Total pages in book: 66
Estimated words: 62362 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 312(@200wpm)___ 249(@250wpm)___ 208(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 62362 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 312(@200wpm)___ 249(@250wpm)___ 208(@300wpm)
“Yes, Mr. Sinclair. It won’t happen again,” the man said, sounding shaken.
Knox disconnected the call and blew out a long breath. Thanks to Theo’s phone call and Celia’s visit, he was wired. He changed into workout clothes and walked to the gym he frequented. Many of his business associates frequented it, too, but he hoped he didn’t run into anyone he knew today. He needed to expend some energy and rid himself of the restless feeling that was suffocating him, not make small talk.
For the next couple of hours, he worked out, running the gamut from cardio on the treadmill to lifting weights. He used a trainer two days a week, but today, all he wanted to do was sweat out the demons that had followed him home.
By the time he was ready to head out, he was more relaxed and his head was back where he needed it to be—thinking about Jade and figuring out how to get to know her better.
Falling into bed with her every time they ran into each other only worked if he wanted a fuck buddy. But from Jade, he desired more. He zipped his bag and picked it up from the bench, ready to go home. Instead, he found himself face-to-face with Asher Dare. From the man’s frown and his everyday clothes, Knox could tell he wasn’t there to work out, though this was his gym, too.
No, Knox knew why Asher was here. It seemed to be the day for confrontations. In this case, though, playing dumb worked better for him. “What are you doing here?”
“Looking for you. I called your cell, tried your apartment. Your doorman said you left in gym clothes.”
The doorman had no idea what privacy meant.
“Well, it’s good to see you again,” Knox said. He and Asher had talked last night, before his dance with Jade.
“You might not think so after we talk.”
And here we go, Knox thought. “Okay, let me have it.”
“What would you do if I was sleeping with your little sister?” Asher lowered himself onto the bench in the locker room.
Knox joined him, appreciating the fact that Asher had taken things down a notch by sitting and not posturing or getting in his face. They were friends, after all.
He’d been prepared to defend himself, but suddenly, he understood where his friend was coming from. “I get it. And the first time, we agreed it would be just once, but…”
“It’s happened before?” Asher raised his voice, and another man who’d come around the corner turned and walked away.
Shit. Knox hadn’t meant to give Asher any more information than he already had. “Here’s the deal.” He ran a hand through his still-damp hair. “I like Jade. More than that, I respect her.”
“You do realize she’s seven years younger than you?”
“And twenty-six isn’t an adult? Come on. You know she can make her own decisions.” He sat with his arms on his thighs, looking over at a still-scowling Asher.
“We’ve always looked out for Jade. It’s not that she can’t take care of herself, she’s just… more fragile than most people.”
Sensing Asher had more to say, Knox waited.
“When our mom left, she was two. Technically, Serenity is the only mother she knows. But when she got older, Dad had to tell her that our birth mother killed herself. Not long after that, Jade started getting severe migraines, and anxiety followed a few years later.”
Knox held up his hand. He knew about the migraines, not about Jade’s anxiety. But anything more he learned, he didn’t want it coming from Asher. “Listen. What I was about to tell you before is that Jade is the one who keeps pushing for one night. Not me. I want to get to know her better. I’m not just hooking up with your sister. I’m respecting her wishes while trying to get past some pretty high walls.”
“Your douchebag stepbrother did a number on her self-esteem. So did Asshole Number One.”
Knox knew Asher was referring to Jade’s first fiancé.
“She doesn’t trust herself to make good decisions when it comes to men. And frankly, I only want her to be with someone I know will take care of her.”
Knox raised an eyebrow. Jade could take care of herself, that much he knew. But he understood what Asher was getting at. “I’m not going to hurt her. I’d have thought you knew me better than that.”
Asher frowned. “I still don’t like this.”
“Then it’s a good thing you don’t have to.” Knox slapped Asher on the back. “Your sister is a grown woman. But if it makes you feel better, I can promise you, she’s in good hands.”
Hands that were dying to touch her again… but not before he learned what made her tick.
Asher grumbled but acknowledged Knox’s point with a nod. Since he’d calmed Asher down, they went for a drink at a place near the gym and talked about Asher’s Dirty Dare Vodka expansion into whiskey and other spirits. His friend tried to find out the Warriors plans for the season, but Knox kept mum. He trusted his friend, but he had to protect his team from eavesdroppers and potential leaks.