Driving Her Wild

by Meg Maguire

  “Wilinski?”

  “Her dad opened this place in ’82. She inherited both floors.”

  Her brows rose. “The plot thickens.”

  “She nearly gave the gym the chop, but luckily Mercer managed to seduce her away from reason.”

  “I’d have thought that was your job.”

  He grinned. “I know, right?”

  “Doesn’t your girlfriend work up there, too?” If memory served, the woman was refreshingly down-to-earth, compared with all the glammed-out girlfriends-of-fighters Steph had met over the years.

  Rich nodded, fetching the papers the printer had spat out. “It’s all very incestuous around here. Must be in the water.”

  She held in the questions she was longing to ask, knowing Rich was the kind of guy who’d tease her mercilessly if she gave him the ammunition. So is she good, this matchmaker? What sort of guys might she find for a chick who’s spent the past decade scrapping in chain-link octagons? Would I look dumb for even asking if she’d want me as a client?

  Steph had grown up an hour’s drive from here. She didn’t know anyone in Boston, not outside this gym, and didn’t have the first clue how to go about meeting the kind of men she’d like to date. She was useless at the bar scene, given what a teetotaler training turned one into, and didn’t relish taking up tango or speed-dating or going it alone on some freebie personals site. If she was going to find a boyfriend, she’d do it the right way. Do it through a service that attracted sophisticated, grown-up men who were looking for something serious. Spark might be the perfect solution and a worthy expense, provided she could muster the balls to ask.

  “Autograph this,” Rich said, handing her a safety waiver. “And Mercer’s got tax and payroll forms for you, too, someplace.” He rummaged through a filing cabinet and Steph read and signed all the papers.

  “So, how you settling in?” he asked, relaxing back in the chair. “You find a place you like?”

  She shook her head. “Only a sublet. A nice one, but I have to find an apartment of my own by March first.”

  “Bummer.”

  “No, it’s fine. I couldn’t afford this place on my own for more than a couple months.”

  Rich knocked her papers into a tidy stack and slipped them in a folder. “My girlfriend’s looking for a roommate.”

  “Oh yeah?”

  He cocked an eyebrow at her. “Bear in mind, I’d be your neighbor, one floor down.”

  Incestuous, indeed. Rich as her coworker, roommate’s boyfriend, neighbor? That was a lot of Rich Estrada. But it was a better lead than she’d found elsewhere.

  “On the plus side,” he went on, scribbling Need copies on a Post-it and sticking it to the folder, “you’d pretty much have the place to yourself.” No doubt. Rich didn’t seem the type to suffer an empty bed. “Though there may be a surly teenage girl crashing on Lindsey’s couch all summer,” he added. “I’m paying her little sister’s way to come train. If and when she graduates high school.”

  She smiled at that. “I’d never have pegged you for the mentoring type.”

  “Me neither. Anyhow, we’ll have you over some weekend, and you girls can see if you mesh. It’s in Lynn. Do you drive?”

  “No. I sold my car when I knew I’d be moving to Boston.”

  “You could catch a lift with me, when we’re on the same shifts. Plus there’s the bus and the train.”

  “Sounds doable.” Steph wasn’t opposed to a roommate—she’d shared a million tiny motel rooms with perfect strangers. And she wasn’t really opposed to living in the same building as Rich. Brash or not, he made her laugh, and most of the conversations they’d had on the road over low-sodium, fat-free training meals had been dominated by his laments about missing his Colombian mother’s cooking. She wouldn’t pass up an invite to an Estrada family dinner.

  “I’ll fix something up,” he said. “Maybe next weekend.”

  When he stood, Steph took his lead and they headed back into the gym.

  There was a mid-afternoon lull—no structured sessions, everyone doing their own thing. Steph wandered around, introducing herself, stepping in to hold targets or spot the guys working out with weights. Mercer arrived at four, freeing Rich to head home.

  Steph smiled and shook Mercer’s hand. “Hey, boss.”

  “Hey yourself, new girl.” He gave her nose only the briefest double-take. “I guess you didn’t find your right mind and back out, after all.” Mercer was a good guy. A few years older than her and Rich, with a stern, no-nonsense face, scarred up from his years as a boxer.

  “I like a challenge,” she said.

  “Clearly. The next class starts up at five. You need a break? Grab a snack or a drink or anything?”

  “Wouldn’t hurt.” Also wouldn’t hurt to go ahead and ask what she hadn’t been able to, with Rich. “Your fiancée owns the matchmaking business upstairs, right?”

  “Yeah. Why?”

  She felt herself blushing, which given her complexion meant she was already red as a brick. “Is it only for business-type people, or...?”

  Mercer’s less-scarred eyebrow rose. “You want to join Spark?”

  She bit her lip. “Maybe.”

  “Good for you. I’m not sure what the exact criteria are, but you can go up and ask Jenna yourself. I know her last appointment’s already done for the day.”

  “What? Right now?”

  “We’re going out of town for a few days on Friday, so no time like the present.”

  “But looking like this?” She waved to indicate her bra and shorts, the hair at her temples and nape curled with sweat. Lord knew what her tender nose might be looking like by now.

  “Ah. Maybe throw on some warm-ups. But she knows what a mess we are, on the clock. Don’t worry about that.”

  Maybe not, but after Steph changed into yoga pants and a zip-up, she splashed her face with water and wrapped her hair in a bandanna. On the way out she made eye contact with the electrician, who was installing some device by the exit.

  “Looks better,” Patrick offered brightly, gesturing at his own nose.

  Damn it, he was good-looking. Had this been five years ago, Steph would’ve already succumbed to a terminal crush on him, dolt or not.

  He’s been sent to test you, with his big arms and blue eyes and stubble, and his tool belt all slung around his hips. Ooh, his hips. But she’d dated this man before—over and over and over—and it never worked out. It’d be the dating definition of insanity to fall again, expecting different results. The time had come to start picking with her brain, instead of...other parts.

  She glanced at his project.

  “New security system,” he explained proudly. “State-of-the-art. No more keys, same as in the foyer.”

  “Great.”

  “It’s so fancy I’m not entirely sure what I’m doing.”

  “That’s very reassuring.”

  “Not really my specialty, but hey—any work’s good work in this economy, right?”

  “Right.” She made for the doors, sidestepping the tools and plaster chunks cluttering the floor.

  “Hang on, let me—”

  He tugged at a tangle of thick orange extension cord, just in time to catch Steph’s ankle and send her stumbling to her knees and elbows, the meat of her hand slamming into the claw-end of a hammer.

  She swore as the pain bolted through her wrist and arm, jerking away as Patrick tried to help her up. “Don’t.”

  He hovered awkwardly as she made it to her feet. “I’m so sorry.”

  “I’m getting really tired of hearing you say that.”

  “Sorry,” he repeated, oblivious as ever.

  Steph studied the damage, blood beading along a nasty scrape on her palm.

  “Oh shit,” Patrick said. “Lemme find you something to—”

  “I’m fine.”

  But Patrick fished in his pockets and found a crumpled, if clean, Dunkin’ Donuts napkin, offering it to her.

  You are... You are just so
exactly who you are, aren’t you?

  Good ol’ Pat from Boston or Brockton or Woburn, with his electrician’s license and steel toes and his daily stop at the Dunkin’ drive-through. She took the napkin, wrapping it around her cut and skirting the mess. She didn’t dare stay in this man’s orbit another second. He’d probably manage to set her hair on fire.

  He called, “Sorry, Stacy.”

  “It’s Steph,” she shot back.

  “Sorry.”

  She jogged up the steps, imagining running into her dream man as he left Spark. Tall, with dark hair, crisply pressed shirt, warm smile, smelling of oak.

  And her with a swollen nose, bleeding hand, dressed for a jog and stinking of the effort. Please let there be no men around.

  She was in luck. Through the tall windows that faced the stylish foyer, she spied only a woman at a desk, typing on a laptop. She’d caught sight of Rich’s girlfriend on a previous visit to Boston—she had dark blond hair, so this brunette must be Jenna.

  Steph approached the open door, more anxious than she’d ever felt stepping into the ring. She knocked timidly on the frame.

  Jenna glanced up. “Hello!” She stood and rounded her desk, dressed in a smart skirt and tall boots, all shiny bangs and pink cheeks and white teeth. “Welcome to Spark. How can I help you?” If she was weirded out by a sweaty woman showing up in her threshold with no appointment and a bloody napkin in her fist, she hid it shockingly well.

  “Hi, I’m Steph Healy. I just started working downstairs.”

  “I figured that had to be you. I’m Jenna. I own Spark, and I’m engaged to Mercer.”

  “So I hear.”

  Jenna went in for a shake but Steph kept her hands clasped, letting Jenna see the napkin. “Little mishap.”

  “Oh goodness.” Jenna frowned and grabbed a water bottle off her desk, wetting a tissue. “Give it here.”

  After a moment’s hesitation, Steph crumpled the napkin and offered her palm.

  “Ouch,” Jenna said, dabbing at the scrape. “If this is Mercer’s fault I’ll be chewing him out. Your first day and already you’re all banged up.”

  “I had a run-in with one of the contractors.”

  Jenna fished in her purse and tore open a Band-Aid. It wouldn’t last long once Steph was gloved and working out, but she politely let Jenna fuss.

  “He’s the reason I got this, too,” Steph said, pointing at her nose.

  “That was quite a run-in.”

  “They were separate incidents.”

  Jenna’s eyes widened.

  “He’s not a very good contractor,” Steph offered.

  “Apparently not.” Jenna tossed the bandage wrapper and leaned on the edge of her desk, waving at a nearby chair. Steph sat.

  “It’s so good to meet you,” Jenna said. “Mercer’s been wringing his hands for months, convinced you were going to change your mind.”

  Steph smiled. “He told me. But I like it down there.” Dangerous electricians aside.

  Another woman appeared then—Rich’s girlfriend, Steph was nearly positive.

  “This is Steph, from downstairs,” Jenna said.

  “Oh right! Welcome to the building.” She came forward for a shake. “I’m Lindsey. Is your nose okay?”

  “Yes, it’s fine. Nice to meet you.”

  Lindsey wore slacks and a deep purple sweater over a dress shirt. This seemed to bode well. Both Mercer and Rich had managed to land themselves polished, professional partners, despite their vocations. She stole a quick glance at the engagement ring twinkling on Jenna’s finger, and some hybrid of jealousy and hope sparked in her belly.

  “Just here to say hello?” Jenna asked. “We must look really dull compared to the action downstairs.”

  Steph shrugged. “Feels like I’ve been living in gyms the past ten years.” She gave the office and its modern furnishings an appreciative scan. “This is exotic, trust me.”

  “Rich said you’re from Mass,” Lindsey said, sitting on her desk.

  “Worcester.”

  “Nice. I’m from Springfield. Jenna’s a California transplant, but even she was technically born here.”

  “It’s hard to stay away.” Steph had traveled all over—South America and Europe, Asia and Australia, and until a couple years ago, she’d thought she’d never settle in New England. Then some instinct had kicked in, like a salmon getting called back up the river. “I just moved to Fort Point.” She liked her temporary neighborhood, a collection of old factories and brick office buildings straddling the border of Boston and South Boston, only ten minutes’ walk. Twelve if the icy headwind off the harbor was really blowing.

  “You just retired from fighting, right?” Lindsey asked.

  “Yup, all done.” Steph seized the segue. “I got sick of all the traveling. I’m ready to get rooted somewhere. Settle down.”

  “Nice.”

  “Rich said you’re looking for a roommate.”

  Lindsey nodded. “I am. I feel stupid paying rent for a two-bedroom when I’m hardly ever there. You in the market?”

  “Yeah. Rich said I should come over some weekend, see if it’s a good fit...?”

  “Great! Beats wading through the weirdos I might find online.”

  Excellent. One bit of matchmaking accomplished. Now, how to broach the second? Thankfully, Jenna wasted no time in steering them there.

  “Do you have a boyfriend here?” she asked, eyes wide and eager.

  “No. But I’d like to find one. Or at least get back into dating, now that I’ll finally be in the same city for more than a couple weeks at a time.”

  “Well,” said Lindsey. “We can help with that.”

  But Jenna’s smile had faltered. She didn’t seem to agree.

  “I wanted to ask how Spark works. And how much it costs, all that sort of stuff?” Steph held her breath.

  Jenna nibbled her lip.

  “It’s okay,” Steph said, wanting to offer her a polite out. “If you’re not taking new clients, or...”

  “It’s not that. I just honestly don’t know if I’m allowed to let you join.”

  Steph’s heart sank. She knew she should have changed. She was probably wrecking Jenna’s swanky cachet by even sitting here.

  “Technically you’re my employee, since I own the gym,” Jenna explained.

  “Oh.” That was a small relief. Though still a let-down.

  “Would you let me join the gym?” Lindsey asked Jenna.

  “I hadn’t thought about it like that.” She frowned. “I’ll have to call the head office. But if it’s kosher, of course I’d be happy to have you.”

  Steph’s mood brightened. “I wasn’t sure if... I know Spark is for professional types.”

  “You’re a professional ass-kicker,” Lindsey said. “Plus Mercer’s your employee,” she added to Jenna. “If we’re talking about inappropriate workplace poaching, here.”

  Jenna rolled her eyes and spoke to Steph. “I’ll be frank—I don’t know how our male clients would react to the prospect of a date with a woman who fights. But I think you’d make a very interesting addition, and I’m sure I could find you some matches...if not as many as I might for a woman with a more, um...traditional job.”

  “I figured.” Her profession tended to divide guys into a few distinct camps. The insecure jerks liked to call her femininity into doubt. The perverts suggested she might want to wrestle with them, preferably naked and covered in oil. And the polite but not-into-it guys smiled stonily and immediately ceased viewing her as girlfriend material. But one thing had long ago become clear—the majority of men didn’t relish dating a woman who could best them at chin-ups.

  “I’ve found it challenging myself,” she admitted. “I’d be fine if you marketed me as a martial arts instructor. That’s technically what I am now, and I think it intimidates guys less.”

  “Do you know what you’re looking for?”

  Did she ever. “A nice, grown-up, professional guy. With a half-decent car and some kind
of dress sense.” She pictured that hopeless Patrick guy, and all the other incarnations of him she’d dated. “Somebody moderately sophisticated.” Who’d take her to a nice restaurant instead of the corner bar, so she could dress up and feel girly after all these years of training and touring. A man who’d make her feel like a lady, not a chick.

  “I’ll call the powers that be first thing tomorrow morning,” Jenna promised. “Give me your number and I’ll let you know the verdict.”

  She scribbled it on a Post-it, feeling hopeful. As she handed it to Jenna she said, “I promise if I get a date with one of your clients, I won’t go dressed like this, or all banged up. I’m just on a coffee break, and I knew you were closing at five, so...”

  Jenna waved the excuses aside. “If any two matchmakers are sympathetic to the hazards of your job, you’re looking at them.”

  “Okay, great. Fingers crossed. I better get back downstairs.”

  They said goodbye and Steph jogged down the steps, mindful to approach the double doors with caution. In her absence, Patrick had moved his debris and tools to the side, and she hurried through the threshold, half expecting to trigger an explosion.

  The dangerous man in question was at the other end of the gym, standing beside another worker at the emergency exit, scratching his head as they stared at a mess of wires spilling from an electrical panel.

  God help him, Steph thought.

  He was one of those men who just floated cloddishly through his life, helped along by those endeared by his good looks and hapless charm. Probably had sympathetic teachers who’d passed him so he could stay on the hockey team. Likely was coddled by girlfriends even after he’d forgotten their birthdays three years running. She knew his type well enough to make these wild assumptions—her younger brother was exactly the same. The lovable, harmless oaf.

  She touched her nose. Well, perhaps harmless wasn’t quite the word for Patrick.

  Steph loved her brother too much to feel bitter toward this kind of man, but a part of her did find it unfair. She’d had to work three times harder than any man in her field to be taken seriously, had to push herself to succeed, since so few people at the top of the MMA food chain cared to invest their energy or resources on a female fighter. Women didn’t get juicy coaching deals or promotional opportunities, not the way the guys did, and Steph’s biggest payday for a professional fight had probably been as much as what a guy like Rich earned before he’d even signed with an organization.