Bottomed Out

by Brooke May

  Doing my best to gather my wit, I clear my throat and dive in headfirst. “I don’t think it is as much as what Piston Motor Sports could do for us, but what we could do for one another that would be beneficial for both parties.”

  My mind instantly goes to the advantage of a partnership between the two companies. Confidence blooms in me with each word that drifts down from my mind and out of my mouth. I’m able to look at Len with ease as I speak, finding her nod from time to time and adding her own comments to what I have said.

  In the moments I pause for her to speak, I admire her and the ease she has with decisions she is making for her employers.

  An hour passes and we are finalizing both of the twins for the race and freestyle events in Beaver. I had finally gone back to my desk to get something to write on, and I’m loving the ease between us. Jotting down the last of my notes, I hear a soft knock, and then Michelle enters.

  “Mr. Hunt? You have a phone call.”

  “Can it hold?”

  “I’m afraid not. It’s Beaver City Hall, and they want to talk about something with you.”

  Shit.

  “Okay. We are just wrapping up.” Turning back to Len, I find her already standing and that small hand held out to me once more.

  If this wasn’t a business meeting, I would be asking her for her number and possibly a date out of this encounter, but I have to refrain from opening my mouth and letting the lonely Jax out.

  “Thank you for coming here and arranging this with me, Len.”

  “You’re welcome, Jax.” She teases my name again, and fuck if it doesn’t make me want to rearrange the front of my slacks.

  Our hands finally separate, and I’m left to watch her walk away. Like a powerful magnet, my eyes are attached to her ass.

  “Well?”

  Snapping out of the trance, I spring my gaze up to Michelle and a curious grin on her face.

  “What?”

  “You’re smitten.”

  Chapter Nine

  Michelle has no clue what she’s fucking talking about.

  A condescending tone echoes her words in my head.

  “You’re smitten.”

  Fuck that shit.

  Sure, I may be taken with the woman, but I’m not about to let it interfere with my career just to get to know her. I know how that story ends, and I’m not about to let what happened to Axle happen to me.

  The moment those words came out of Michelle’s mouth, I did my best to paste on a look of indifference as I wheeled my way back to my desk to shoot an email to Mr. Landon confirming that I managed to acquire the Bartin twins for our upcoming event.

  To say that the rest of my day was spent productively would not be accurate. I was far beyond any realm of distraction as I stared at my computer screen while I absentmindedly ate my lunch. Email after email dinged into my inbox, and I was unable to do anything but stare at the goddamn screen, helpless to put any brain power into responding to anything.

  I felt haunted.

  Even after I finished my semi-soggy sandwich and went out to get a refill on my coffee, all while ignoring Michelle, I wasn’t able to function. I did however get each email answered before the end of the day approached.

  Even as I wrote each out and then later, shutting everything down to leave, Len’s unique gaze and overall look continued to hold me hostage. The mirth those two-toned eyes held captivated me, and as much as I don’t want to admit it, I want to know more.

  I’m hoping I’ll get a chance to see her more now that we have Piston Motor Sports linked to Double X. I don’t know if I can handle going between events to see her again. I’m drawn and feeling desperate to find another way to see her.

  Heading home, I barely remember the trip to the apartment or how I managed to get out of the van and safely into the apartment. I changed into some workout clothes, grabbed my water bottle and earbuds, and headed over to the gym to help clear my head.

  Pushing the thirty-five-pound dumbbells over my head, I blow out a breath as all the muscles in my arms and shoulders start to scream. Loud music pulses in my ears as I push my upper body a few more reps.

  No, there is no way Michelle is right.

  Then why can’t you get Len out of your head?

  The feel of her slightly calloused hand sliding against my much larger one, the heat of her gaze on my face as we spoke, and the lyrical tone of her voice that holds a mischievous pitch to it are fascinating.

  Fucking hell, Michelle is right.

  Dropping the weights to the sides of my wheelchair, I’m careful not to slam them or my hands against the wheels that are locked on either side of me.

  This isn’t working.

  Knowing there isn’t any music pumping around me outside of my earbuds, I keep what I want to say aloud in my head. I’m relatively normal at least when compared to my friends. I don’t care to vent what is going on in my head for the world to hear or witness, especially in a new place.

  For the most part, the physical therapists have allowed me to do my own thing and have only asked if I needed their assistance once since I came wheeling in. And like yesterday, each one of them are friendly. Only a few people are working on various machines, and most keep to themselves. Only a couple have come up to introduce themselves.

  Maybe I should just stick to evening workouts. If this is the normal crowd in the late afternoon and early evening, then I’m okay with that. I’ll have to be sure to ask about it before I leave.

  Before I pick up my heavily weighted arms again to start a different workout, my eyes drift shut, and I do my best to bring a calm to my mind. If I don’t get my shit together, I’m going to hurt myself, and the last thing I need is to hit my head again.

  I may not have any use of my legs, but I don’t want to lose my mind next.

  Stormy gray mixed with the richness of the earth and water tone counterpart flash across my closed lids. The one hand that held hers tingles around the dumbbell. My grip wavers, but I double up my strength and snap my eyes open. I can’t allow myself to get distracted now.

  Fuck, the gym is the place I go to get out of my head for an hour or two every day.

  Growling to myself, I place one of the weights on my lap and hold the other over my head with both hands. I need to get a better burn going so I’m forced to concentrate on my breathing and what I am doing with the weights.

  Fuck it. Yes, I’m attracted to Len. Beyond her unique look and the feisty attitude she wears like a second skin, something about her draws me in. I can’t resist my need to think about her, to want to see her again, to touch her, and feel her breath against my face. All of it is mixing with my own …

  Fucking hell, I can’t think like that.

  As I push the weight over my head, I nearly drop it. In its attempt to tent my shorts, my dick hits against the other dumbbell.

  Goddammit!

  Raging in my head, I bring the weight back down, pick up its partner, and return them almost violently to their cradle on the long bench of other weights.

  Maybe there will be enough people on the court to put a three-on-three team together. Putting all my thoughts into playing a little basketball might be just what I need. Pushing away from the weights, I back out until I get cleared from the benches and start to turn.

  I don’t know what causes me to do it.

  I stop.

  There is a moment or two when I don’t have any music pumping into my ears as one song ends and the next is getting ready to play. The hairs on the back of my neck stand on end, rubbing against my hair that is steadily getting damp from the sweat I’ve been able to build up thus far.

  Keeping one hand still on a wheel, I push the other to turn me. The front doors are slowly closing behind Owen and a familiar woman standing behind him who has haunted me since she left.

  She’s here?

  Why is Len here?

  Chapter Ten

  Keeping myself from diving headfirst into a panic-stricken state at the sight of the woman who
has ignited something deep within me only a few hours ago, I’m relieved that I didn’t have weights in my hands at this very moment.

  She looks shorter in tennis shoes and workout clothes rather than the outfit she wore to our meeting, making her look childlike behind Owen’s wheelchair.

  And then it hits me.

  When the staff warned me yesterday about Owen’s sister who occasionally comes with him, it was Len they were warning me away from.

  Well, that won’t be fucking happening.

  I’ll either be dealing with her on the professional level or, if I’m being hopeful, on a personal one too. A man like Owen Austin, if that is his last name as well, isn’t going to scare me away from pursuing his sister.

  I live with a giant scary man. Owen is a kitten compared to Axle.

  Owen is signing in, allowing Len to chat with Francis at her station while a trainer I haven’t met yet stands next to her. The other man is visibly shaking as he stumbles over a few short words when addressing her, his eyes nervously flickering over to Owen, who is still writing his name.

  Like some doctors’ offices, we have to sign in when we get here. I don’t mind it because it makes it easier for them to pull up files on us to better aid each person. At least that is what I was told when I came in.

  Owen’s chair isn’t blocking my view of Len.

  Her feet are encased in a pair of pink tennis shoes, socks aren’t visible, but I’m finally granted a view of her magnificent legs. Pale like the rest of her but covered with various colorful tattoos. Roses cover one thigh, vanishing up into her tiny pink workout shorts she more than likely painted onto herself because they are so tight.

  Her arms are both covered in ink as well. Various designs that all come together, making it look like she is wearing sleeves rather than having the ink embedded into her skin.

  It’s hot as fuck.

  Her pink sports bra is visible on her sides where her white shirt is ripped down. I can see more ink there as well.

  My knees would quake at the sight of her if my legs were holding me up.

  Soundlessly, they make their way around the counter to the hanging equipment. The loud music in my ears creates the perfect soundtrack to them. I can see Len’s lips move as she follows Owen, but he doesn’t say a word in return.

  Snapping out of my lustful gazing, I look up when someone taps me on the shoulder. I remove one earbud. “I wouldn’t even think about it if I were you, Jax.”

  “Oh, yeah? What if I said I met her before I knew she was Owen’s sister?”

  “I still would stay as far away from her as you possibly can. Owen is a bit too protective of his sister.”

  Licking my lips, I don’t respond. I don’t know what to say. I’ve always been a believer in going after what you want, and I want to get to know Len a little better. I’m not about to let Owen dictate who I can and cannot talk to.

  Looking back at the siblings, I watch as Owen gets himself ready to do some pull-ups while Len leans against the equipment. Is he that protective of her that she can’t even work out herself?

  If I were so lucky to get my sister to ditch her mommy group to come hang out with me for an afternoon, I would let her do what she wanted. But my sister is also happily married.

  You still don’t know for certain if Len is or not.

  Shaking the thought from my head, I force myself to take off to other equipment. I haven’t been here long enough to call it an evening.

  For the next forty-five minutes, I move around the gym and even head to the court to try to find someone to play basketball with. When I don’t find anyone around who wants to play, I make my way back to the main room and debate about going to try out some yoga, Pilates, or whatever else they may have for classes tonight when I find Len again.

  Whatever power she holds over me has my attention compelled to find her.

  And I do.

  Standing by the weight benches I started at, Len is just placing a set of light dumbbells back into their cradle. Her small back is to me. My wheels are silent as I close the space between us when I don’t see Owen anywhere. As I watch her standing there, her head lifts, and our eyes connect through the reflection.

  Disbelief flitters across her gaze before she blinks and quickly turns to face me.

  “Jax?”

  “Hello, Len.” Grinning up at her, I feel my heart begins to race once more as she takes several steps to me until we are face to, err … chest. Not that I’m complaining about the view. She doesn’t have a massive rack, but it’s still a fine sight to behold.

  “You go to the same gym as my brother?”

  “It appears so.” My grin stays in place. There is no point in hiding my slow perusal of her body. I appreciate every inch of her. “Is this what you do with your free time?”

  “Some days.” She relaxes a little, her posture losing its edge.

  “It’s a great gym.” I’m at a loss for what to say. I mean, I know what I want to say to her, ask her really, but I can’t do that.

  And why the hell not? Just go after what you want.

  “Listen, Len, I know we just met, and I honestly never do anything like this, but would you like to go out with me some time?”

  Shock registers across her face and even in her movements. Her folded arms drop like deadweights to her sides as her mouth follows.

  “Y-you’re serious?”

  “Why wouldn’t I be?”

  “B-because …” She trails off, and I’m hoping it’s because she doesn’t have a good reason.

  “I know we have a professional connection because of your bosses working alongside my company now, but that doesn’t mean we can’t get to know each other.”

  “Jax, listen …” She starts again. “I like you. You’re a great guy, and yeah, I find you attractive, but I don’t think it is a good idea.”

  “So, you find me good looking? Well, that’s a great start.”

  Giving me a pointed look, she starts again. “Jax, I … can’t.”

  “Why not? Do you have a boyfriend? Husband? Girlfriend?” My brow rises with the last one, and it makes her laugh.

  “No.” Pearly white teeth come out and bite down on her plump lower lip. I want to give it a taste. “None of those unless you count Paige as my mistress.”

  “Like a madam? I’m sorry sexy, but you do not look like a lady of the night to me.”

  “So, you’re saying I’m sexy but not good enough to be whore?”

  “Exactly, have you ever seen one? I’ve seen plenty in various locations around the world, and I have to tell ya, they are scary looking.”

  “Looks aren’t everything.”

  “Obviously why they get paid for other talents. But that’s also why I would love to get to know you better,” I counter.

  “Jax, I–”

  “Len!” A deep, angry bark breaks up our conversation. Both of us turn in the direction of the voice and find Owen wheeling over to us. “Get out of my way, asshole.” Pushing me out of the way rather violently, he interjects himself between us.

  “Owen, this is my friend, Jax Hunt. He works for a company that Paige and Parker are joining forces with.” Len’s tone remains calm while her brother seethes in front of her.

  “I don’t give a rat’s ass. He doesn’t need to talk to you. Come on, let’s go.”

  “Wh–”

  “We are leaving.” Owen cuts me off as he grabs his sister and hauls her away from me once she takes hold of his chair instead of remaining in his hand. Len gives no protest as she follows him out of the gym, but does look back over her shoulder with a crestfallen look and mouthing the word sorry to me.

  What the fuck just happened?

  Chapter Eleven

  The week steadily slipped away from me after Owen dragged Len out of the gym. Work, gym, and home blended together for the past three days.

  I went to work excited about the chance to speak or see Len again with more details on the event the twins are making an appearance at, but
at the end of each day, I was disappointed that I never heard from her.

  And then when I went to the gym with the same hope reforming in my chest as I drove home to change and take off on my smaller wheels, I was utterly disappointed she wasn’t there. Owen was, though. He seemed to follow me every place I went, even to areas like the yoga room which was clear he had never been in there before by the instructor’s shocked expression. It was like he was taunting me that his sister wasn’t there, or maybe he was just keeping an eye on me, making sure I wouldn’t be getting ahold of Len.

  Joke’s on him, though, because I wouldn’t dare do that when I was working out. Hell, no. I would wait until I am far, far away from him. Besides, I don’t have her number.

  He made sure to be as rude as he possibly could be when I didn’t talk to him or look in his direction. I made sure I had the loudest music I could put together on my playlist to blast myself with in the hopes of keeping his comments from being heard.

  By Thursday, I was doing my best to get my mind on other things. I have been trying my best to not let a woman mess with my head and forced myself to get back to work. I had an event to finalize shit for, and no matter how much I was into Len, I wasn’t going to let her control my mind or body anymore.

  Vendors have been confirmed and magazines as well as news reporters have all been arranged and set up to pick up press passes next week when they get to town or at the gates of the event. I even managed to snag two extra VIP badges for Levi and Axle.

  Levi will be more than willing to come along for the free party, but Axle is going to take some convincing. Maybe the prospect of free booze and plenty of women will encourage Ax enough to come along and be near bikes once more.

  At least, that’s my hope.

  Friday afternoon is no less busy than Monday morning. My fingers are flying over my keyboard as I work on some contracts for another event I am just starting. Permits are always my first step and then come the rest.

  My mind is staying fully focused on the task at hand and not on a certain uniquely eyed, tattooed beauty.