by Vicki Green
I lean back against the door frame and watch her walk quickly to her truck. She’s a feisty one, that’s for sure. One thing I love -- a woman who’s as stubborn as me. Confident. A woman who will make me work for it and not just want to be with me for sex and my fit body. Someone who’s not only gorgeous on the outside but inside as well. A real woman. One that I’d take home to meet my family. She seems to be all that and more. Now. What can I do to get her attention? Maybe I need some inside help. Taren is her best friend, and I know Brock has known her most of his life as well. I may just have to find out what I can from them. In a nonchalant kind of way of course. Looks like I have my work cut out for me. Suddenly, I feel the urge to work out. Forgetting all about laundry, I go back inside, slamming the door behind me and walk to my bedroom. I hurriedly change into my gym clothes and brush my teeth. Can’t have too fresh of breath. I grab my truck keys from the small dish on the table by the door, walk outside, and lock up.
As soon as I’m in my monster truck, my phone vibrates. “Hey, Taren!” I speak as I pull out of my parking space. “What’s up? Everything okay?” I look both ways and pull out onto the road.
“Hi, Caylan! Yes. Everything’s fine. Brock and I were just wondering if you’d like to come to dinner tonight.”
Perfect opportunity to get some information. “I’d love to. What time?” I couldn’t have planned this better myself. It’s like she read my mind.
“How about seven?” She sounds like she has a smile in her voice.
“Perfect! I’m just heading over to the gym now to workout. That’ll give me time to get a shower before I head over. Can I bring anything?”
“Nah. Just bring yourself. Oh! Irish will be there too. Thought you might wanna know that. See you later.”
I laugh and hang up, putting my phone back in my pocket. Taren is a sly one and smart. She definitely knows I have feelings for Irish or something. I think I could trust her though, tell her how I feel about Irish. Maybe that would be a good thing. I don’t trust easily. Too many people have taken advantage of my good nature. Still, if someone needed something and I could do it for them, I would. Cue anxiety. That’s just how I am. One thing is for certain. Taren and Brock are good people. They’ve never done anything but treat me well. Respect me.
I pull into the gym parking lot and lock up my truck. When I walk in the front door, the girl at the front counter waves and smiles at me. She’s pretty young, just seventeen. She works here on the weekends and some evenings after school. She has a major crush on me. I give her a wave and head to the men’s locker room. Since I’ve been working here part time as a personal trainer, I have my own locker. I stow my wallet and keys then head upstairs and look around. I spot her immediately in the room that has mats, fitness balls, and a couple of punching bags. I stand there staring as she hops back and forth, her hands looking larger in the gloves. She punches then bounces. My heart rate increases as I start walking towards the room. Why am I sweating? I’ve never felt so scared in all my life. I walk into the room until I’m just a few feet away from her then cross my arms.
Irish
“You’re doing it wrong.”
His voice sends chills through me. Which is weird since I’m hotter than hell and sweating up a storm. I grab the bag, stopping it from hitting me, and look at him, giving him a smirk. He’s standing only a few feet away, his beefy arms crossed over his large chest. I think I might hyperventilate. I’ve always had a thing for red heads. Especially dark haired red heads. Broad chest. Slim waist. And those tight abs. Can you say -- large six pack? Definitely gonna hyperventilate. He has the biggest shoulders I’ve ever seen. Images enter my mind. My small hands hanging on to those large shoulders as we….
“You okay there?” My eyes focus back to his face. “You look a little…. flushed.”
I try to cross my arms over my chest but the gloves on my hands prevent it so they drop to my side. “I’m fine,” I all but growl. “And I’m doing just fine by myself.” I turn and start punching the bag, this time in anger.
He chuckles, low and rough. Dammit. “I could show you the right way. Don’t want you to hurt yourself.” What the fuck?
I push against the bag, stopping its swing, and decide to try to be nice. Well, nice for me. “Look. I know you’re all that….” My eyes scan down his body then back up slowly until they reach his. “But. I’ve been working out for a few years now. No one finds anything wrong with this body.” Those shivers return as his eyes take their turn scanning over me. When he reaches my eyes, I swear I’m about to combust.
He turns and heads over to the other bag. “Suit yourself, doll.” Those feelings of desire and lust. Yeah, they just turned into anger. Doll. I’m still holding onto the bag as I watch him walk over to the shelves and put on some gloves. His muscles flex not only in his arms but with that wifebeater on, I can see the muscles ripple in his huge back as well. Damn, him. The chills have returned. He turns, still fixing one of the gloves as he walks to the bag. I pretend to punch my bag but watch him from the corner of my eye. I have to say, he has great eye and feet coordination. He’s swift and sure like he’s taking the bag down. I have a lot to learn.
“If you have good foot work, that’s half the battle.” He hits again and I look down at his feet. Large feet. You know what they say. Okay, that’s not always true. “Don’t jump around but move keeping low to the ground.” His hits the bag, twice. “Don’t punch the bag. Snap. A good snap.” He hits it a few more times, moving around it slowly, staying bent, low. “Good flow.” I continue to watch, aimlessly hitting my bag. “Don’t continually do hard shots. Instead do a constant flow and punches, snapping the bag then you can put in a few hard shots here and there.” I stop and hold my bag. My eyes are zoned into his form. He moves with grace and ease. He does some snapping punches, continuing low and around the bag, then does a few hard shots. “It’s all about power and speed.” I’m mesmerized by him. He seems to be floating, and his hard shots hit with a force. “Irish?”
My eyes snap to him. I can feel the heat of my embarrassment. “Yeah. That’s pretty good.” His mouth clamps shut, like he’s trying not to laugh. “Good to know.” I start taking my gloves off and walk passed him to the shelves. I struggle getting off the first glove. They’re so big and encumbering.
“Here. Let me,” his voice is right beside me, and I freeze. His large hands are gloveless. How the hell did he get his off so fast? He unfastens my glove and pulls it off easily then the other. I try not to look up into his eyes. I really try hard but it’s like mine are just magnetized right to his. Hazel green. A fucking red head with hazel green eyes. I take a stuttering breath until I realize he’s staring directly into my eyes. I pull back and take a few steps back then turn quickly and start power walking to the doorway.
“Thanks,” I yell over my shoulder and run like hell, hearing his low chuckles behind me and I think I heard “doll” in there somewhere. Ugh!
I practically run out of the gym and into my truck. As I start it up, I look over and see his mammoth truck. What is it with big guys and big trucks? After getting home and taking a much needed shower, I get dressed in my black yoga pants, a silky white tank top, and my favorite black flip flops with the glittering rhinestones that lace the straps. I’m anxious to get over to Taren and Brock’s new house. I didn’t really get a chance to take a good tour last night. It’s the most beautiful house I’ve ever seen, and I’m so happy for them. They truly deserve it and a lifetime of happiness. Of course, I’m ecstatic that I’m gonna be an aunt. Okay, not by blood but I’m her best friend so of course I’ll be their baby’s aunt.
The drive up to the house is beautiful. They’ve added some more outside lights along the road and the railing on either side of the bridge. Magical. I pull into their driveway and park behind Brock’s truck. His truck isn’t HUGE like someone else’s. I roll my eyes and get out then walk up the porch steps and knock on the door. It opens quickly, and I’m in Taren’s firm hold. “’Bout time you g
ot here.” I struggle and choke until she releases me, and I stumble inside. She puts her arm through mine and leads me to the kitchen.
“Well, I worked out. Didn’t want me to come over stinky, did you?” She laughs as I sit down on a barstool. I watch her walk to the fridge, bringing me back a cold beer. I twist off the cap and pick up the bottle, taking a huge drink. “Damn. I needed that.” She grabs her bottled water and leans on the counter in front of me.
“So working out, huh? And how is the new job going? I feel bad. With everything that’s been going on, I haven’t even asked.” Her smile is big and waiting for all the details. She’s the bestest friend I’ve ever had. Okay, she’s the only “real” friend I’ve ever had. ‘Cept for the guys but they don’t count.
“I love it! I’m learning so much.” I take another drink and swallow hard. “Only. They want to send me to this convention next weekend. You know how I am with crowds and there’ll be other tech companies there. Ugh! I can see the guys hitting on me now. You know that makes me crazy.” I take another drink. I may have to have a lot of these at the convention. “And there’s a party of sorts that first night too.” Sigh.
“So, it’s all weekend?” She asks anxious to hear.
“Yes. I have to be there Friday night and stay until Sunday morning. Hey, at least it’s all paid by them though. That’s a plus I guess.” I take another big gulp. I get up and throw away the empty bottle and get another one from the fridge, twisting off the cap and dunking it in the trash can. I return to my seat and take another big swig.
“That is a plus. Uh, you can stay the night in one of the guest bedrooms, if you want.” She smiles sweetly.
“Nah, I’m good.”
“Hey, look who’s here,” Brock’s voice sounds excited behind me. Wonder who….
“Hey, doll. Fancy meeting you here,” his voice sends those chills down my spine. With my bottle up to my lips, I turn my head. Caylan is standing there, big grin, beefy arms across his beefy chest, and those hazel eyes lit up like a Christmas tree.
Fuck. My. Life.
The End
Falling For Love (Beyond Love series #2)
Love can be deceiving,
Love can be unkind,
Love comes when you least expect it,
If you’re lucky, love will find you
Caylan Dorn drives himself hard to make something out of his life. He holds multiple jobs; construction worker, fitness trainer and model. He’s already been on two book covers and has been asked to attend a book signing with the author. A month before the signing, he decides to move to the town where it will be held to begin a new life and has no trouble finding jobs in what he excels. The signing is located in a plush hotel, but little does he realize what awaits for him there.
Irish Hadley has worked at Pops Bar most of her young life and loves her extended family there. However, she’s tired of constantly being hit on by all the guys. She wants something more so she accepts a full time job at a large tech company, while continuing to help out at the bar on weekends. She’s been instructed to attend a convention at one of the ritzy hotels nearby but dreads being around all the mayhem. She soon finds there’s another event being held there and her curiosity is piqued.
What else will she find there? A hot and sexy redhead that won’t take no for an answer.
About the Author
Vicki Green grew up in Overland Park, Kansas and currently resides in Olathe, Kansas. Along with her husband and two teenage boys, she shares her home with her cocker spaniel’s Shadow and Mocha. She has been working full time at the same company for 35 years. Her life has been filled with the most loving and caring parents, who are both gone now but are still in her heart and mind daily.
Vicki enjoys reading Romance books which is what inspired her to begin writing this book. She has always admired Author’s dedication and hard work. She had a dream that played out for over a year, came home one day after work and decided to put it on a word document to see how it read and that became ‘My Savior Forever’, the beginning of her Forever Series, and that’s where it all began.
Website: http://www.vickigreenauthor.com/
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/VickiGreenAuthor
Twitter: @rileyks3
Goodreads Author: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7112966.Vicki_Green
