“Okay.”
So I count it off, and then I have no idea what happens. It is a disaster. I land hard on my shoulder. Ouch, that hurts. I am going to kill this guy.
I glare at him. “What the hell?”
I guess all my screaming got Randy out on the floor, and he is not happy. I continue. “On my count, dude. What was that?” After explaining to Randy what we were trying to attempt he takes Roger off to the side.
Randy comes back “B, I am so sorry, he had no idea what stunt you were doing.”
“It’s fine,” I tell him.
Cambree is looking at me, and I can tell she is scared. I ask Randy quietly, “Hey can you spare five minutes and do this stunt so Cambree doesn’t freak and quit stunting?”
“Yeah. The new PT guy is walking over here with Addy now, so let him look at your ankle, and then we will do it.”
“No, I need to do it now. I will deal with my ankle after.” I say, grimacing in pain as I stand up. He just nods, unwillingly.
As we get in position Addy asks, “What are you doing?”
I look up and stop breathing because she is standing next to Colby. Oh sweet baby Jesus, he looks better each time I see him. “Addy, I am doing this stunt with a non-dumbass this time.”
“Is that smart? You didn’t finish off your PT at school. I see your ankle is hurting.”
I ignore her. We complete the stunt flawlessly, and the grin on Cambree’s face makes my ankle pain diminish. Not really, but I think that is what a good sister would say. I sit down and try to catch my breath and get my shoe off because I know my ankle is swelling.
Colby bends down to help me and questions, “You okay?”
“Sure. It was a little break, and I barely had any PT left.” I pray to God that he doesn’t strike me with lightning for that whopper of a lie I just told.
He grabs my ankle and starts to run his fingers over the swelling and bone. Umm, I am not 100% sure, but I don’t think my panties are supposed to get wet when someone touches my ankle.
I yank my ankle away and clear my throat. “Really, I am fine.”
Addy leans in, “Since Colby is working here now, and you need to finish your PT, why don’t y’all set up the schedule?”
I smile sweetly. In my mind I am killing her slowly and painfully.
Colby asks me, “Do you have your records and x-rays? I can take a peek at them then I will know how to schedule our sessions.” Why does that sound dirty and interesting?
“Yep. They are in my bag over there.”
He stands, and Cambree hands them to him. When he is out of sight I shoot a death glare at Addy “I am fine, and stop babying me. If Cambree sees me hurt, she will not stunt anymore, and we both know she wants to. She can’t be afraid.”
Addy actually looks shocked by my outburst. She glances to Cambree and shakes her head. I stand up without the help she offered, and she follows me as we make our way back to Colby’s office.
I look over at Cambree and see Randy has her stunting. I shoot him the thumbs up sign and hug Dustin as I walk by. “Shortly I will be kicking your butt all over that track.”
He just shrugs. “I got mad skills woman.”
I chuckle and finish going to the office.
Chapter 14
Colby
I had no clue that Addy and Brielle owned this gym. I sure as shit had no clue that Brielle would be one of the girls walking around in little shorts today. I swear, can I not catch a break? When I walked out of the office and saw Brielle crashing to the ground like that I swear my heart stopped. I am going to get gray hair before I am twenty-five if I hang around her doing that crap. I noticed all the pictures of Brielle up in her uniform and little shorts this morning when Randy brought me around the gym. I had a hard time concentrating. When he dealt the final blow that the Parker siblings owned this gym, I wanted to curse the gods and applaud them at the same time. From what Randy was saying, Brielle was the top cheerleader in the state, maybe country, with her stunting. When she left for school last year, they really missed her at the gym. I am not one of those macho assholes that think cheerleading and gymnastics is not a sport. Hell, I have seen the training and abuse they put their bodies through. For some reason, I don’t like to think of Brielle doing this. I don’t want her hurt. It makes me feel sick to my stomach thinking what could happen to her. I hear the commotion on the mats, and I walk out of the office just in time to see her crashing to the ground. Then the dipshit gets up and goes for it again.
I grabbed her records from Cambree and walked back into my office. I loaded the disc with her x-rays up on the computer and I was not prepared for the image I saw on the screen. This girl shattered her ankle and has three pins holding it together. She is not even three months out from the injury based on the dates of these x-rays. What the hell is she thinking?
I must be scowling because Addy asks me immediately, “What is that look for Colby?”
I can’t help it; I am angry. I am angry at her for putting herself in jeopardy all the time with these crazy-ass stunts she does. I am angry that this happened to her and angry at myself I wasn’t there to help her. That is the dumbest thought of them all because I don’t even know her.
I turn to Brielle, “What are you doing stunting already? You are not even finished with PT. The surgery you had and the pins in your ankle aren’t even three months old?” My tone must have been more forceful than I realized because she jumped a bit in her spot, then determination took over.
She responds in her smart-ass voice, “Well, I have been stunting for the past two months, and I have been cheering since I was six. So Mr. High and Mighty, I can tell you I am fine and know my body much better than you.” Yeah, this was going well, because now all I can think about, besides how I want to shake some sense into her, is how I want to take her over my knee and spank her ass. Great, Colby way to keep this professional. I am about to respond to her when I see Addy covering her mouth with tears running down her face. Brielle looks crestfallen.
Addy glares at her. “You had surgery Brielle? You didn’t tell me? So I am guessing your little break you told me you had was much more severe than you said? And you only missed two competitions? How the hell have you been stunting and tumbling on it?”
Brielle just shoots me a look, and I swear if looks could kill, I would be six feet under right now. “It wasn’t a big deal. The pins are to hold the bone together. Some pieces chipped off in the fall. I am careful when I stunt. I haven’t been tumbling that much. I wrap it really good and ice it for the pain a lot. I did not tell you about the surgery because you would have insisted on being there, and you had enough to deal with. Besides, Coop was there and took care of me.”
Whoa, who the hell is Coop? And why is he taking care of her?
Addy gets really mad now. “You mean to tell me Cooper Reed knew about this shit and didn’t tell me? I swear to God Brielle, I am going to strangle him. I know you love him. I thought I did too, but he crossed the line not telling me what was going on.”
Brielle looks embarrassed now. “He doesn’t exactly know I didn’t tell you.”
Addy looks at her and shakes her head. “Well, get your sessions scheduled with Colby, and I will meet you back at the house. I am too mad at you right now to sit in the car with you.” She turns to me. “Since you were heading over anyway, can you bring her with you?” I just nod my head at her. My brain is still reeling with this love issue and Cooper fucking Reed, whoever that may be.
Addy storms herself out of the office. I chuckle to myself because she is so tiny. I immediately stop laughing when I meet Brielle’s stare. She is mad as hell. It looks like I will be getting a tongue lashing from her. I can’t say I am not turned on by thinking about that tongue of hers and the possibility of what it could lash on my body. Yeah, those thoughts aren’t helping. In my best work tone I ask her, “When did you want to start PT? I work at the hospital three days a week and then here two days a week. Tell me what fits your schedule.”
She just stares at me like she can’t believe I am actually going through with her therapy. Truth be told, this girl needs a lot more than physical therapy. “Well I will be coaching here again probably six days a week, then I have practice for the competition squad I will be on. It will have to be after hours if that is fine. The gym will pay you over time.” I cannot believe this girl. She is seriously going to damage her ankle, and I am seriously thinking about spanking her ass instead of PT.
“I don’t think it is a good idea for you to do anything on that ankle. I don’t need overtime, and we can do Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday evenings.”
She just nods. “Listen Colby, you may not think it is a good idea for me to compete. I get it. I have to. I need this. On the mat I can do anything they throw at me; out there I am enough.”
That one statement just gutted me. She is risking her physical well-being just to give herself the ability to feel like she is enough. Doesn’t she understand that her just waking up daily is enough for me? And her siblings? How do I show her that? I don’t know yet, but damn it, I will find a way.
We just stand in the office in silence, and I nod. I don’t nod in agreement, because I don’t agree, but I just acknowledge that I have heard her. I tell her, “Well, I was going to stop for lunch and then head to your place. Does that sound good?”
She smiles. “Great to me. I am hungry, and as an added bonus it will give Addy time to get over her tantrum.” I just laugh at her because she is delusional if she thinks Addy will be okay with any of this, but I grab my keys and we head out.
I lead her to my truck with my hand on her low back. I swear when I touched her my fingers tingled. What the hell is going on? I feel like I am turning into a damn romance novel here. Who says shit like that? When we get to my truck she is smiling at me.
“I love this truck.” If it was possible I just fell for this girl even harder.
“Thanks. She is my dream girl,” I say teasingly to her. Since it is lifted and I can tell she is favoring her ankle, I open the door for her and grab her at the waist to lift her in. I can tell I catch her off guard because she sucks in a quick breath and loops her arms around my neck before she catches herself and thinks about what she was doing. Note to self; take her off guard more often. She thanks me and hooks her seatbelt. I jog around the back of my baby and hop in.
“Where do you want to eat?”
She shrugs, “I am not that picky. What are you in the mood for?”
I just look at her and answer honestly. “Brielle, what I am craving better never be on any menu.” I think I shocked her. I pull out and head to the diner in town. There is one thought still lingering on my mind. Who the hell is Cooper Reed? I need to find a way to ask her without sounding like a damn deranged stalker. I keep finding myself wanting to know more and more about this girl, and I don’t want her to think I am a freak. I look over to her and see she is blushing from my last comment. I fist bump myself in my mind, I actually got that girl to take her mask off and show me some of herself. Might as well go for broke.
“What do you want to listen to?” I turn to her before I start my truck to see her biting her lip in deep thought. Music means everything to her communication, I think. She reaches for her iPod and I quickly take it from her.
“Whatever you want, download it to mine.” I want to be able to listen to it later and figure out this girl. I may as well hand in my man-card right fucking now. She messes with my iPod for a minute and then plugs it into my radio. Some girl is singing, and Brielle is singing along with her deep in thought.
“What song is this?” I ask her. I have no clue.
She turns to face me and says, “Taylor Swift. ‘Everything Has Changed’.” I turn it up to try and hear the words. I can’t believe it she is communicating my exact thoughts through this song, does this mean she feels the same? I turn and look at her trying to see a sign of any kind she feels this connection. I see another blush sweep across her cheeks, and she is trying to avoid my gaze. Bingo. This girl is not immune to me.
I grab her chin and look into her eyes, “Me too, pretty girl . . . me too.” I hope I made myself clear, and by the grin on her face I would say so.
Chapter 15
Brielle
Lunch was amazing. Colby is so easy for me to talk to. I am not one to get embarrassed easily, but sometimes the way he looks at me or the things he says to me make me feel like I am out of my element here. Like the menu thing and what he wanted. That is confusing to me. I am a shoot from the hip girl. I just want people to tell me what they are thinking, but I am love this flirting, too. I guess that is the pot calling the kettle black because I play songs to communicate. They are still words, not necessarily my words, but they are my feelings. I was giddy with excitement when I played that song for him in the car and he got the meaning. Is it really possible he feels the same?
We laughed and talked through lunch about my siblings, his parents, what he and Tyler are doing with the parts house, and then his lack of football teams. Seriously he is a UNC fan and a Carolina Panthers fan? I don’t know if that is a character flaw I can look over. I love my Tennessee Volunteers and the Indianapolis Colts absolutely ROCK; although we have been having a disagreement with them replacing Peyton Manning, as if he could ever be replaced. My Colts will always be close to my heart. Before I realize it we are pulling into the driveway, and I can see Dustin at the track behind the lake on the property with a damn hose. Oh pretty boy is trying to make it muddy for me. This is going to be fun.
I turn to Colby. “You going to ride with us?”
He glances at the track getting really muddy and back to me. “You are still going to ride?” I just laughed. Oh, he has so much to learn about me.
“Oh not only am I going to ride, I am going to kick y’all’s asses out there.”
He smiles at me. “Game on Brielle.” I take off for the garage to get my quad and helmet; this is going to be fun!
After a few hours of me spraying mud on anybody within reach and beating Dustin and Colby on the track we all climb off the quads. Cambree doesn’t ride when we race or get muddy. Addy doesn’t either, so she, Tyler and Cambree went riding on the trails while we got dirty. I grab my helmet and take it off, shaking my hair down. I know I am covered in mud, but I don’t care. I see Colby just watching me, and I love the way his eyes roam every inch of my body. It doesn’t make me feel dirty at all it makes me feel like this could work. About that time I hear my phone ringing. I know that ringtone, “The Bitch Is Back” by Elton John. It is my mother’s tone.
I hear Addy gasp, “Brie.” I ignore her. She says again, “Brie.”
I turn on her and scream, “How many times have I told you never to call me Brie? I am not a damn piece of moldy cheese.” The truth is that my parents used to call me that. I know it was a slip-up and she never calls me that, but I don’t do nicknames for myself anymore. My granddad was the only one who ever had a nickname for me, and it was only in private. He understood my aversion to nicknames. I turn to see Colby looking at me in shock from my outburst, but damn it Addy knows better.
I ask her, “What?”
“Who in the hell did you name that on your phone?”
I start laughing. Tears are streaming down my face from laughing so hard. I had forgotten the last time Cooper, Melanie, and I had gotten drunk at school and we were messing around with each other’s phones. Mine is flashing “Cuntella” for everyone to see. OOPS. “Oh, that is your mother calling.” I grab my phone and hit ignore. Then I turn to walk to the house to take a shower. I need some space.
I hear footsteps right behind me and I turn to see Colby. I don’t want him to look at me like I am deranged. I heard about his parents and their relationship at lunch. He just wouldn’t get it with my parents. He takes my hand and just walks next to me without saying a word. I can’t stand the silence. “Don’t judge me. You have no idea how they are.”
He pulls on my hand to stop me. “I wasn’t judging. I have
seen the way you talk about your grandparents, and I see the way you are with your siblings. I know you love your family, so whatever issues you have with your parents I know that it is on them. Not you.” He follows that with a kiss to my forehead, and I release the breath I didn’t realize I was holding.
“Wow,” is all that I can think to say. He just pulls on my hand to get me to keep moving.
“Brielle, I like you and I think you and I are going to be great.” I don’t know what to say. I want to yell NO! I am broken, damaged and not enough for you. For once in eight years, I want to be enough. I want him to want me like I am beginning to need him. I don’t say anything and just keep walking. When we get to the side of the house, I grab the hose and start rinsing off my shoes and legs. Damn, I am filthy.
I look over and see Colby looking at me like I am a bottle of water, and he is on the verge of dehydration. I decide to have some fun. Instead of heading inside to take the shower I need, I am going to give him a bit of a show. I start rubbing up my legs very slowly with the water running down them. I bring the hose up to my neck and start rubbing my neck and tilt my head back. Last thing I hear is a growl that sounds primal. I immediately feel my nipples harden and then Colby’s hands grab my waist. I am crashed into his body while his lips devour me. I mean devour me. He is nipping, biting, licking, and sucking my lips and tongue. I am on sensory overload. I have never felt anything like this, and I just let myself feel. I don’t even realize it, but somehow I jump into his arms, and my legs wrap around his waist. My hands are in his hair tugging slightly. I feel like I am going up in flames. I am not scared of him. I love the way he makes every sense I have come to life. I want to bottle this feeling so I never forget it.
He pulls away from me and looks at me. “Wow.”
I slowly untangle myself from him and immediately miss the contact. He grabs my chin and cups my cheek and he says so sincerely, “Brielle, I don’t know what it is about you, but I want to know you. The real you, no masks, no hiding, just you.” I don’t know how to respond, so I just nod. He bends down and kisses me briefly on the cheek. “See you tonight.” Tonight? What is tonight? Oh, damn we have the opening of the bar tonight. I watch him walk away and can’t help but fantasize about his backside . . . what a fine one it is.
Parker Sibling Series Box Set Page 6
