by L. P. Dover
He winked and took my hand. “I already did it.”
“What? You didn’t have to do that. I’ll pay you back.”
“No worries, love. But if you want to pay me back I’m sure we’ll figure out something.”
Grinning from ear to ear, I squeezed his hand and slid off the bar stool. Before we could take the first step, the bartender slid a drink in front of me.
“Compliments from the gentleman at the end of the bar.” It wasn’t until I got a good look at the drink that I gasped and stumbled back.
Kyle caught me and the bartender looked at me like I’d lost my mind. “Megan, are you okay?”
I slid the drink back to the bartender. “What is it?”
She grabbed the glass and moved it to the side. “It’s a raspberry martini from the guy in the red shirt down there,” she said, pointing toward the edge of the bar.
Kyle snorted. “Please tell him thank you, but it’s not needed.”
The bartender shrugged as if she didn’t care and tossed the drink down the sink before moving along to someone else. Swallowing hard, I glanced down at the guy in the red shirt and breathed a sigh of relief. He waved at me and I nodded, but couldn’t find it within myself to smile. I don’t know what made me think it would be Alex, but the fear of seeing him again always weighed on me. He would get out of prison eventually and then it would be up to me to make sure I couldn’t be found.
We got out of the bar and I could finally breathe when the fresh air blew across my face. I stopped and leaned against the wall, my heart beating out of control. Kyle stood beside me, his arm brushing against mine. “You want to tell me what’s going on? Your face turned pale back in there.”
“I tell you what. Get me home and I’ll tell you all about it.”
***
I DIDN’T REALLY want to tell Kyle about my past, but after the way I freaked out, there was no way he’d let it just slide. When he pulled into my driveway, he smiled.
“What are you grinning about?”
“I think I live in Greg’s neighborhood. I’m just a few houses over that way in the next development,” he said, pointing toward the road.
“I guess we’re neighbors then.” I licked my dry lips and opened the door. “Do you still want to come in and talk?”
“Only if you want me to. Don’t feel pressured.”
A sad smile splayed across my lips. “Come on. I’d rather tell you the story now then wait for later.” He shut off his truck and got out, his gaze slightly guarded. When I opened the door, I made sure to lock it before turning on the lights. “The living room is straight ahead. Go take a seat. I’m going to change clothes.”
He nodded. “All right, I’ll be in here.”
I started up the steps, but then stopped to watch him. Instead of taking a seat, he walked around the room and looked at all the pictures. Most of them were ones I’d taken when photography was my passion; it was before Alex came in and ruined it all. I lost all creativity when I let him run my life.
As fast as I could, I rushed into my room and changed into some comfortable clothes. I didn’t care if they weren’t sexy because that definitely wasn’t what I was going for tonight. Not with Kyle and I alone in my house. When I got downstairs, he was still standing in front of my favorite picture.
“I take it you took these?” he asked, pointing to the canvas.
“How can you tell?”
He walked from one frame to the next and glanced back at me over his shoulder. “I don’t know. It just seems like something you would do. I knew there was more to your story than just a girl who works at a gym.” His gaze then landed on my pink, cupcake flannel pants. “Nice PJ’s by the way. If you’re trying to go for unsexy, you failed.”
I could feel the heat rise in my cheeks. “Nothing’s going to happen like that tonight.”
“I know, love. I was just giving you a hard time.” He sat down on the couch and patted the cushion beside him. “Let’s talk.”
“Do you have any idea how awkward that sounds?”
“Not anymore awkward than it was to say it. I can roughen it up for you, if you want.” He slouched down and spread his arms out wide with a devilish smirk. “Come on, baby, you know you wanna sit on my lap.”
Rolling my eyes, we both laughed and he sat back up, beckoning me over. “Were you really like that?”
His smile faded. “Sometimes. But the women loved it. It was kind of hard not to when I knew I could have anyone I wanted.”
I sat down and faced him, curling my legs underneath. “Yeah, I guess I could see where that would get to your head. If you don’t mind my asking, I still want to know the answer to my question from the other day.”
He sighed. “You mean the one where you asked how it was not being able to walk?” I nodded. “And if I answer, will you tell me what had you freaked the fuck out tonight?”
I nodded again. “Promise.”
Averting his gaze, he took a deep breath and let it out slow. “Scared. That’s how it made me feel. I’ve never admitted that to anyone until now.”
“Did the doctors say you would never walk again?”
He shook his head. “They said there was a chance I’d be able to. But we all know what that means in doctor talk. Over time though, the feelings started coming back. That was when I made a choice to walk no matter what the statistics said. I sought out the best physical therapy team available and worked my way back.”
“And what if Kacey doesn’t forgive you for what you did? Are you going to pack up and leave?”
“I don’t know,” he replied, his gaze searching mine. “It all depends on if I have something to stay for.”
Grabbing my hand, he pulled me closer and put his arm around me. It made me feel safe. “It’s your turn now.”
I closed my eyes and then opened them up, focusing on my pictures. “A few years ago, taking photos was what gave me peace. I didn’t need anyone or anything if I had a camera in my hands. As you can see from the shots on the wall, I love color . . . light. I hadn’t been able to capture anything like that for a long time.”
Pulling out of his arms, I turned and faced him. “What I’m going to tell you goes against everything I am now. I’m not the same person, just like you aren’t the same asshole that you used to be. I don’t want you to think differently of me.”
“What happened?”
“I met this guy at a party. He was everything I was looking for at the time: smart, funny, charming. Unfortunately for me, he was none of those things. I just didn’t realize it until it was too late.” I explained to him everything that happened from the first time Alex hit me and on to the last.
“So that’s why you learned self-defense? To protect yourself?”
“If I didn’t, I’d be dead.”
His jaw clenched and he huffed. “No wonder why you teach it at the gym.”
I nodded. “Some of those women have been in situations like mine and barely survived. They just want to know how to protect themselves.”
“Do you know when he’ll get out of prison?”
“I don’t know. I try not to think about it. Darryl, the officer who stopped me from killing Alex that night, has my contact information. No one else has it. So if he were to ever get out, Darryl’s supposed to call me.”
“Fuck, Megan,” he said, pulling me into his arms. “I may be fucked up and done horrible shit in my past, but I can promise you I’d never lay a hand on you like that. I’ve never laid a hand on any woman.”
I breathed him in and smiled. “I know. And even if you were, you picked the wrong girl. I almost killed Alex and I have no doubt I’d try to do it again. Besides, I have an army of UFC fighters in my corner. You wouldn’t last a second.”
Chuckling, he kissed the top of my head. It was a sweet gesture and yet totally foreign to me. “You’re right, I wouldn’t. And neither will fuckhead if he ever tries to get near you again. I’ll kill him myself.”
“Speaking of which, I’ve heard
things about you. Some of it I’ve even wondered if it could possibly be true.”
“Like what?”
“That you’ve killed people when you were fighting at the Dark Side. Gabby told me stories about Paxton and what he did when he was there. I figured you were the same way since you two were friends.”
He cleared his throat and averted his gaze. “I don’t think the truth is what you want to hear right now. Not after telling me about your ex.”
“Well, lies definitely aren’t.”
Sighing, he stood up and ran a hand through his hair. “Fine, okay, I killed people. They were worthless sacks of shit who mainly raped women or children or some sick shit like that. The leader of the Dark Side had them brought in so we could fuck them up. Almost all of them never left alive. Is that what you wanted to hear?”
Getting to my feet, I slowly approached him. His breath came out in deep, rapid pants, but slowed when I touched his chest. “Yes. I already knew because Paxton confirmed it. I just wanted to see what you would say.”
His eyes narrowed. “And what would you have done if I lied?”
“I would’ve sent you out the door. I guess it’s a good thing you didn’t. So far you haven’t let me down with your honesty. There may be a chance we can be friends after all.”
Taking my hands, he pulled them up and around his neck. “What if I want to be more than that?”
I leaned up on my tiptoes and kissed his cheek. “Just be patient and keep doing what you’re doing.” The door to the garage opened and I could hear Nicole pull her car inside. Letting my hands slide down his chest, I breathed him in one last time before stepping away. “You understand, right?”
“I do, but I can’t say it’s going to be easy.” No, it wasn’t. The door opened and Nic came charging in, twirling around and singing Taylor Swift’s new song. It was loud and off key, but that was Nic for you.
When she saw us, she gasped. “Oh my God, I thought you’d be doing the nasty by now.”
Kyle chuckled and I rolled my eyes. “And if we were, you would’ve killed the mood.”
Her mouth dropped. “Oh, whatever. I’m going to bed.” She stormed off, but winked at me over her shoulder before disappearing up the stairs.
I turned back to Kyle and shook my head. “She keeps things interesting, that’s for sure.”
“I can see that.”
“Do you want me to walk you out?”
“No,” he said, taking my hands. “Just make sure you lock the door behind me. If there’s ever a time you need me to stay with you, I’m only right down the road.”
Smiling, I squeezed his hands. “Thanks, Kyle. Out of everyone I know, I never thought you’d be the one I feel safest around.”
He brought my hands up and kissed each one. “Goodnight, love. I’ll see you Monday.”
I nodded and walked him to the door. He looked back once and did a little hand gesture of locking a door. I laughed and waved before shutting the door and locking it.
Tyler is going to kill me when he finds out.
***
BY THE TIME Monday rolled around, I was scared shitless to see Kyle. My hands were sweaty the entire morning and every time the door would open, I’d jerk around to see who it was.
“Are you okay, Meg? You seem on edge,” Tyler noticed.
“Nope, I’m fine. Just the Monday jitters I guess.”
Coming to stand beside me, he grabbed a handful of towels and began to fold them. “Are you ready for your class tonight?”
I finished my stack and put them back in the basket. “Of course. I’ll be fine without you.”
“Remember, it’s only temporary. Once this wedding is over I’ll be your partner again, I promise.”
Grabbing one of his towels, I slapped him upside the head. “I’ll be fine.”
“I know. I just hate putting you with all the responsibilities.”
I rolled my eyes. “It’s not like I’m doing it for free. You pay me, remember? Now if you want to bump me up to manager status, I could work with that.”
He paused and grinned wide. “You know, I think that’s a great idea. Will that make working the hours seem more doable?”
“To get a title? Hell yeah. I think I deserve it.”
“Well, alright then. You have it. How about we celebrate at the restaurant one night this week? You can even invite Nicole even though she drives me insane.”
We both laughed and I shook his outstretched hand. “Deal. I won’t let you down.”
“You haven’t yet.”
After he finished his set of towels, he scurried away to help a girl who had issues with getting her treadmill to work. For the rest of the day, I was on cloud nine. My cheeks hurt from smiling, but I couldn’t stop.
“Girl, I don’t think I’ve ever seen you smile like that before. You got a man now?”
Giggling, I turned to find Sherry in her usual pink yoga pants, polka dot tank top and her bright red hair in a high ponytail. She was in her mid-fifties with two grown kids who lived in different states and a husband who passed away about five years ago. I loved her heart and she was the sweetest thing, but definitely had her own sense of style. About that time, Kyle waltzed through the door and my attention went to him.
“Uh-huh, see I was right. He’s a cutie patootie.”
“No,” I gasped. “That’s not why I was smiling. I’m happy about something else.”
“Okay, honey, tell that to someone who believes you. Are we still having class this evening?”
Kyle walked by me, winking, and I tried my best to keep my face straight for Sherry. “Yes, we still have class. Although, I have to say, you’re pretty intimidating in your pink get up.”
She looked down at her clothes and lifted her chin. “And that’s why no one messes with me, dear.”
“I hear ya. All right, Miss Sherry, I’m going to make my rounds and I’ll see you in about an hour.” I walked away and did a turn through the gym, purposefully keeping my eyes away from Kyle. Instead, I strolled over to Jared who was running on the treadmill.
“You’re not still pissed at me, are you?” he asked.
Smiling, I bumped up his speed. “Oh, for making me think you wanted a threesome? No, not at all, asshole. You should’ve just told me what you were doing. I would’ve played along.”
His breathing picked up as he pounded his feet to the speed. “Actually, I was kind of serious about the whole threesome deal. Don’t tell Patrick though. I was curious to see if he’d be up for it. But when you hesitated, I knew you’d say no.”
Eyes wide, I bumped his speed up faster and moved closer. “You were serious?”
Sweat started to bead on his brow and he chuckled. “Why not? You’re hot. I thought it could be fun. But I can see now your tastes are for something different.” He nodded toward Kyle who was off in the corner lifting weights. “Don’t even try to deny it, Meg.”
Rolling my eyes, I dialed his speed down. “You’re too much.”
He blew a kiss at me and winked. “But you still love me. Just remember, the offer still stands.”
Shaking my head, I waved at him and started for Kyle. His back was to me, so I sat down on a weight bench, waiting for him to turn around.
“I know you’re there, love.”
“I just wanted to say hey before I disappear. I have a class to teach in just a few.”
He set his weights down and wiped his forehead before turning around. “Will I see you afterward?”
“If you’re still here in another hour you will. I have some good news.” Tyler came out from the back so I stood and straightened my smile. “I’ll tell you later, okay?”
Kyle noticed my hesitation and nodded. “I’ll be here.”
I walked away, hating the look of rejection on his face. Most would say he deserved it, but he hadn’t done anything to hurt me. The room I used for my self-defense classes was nicely sized with mirrors along the front wall like a dance studio. It was perfect for my group, considering
they felt more comfortable away from the prying eyes of other gym patrons.
With only ten minutes to spare, I sat down on the floor and stretched. Sherry came waltzing in and sidled up next to me, copying my movements. Once all ten ladies showed up, we were ready to get started.
“All right, lovelies, tonight’s session is going to be with just me. Tyler will be joining us again in a few weeks. How about we spend the first fifteen refreshing on what we’ve already learned and then afterward I’ll show you a whole new move.” After I put them with partners, I walked by and helped each of them. “You’re doing great, guys. I pity any man who tries to mess with you.”
That earned a few giggles and the energy in the room built. I loved pumping them up because that was what they needed . . . confidence. “Okay, let’s move on, ladies. Who wants to partner with me for a minute? I want to demonstrate a move Gabriella Reynolds showed me. As you all know, she’s a UFC fighter and holds the women’s Bantamweight title.”
Olivia raised her hand and moved forward. Out of everyone in the group, she was the one who was most lucky to be alive. She was twenty-eight years old with innocent, big blue eyes and long, silky blonde hair, but married a man who was a raging alcoholic. He was dead now, after she’d stabbed him in the neck with a glass shard from the same bottle he broke against her face. She healed, but you could still see the scars on her skin.
I smiled as she approached and put my arm around her. “Olivia, it’s good to see you again. Everyone, I’m going to have Olivia lie on the floor. Just watch the first time and then you can practice on your partners.” We got into position and I demonstrated what they should do if an attacker were to pin them to the ground. They had several options and I was going to show them every single one. After the first demonstration, Olivia did as instructed and knocked me off.
“That’s great, Olivia. I could feel the force behind it even though I know you don’t want to hurt me.”
“She can practice on me,” a voice called out. All eyes turned to the door and my heart leapt.
I rushed toward the door. “Kyle, what are you doing?”
He looked at the ladies and then back to me. “I want to help. They wouldn’t need to hold back in fear of hurting me. Let me join so they can do whatever they want to me.”