NIX (Daring the Kane Brothers)

by Kelly Gendron

  “Oh, you know us. Retirement keeps us busy. Your dad took up canning. We have jars of stuff. He says we’ll give them away at Christmas with gift cards. Everybody wants a gift card nowadays, but I always like to give a physical gift. Your dad says we can put them in baskets. Oh! We got one of those Alexis things. I catch your dad arguing with her, but I love her. If I need something, I tell her, and she adds it to my shopping list. Do you have one?”

  “No. I have a Google calendar. She works great for me.”

  “I have one too, Payton.” She’s a bit more tech savvy than Dad. “Maybe you could ask her when I might see my daughter next?”

  “Mom.” I sigh again. It’s always the same thing with her.

  “I know you’re busy, but it’s been a year, and we miss you. We want to see for own eyes that our child is okay. Maybe, someday, when you’re a parent, you’ll understand.”

  Odd, but the mention of kids coming from my mom doesn’t make everything inside me cringe. Instead, Becca comes to mind. Sweet, funny, cute Becca. The thought that I was that little once and my parents were there for me every step of the way until I went off to college makes me appreciate them that much more. After meeting Becca and seeing the way Nix looks at her and adores her makes me take a closer look at my relationship through my parents’ eyes. Sad that it’s taken me this long to really understand and appreciate it. College and work have kept me so busy for the past eight years. Even through Allie’s death, I was blinded to my parents’ sacrifices.

  “Christmas. I’ll try for Christmas, but if I come, tell Dad I want raspberry jam in my basket.” I laugh.

  “Okay.” Her voice lifts. “I’ll let him know. Oh, that’d be great, honey.”

  “I can’t make any promises, but I’ll definitely try. Now, I gotta get ready for work.”

  “Yeah, yeah. Okay, I’ll talk to you later. Love you.”

  “Love you, too. Bye.” I click the cell off and drop it back on the bed. “Shit!” I rub my eyes and look up at the sun now discoloring a little more of the ceiling. My next heartbeat pumps Nix back into my brain, and again, I lower my hand between my legs to finally finish what I started …

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  “Okay.” I tap the enter key and point at the old-school LCD computer monitor. “Hit this button, and it’ll generate the customer into the schedule. See?” I click a few more keys and point. “There it is.”

  Hobbs scratches the side of his white smoke-tinged beard. “Ah!” He throws up a wrinkled hand. “Screw this bullshit!” His white eyebrows meld together as he glances at Becca. Something everyone does whenever my daughter is around. Being a Kane, she’s heard her share of cursing.

  “It’s not that hard, Mr. Hobbs.” Becca gets up and pats me on the shoulder. “Here, let me show him, Dad. You go too fast.”

  “Yeah, he does,” Hobbs agrees with a curt nod of the head.

  “Okay.” I stand. Maybe I was going too fast for the elderly man. I’m not sure how old he is, seventies, eighties, but he’s been at the gym since they built the walls.

  “But you really need to tell Token to get you a new laptop. This one is a dinosaur.”

  “I tried,” Token says from the doorway. “Hell—” His eyes slide to Becca. “Heck, I was lucky to convince the old man to start using a program for scheduling the ring time instead of a notebook.”

  “Don’t give me any of that old man shit.” Hobbs winks at my daughter before shooting Token a glare. “I bet I can still sweep the floor with yer ass, boy.”

  “Yeah, maybe later I’ll let you try it, huh?” Token smiles, his eyes sliding over to me. “Come on,” he nudges. “We need a volunteer.”

  “For what?”

  Token smirks at me. “Fuc—” He glances at Becca, but she’s preoccupied with teaching Hobbs the basics of a keyboard. “You know what.”

  “What?” I head toward him, hands in the air, portraying innocence.

  “You knew she’d be here tonight,” he says, pushing the door open wider.

  “I don’t know what you’re—” My eyes land on the woman who’s been keeping me awake at night for the past three weeks. Garbed in a pair of yoga pants and a snug tee shirt with red boxing gloves on, she’s sexy as hell.

  “So let’s go,” Token slaps me on the back, waking me from Payton’s spell.

  After Lexi’s visit, I’ve been contemplating whether to see Payton again, which is unlike me. Fucking around with one woman never stopped me from pursuing another, but Lexi’s got me all fucked up. One second, I want answers from her, and the next, I want her to go back to where she came from. Becca’s and my life have been fine without her.

  Torn between what I felt when Lexi touched me the other night and from what I feel when I’m around Payton, I haven’t gotten much sleep.

  When I look at Payton, I can almost, and I mean almost, see another toothbrush in my bathroom, a bra on my bedroom floor, a woman around for Becca to talk to, someone to curl up in bed with at night, another point of view to argue with, a heart to hold, and a lover to believe in … I can almost see that in Payton. My saving grace, Lexi. In some sense, I’m kind of thankful Lexi is around to mess it up. Ironic, though, that Lexi’s also the reason I haven’t given anyone else the opportunity to fall in love with me. Then Payton came along and …

  “Good evening, ladies,” Token says, guiding me by the shoulder closer to the two women standing in the ring with Taylor. I believe that’s the thirty-something-year-old’s name. I’ve seen him before. He’s a good guy, ripped like Token minus the tatts. Looks like a beach bod on steroids, but I know he’s not doing drugs, not under Token’s nose. After what we’ve gone through with Stone, none of my bros do that shit. “This here is Nix, my brother, and he’s offered to help out with tonight’s lesson.” He smacks me on the back. “So don’t go light on him.” He laughs. “Taylor, let Nix know what to do,” Token says before leaving me.

  I make my way through the ropes and into the ring. When my eyes slide by Payton, my stomach does a small dive from her unreadable expression. I nod at the women and grin at Taylor.

  “What’s up?” Taylor’s chin lifts at me as he claps his hands together. “Okay, ladies, now that you’re warmed up, let’s take off the gloves and have a go at some contact defenses.” He enters the middle of the ring, waving at the woman in the pink tank top and skintight black pants. Her eyes and smile widen as she makes her way over to Taylor. “The first thing we’ll do is an arm grab.” He thrusts his arm out. “Crystal, grab me.”

  She does as instructed, and Taylor quickly frees himself.

  “See,” he says, doing the move again, but this time going slower and explaining each step. “Point your elbow up and slice downward using your core. Good,” he praises Crystal. “Payton, come and practice with Nix.”

  I move into the center of the ring to meet Payton halfway. “Hi.” I smile when she gets to me. She gives me a quick tight smirk. Okay, she’s pissed. She sticks out a hand. I grab her wrist, and she struggles to break free. I’m not making it easy on her, and she can’t do it.

  “Payton.” Taylor walks over to us. “For more leverage, place your other hand over this hand. Yeah, like that. Now, try it again.” He steps back to observe.

  Payton glares at me, then holds out her hand. I grab it, and following the instructions, she’s able to budge me a little this time.

  “Good,” Taylor says with a nod. “Keep working on it.” He heads back to an eagerly waiting Crystal.

  I smile at Payton. “How have you been?”

  “Fine.” Her hand thrusts out.

  I grab her arm and pull her to me. “I want to see you again,” I whisper.

  “No!” She yells as one would at an attacker, grabs her hand, points an elbow, and breaks free.

  Damn, she’s stronger than I thought.

  “Perfect!” Taylor nods. “Okay, let’s move onto the choke hold. Payton, wrap your hands around Nix’s neck.”

  “Gladly.” She grins, placing her small hand
s around my throat. Fuck, the firm pressure is turning me on!

  “Now, Nix, lift your arm, turn your body, then crunch down to trap her hand and strike your elbow to her face. Well, not really, but, yes, that’s right.” He praises me this time. “See, Payton.”

  She nods, moving back away from my body.

  “Good. Sometimes, it’s easier to understand the move better when it’s done to you,” Taylor says. “Okay, ladies, let’s try the move on your partner.” He slides back over to the ever-enthusiastic Crystal.

  “Ready?” I step toward Payton.

  “Yes.” She lifts her chin, exposing a vulnerable neck to me.

  I raise my hands and gently wrap my fingers around her soft flesh. “So what time should I pick you up tonight? Seven? Eight?”

  Her hand comes up, but before she can get an elbow to my face, I block her. She flips around, her ponytail whipping me across the face, and she squares off in front of me. Her eyes meeting mine, ready for battle. “Again!” She lifts her chin, offering me her slender neck.

  “Are you sure?” I smile, entertained by the level of anger rising in her beautiful blue eyes.

  “Yes,” she says, and I watch a small lump roll down her throat.

  “Okay.” I lift a hand and slowly place my palm around the left side of her slender neck, then just as slowly, I grip the other side and add gentle pressure. “Don’t be mad at me,” I taunt, watching her defiant chin rise. “I meant to call.” I run my thumb along the front of her throat, feeling her swallow this time. Her arm lifts. “But then I would’ve had to admit you were right.” Her arm freezes, and her eyes flash to mine. “I can’t stop thinking about you, Payton Tucker.”

  “No!” She finishes the move; this time, her elbow making contact with my face.

  “Fuck!” I bend forward, touching my nose, the hit not hard but unexpected.

  “Oh! Payton!” Taylor comes running over. “You gotta be careful.” He looks at me with apologetic eyes and sets his hand on my back. “Are you okay?”

  “Yeah.” I laugh. “It’s fine.” I lift an arm to shoo him off. “Really, I’m good, dude.”

  Shaking his head at Payton, he grimaces.

  “Sorry.” She smirks at me, clearly happy with herself.

  Taylor steps back. “Well, I think that’s enough for today.”

  “Oh, I don’t know.” Payton looks at Taylor and then me. “I’d like to practice a little longer.”

  Interested in the challenge, I smile. “We can do that.”

  Taylor shakes his hand. “I don’t know. I really don’t think—”

  “It’s alright,” Token says from behind the ropes. “Let them go at it a bit longer, but bro”—he nudges—“when you’re done here, you need to go back and work with Hobbs. Oh, and Becca went to the store with Harley. Should be back in ’bout an hour.”

  “Thanks.” I flick my brows at my brother. One thing with my family, no words need to be spoken for them to know what you want. Just sucks when you’re going after the last slice of pizza. Fuckers will take it from you even if they’re not hungry.

  Everyone clears the ring. “Okay.” I rub my hands together. “It’s time to stop with all the foreplay.” I raise my head, peering greedily down at her body. And I know she feels my eyes stripping away every stitch of her sweat-clinging clothes. Her shoulders lift, and nipples come alive beneath her tight T-shirt. She bites her bottom lip. Damn, that little tongue tease prior to the nibble gets me every time.

  She sets both hands on her hips and the corner of her mouth twitches. “I think we should get back to where I’m right.”

  “In due time, babe.” I take a step closer. “But first, I want that date.”

  “That’s not going to happen. There’s no way—”

  I raise a hand to silence her. “So here’s how we’re going to do this. If you can get my ass, which I hear is quite fine according to my brother’s girlfriend …” I waggle my brows, enjoying the blazing fury in her eyes. “If you can get my butt to hit this floor, I’ll stop. You won’t be obligated to go out on a date with me.”

  “I’m not obligated either way,” she says, her sassy attitude packed in the response.

  I take another step to her. “Oh, but I can be very persuasive when I want something, and I really don’t know how to stop until I get it.” I press my lips together. Her eyes watching my mouth makes my dick a bit hard. Damn, she’s such a turn-on.

  She sets a hand on my chest and leans closer to me. “Do you know why I come to these classes?”

  Her fingers slowly trail downward. “To protect yourself from someone like me?” I hate saying it, but if that’s how she feels about me, then …

  “Fuck!” My ass bounces on the floor of the ring. It happened so fast. She bent down, grabbed the back of my knees, and dropped me on my ass! I wasn’t ready for it, nor could I stop it!

  She drops down over me like she’s going to do a push-up. Our eyes lock, my fucking dick growing with each heartbeat.

  Mouth so close to mine, her breath singes my lips. “Pick me up at eight.” She bites my bottom lip, pushes up, and in one smooth motion, she jumps off me.

  “Yeah.” I touch my mouth, expecting blood like when Lexi does it. “Okay.” I drop my dry hand on the floor, watching her nice ass walk away. I sit up. “Glad it’s not to protect yourself from me,” I call after her as she clears the ropes.

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  I pull the cell back from my ear as Dwayne Abel clears his throat. “When was the first contact?”

  “About a month ago.” I put my hand behind my head and rest back into the chair, readjusting my cell against my ear. I didn’t want to make the call, but I can’t have Lexi getting my ass tossed into jail over this bullshit. Someone needs to be here for our child, and she assigned me the job when she walked out on us five years ago.

  “Verify the date and text it to me.”

  “Okay.”

  “So all she took was your laptop?”

  “Yeah, but she didn’t get anything. After the first time, I left a decoy out for her on my desk.”

  “Hmm.” I can almost hear the giggle in his belly through the response. “And why didn’t you call me when she first came to you?”

  I scratch my head. “Figured she didn’t get anything but some recipes and shit, so there was nothing to worry about.”

  “And you don’t know who she is?”

  “No.” I look at the ceiling like when I’d lie to Ma as a kid. Just ’cause Dwayne can’t see me doesn’t mean I don’t feel guilty. I hate Lexi. Still, I’m not about to toss my kid’s mom under the bus. She’s going to have to slide under that moving vehicle herself.

  “I’ll look into it. Until then, do you feel safe? You and your daughter?”

  “Oh, yeah. I don’t think there’s any threat to my family.” If Lexi wanted to harm me, she would’ve acted on it by now. If she wanted Becca, she could’ve have acted on that anytime as well. No. I believe my ex is searching for something she thinks I have. The trick now is trying to figure out what the greedy bitch wants. Apparently, it’s not my kid. I think that’s what I hate about her the most.

  Two hours later, I’m pulling up to Payton’s apartment, an old colonial home converted into three apartments. I jog up the ten or so steps to get to her door, deliver three quick knocks, and adjust my glasses.

  The door swings open, and Payton’s sweet familiar scent hits me.

  “Hi!” The sound of her voice and the sparkle in her blue eyes finish the wave that normally washes over me whenever I encounter her.

  “Hey.” I rush a hand through my hair, wanting nothing more than to push her against something hard and have my way with her. I glance around her, trying to get a glimpse of her place, but she moves forward. “Oh, sorry.” I step back, allowing her the space to lock up her apartment.

  She smiles. “So what’s on the agenda for this evening.”

  “Do you like animals?”

  “Yes.” Her head tilts curiously. “
But isn’t the zoo closed?”

  “Come on.” I offer her my arm.

  “Okay.” She grins before taking my offer.

  During the ride over, she’s patient unlike my usual three-foot passenger who asks every minute or so if we’re there yet.

  I pull into the parking lot, proud with myself for having an adult, let alone a woman, in my car on a Saturday night.

  She looks at the lit sign, then at me. “SPCA? Isn’t it closed?”

  “Not tonight.” I park the car. “Every first Saturday of the month, it opens from eight to midnight for Doggie Date Night. It started out as a movie night with your pet on the back lawn, but this site decided to make it a date night where you can come, have a beer, and meet the dogs. It’s supposed to give people working different shifts the opportunity to come and meet the dogs. It also gives someplace for people who might be home alone on Saturday night to go.”

  She rests back into the seat. “I can’t see you being alone on a Saturday night.”

  “I rarely am. I’m a full-time dad. The only time I don’t have Becca is when she’s with my family.”

  “You don’t have a babysitter for her?”

  “I’ve used Bethany, a friend of Token’s kid, when I get in a jam, but most of the time, my daughter is with me. It makes it a little difficult to date.”

  “Oh-ho, you’re not trying to use your daughter as an excuse for not dating, are you?”