She’s light and sweet. Exactly what I need after a few days of working my ass off, growing my business, and teaching nonstop at Lotus House.
I feel her enter the gym before I see her. The air charges, sizzles at my back. Currently, I’m sparring with Trent in the ring. Bad idea to be distracted when a man like Trent Fox is in the vicinity. The second I’m off my game, he smashes a gloved fist into my ribcage.
“Ugh.” I bowl over, take a breath, and lift my gaze to his, clutching at my sore side. Damn it!
He’s grinning, white teeth looking blue around the mouth guard, sweat pouring down the side of his face. “Come at me.” He waves a glove toward his body. “Don’t tell me you’re tired already. I’ve barely broken a sweat,” the fucker goads me, but a flicker of white shimmers at my right, distracting me once more.
I turn my head and see my feisty best friend Mila Powers approaching Honor, Atlas hot on her heels. Shit, this is bad. Another punch hits my chest. “Fuck!” I roar and get my head back in the game before Trent makes hamburger out of me. He’d love it too. Dude’s been readying for battle with me for months. Finally on break from pro ball, it’s obvious he’s been putting in the practice time in the ring.
Once I get into it, I bum rush Trent and nab a one-two punch. One fist crashes against his abdomen, the other to his chin.
His head flies back, neck veins popping with the effort as he stumbles. “Shit!” He bounces against the ropes where I let him have a second to catch his breath. The hairs on the back of my neck stand up again as I feel eyes on me from my side. I bounce from foot to foot, backing up. I can just see Honor on the side of the ring, Mila chatting away.
I groan. “You done?” I ask Trent, hope filling my tone.
Trent grins again and glances to the side. “Why? You got a hot date with a leggy blonde?”
“Man, don’t you even think of looking at her.” I growl possessively. He loses his mind if anyone so much as makes a face toward Genevieve, and he thinks he can prod my beast? Hell no.
Trent shifts fully, places his gloved hands on his hips, and holds my gaze but calls out to our friend. “Hey, Mila, who you got with you?” He winks, and I grind my teeth into the guard, digging in with all my worth.
“Oh, you mean this tall drink of water, Fox? This lovely lady is Honor Carmichael. She’s here for Nick.”
“Really?” Trent pulls out his guard, lifts his gloved hand, and tugs at the ties with his teeth, loosening them. Good thing he has his own.
“Dude…” I warn as he removes both gloves.
“What? Chill. I just want to meet your girl.” He smiles an I’m-so-going-to-embarrass-you smile before heading to the opposite side of the ring.
I tug at my gloves, remove them, and then pull out my own mouth guard. “Hey, Dove. Glad you found the place okay.” I rip off my head gear and lean against the ropes, my body wanting instantly to get closer to her.
She nods shyly, her eyes looking exceptionally blue. She’s wearing a white sundress that is molded to her body perfectly and a light-blue cardigan. Half of her hair is up, parted down the center. If I didn’t know any better, I’d swear she had been skipping through a field of daisies. Probably smells like it too.
I hold down the ropes, kick a leg over, and hop down next to her. Without saying anything, I slip my hand around her waist and tug her to my side. Her face tips up invitingly. I lean down and kiss her, long enough to get a tiny taste but not too long to embarrass her in front of my friends.
“Hi,” she offers with a small smile when I pull back.
“Hi yourself.” I curve her closer to me so I can nuzzle into her neck where her wildflower scent is strongest. I inhale deeply, letting her essence wrap around all of my senses. “Want to introduce you to some of my friends, although it looks like Mila’s already skipped ahead.”
Honor giggles, and it’s the sexiest sound, all sugar-coated and sweet. I’d like to bite it off her lips back in my private office, but a humor-filled male voice intrudes. “You gonna make out all day or introduce your friends, bro?”
I roll my eyes and find Atlas with his arm looped around Mila’s shoulders, his curly hair a mop-like mess falling into his eyes.
“Where’d you come from?” I lift my chin in his direction.
“Just picking up my wildcat.” He grins. “So glad I have killer timing.” Atlas reaches out a hand toward Honor. “I’m Atlas Powers, by the way.”
Honor shakes his hand. “Honor Carmichael.”
He knocks his head to the side. “And this spicy Latina is my wife, Mila.”
“We kind of already met.” Honor smiles.
“I’m Trent Fox…” Trent offers a meaty hand.
Her eyes widen. “Oh, the professional baseball player?”
