottom lip was gripped firmly between his teeth, the plump flesh white under the pressure of his strong bite, and his nostrils flared as if he was having difficulty regulating his breathing. When her stare finally landed on his eyes, it wasn’t anger or hostility she saw boiling to the surface. Nope, judging by the fine crinkles that outlined the corners of the man’s chocolate orbs, he was holding in—laughter. Just barely, it seemed, by the small snort that escaped his tightened lips, but yes, he was definitely amused.

  Uncertain as to what exactly had Super-Hot-Gym-Guy so tickled; April turned her attention back to the target of her rant. Rocco stood just feet away from her with flushed cheeks and a dropped jaw. He’d taken off his leather weight-lifting gloves and was twisting them nervously in his thick hands while his wide eyes scanned the gym as if he was looking to make certain no one else had heard the tongue-lashing he’d just received. Unfortunately for him, that wasn’t the case.

  Two beautiful women walked up to them, stopped, and smiled at April before turning to Rocco. “Stay away from us too, Puffy.”

  Clearly frustrated and embarrassed, Rocco turned to leave the main work-out room and mumbled, “Bitch.”

  “What did you, say?” Super-Hot-Gym-Guy growled as his posture went from lax to rigid in a blink.

  “Nothin’, man. I didn’t say nothin’.” Rocco hadn’t turned to face them.

  “Yeah, you make sure you keep it that way. Because I only play nice once. You got it?”

  April struggled to keep her own jaw from touching the shiny laminate floor when big, loud Rocco nodded before slithering out the door. She didn’t know it then, but that was the very last time she would ever see him.

  Quickly shaking off the entire scene, April faced the man still standing at her side. “So now that you’ve defended my honor and practically felt me up, I think it’s time we introduce ourselves.” She extended her hand. “I’m April Maddox.”

  “Yeah, look, I’m really sorry about that.” The man appeared to be studying her face, but he never reached for her hand.

  “Wait”—April smiled—“are you sorry for defending my honor or copping a feel? Because to be honest, neither one was a hardship for me.”

  She realized what she’d said when the crinkles around the man’s eyes reappeared and his mouth curled up in a sexy smirk. It was as if his lips alone had spoken the word, gotcha.

  “Shit, no… no… no… that is not at all what I meant.” April felt her cheeks warm with embarrassment. “What I was trying to say was it felt so good to have a man want to touch me that way…” She slapped her hand over her mouth and prayed that the words would just stop spilling out before she died of mortification.

  “April—” Super-Hot-Gym-Guy started to speak.

  She needed to untangle the ridiculous web she’d spun before the man walked away thinking she was a nutcase. “Please, just give me a second.” She inhaled deeply, forcing air around the lump that had suddenly formed in the back of her throat. “What I meant to say was thank you. It’s been a really long time since there was someone other than family to have my back like that. We don’t know each other, and still you stepped in and helped me out. That was… cool. Really cool. So thanks.” Cool? What decade was she living in? She was a teacher in a public school. She knew cool was no longer… cool. She moved to retreat, hoping to leave with at least a modicum of dignity left in her arsenal when he stopped her. Eh, who needs dignity?

  “My name’s Decker Brand.” He extended his long, muscled arm and waited for her to shake his hand before he continued. “And yes, I am sorry for manhandling you without your permission. That’s usually not my style. However, I’m sure as shit not gonna apologize for getting between you and that asswipe. To be honest, Apr
il, I’m not sure your honor needed my defending. You were doing a fine job on your own, but when I saw him touch you…” April watched as his brows snapped together, anger and something else she couldn’t identify etched on his ruggedly handsome face. “Hell, the second he laid his hands on you, I didn’t just want to throttle his ass, I wanted to protect yours.” Decker’s gaze quickly left hers and landed somewhere on the ground. “How’s that for embarrassing confessions?”

  * * *

  HE WASN’T SURE what he’d expected when he revealed his innermost thoughts. Hell, he hadn’t even known he was gonna do it until the words were literally falling from his mouth, but in that moment, she seemed so open, so exposed that he felt the deep-seated need to honor her vulnerability by exposing his own. What the hell was wrong with him? He’d sworn after Olivia that he wouldn’t fall victim to illusions again, but there was something in his gut that screamed this woman was genuine, and maybe it was time to start listening.

  “Decker,” she spoke his name lightly, a slight tease in her tone. “Both me and my ass are grateful for your gallant behavior.” She punctuated her statement with a wink.

  Her levity caused him to smirk, which in turn had her small grin splitting her face into a dazzling, dimpled smile. Fuck, look at those dimples, he thought as his cock twitched in his shorts.

  “Gallant behavior? Who says gallant these days?” He chuckled, trying his best to get his mind off the sexy-as-hell divots in the sexy-as-hell blonde’s face.

  She threw her head back and laughed a husky sound that did absolutely nothing to slow the blood flow to his dick. “I do. I guess that’s what happens when you’re a middle school English teacher.” She looked at him, her eyes dancing with delight. “Next time I’ll say, ‘Thanks for your super cool help, dude.’”

  Decker chuckled. “No, I can handle the larger words, but thanks for trying, Ms. Maddox.” He hesitated briefly then asked, “Or is it Mrs.?” He found himself holding his breath while he waited for her to answer the question.