Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 91058 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 455(@200wpm)___ 364(@250wpm)___ 304(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91058 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 455(@200wpm)___ 364(@250wpm)___ 304(@300wpm)
“Pick it up a little,” I challenge.
Her eyes spark with excitement. Sweat trickles down her neck, running over her collarbone, pooling in the cleavage above her sports bra. I shouldn’t look down, but she’s all fucking curves on her small frame.
My hand slips and she accidentally slams her fist into my chest.
She immediately halts. “Oh my god! Sorry!”
“It was my fault.” I rub the spot knowing I’ll be sore tomorrow.
She props her hands on her hips, her mouth flattening disapprovingly. “Should I chastise you for not focusing? The way you do to me?”
Another gymgoer walks up to the ropes. “Hey man, think we can get in the ring?”
“No,” I bark, still rubbing the spot above my heart.
Scarlett laughs and spins around. “He’s joking! We’ll be done in fifteen minutes and then it’s all yours.”
“Thanks,” the guy says, shooting me a sharp glare before walking away.
“Why do you have to be so mean all the time?” Scarlett asks, walking up to me and pushing me hard in the chest. “Stop being such a bully.”
“I’m not.”
“God, you are. You’re so mean to everyone.”
“I’m not mean to you.”
“You are. Or…you used to be.”
She’s still going at me, pushing me so I have to keep taking baby steps back. She’s right on me though, push for push, so eventually, I’m forced to reach out and grab her wrists to still her. She doesn’t relent. My hands tighten and I can tell she’s about to really let loose on me.
“Relax, will you? I’m still recovering from your last punch.”
“So? Maybe this is a fair fight for once.”
She gets one of her hands free from my grip. Good girl. Then she tries to reach her hand around to punch my damn kidney, but I recapture her wrist and spin her so I have her wrists cuffed together at her lower back. “You good?”
“No.”
“Why do you have to be so difficult?”
“You like it,” she taunts, bucking back against me, and her butt accidentally grinds against the front of my shorts.
Oh shit.
I immediately unhand her and take three steps back. My back hits the rope.
Don’t look down, Scarlett. DON’T LOOK DOWN.
She does though, and her eyes go wide, her cheeks flushing bright red. She’s so shocked and innocent. I look away and imagine bad, horrible things, anything but Scarlett in her matching leggings and sports bra set, the fact that it’s so tight it might as well be glued to her skin.
She takes her bottom lip between her teeth as if she’s the one who should be embarrassed. “Sorry. I took it too far.”
I don’t even say anything. What can I say?
I walk around the perimeter of the ring so I can climb down and head to the locker room. I need a cold shower, and I need it now.
Unfortunately, Scarlett’s waiting for me when I’m done. She’s showered too. She’s washed off her makeup and let down her long hair. It’s air-drying slowly, framing her face. She looks heartachingly young and sweet without makeup. Her brown lashes are clumped together from the shower. She’s wearing a Columbia t-shirt and a new pair of leggings.
“Where’s your coat?” I ask her.
“What? It’s in my bag. But listen, I’m really sorry. I didn’t mean to—”
I shake my head, not about to go down this path. This is why men my age should not have CRUSHES. I’m too old to be making excuses for anatomy I can’t control. “Let’s just forget it, okay?”
Her face falls. “Forget the training stuff?”
“No. Forget what just happened.”
Her shoulders sag in relief. “Okay cool, yes.” She smiles. “I can do that.”
“How are you getting home?” I look toward the gym doors then back to her. “Jasper?”
Her face scrunches at the idea. “Oh. No. I was just going to walk. I live just around the corner.”
“It’s snowing,” I point out dryly.
She waves away my concern. “Okay…so I was going to walk fast.”
“Don’t you have a car in the city?”
“I feel like we’re getting into the weeds a bit here…”
I shake my head and motion for her to walk on. “Let’s go.”
“To your car?”
“No, to the moon, Scarlett. Yes, my car. I can’t let a junior associate get frostbite on my watch. It’d look bad for the company.”
“I could see if Barrett is still here. Or my dad?”
“Okay.”
That’d be preferred. It’s a stupid idea to put her inside my car.
But probably because I was so willing to relent, now she doesn’t want to. “Whatever, fine. If you’re willing to, I’d love the ride. Thanks.”
A major perk of being a partner is that I get primo parking in the underground garage. Though when I make senior partner, my spot will be even better. Right up front. I’ll get someone to shine my reserved sign every week. No, every day.
I unlock my Toyota Land Cruiser and toss my briefcase and workout bag in the trunk. Scarlett hovers near the passenger side door, her hand outstretched toward the handle.