A stupid, wild fantasy of tipping him off balance and pouncing on him runs through my head.
God, I’m more like my mom than I thought.
Lewis stands and collects the heavier weights. “That’s good. Do the exercises I showed you every other day. Tomorrow we’ll train on obstacles.”
“Mudder obstacles? The race lets us do that?”
He zips the duffel closed. “No, we’re making our own.”
“The whole team?”
He shakes his head. “Just us. You need more work than they do.”
Sad, but true. “Are the other participants creating mudder obstacles to practice on?”
He shrugs as if to say, who cares. “You want to finish, don’t you?”
“Yes.” Crap. That’s all I need, to get annihilated on the field by a bunch of alpha dudes.
“Do you want to win?”
“That’s not something remotely realistic, but of course I want to win. Who wouldn’t want prize money?”
“Why?”
“Why what?”
“Why do you want the prize money?”
I grab my T-shirt and yank it over my head. “I just do.” Why is he so negative about me doing the race? “I could use it for school, okay?”
He nods as if I’ve given him an acceptable explanation.
What the hell? Who cares if I want to buy a new nose with the winnings?
His mouth spreads into a sexy grin, and my heart skitters in my chest. “Good luck.” He walks toward the gate. “You’ll be up against me. I finaled last year.”
Friggin’ hell. Women don’t compete against men, but still. He just threw down another challenge.
Chapter Twelve
I tug a sweatshirt over my pajama tank and tread into the kitchen in sleep boxers. There are thirty mugs to choose from in the cupboard. I usually grab the Adult Sippy Cup, but my hand gravitates to the Challenge Accepted mug with the arms-crossed caricature on the front. It’s been almost two weeks since Lewis showed me exercises in the backyard and he is extra careful during training to avoid touching me, as if he believes that what Drake did has me shying from men. He’s partially correct.
I don’t want to be touched by other men, but Lewis? Lewis I’d like to climb and lick—it’s disturbing and intensifying the more time we spend together. I repeatedly remind myself he’s no good for me. That I’ll get hurt by the strong emotions he brings out, and that Mira, in some twisted way, is in the picture. For some reason my libido, which has taken this moment in life to make a staggering appearance, doesn’t agree.
Lewis’s first obstacle replication consisted of a trip to an indoor climbing wall. Holy shit, my forearms hurt that night, and I haul heavy trays for a living. My arms quivered like crazy at work. Fortunately, I didn’t drop anything.
The next outing was a boot camp regimen at his gym, where Lewis finagled a free thirty-day membership for me through his buddy who runs the place. After that bit of hell, I couldn’t sit without falling into a chair for two days. My muscles are never going to forgive me for what I’m putting them through.
I ease into the plastic lounge beside Cali on the patio and peer at the pines. A warm breeze swirls around my bare legs, giving me pleasure goose bumps. Cali returned from her mom’s, and after a few days of cold reception, we talked things out.
“I wasn’t supposed to like Jaeger,” she told me. “I was trying to set you up with him, but I couldn’t help myself and one thing led to another.” She glanced at me guiltily, then shook her head. “My mind was a mess after you said those things about Eric. I overreacted. I’m really sorry about that.”
“I should have said something sooner. I feel terrible how it came out.”
“Yeah, about that, it sucked what he did, but you need to tell me these things.”
I nodded. She was right. No matter how dirty I felt after Eric’s actions, I should have put my feelings aside and told her.
“I am over him, you know—Eric. It was the betrayal that hurt more than anything. When I thought you and Jaeger had hooked up—well, I freaked out.”
Cali had come into work to talk to me after our argument and had seen Jaeger hugging me after the Drake incident. She got the wrong idea and ran.
“I like Jaeger. A lot,” she confessed. “It’s crazy how much I like him. When I saw you two hugging, and after you told me what Eric had done, I thought Jaeger was doing the same thing.”
“There was never anything going on between me and Jaeger,” I reassured her. “He is one hundred percent into you.”
She smiled this sweet, secret grin. “I figured that out when I visited Jaeger after I returned.”
When it comes to this guy, I’ve realized Cali isn’t her normal laid-back self. In any case, there’s no more tension between us, thank God, but now Jaeger’s ex is causing problems.
And seriously, what is up with the ex-contingent messing with everyone? Jaeger’s been MIA dealing with this other girl, and Cali’s stressed out about it.
I lean back on the lounge chair and point to the sky to distract Cali from her worries, and hey, because teasing her is fun. “I thought you wanted to get rid of your freckles? Shouldn’t you be in the shade or something?”
“They’re not freckles.”
Cali’s overly sensitive about her freckles. She’s got like two on her nose—nothing compared to most strawberry blondes. I enjoy playing up her paranoia. It’s the least I can do, considering how much crap she gives me about my conservative clothing, my lack of makeup, the music I listen to—the list goes on. I’m doing her a favor; this will take her mind off Jaeger and his ex.
“I have a light smattering of beauty marks and I’m wearing sunblock.”
I’m already loving this argument. Cali is logical, except when it comes to her freckles. We’ve had this one before, but it never gets old. “Why risk it when the shade will prevent them?”
Her pale blue eyes peer above her book, Poetry and Prose. The title alone triggers a yawn. “You’re starting to sound like my mother. I’m making vitamin D. It’s healthy.”
“But if you’re wearing sunblock, doesn’t that prevent vitamin D production?”
Her face turns a bright shade of pink. Steam will be coming out of the top of her head soon. “Are you done?”
“Making a logical point? Yes, I’m done.”
Her eyes narrow. “You’ve been out and about lately. Still seeing Lewis?”
I frown. She knows nothing is going on, but I guess teasing is a two-way street. “We’re friends. He’s helping me train for that mudder competition I’m doing.”
Lewis doesn’t have a girlfriend, he has a Mira, which apparently is a hell of a lot more stressful than an actual girlfriend. Cali witnessed them together. Even if this thing with Mira isn’t romantic, I doubt very much that Cali will endorse him. But Lewis has kept things platonic between us during training and I’ve managed to contain my lustful urges, so it’s a nonissue.
Lewis has been a great coach and I already notice a difference in my strength. With his help, I’m sure I’ll finish the race. I might even come in with a good time. That would be a huge confidence booster.
“Good luck with your training. I’ll salute you the next time my spoon dips into butter pecan goodness.”
Her addiction to strange ice cream flavors, butter pecan being on the top of that list, is about as natural as her love of green olives. I scrunch my nose. “Don’t worry about saving me some.”
She grins and sets her book down, her expression turning serious. “Gen, I’ve gotta find a job.”
Aaand that was a topic change, but one I understand. I told Cali what happened with Drake and why Jaeger had been hugging me when she saw us together. It turns out, Drake has done this sort of thing before, confirming my worst suspicions. Only he’s done it closer to home than I’d imagined.
I thought maybe Cali had gotten feisty with one of the managers and that’s why she lost her job, but she was hiding something from me. She told me aft
er she returned from her visit with her mom that Drake tried to force himself on her the night we were all at the club. She didn’t tell me about it at the time, because Jaeger showed up and punched Drake in the face to get him to stay away. Cali was still keeping silent about her feelings for Jaeger, so her options were to either lie about what happened that night or lie through omission. She chose the latter.
To say Drake wasn’t happy about receiving Jaeger’s fist to his face is an understatement. Cali lost her job the next day. She put two and two together, and figured Drake must have been to blame.
“You never would have gone to that suite if I had told you what happened the night of the club,” she said. “I’m responsible.”
“I might have gone up anyway, Cali. It was my job, and there were customers in the room. It didn’t look like a set-up until it was too late and I was caught in the middle of it.”
Cali’s story about the club incident adds a scary new light to the entire Drake situation. The way things went down for Cali—getting fired, no questions asked—I’m not convinced Drake is the only person pulling strings. Others must be corrupt inside the casino as well.
“What can I do to help you with your job search?” I ask her.
“For some reason, I’m not having luck finding a job at the other casinos. I’ve looked into old work contacts, but nothing pays enough. You think you could talk to Nessa? See if she knows anyone looking for a superstar employee?”
“Arrogant much?”
“What?” Her look is all innocence. “You know it’s true.”
I do. I kick Cali’s ass at hand-eye coordination, but she could pummel me in a contest of mental skill.
“I’ll give her a call.”
Chapter Thirteen
“So what do you think? You know anyone looking for a summa cum laude graduate?” I ask Nessa over the phone. I would have added with acceptance into Harvard law, but part of Cali’s angst this summer stems from her not wanting to go to law school in the fall. It’s what her mom and others expect. Cali wants to find a job so she can afford to take art classes for the sketching she loves, and only recently began taking seriously. Jaeger, with his art background, helped convince her of her talent. Apparently, my opinion all these years wasn’t good enough. In all honesty, I’m happy she finally realizes how good she is.
A muffled sound like a yawn comes through the receiver. “Sorry. Tired.” Nessa just woke from an afternoon nap—a girl after my own heart. Not a morning sleeper but definitely a sleeper. “You could check with Sallee Construction. Lewis mentioned his dad is looking for someone to support their architect. Not sure if Cali has the skills they’re looking for, but it’s worth a shot. Lewis’s dad is sooo nice. If John doesn’t have something for her, he’ll ask around, and he knows everyone.”
“I met John. His company is building the mudder obstacles. Zach referred me.”
“Perfect, so tell Cali to get in touch with him and have her mention we sent her.”
I could talk to Lewis, but his father is just as good and I’d rather not ask Lewis for another favor. He added me to his mudder team. It’s to his advantage to help me train if I’m on his team, but I’m getting the better bargain. Without his help, I’d be struggling.
The second Nessa and I hang up, my phone vibrates. I assume it’s a text from her with another lead, but the message is from Lewis.
Lewis: Have plans tonight? The team is getting together for pizza and beer. You should come. It’ll be teambuilding.
Teambuilding, not a date.
Gen: Sure. Where/what time?
A couple of hours later, I scan Avalanche Pizza and even though I’m wearing my normal crisp button-down tucked into skinny jeans, there’s a chance I put more effort than usual into my appearance. I straightened my hair and wore makeup—I also paired my conservative outfit with pointy-toed stilettos instead of flats. The heels are only two inches high, but they add a little something extra.
A youngish crowd elevates the noise in the restaurant to a low roar, and I sense eyes on me as I walk across the room. Lewis is with a bunch of guys, his back to me. Zach signals me over. Other than Zach, I haven’t met the others on my team, and apparently, I’m the only female.
I walk up and Lewis turns and scans me from head to toe, sending a flutter through my stomach. He returns his attention to the guys and swigs his pint. No smile, nothing.
My chest deflates.
Dismissed, just like that.
I’ve gotten to know Lewis better through training. He’s fair, pushes me hard, and when he thinks I’m not paying attention, he watches me. I hate to admit it, but this dismissal, after I put effort into my looks, hurts.
Zach hands me a beer and makes room for me on the bench. He introduces me to the others. “Don’t let her sweet look fool you. Gen, here, is a shark.” I sink beside him as all eyes fall on me. “She was dunking coins left and right the night I met her, playing Quarters and kicking our asses.”
One guy’s brow quirks. He reaches over to an abandoned table and grabs a shallow, empty glass. He sets it in front of us and digs in his pocket, dumping three quarters, two dimes, and a stringy ball of lint on the table.
Lewis shakes his head. “We’re training tomorrow. Take it easy. The race is only three weeks away.”
Someone blows off the lint and more pockets empty until a dozen quarters pile in front of me. We really only needed a couple.
“Let’s test her skills,” the guy with the glass says. “Any girl who can sink a quarter the first time deserves our respect, even if we have to drag her ass around the course in three weeks.”
So they think I’ll weigh them down? I can’t say I disagree, but I will kick their asses at Quarters.
I pick up the coin, glance at the glass and look straight at the heckler. I strike the edge of my palm on the table and let the quarter fly, holding his gaze.
It sinks with a clean ping.
“Whoaaa!” my team shouts above the drone, slapping each other’s backs.
I sweep through twenty-two ringers before my luck runs out. Lewis acted bored the entire time, but the rest of my team gulped beer with every shot I made—ignoring Lewis’s grandfatherly rule about not drinking. A few of the guys ask me about sports in high school and college. One of them asks me if I have a boyfriend.
My eyes dart to Lewis—why, I have no idea. But he’s waiting for my answer along with the rest of them.
“No.” I shake my head and smile.
“Are you looking for one?” the guy next to me asks with a saucy grin.
“Back off.” Zach thumps the guy’s shoulder. “Gen’s on our team, which means she’s off-limits. Think of her as your little sister.”
“After the race?” the guy quips.
Lewis rises and walks over. “Move it, Jake.” He squeezes in between me and Jake, and my body tenses.
The rest of the team switches to other topics, but I get the sense they’re observing. Not in an overtly obvious way, just like the conversations have gone down a notch in volume and each guy takes turns glancing.
Is it hot in here? I unbutton my white shirt and wrap it around my waist.
The table goes silent.
I wore a silky tank underneath my shirt that I didn’t think was sexy, but maybe it is. I have actual cleavage in this top. Cali and my mom would be thrilled.
Lewis’s gaze strays to my bare arms, then shifts quickly to the beer he’s cupping.
Time for a subject change. “No Mira?”
His eyes narrow. “She’s not my girlfriend, Gen.” He rubs a condensation bead on the side of his glass. “She’s a close friend, but I don’t record her every move.”
“You fight like you’re in a relationship,” I say, to flush out the definition of the two of them.
A part of me wants him to be in a relationship. If he has a girlfriend, I can convince myself to stay away from him. The way I respond to Lewis scares me. It’s too intense.
He angles toward me, shutting out t
he others, though I’m pretty sure they’re listening as they can’t seem to talk and listen at the same time, so there’s not much conversation going on. “No relationship—not in the way you think. She’s like a sister to me.”
I look at him incredulously. “Does she know you think of her this way?”
“Yes.”
“How does she handle that knowledge?” I’m acting like I believe I’m an actual psychologist, but seriously, I must figure this out.
He lifts his shoulder in a lazy shrug, as if it doesn’t matter.
It matters, dammit. What they have together is so confusing, and I need to know what it means. “How did she deal with your past girlfriends?”
He doesn’t answer. His gaze wanders nervously away.
A tingly feeling sweeps my spine like soft fingers. “Lewis?” I’m almost afraid to ask. “When was the last time you had a girlfriend?” Maybe his last relationship ended badly and Mira is overprotective?
“A few years ago.”
I sip my beer to steady the shudder threatening to unhinge me. Not what I wanted to hear. “Sooo … Mira was okay with that one, but now she can’t handle you talking to other women?” I’m not going to beat around the bush. It’s obvious Mira has issues with Lewis paying attention to other women, specifically me.
Another smile, this one a bit mischievous. “She didn’t know about that relationship. I was away in college.”
My eyes bulge. It’s been going on since college? “Why are you keeping your girlfriends hidden?”
He shifts in his seat. “Girlfriend. There was one.”
“One?” I squeak. Lewis is polished mountain man candy. No way he’s only had one girlfriend. He’s gotta be a player, only that image doesn’t fit either. He hasn’t checked out a single girl tonight, unlike his counterparts. “Sisters don’t cockblock,” I point out. His mouth curves up. Did I say that out loud? “I mean … You know what mean.” I glance nervously at the guys.
Half are openly staring.
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