“I’m sure he’d appreciate that,” I said, hiding a smile.
“Thank you for the book, dear. I can’t wait to try out some of these new recipes.”
“You’ll have to save me a taste.”
“You know I will.”
As she left, my good mood suddenly deflated. Sam was gone, and the playfulness of the morning had disappeared with him.Not that it mattered. I had things to do, and having him here was only a distraction.
I got to work and tried to pretend the entire time that I couldn’t smell his scent still clinging to my body. It was going to be a long day.
10
SAM
I steeredclear of her for three long days. Every time I saw her in public, I turned and walked in the other direction. I avoided going anywhere near her house and even started running a long circuit around town to avoid her shop.
But I wouldn’t be able to do that forever. Especially not when all I could think about was her. I didn’t quite understand why I’d become so fixated on her. She was just another woman. Hell, when I was on the road, the number of women flinging themselves at me bordered on insane.
Since I’d moved here, hardly a single woman had looked at me, and I was good with that. I was laying low and trying to figure out my next step in life. But then she came crashing down off a roof and dangled herself literally right in front of me.
And that was the moment something inside me snapped.
I always had boxing. It was what kept me focused and moving forward in life. But the second she fell into my arms, something shifted, and I wasn’t sure I liked it.
Women like Cassidy wanted dates and commitment. She would expect me to spend time with her and give her a piece of myself that I had never given to another person. And after awhile, the expectations would grow. She would want a ring and, eventually, a family.
And all I wanted was my old life back.
Deke was offering it to me on a silver platter. The one thing I thought I had lost completely, he was telling me was still within reach. I could still do the one thing I loved more than anything in this life. I could have my shot at redemption.
I could get back the life that I’d loved since I was in high school, training in my first gym.
All I had to do was make the call.
Standing outside the address Deke had texted, I peered through the glass at the empty space inside. It would be perfect for training. The building had been vacant for six months, but the landlord had kept it in top shape.
I dialed his number, knowing for certain this was what I wanted.
“Tell me you’ve decided to take my offer.”
Grinning, I shoved my hand in my pocket, fighting off the chill racing through me. “Let’s do it.”
“Ha! I knew it!”
The door to the building flung open and Deke ran out, jumping as he hugged me like we’d just won a match.
“What the hell are you doing here?”
“Getting the gym ready,” he smiled. “I knew you wouldn’t be able to turn me down. Come on. I gotta show you this,” he said, grabbing my arm and tugging me inside.
The space was even better upon walking inside. The ceiling was all exposed, giving it that rough feel. Deke had already outlined a track around the inside of the building, giving me a space to run when the weather was too bad. And the center was perfect for a ring.
“Come take a look at this,” he said, hurrying through a door at the back.
I followed, excited to see what was waiting. The back room was filled with all the necessary equipment for training, along with a massage table, a hot tub, and even an ice bath.
“You were so sure I would say yes,” I chuckled.
