*
It only took fifteen minutes to get to Boston’s new restaurant, Slip, from Aden’s training center. It wasn’t nearly enough time to steady Remy’s breathing. He didn’t know which had been worse—seeing Gunnar or Aden. A loud snort filled the car, breaking the silence. That was a lie. There wasn’t enough mental preparation in the world for seeing Aden again. Remy had always been good at hiding his feelings. He’d never had to use so much acting ability in his life. Aden had wrapped an arm around him. The muscles in Remy’s stomach clenched at the memory. The man’s masculine scent—like something woodsy—had engulfed Remy. Remy’s eyes fell closed. He sucked a deep breath through his nose, trying to calm his rage. Remy was so goddamn furious. The anger was all he had anymore. He wrapped it around himself like a security blanket and opened the car door. This was the last place in the world he wanted to be. He had responsibilities to the blessings he’d been given. This was one. He’d suck it up and go inside this fucking place without burning it to the ground. Fucking contractual bullshit making him do things that killed his soul.
As Remy’s feet carried him to the door, an unexpected evil grin pulled at the corners of his mouth. It would be fun, though, seeing Boston’s face when he walked through the door. Heads turned his way and cell phone cameras appeared. It was almost like walking the damn red carpet just trying to make his way to the hostess for a table. The young blonde woman’s eyes lit when they landed on Remy. It was wasted on him, but he’d never turned down a stroke of his ego.
He winked. “Hey there, gorgeous. How hard will it be for me to get a table?”
She beamed. “I could hip check someone out of a seat for you, if you’d like.”
“I’d say he could wait just like everyone else if he wasn’t so damn likely to start dancing in the corner, making a spectacle of himself just to hurry us along.”
At Boston’s sudden appearance, Remy retreated behind a mask of indifference. “You know me well.” He really didn’t. “It’s good to see you, Boston.” It really wasn’t.
Boston clapped Remy on the back. “It’s great to see you too.” Liar. “This is a long way to come for something to eat.”
“I was told anyone who was anyone would be here this weekend for your grand opening. Since I’m here now, it’s official; you’ll be a smashing success.”
“Since you’ve always turned everything you touch into gold, I’m inclined to believe you,” Aden said at Remy’s back, stealing the air from Remy’s lungs. He was in hell. This was hell. Fuck it. Even burning alive wouldn’t keep Remy from being the reigning diva.
“You should both be billionaires, then,” Remy said without missing a beat. He could tell by the way Aden winced his jibe had hit home. Remy mentally sharpened his claws, ready for a battle of wits. Daniel Long with The Daily Sports Report saved him from himself.
“Remy Bergeau. I need an autograph.”
“Shouldn’t you have one by now?”
Daniel flashed him a grin. “How about a photograph, then?”
“Oh, babe. You know I’m always up for some time in the spotlight.” Daniel’s gaze moved past Remy. Remy swore the man practically levitated.
“Aden Dawley. You’re an elusive one. I’ve tried several times to contact your training center and request an interview.”
Against his will, Remy’s gaze moved Aden’s way. He loved to see Aden squirm. Instead of dodging, Aden’s face hardened. “I’m not running a social parlor out here. Men pay me for training time, not to sit around giving interviews.”
Daniel didn’t let up. He kept up the line of questioning as if determined to get his story one way or the other, and as if they weren’t crowding the entry of Boston’s restaurant. “You’ve trained seven world champion boxers in your career. You must be proud to have these two under the same roof with you again.”
Aden shifted, looking uncomfortable for the first time. The man had always hated any sort of spotlight. “Aye, I’m proud, but my training had little to do with their success. They’re the ones who put in the work. I just barked the orders.”
Daniel’s smile said he thought Aden was being modest. Remy knew different. Aden honestly didn’t think it had been anything other than luck, landing him seven men who’d gone on to win the title.
“Can I get a picture of the three of you together?”
“Of course,” Remy said before anyone else had a chance to make excuses. He sounded overly bright, even to his ears, but he knew no one else would notice. No one ever thought him anything but outrageous. In this case, hell would freeze before he let any of these men see him bleed. He eyed the other men expectedly. “Come on, guys. Let’s squeeze in tight and let Daniel get his picture before I go.” He knew the promise of having him out of their hair would get the pair moving. Boston appeared wary but willing to put on a show. Aden looked… broken. They let Daniel move them into the positions he wanted. He honestly didn’t give a fuck where he landed in the picture as long as this trip down memory lane concluded soon. Boston ended up in the middle.
A sardonic-sounding laugh escaped Remy. “This feels familiar—you coming between us.”
Boston’s muscles tensed beneath the arm Remy had around the man’s waist. “I swear to God if you’re here to make trouble—”
The flashing of the camera cut off Boston’s words and had them pasting on fake smiles for the next round of pictures. The second Daniel was finished, Remy quickly stepped away from Boston, putting the distance between them he needed to save his sanity. He shook Daniel’s hand, giving his apologies for heading out early. As soon as he was free from listening ears, Remy focused on Boston. He knew Aden was still standing there, hanging on every word, but Remy was getting tired, and his guard was slipping.
“I’m not here to cause trouble. One of my sponsors asked me to come here and get a photo with all my old pals.” Remy heard the sarcasm dripping from that final word, but he couldn’t stop. “So here I am. I’ve done my part in keeping sponsors happy. Now I’m more than ready to let you get on with things.”
A deep line appeared between Boston’s eyes, as if he didn’t know how to react. “If you don’t want to hang around and try out the place, you should stay long enough to meet my husband,” Boston said, extending an olive branch.
Something ugly rose from deep inside Remy. It wasn’t fair for Boston to have anything good in his life, especially a husband. Of course, Remy had learned long ago life wasn’t fair at all when it came to him. He tried shoving it down. “Good luck with your new venture.” It was the best Remy could choke out. Without glancing Aden’s way or meeting anyone else’s eye, Remy headed for the door. He was almost done with this place and these people. No need to ever look back again.
“Remy, hold up.”
Remy’s steps faltered as he reached his rental car and Aden’s voice cut through the air. His eyes fell closed as he tried gathering his strength. He turned, bracing himself against the impact of seeing Aden. It always punched a hole through his chest and squeezed his heart. Even though he’d already seen Aden a few different times tonight, the blow didn’t lessen. Aden was almost two of Remy in size. He stood almost a foot taller, making Remy feel tiny. At one time, he’d felt petite and safe, as well as powerful and sexy when Aden was within reach. He’d brought this powerful man to his knees, but then again, hadn’t everyone? The reminder had Remy straightening his spine.
“What will people think with both of us running out without eating?”
Aden’s brow furrowed in the angry way Remy found so fucking sexy. “Who gives a shit what anyone thinks? I’m not here for Boston. Neither are you, right? Or are you? First, you’re here to see for yourself if the rumors are true. Next I hear, you’re in town to keep sponsors happy. Which is it?”
“Maybe it’s both,” Remy said with a wink before adding, “Perhaps it’s neither. You should spend some time wondering if anything I say is true. It’ll do your soul some good. After all, I’ve had to spend the last few years weighing every word
you ever said to me and wondering if any of it was true.”
Aden didn’t take the bait. “I know you don’t care and it’s too late, but I’m sorry for everything—for me.”
Remy’s rage had him unintentionally showing his heart. “Are you? Because I don’t think you realize how your sorry state looks to me.”
Aden didn’t as much as flinch. “It looks like I kept living my life, as if I didn’t destroy yours.”
Okay. Maybe Aden did realize how it looked. Remy did what he always did under pressure—hid behind humor. “Bitch, please. You can’t destroy me. I’m fucking fabulous.”
Aden didn’t smile and Remy didn’t know why he’d tried to make him. That was a lie. Aden rarely smiled and never laughed. When he did, it was like rainbows and all the happy, shiny shit Remy loved. The world felt right. That didn’t happen often for Remy. He was outrageous because life was joke and fit like a bad suit. When Aden had loved him, Remy had belonged somewhere for the first time in his life. It had all been a lie.
“No one could ever dim your light, my heart. You are feckin’ fabulous.”
All the humor inside Remy died at Aden’s endearment and serious tone. “I probably won’t ever see you again.”
“Aye,” Aden said. The word came out in barely a whisper.
Remy fiddled with his keys and cast a desperate look around the parking lot. He didn’t owe Aden anything. Perhaps he owed himself some peace of mind by saying something he should have a long time ago.
“I loved you, you know?”
A deep line appeared between Aden’s eyes as if he barely stopped himself from flying into a rage. “Aye.”
Remy chewed his bottom lip, wondering what he could live with and what he couldn’t. “It was never much of a consolation to me, but—like most everyone—Boston didn’t know we were together. He didn’t know he’d destroyed something…” Remy cleared his throat, incapable of finishing.
“Boston’s a chancer.”
He was, but it didn’t matter. It would never matter how horrible of a person Boston was because at the end of the day—no matter what Boston hadn’t known—Aden had known what he was ruining, something beautiful. Without another word, Remy unlocked the car’s door and slid behind the wheel. The tiny sports car the rental agency had given him suited him. It was red and flashy. Remy like shiny things, and red things, for that matter. He tried focusing on anything other than leaving Aden—his gorgeous red-haired giant.
Before Remy could close the door, Aden surprised him by going down onto his knees on the pavement inside the open door. With Aden in the way, Remy couldn’t close the door to leave.
“I’m genuinely sorry for everything, Remy.”
Remy couldn’t stop staring at the green eyes he’d fallen in love with.
“Not just Boston,” Aden continued, as if Remy wasn’t dry drowning. “But every feckin’ thing I ever did that made you feel like anything less than the bright twinkling star you are. This isn’t me, on my knees, begging for forgiveness. This is me, on my knees, begging you to never stop being the class clown.”
Remy’s throat swelled. He couldn’t respond.
Aden kept talking and saved him from trying. “You are laughter and light in the darkest goddamn world. It’s okay if you never forgive me or think of me again. Just don’t stop being you.” Aden came to his feet and closed Remy’s door before walking away. Aden swiped at his eyes, and hot tears threatened to spill over Remy’s lashes. There was only one way to shore up the cracks reopening in his heart. Remy needed to buy some red shoes to match his car. Fucking Aden, threatening to ruin his mascara in a town where there wasn’t a single goddamn shoe store.
Chapter 2
Early morning as the sun broke the sky was Aden’s favorite time of the day. He loved unlocking the doors of his training center and taking in the silence. This morning, his back reminded him of the passage of time. Every muscle pulled tight when he moved. The ring was the perfect place to stretch out and extend each muscle. Aden wasted no time moving toward the center and going down onto his back. As he stared at the ceiling, the steel beams were replaced with the memory of Remy’s face before he’d driven away the night before. When the man had waltzed in here, he’d been free of all emotion. It was a mask. Right before Remy had driven away, that façade had fallen away. Aden wished he hadn’t seen what lay beneath. There was something ugly living inside Remy now. Aden had tainted something beautiful. He wasn’t sure if he could live with that. After Gunnar walked away, Aden hadn’t lasted five minutes before he was right behind him. At the time, all he’d wanted was to catch Remy before the man left town, say he was sorry, and move on. Now he knew the truth. He’d never move on.
“You’re still an early morning person, I see.”
Aden’s head jerked up at the sound of Remy’s voice. “I thought you were leaving town?”
Remy leaned his arms on the rope surrounding the ring and set his chin on his forearm. “My flight back isn’t until tomorrow morning.”
He couldn’t stop his gaze from eating up every nuance of Remy. The eyeliner was still in place. “When you said you were sent for a photo op, I thought that’s why you were finally wearing eyeliner in public, but it’s back today. Is this your new style?”
A wicked smile touched Remy’s lips, and he winked. “Just embracing my many quirks. Do you not like it?”
There was nothing about Remy Aden didn’t like. “You should already know how I feel about you getting dolled up. It suits you.” Even Aden heard the longing in his voice. Clearing his throat, Aden rolled onto his knees and took in Remy’s attire. He wore workout pants and a V-neck tight-fit T-shirt. “Are you here to work out? You know this place is members only and I charge a massive fee.”
Remy rolled his eyes before taking a step back and spreading his arms wide. “Name’s Chad. Chad does Crossfit. Crossfit Chad doesn’t need your high-priced help staying ripped.” The man did such a damn good impression of a conceited gym rat that a burst of laughter escaped Aden. Remy’s infectious smile grew wider, reminding Aden of an important fact about the man. Remy was a showboat who fed on laughter. Tucking his arms, Remy pulled off a flawless hands-free cartwheel before stamping his foot like a sumo wrestler. “Crossfit Chad is also a vegan. You can’t teach this level of awesome.”
The laughter reverberating off the walls of the otherwise empty gym sounded out of place. Aden couldn’t stop. Even as he shook with humor, a pain sliced through his chest, reminding Aden of all he’d lost. “Let’s tape up those fists and see a demonstration of this awesomeness you speak of.”
Remy didn’t dim. “You’re on.”
After rolling from the ring, Aden grabbed the tape and moved to help Remy get ready to box. He was halfway through wrapping Remy’s second hand before his motions slowed. Doing this for his men was such a habit, it had become second nature. Now the impact of touching Remy again set in. Aden didn’t want to stop. He smoothed out the final piece across Remy’s knuckles. His pulse beat in his ears. Aden kept his gaze locked on his task. When he couldn’t find a reason to drag the moment out any longer, Aden reluctantly dropped Remy’s hand and took a step back.
“Let’s find you some gloves.” As he said the words, Aden finally met Remy’s stare. The man’s eyes were so goddamn beautiful. Aden had to look away again. He rushed through helping Remy into a pair of gloves before grabbing his punch mitts. Aden knocked the pieces of leather-covered foam together, signaling Remy should start.
Remy’s expression transformed from playful to hardened in an instant. Like that, Aden stared at the titleholder. While switching between bouncing on his toes and planting his feet, Remy landed solid blows almost too quick to follow. Pride swelled in Aden’s chest. Remy wasn’t a case of luck and timing. He was talented and hard working. Every accomplishment Remy had made he deserved. Lost in thought and regret, Aden didn’t see the hit coming. Remy bypassed the mitts, dipping low and hitting Aden in the stomach. It didn’t hurt, which was the first clue it hadn�
�t been an accident. Remy had pulled his punch. The man’s smile was Aden’s second clue.
“You’re a slick little bastard.”
Remy pulled off another flawless flip before coming at Aden swinging. He purposely missed the mitts several times, landing playful hits to Aden’s arms and sides. “Crossfit Chad can kick an old man’s ass.”
The overwhelming happiness choked Aden. He couldn’t stop smiling or hurting. Once upon a time, every day had been like this. Tomorrow, it would be gone again. He didn’t think he was a glass-half-empty kind of guy, but this reminder of all he was missing was crippling.
“Settle down there, spider monkey.”
Kung Fu noises filled the air as Remy did the opposite of Aden’s suggestion. Aden’s stomach shook with laughter and the weight of the mitts seemed more like iron and became too much until he dropped his arms, giving in.
Remy bounced away, smiling like the idiot he was. “Do you admit defeat?” His mouth didn’t move in time with his words like a bad Kung Fu movie.
Aden shook his head because Remy was ridiculous. A snort escaped him. “Absolutely. You’re too much for me.”
Remy’s smile fell. A flash of something dark crossed over the man’s features. “I’m too much for everyone.”
Fire lashed through Aden’s throat. He wanted to say something—anything to bring the smiles back. As always, he was useless.
“Damn. Look what we have here. This is something I haven’t seen in an age. Two of my favorite workout buddies together again.”
Aden’s gaze shot Gunnar’s way at the man’s appearance. Remy didn’t turn. His stare bored into Aden, demanding Aden’s focus.
The moment Remy had Aden’s attention, he dipped his chin. “It was nice seeing you, darling. Crossfit Chad’s got places to be.” Without a backward glance or as much as turning his head in Gunnar’s direction, Remy pulled off his gloves and tossed them aside before heading for the door. All Aden could do was watch him go in helpless silence. Aden’s gaze slid Gunnar’s way. He couldn’t play witness to Remy walking away from him again. His heart would know when it was over without his eyes seeing it happen. Gunnar stared at him in a way that hurt almost as much—like he could read Aden’s thoughts. Aden cleared his throat. “You showed up.”
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