Next I introduce her to some of the older guys that have been training fighters since before I was born.This gym was started by my grandfather so we have a legacy of champions that have come and gone in their time.I learned a lot from my grandfather and my father growing up, and when the time came for me to take over, I put my stamp on this place.I’m really proud of what I’ve turned it into, but I wouldn’t be here without the people before me.
The old timers try to talk Juliet’s ear off, but she seems to enjoy talking to them too.Maybe it’s me, but it seems like she’s almost starved for personal interactions.If there’s one thing this gym has always had, it’s a sense of community, and the older guys here are happy to bring young blood into the fold.
“You’ve had your jaw broken three times?”Juliet gasps as Willy, one of the oldest here, tells stories of his glory days.
“Ask him how many ribs he’s missing,” I whisper to her, and her eyes widen in shock.
“Four,” Willy says and holds up as many fingers.“Had them punched clean out of me.”
“You’re lying,” she says with a laugh, and the sound of it heats my body from the inside out.
“I’d never lie to a pretty woman,” Willy says, and his best friend George scoffs.
“That’s the first person you’re lying to,” George says.“Don’t believe a word he says.But if you want to talk about real injuries, let me tell you about the time I dislocated both my hips and still won my fight.”
“I think that’s enough tall tales for one afternoon,” I say before George can fill Juliet with more stories that might or might not be true.
“Sorry, boys, but my new boss is a real hard-ass,” Juliet tells them and then whispers loudly enough for me to hear, “If I can sneak back over here later, I want to hear all about that hip thing.”
“You got it,” George tells her with a wink.
“I think you’ve got a fan club,” I say when we walk to the front of the gym.
“For some reason I always like talking to old people,” she says and shrugs.“I never knew my grandparents, so maybe that’s why.”
“Really?”I wait a beat, hoping she’ll fill in some of the blanks of her past while we walk to the front desk.I want to introduce her to Cedric since he sees everyone who comes and goes, but I’m also not in a hurry to get there.
“Yeah.It’s complicated, but?—”
Before she can say anything, I hear a shout from the front of the gym that gets everyone’s attention.
CHAPTERNINE
JULIET
My spine turns to steel at the familiar voice, making everything inside of me freeze.I hate the sensation of panic that grips me tightly.It makes me feel helpless, and for a moment I’m paralyzed.
How did Brock find me?His eyes are locked on mine from across the gym before Maverick shifts over to block his view.Then all I can see is his broad, muscled back.
“Jewels,” Brock shouts loud enough for everyone to hear.The gym grows quiet as heads turn our way.I hate when he calls me that.
“You know Brock?”Maverick’s voice is low, but there’s an edge to it.
I swallow and nod.Clearly he knows him, so I take a step back from Maverick.His brows rise as he shifts to face me slightly.
When I first met my stepbrother Brock, he seemed nice and charming.It wasn’t until he tried to make a move and I turned him down that everything changed.He was angry and told me I’d been leading him on.He even said he’d done it because he pitied me.
A few days later he apologized and blamed it on his drinking.That’s how things went from then on.Each time, he grew more aggressive, and it felt like a ticking timebomb.It seemed like only a matter of time before he did something that would haunt me for the rest of my life.
My stepmother was no help either.In fact, she encouraged it and joked about us getting married.She was always pushy about it, making it feel like anything but a joke.What was even stranger was that she would openly fawn all over him when I was around.It was creepy.At that point I knew she had no love for me, nor would she ever.No matter what I did, she was always going to be a terrible person.
“Juliet,” Maverick says, his tone softer this time.His eyes search my face as he leans closer.“Did he touch you?”
I open my mouth, unsure how to respond to that, so I close it.Turns out I don’t have to respond because when Brock calls my name for a second time, it snaps Maverick’s attention back to him.
“Andersen,” Maverick shouts, Brock’s last name booming across the room.“You’re in my gym, and we’re about to have a fucking problem.”
Brock’s steps slow as he draws closer.He’s not in his normal slacks and button-down or a random polo.Today he’s wearing a dark blue hoodie with sweatpants.His blond hair is still neatly styled, so he must have come from the office.Brock has the all-American look with his blue eyes and dimples, but he’s far from it.His body is lean and not built thick like Maverick.I can see why women are attracted to him; he’s handsome on the outside, but he just doesn’t do it for me.I didn’t know I had a type until Maverick, but I’m so going to get the ick if they’re friends.
