Saving other victims is more than a passion, it’s her lifeline.
Heath was up and coming in the professional circuit, with me as his manager, money shouldn’t have been an issue to send back to my parents. I used Gramps money to open The Basement more for Heath to train than anything else. If the gym did well, great, if not, we had Heath’s career. When he got black-balled we turned to The Lottery.
The fights have not only given him an outlet, they have kept House of Hope afloat.
I won’t put my best friend in danger though. His health is more important, plus, I’m a trained boxer as well. I have fought in The Lottery before, even won a handful of times when Heath wasn’t available. He is the stronger of the two of us so he’s usually the one to step up.
House of Hope may be my parents’ life work. It may be my sister’s legacy. In the end, though, it’s not worth losing Heath for. I can take the gamble. I can fight just as good as Heath. I simply can’t take a hit to my jaw.
Glass jaw kept me from the professional circuit, but that shit doesn’t matter in The Lottery. As long as I protect my jaw at all times from a hit, I’ll be fine. I have to be. I’ve refined my grappling skills. I’ll take the shit to the ground if it means protecting the one weakness I know I have and can’t avoid in a stand up match.
My dad looks at the check. “This will carry us, thank you, Wendol.”
I nod while my mother leans forward. “We took in a woman with four children.” Like an explanation is needed, it never is. If it makes her feel better to tell me about what goes on so be it.
“Do they ever leave?” Gramps asks the same question he asks every time.
“Some do,” mom explains.
“But some don’t,” Gramps counters. “I don’t want to be the hardass, but in my day you had to work. We’re giving them safety, security, even job training. Plus, all that money that head case charges to be the doctor on staff.” He uses air quotes around the word doctor.
“She’s a licensed clinical therapist and the women need that. It’s a necessary expense.”
This is an argument that could last hours. The women need the help. Gramps just doesn’t want them to get too comfortable and not do for themselves. I understand his point, but I also know the mission of House of Hope is not to turn anyone away.
Looking at the clock on the wall, I see the time and know I have other things to do in order to be fight ready by tonight. “Guys, if we have no business to discuss can we close this out. I have a grappling class to teach.”
My dad stands, extending his hand for a shake before pulling me in for a hug. “Thank you, Wendol, you keep this place open.” He whispers so only I can hear.
My mother needs House of Hope. She needs a place to feel like she is saving someone since none of us could save Shayla. I’ll do whatever I have to in order to keep the doors open and my mother focused on anything other than her grief.
Whatever sacrifice is necessary.
Chapter Two
~Jessika~
There isn’t a time in my life where I don’t remember feeling kicked while I’m down.
Today is no different.
The tears fall in steady streams as I hear my mother’s voice in my head. “Jessika, quit crying. Your tears won’t help anything so stop it right now.”
The gym I work at is closing.
Forever.
The owner says he can’t compete with The Basement anymore. Plus there is a new gym that’s open twenty-four hours with a key card. At ten dollars a month for all access, it’s amazing those places can stay afloat. Gym equipment isn’t cheap. The electricity to run the place has to add up. Then again, they have no actual staff. Patrons buy their memberships online, they are given an access code and boom, equipment available on their schedule. Of course they sign a liability waiver like any gym so not having instructors for classes or equipment only keeps their costs lower. No classes mean no need for trainers or nutritionists like myself.
I have a degree, years of experience, and no damn job.
Defeat washes over me like a cold rain on a winter’s day.
Every time I get comfortable in life, something comes along to knock me on my ass. Gardendale, Texas is a small town with Odessa being a twenty-minute drive away and Midland, Texas about thirty minutes from here. I can find work in either of the bigger cities, I just guess I got too comfortable being so close to home.
Two years ago, I left comfortable to feel life. Well, one could say this is life giving me all sides of it – the good, the bad, and the hard. I had my job, doing what I’ve always wanted; guiding people to have a life of wellness, and a dream to build on with Conner, my fiancé.
The problem … I didn’t feel it. I would get up every morning content. This shouldn’t be a bad thing, but it was. Conner wasn’t truly happy with me either, he was satisfied. Things weren’t bad, but they weren’t phenomenal either – in bed or out of it.
There was no drive in him. He had an okay job as a low level data entry clerk at an office downtown. The pay wasn’t enough for him to cover the bills alone, but he had no desire to move up or do more for himself. He was absolutely fine living paycheck to paycheck asking me to pick up the slack when he needed extra. And sex, he was a three-minute man. Once I asked him to reevaluate his diet so that he could naturally boost his testosterone, he blew me off of course. As his girlfriend I couldn’t come right out and say you suck in bed. So, I went with it. He wasn’t a bad guy. He didn’t put me down. He didn’t treat me bad. He was laid back. He just didn’t wow me. While I cared about him, the more he pressed for us to get married, it felt more like a business transaction than love. He wanted to put me on his insurance so I could save money to help him repay his student loans.
Yeah, that’s the way I want to start my life with my husband, like we’ve negotiated some merger.
Life is short. It’s something I know all too well. My father died when I was four in a rigging accident and my mother, well, she’s around but she doesn’t live life. In order to process the loss of my dad everything has been shut up tight for her. She never let me cry and I never saw her shed a tear. I would hear her every night, though, so I know it cut her deep. Instead of letting it be something to pull us closer together, she let it be a reason for her be cold and closed off. I have spent my whole life doing everything I could not to be her.
I don’t want to let life pass me by. Maybe it’s why I can never have a relationship that feels real, all consuming kind of love.
On a sigh, I wash my face and force myself to stop the tears. That’s the past, just like this job will be my past in a mere forty-eight hours. The building was bought before anyone was informed it was even for sale. Not that I could afford to buy anything, between student loans and life bills I’m not sure I’ll ever have money in the bank to have my own business.
Putting on light makeup, I cover the puffiness under my eyes as best I can before I style my pixie hair and toss on a button up shirt with a cami tank under it and a pencil skirt. Sliding my feet in heels, I grab my portfolio with my resume and head to the one place I try not to go to. Time to be professional even if my day-to-day job can be done in workout leggings, a sports bra, and tennis shoes.
The Basement.
Everyone seems to go there now. Heath always worked out there. I already see Maverick “Tapper” Collins enough since he married my best friend, but he used to work out at my gym and The Basement depending on what he was in the mood for – meaning he was trying to pick up women so he came to my gym then. The Basement used to be a training gym for male fighters. Although, Wendol and Heath have always offered free self-defense classes, their female clientele long term wasn’t much. Over time and the addition of LoraLeigh to teach classes, the business has expanded taking away from my gym. Now, to have to face the whole crew of untouchables regularly will just be a reminder of what I lost before I ever had it. Especially seeing him.
Wendol “Fly Guy” Branch.
He twists me up in knots
even years after our encounter. The very one where he woke up with me wrapped around him like a blanket. The morning where he got up made me breakfast and asked me on a date.
The exact day I told him, “nah Wendol. Last night was great, but you’re my rebound buddy. No need to take things anywhere else.”
Every single word of it was a lie. I had broken up with a guy who I was never in love with but again I was comfortable with his companionship. With my thoughts wrapped up in myself, I gave Wendol the dismissal thinking in a week or two he would come around and ask me out again.
Except he didn’t.
In fact, he never spoke to me again. Every time we have been in the same place at the same time he leaves. And every single time I get this pang in my gut – the one known as regret.
They’re all good guys. Manwhores, yes, but good guys. Maverick turned in his bachelor days being married to my best friend, Kenzy. They have a four-month-old baby boy, Slade who is the most precious thing in the world. Heath “Hitman” Thomas is Wendol’s long time best friend even gave up his one hit wonder, with the ladies, title for a woman. How they met is still unclear, but Kenzy told me she was afraid of life and has slowly come into her own. LoraLeigh even has a job at The Basement.
Blowing out a breath, I drive myself there while the anxiety builds with every passing mile. Wendol has kept his business running with only a handful of trainers and a focus on fighting and self-defense. I don’t even know that I fit in here, but if I don’t try how will I ever find out?
Climbing out of the car, I look to the front doors. I’m lost in my own head thinking about the night I let him consume me just as Wendol walks up to me. I should acknowledge him, but I’m stuck in place.
“Jessika, everything okay?” He asks as his gaze follows mine to the front door. “You’ve been standing out here just looking at the front door in a haze.”
He looks just as good today as he did five years ago, if not better. My only thought is, here goes nothing.
I can only hope it’s the start of everything.
Chapter Three
~Wendol~
The fight was postponed due to a location delay. It will still be in Gardendale, but not for three days. I am amped up waiting, anticipating, and knowing what rides on this single night.
I was in my truck, an old nineteen-eighty-four Chevy watching Jessika sit in her little hybrid car before she got out and stood at her driver door staring at my gym for a solid ten minutes.
She’s tiny. Thin with this fierce short hair cut, tone legs, arms, and probably the same tight body she had five years ago when she rocked my fucking world.
Never cared about anything but my fighting, gym, and my family. Honest to God, I never had time to think of anyone other than myself. House of Hope has been the glue to hold my family together after Shayla was murdered. With every new female we help, it’s another cost to the facility – a cost I have to carry. That night, Heath had just won a huge pot two nights before and we felt set for the first time since his life ban from the National Boxing Association. Celebrating, I let myself get lost with her.
I’ve fucked enough women to know my way around the female body, but never has someone managed to tangle themselves around my heart with every fucking thrust of my cock. I still don’t know how it happened. We had a few drinks, danced, and I went home with her. Nothing special about that except it was with Jessika not some random chick at Zanne’s.
Her eyes, I got lost in them. The way she arched to meet me for every fucking thrust, her eyes never left mine. She fucked my mind while I fucked her body. Somehow I woke up the next morning thinking she felt that connection too.
I was wrong.
She sent me on my way with a pat to the chest, a quick thanks, and a reference to being a rebound. Since then, I’ve avoided her.
No need in punishing myself on a regular basis.
So why is the woman who I haven’t been able to remotely fuck out of my system standing in my parking lot in a tight skirt, button up shirt, and her hair styled in a way that makes me want nothing more than to mess it up as I fuck her senseless just one more time?
There’s only one way to find out. I make my way to her. She’s oblivious to me even standing beside her. This is careless on her part. Women should always be aware of their surroundings.
“Jessika, everything okay?” I ask making it obvious I know she’s watching my business. “You’ve been standing out here just looking at the front door in a haze.”
She bites her bottom lip drinking me in. Look all you want, sweetheart, it changes nothing.
“I came to see you,” she mutters. Her tone is lacking the confidence Jessika usually has.
I step back needing space between us. She smells good, like vanilla and cinnamon, too edible. Closing my eyes, I focus on business and not the woman beside me. “Not sure what I could do for you, but let’s go inside.”
I extend my arm for her to lead the way. I didn’t think it through. With her in heels and that skirt, her ass shimmies in front of me making my dick fucking hard. I let out an audible groan to which she looks over her shoulder at me and I can’t help but smirk. No need to hide it.
“As a man, I appreciate a firm ass in front of me.”
She laughs and I swear it’s the best sound to my ears. This shit needs to stop, I chastise in my head because the attraction to her will go nowhere. She made it clear I was a one-night stand. Hell, since me she even got engaged to some Conner suit fuck. Engaged as in she was in love enough to agree to marry the chap. I know she’s been single almost two years now, but she hasn’t hit me up once. I’m not her type, I get it.
Why she is here at my gym, has me curious. We enter the building to which I nod at LoraLeigh who is working the front desk and Jessika gives her a hello. Dropping my hand to the small of her back just above the swell of her ass, I guide her to my office. She takes a seat in front of my desk while I close the door.
Sitting in my chair with her looking so damn good across from me, my mind goes to all the things I would do to her on this very desk if only I had the opportunity.
“Okay Jess, you have my attention.”
She pulls out her portfolio to hand me a paper. I look at it and see it’s her resume. I raise an eyebrow not understanding.
“I need a job. I have a clientele so I will bring revenue to your gym.”
Leaning back in my chair, I blow out a breath. It’s not that my business doesn’t need her. I could support another trainer and add more programs with her certifications if I didn’t have every extra penny going to House of Hope.
Mentally, I try to run the numbers as I ask, “Are you looking to run your program out of my gym so you stay commissioned or you are looking for a salary?”
“At my current location I’m salaried and I get ten percent off the program fees commission. I know in the bigger cities, I would get salary plus a higher commission.”
Leaning forward, I groan because I don’t mean to be a dick, but I won’t be led around by my dick either. “Then go to Odessa or Midland, Jessika. Your clients will follow or they won’t.”
She stands and I see the tears forming as she fights them back. That’s my girl, too tough to let anyone see her struggle, too strong to let anyone in.
“Thank you for your time, Wendol. I’m sorry to have bothered you.”
I stand and rush to her just as she reaches the door. I lift my hand holding the door closed. “Wait.”
She turns and in the close proximity her forehead rests on my chest because I purposely boxed her in. “Wendol, I have anxiety.” I feel her tremble as she lets her reality out. “The bigger gyms make me nervous. I’m good at my job.”
And there it is. I already knew she was good. Everyone in town knows it. We have all wondered why she didn’t move to the cities for the bigger gyms with higher salaries. Now, I get it.
“Your office is the door past the spin room. Twenty-percent of your program fees go to me, eighty are yours. I’ll match your sa
lary.”
She lifts her head to meet my eyes. I want to kiss her. I see the longing her eyes, she wants it too. This is a recipe for disaster.
“Why are you giving me more?”
“Your program works, Jess. Your clients will follow and have to pay a membership here, I don’t need all your revenue, just the twenty percent to cover my liability insurance going up. I believe in you.”
She drops her portfolio to the floor and her hands grip the sides of my t-shirt. I drop my head. She licks her lips.
With a kiss to her cheek, I inhale the vanilla scent of her shampoo and will my cock not to get hard this close to her. She sighs her disappointment before wrapping her arms around me in a hug.
“You’re all things good, Wendol Branch.”
“Can’t resist you Jessika, as much as I should, I just can’t ever seem to tell you no.” I sigh draping my arms around her and resting my forehead on hers.
“I won’t let you down, Wendol.”
I step back forcing her to release me knowing this is going to blow up in my face somehow. “Not worried about that at all Jess.”
She bends down and picks up the portfolio. As she turns to leave, she looks over her shoulder at me. “About that night, Wendol. I didn’t mean it. I’m truly sorry if I hurt you. I didn’t mean to push you away. I was caught up in trying to find myself and having the best night of my life with you. I didn’t think, I just reacted. For what it’s worth, I’ve always wished I handled things differently.”
“That was then, this is now. We have a working relationship and a friendship, Jess. Nothing to be sorry for or wonder about.”
She looks almost sad about my reaction but she quickly masks it. “I have two days to pack up. When do you want me to start?”
Wendol Page 2
