by JJ Knight
The men’s side unilaterally snubbed her. But the women bodybuilders just laughed. “We can totally believe they overworked you,” the women’s coordinator told her. “The fact that you lasted as long as you did tells us everything we need to know about your longevity in the sport.”
The majority of her female clients returned to her, plus scads more. She opted to drop all the men, except for me, of course.
Switching to natural competitions has been a good move. Less pressure. More fun. I’ve gotten to know several of the leaders, and we work out together at the gym one of them owns. Sometimes I even get Camryn to come over and pump a few weights, although she complains for days about being unable to lift a brush.
This is the first mixed competition we’ve attended since the new season began. The natural set and the classic competitors don’t mingle a lot.
So when we turn the corner and spot Franklin with the crew from Buster’s Gym, it’s the first time we’ve crossed paths since the night Franklin rammed his truck into my deli.
Camryn stumbles but recovers quickly. The whole group of them halt in the hallway.
Camryn also draws to a stop, so I stay with her.
She speaks first. “Hello, Franklin.”
Franklin tugs on the collar of his jacket. “Sis.”
“How did it go today?” She sounds calm, but I can feel the tension in every muscle of her body. I grip her more tightly.
“Silver.” He unzips his jacket to show off the medal around his neck.
“That’s great. “You headed to the invitational then?”
He glances right and left at his buds and adds a swagger to his next words. “Let the winner through. I’m doin’ fine.”
I can feel Camryn stifling her laugh. “All right. You look great. Good luck.”
We both continue walking. As we’re about to pass shoulder to shoulder, my gaze meets Franklin’s. His eyes narrow and look me up and down. I consider fishing out my gold medal to flash at him, but I’m not going to do that.
I’m glad he’s finding some success. And friends. Everybody needs someone who has their back. Franklin was that for Camryn most of their lives. He just didn’t know where to draw the line.
I almost walk by without saying anything, but at the last second, the words pop out. “Thanks for watching over her. Growing up, I mean.”
Franklin’s glance shifts to Camryn, then back to me. He thrusts his chin up, and then they pass us and move on down the hall.
Camryn wraps both arms around mine. “You didn’t have to do that.”
“But it’s true. From what I hear, you were a real handful for a big brother to manage.”
“I do have rotten taste in men.”
“Hey!”
“Present company excluded.” She grins up at me, and my world breaks open with happiness.
“I want to ask you something.” We pass another acquaintance in the hall, and I wait until they’re gone to continue.
“What’s that?”
“There’s a house for sale in the neighborhood that backs Lucas Street. I could walk to the deli from it.”
“That’s a nice neighborhood,” she says. “And I’ll always love the park where we met that time.”
“Our first kiss.”
She laughs. “Our first very short, very platonic kiss.”
I hesitate again as we pass by registration and out to the parking lot. I continue to hold the thought as we stow our things in the trunk and climb into the front seat of my Audi.
Camryn pulls down her shoulder harness. “So, when are you thinking about making an offer?”
I reach over and take her hand. “Just as soon as it meets the approval of the woman I want to live there with me.”
Her jaw opens, then closes. “Really? You’re ready for a house full of tanning tents and the constant smell of oil?”
“It’s one of my favorite smells. It has the best memories.”
She bounces in her seat. “Can we go there now?” Her face radiates joy.
“I thought you were tired.”
“Not anymore. I have something amazing to look forward to.”
She chatters nonstop as we drive across town. “I could set up in the garage, maybe. We could have a room for your medals.”
I revel in the sound of her happy voice. She’s making plans with me.
We pull up in front of the white stucco with a red Spanish tile roof. A circle driveway sets the house back from the road enough to look classy, but not so much to be L.A. elite.
“Oh, wow!” she says. “Look at this!” She jumps out of the car. “Look at it!”
I glance at my phone. “The realtor will be here in fifteen to let us in.”
Camryn spins around to face me. “It’s so beautiful!”
“We can peek in.”
We peer through the front windows. “Look at that fireplace!” she says. “I’ve never had a fireplace!”
She runs around the side. “The master bedroom! There’s a garden tub!”
The back gate is locked, but I remember the code on it from my visit yesterday, so I buzz it open.
She pulls on the handle and runs ahead.
Ah, so she’s going to see the surprise.
She stops dead in her tracks. “Max!”
I hurry forward so I can see everything through her eyes.
A pool glistens, edged with blue and white tile. At the opposite end is a cabana house, the doors thrown open to show the spacious interior.
She hurries to it. “It has a bathroom! People could change in there! I could tan in here!” She whips around. “You picked this for me!”
I nod, and she runs at me, jumping so hard she almost knocks me into the pool.
But I clutch her body, her face buried in my neck. She wraps her legs around my hips.
“I love it,” she says, and barely contains a sob.
“I love you,” I say. “I want all our dreams to come true here.”
She pulls back, her wet eyes holding mine. “They already did.”
I kiss her in the backyard of our first house. I want everything of mine to be hers, to wrap her in security, family, and love.
This is a good start.
Epilogue: Camryn
When I first see Max in his tuxedo, I have to admit, I almost like this version of him better than when he’s naked in my tanning tent.
Almost.
He’s let his face scruff grow since we’re between competition seasons. The natural bodybuilding circuit has fewer meets. But it feels like the right amount. Enough to show off his hard work. But not so competitive or driven that it impinges on his life.
The black jacket shapes his shoulders like a linebacker. The pants are custom fit and accentuate his powerful thighs.
Honestly, I want to take the whole suit right off of him.
But we’re out of time. The wedding is less than an hour away.
Max turns in the circle. “What do you think?”
“I think you’re too beautiful for this world.”
He tweaks his white bow tie. “Funny, that’s the way I’ve always felt about you. Take a spin in that beautiful dress. I’ll try to keep everything in my pants.”
“Not your strong suit,” I say with a laugh as I take a slow, easy walk on the hotel room’s Berber carpet.
Jason’s wedding is in an hour. My fitted gold dress is sheathed in sequins. The light from the balcony windows hit it like I’m a disco ball, throwing off bits of light across the walls.
“Perfection,” he says. “And those shoes are outrageous. I love them.”
I kick up a heel of the six-inch gold platform stilettos. I’m probably going to break my neck. But I have a pair of tiny folding flats tucked into my clutch. The platforms are mainly for the pictures, so I don’t look like a Lilliputian in the land of the giants.
I take three long strides toward him, like I’m on a runway. And miraculously, I don’t trip over myself and botch the effect. “The better to kiss you with,�
� I say.
“It’s true,” he says. “Your face is up here.”
“It’s almost time to meet the photographer for the groomsman shots,” I remind him. “We should probably head down.”
He takes in a deep breath, and it shudders as he lets it out. He’s nervous. About his brother’s wedding? That’s crazy.
“You okay?”
He widens the gap in the sheers covering the door to the balcony. “Once Jason’s wedding is over, everyone will be looking to us.”
“That’s all right. They know we’ve moved into the house.”
“They do.”
“We all seem to get along. I love when we come to New York and get crazy with your big family.”
He nods again, and I can tell something is getting to him.
“Max?”
He checks his watch. “Okay. Here goes.”
He takes my hand and leads me out into the sunshine beaming down on the balcony. It’s a small boutique hotel, so we’re only on the second floor. An intricate wrought-iron rail separates us from the busy city.
“Come close,” he says, pulling me against his side.
Below I hear music. Classical music.
I peer down. On the sidewalk below, a string quartet has set up and is playing something peppy and upbeat.
“How cute. They’re busking right outside the hotel.” I lean over to see them better, my arms propped on the rail. “Only in New York.”
“They’re good.”
“Is this what you wanted me to see?” The violinist must have a break in his music, because he looks up and waves. I wave back. It’s midsummer in New York and the weather is sublime. If we didn’t have the wedding, I could sit out here all day. The violinist sets his instrument back under his chin, and the music takes a quieter, more thoughtful turn.
When I turn back to Max, he isn’t standing anymore.
He’s kneeling.
“Camryn Elizabeth Shultz,” he says, and my hands fly up to my mouth.
“Max?”
His eyes are shiny, and his hands shake. “Some people claim there is no love at first sight. But I know the truth. Sometimes you see someone for the first time and just know.”
He clears this throat. “The crowd parts, and your eyes land on someone so perfect, so exactly what you’ve been looking for, that you know this is it. This is the moment you’ve been waiting for. That’s what it was like the day I met you.”
My throat is so thick I can’t even respond.
“I know I was a pain in your side that day. I messed up your schedule, I created havoc in your day. And I embarrassed the hell out of myself.”
“Not so much,” I tell him. “You have no idea how close I came to going back in that room and locking the door.”
His smile is ten miles wide when I say that, and his nerves seem to back off. “During the time we were apart, nothing made sense anymore. But thanks to my brother and Grammy Alma, I got one more shot. And today I want to make sure I never have to let you go again.”
He pulls a small green velvet box from his pocket and pops it open. “Camryn, will you marry me?”
I want to embrace him, kiss his head. But the stupid shoes are miles too tall so I reach out to touch his uplifted arm.
“Of course. Yes. Yes! I will marry you.”
He slides the ring on my finger, and I gasp. It’s the sort of ring you see on the hands of celebrities. Princesses.
“Max?”
“Only the very best for you.” He stands up, pressing his lips to the back of my newly bejeweled hand.
“Then you better kiss me,” I tell him. “Because otherwise, I’m going to assume this is only a dream.”
“Maybe it is.”
His lips are warm and gentle on mine. In the New York street below, the string quartet kicks the tune up a notch. A few people on the street must notice us, because a cheer rises.
A breeze ruffles my hair and Max pulls back to gaze at me. I imprint this moment on my mind. This man. This kiss. This day. I want to remember it forever.
The song comes to an end, and Max leans over the rail. “Thank you!”
As they play one last song, I say, “You have to get them back for our wedding.”
“You want to get married here in New York? Not L.A.?”
“I think so. I want to be with all your family.” There will be things to sort out. My brother. My parents. But that’s for another time.
“You are already a part of it.” His hand closes over mine. “I don’t want to detract from my brother’s big day.” He laughs. “Actually, maybe I do, but I won’t. So, should we keep this a secret? One last undercover romance before everyone knows we’re together forever?”
I look at the ring one more time. “Absolutely. I love keeping secrets with you.”
When we’re back inside the room, I pull a long gold chain from my jewelry box and slide the ring through. Max fastens it around my neck, and I tuck it under my dress, right over my heart.
We’ll think of a fun way to announce this later, but we’re late for pictures. We dash down the hallway to the elevator, hand-in-hand. When we catch up to Grammy Alma, who is also heading down, we share a conspiratorial grin.
“Don’t you two look like the cat who ate the canary,” she says as Max punches the button to go down.
“I have a question,” I say to her.
“Yes, child.”
“If you were to name a pickle after Max, what would it be called?”
She peers at her grandson, eyes full of mischief. “Damsel in Distress.”
“What?” Max asks. “Why that?”
She shrugs. “You might be the big tough one in our family, but it’s the rest of us who keep having to save you.”
“I love it,” I say.
“Done!” Grammy Alma says. The doors open and Max holds the door for us to step inside. She leans in. “And I say, make it the hot pickle.”
Max shakes his head as he enters the elevator and presses the button for the lobby.
He pulls me close. “You have secrets with everyone.”
When my gaze lifts to meet his, I see nothing but happiness and joy. That’s the way I hope it will always be.
Grammy Alma sighs. “Young love.”
Max leans his forehead against mine. It’s fun to have this little surprise for his family.
It’s a great secret. The best kind.
I hope you’ll keep it for us.
Gotta love those Pickles!
You read Jason and Nova’s secret boss love story, right? If not, go get Big Pickle!
Anthony is next with Spicy Pickle! Make sure you sign up for emails or texts to know when he arrives in early 2021!
Intrigued by Colt and the MMA fighters at Buster’s Gym? They ALL have their own series!
Colt and Jo’s epic love story in Uncaged Love.
Parker and Maddie’s second chance romance in Fight for Her.
Hudson and Chloe’s enemies to lovers romance in Reckless Attraction.
BOOKS BY JJ KNIGHT
Romantic Comedies
Big Pickle
Hot Pickle
Single Dad on Top
The Accidental Harem
MMA Fighters
Uncaged Love Series
Fight for Her Series
Reckless Attraction
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About JJ Knight
JJ Knight is one of the pen names of six-time USA Today bestselling author Deanna Roy. She lives in Austin, Texas, with her family.
To choose your next read from one of her fifty books, visit the web site Read Laugh Swoon to pick by book boyfriend, story line, heat level and more!
