“Of course not. I’d love to see it.” Oversight beeps as she crashes again, and I try, unsuccessfully, to muffle my curse. “If this code doesn’t murder meovernight.”
“I’m sure you’ll beat it into submission. I’ll see you in themorning.”
No questions, no elaborating? Something’s definitelywrong.
“West? Are you okay?” I set my laptop aside and close my eyes, trying to imagine him in bed, wishing I had the time and the energy for a repeat of our previous FaceTime session. “I didn’t mean toignoreyou—”
“It’s not that, Cam. I promise. Just a bad night. Don’t stay up too late. You’re going to need your stamina thisweekend.”
I hang up after promising to get some rest, worry over his lack of enthusiasm driving me deep into Oversight’s code again. Despite her problems, at least here, I understand therules.
10
Cam
Large windows lookout over the street, and inside, half a dozen men and women wipe down mats while others heft duffel bags or drape towels over their shoulders as they head forthedoor.
West’s dojo holds a corner spot in South Lake Union, but as I lock my car, a huge “Grand Opening” sign across the street catches my eye. Cross Your Fit, with its industrial design and big, bright lights showcasing hard bodies and gleaming equipment, is full, a thumping bass beat so loud, I can feel the vibration in my chest from a hundredfeetaway.
West’s unassuming shop, the punching bags hanging on one side, mats covering the other, doesn’t hold the same excitement., though, before my injuries, I’d have loved a placelikethis.
The pretty young woman at the front desk greets me with a smile. “How can I help you?” When she glances down at my cane, she adds, “Are you here to sign up for the Horizon program? The upcoming session is only for kids, but if you’d like to put your name on the waiting list, I can notify you when our adult accessible classes are open forsign-ups.”
She’s so earnest that I can’t muster any anger. Besides, it’s not like I can manage to punch, kick, and grapple anymore. West never mentioned anything about accessible classes, though. Is this why he asked me down here rather than picking me upathome?
“No. I’m a friend ofWest’s.”
“Ah.” A knowing smile reveals her dimple. “Down the hall, first door on the left.” She turns her attention to one of the sweaty customers as I skirt the soft mats. Too many late nights and not enough time in the pool has left me stiffer than usual, and I meet several stares with my best “what the hell are you looking at?” glare. West’s office door is cracked, and his voice carries intothehall.
“Look, I’ve got fifteen kids signed up already, and I’m about to announce the adult program. I can’t cancel Horizon now. You promised me if I paid by the end of the month, you’d discount the premiums.” He falls silent, and I peer through the narrow opening. Leaning against his desk, his back to me, his head sags forward as he blows out a breath. “Fine.” He jabs the screen, then mutters, “Fuckingbastards.”
As he tosses the phone next to his keyboard, I clear mythroat. “West?”
The tension melts from his body as he turns, and when he smiles, I adjust my grip on my cane, as I’ve suddenly gone a little weak in the knees. In three strides he’s in front of me, and then I’m in his arms, unable to stop myself from moaning as he claims my lips and slides a hand upmyback.
With how we left things the previous night, I half-expected him to pull away, but the heat in his kiss reassures me that we’resolid.
“I should take you right here on the desk,” he murmurs in my ear when he comes upforair.
“Does that door lock?” Though I’d pay dearly for the acrobatics necessary to fuck him on a piece of office furniture, I’m not sure I can wait fortonight.
He cups my cheek, his palm warm and smooth against my skin. “Yes, but there’s no soundproofing, and you’re not exactly quiet whenyoucome.”
Flames race up my cheeks, and I step back, unable to hold his gaze any longer. Desperate to redirect the conversation, I grasp for a safe topic. “The woman at the front desk asked me if I was here to sign up for your new ‘accessible’ classes. What didshemean?”
He blushes and shoves his hands into his pockets. “After I joined VetNet, I got a message from an amputee—WonderLT?—who asked me if I knew of any gyms like mine that took on clients with missing limbs. So I started poking around. I found a few that have personal trainers with experience, but none that offer classes. And nothing at allforkids.”
“And you decided to change that?” This man is too good to be real. My heart stutters ashenods.
“We’re supposed to launch the new program next month. A six-week ‘camp’ for kids, and if that goes well, a second kids’ camp and a twice-a-week class for adults. My instructors and I have all worked with physical therapists to help us adapt our workouts for amputees, the blind, and people with balance problems.” He frowns and glances back at the phone on the desk. “The insurance premiums are going to eat me alive, though. Once you get kids involved, the prices skyrocket. Kids with special needs—an extra five grand amonth.”
Supposed to launch. Not going to launch.His words play on repeat as I run my hands up his arms. “That’s why the CrossFitplace—“
“Yeah. I was counting on those membership fees to pay the bills. I’ve thrown everything I have into this place.” West pulls me close, and for a moment, I think I’m all that’s holding him upright. He breathes deeply, his nose buried in my soft curls, and when he draws back to meet my gaze, he’s smiling once more. “Hey, want to test out a few movesforme?”
“Wh-what?” His one-eighty leaves me reeling, as does the suggestion that I’m in any shape to test out a few moves. “I can’t.” Tightening my fingers on my cane, I swallow hard, hating that I have to wipe that grin off his handsome face. “What you do here…I wish I could join in. I don’t just have balance problems, though. My left leg is too weak to support me on my bad days—and today is a bad day. Unless you’ve got a couple of ‘moves’ that can be doneseated—”
“More than a couple. A whole class of them.” He quirks a brow in invitation, and damnit if I don’t want to feel…useful.
