I listen quietly, running my hand through her hair as she talks about her father. I love how she lights up when she thinks of her dad, but afterwards the sorrow that ensues is deeper than the glow of the memory.

“Dad never remarried after Mom. He didn’t even really date much. He used to say, when you’ve had the love of your life, anything else just pales by comparison. He threw himself into his career and taking care of me. That’s why the gyms are so important. Why Joe and I agreed only a silent investor would work. It means the world to me to keep his vision intact and not turn it into a franchise. Plus, it makes me feel like a piece of him is still with me everyday. He worked so hard to build it to what it is today. He wanted something substantial to leave behind someday. Wanted to make sure I was taken care of when he retired.” She pauses. “He didn’t realize that someday would be so soon. None of us did.”

I pull her close to me, wrapping my arms around her tightly, wishing I could take away the pain I see buried deep. But for now, until she’s ready to give it to me to hold, I’ll just hold her tight.

Chapter 19

Lily

I’m up early, nervous about going back to work today. Even though what happened the other night was only between Jax, Caden, Joe and I, I’m sure the gym will be buzzing. You’d never guess it, but fighters can gossip better than the ladies that lunch. Sure, they prefer to call it “shooting the shit” but they could have saved Paul Revere a long ride back in the day.

Jax insists on coming with me. I know it’s like bringing gasoline to a party filled with sparks, but I have to admit, after the other night, I feel better knowing he’ll be near.

After ten minutes of blotting on makeup, I step back from the mirror, afraid to see what my neck looks like. It’s no use. The early pink and pale purple bruising has turned a vibrant shade of black and blue. Nothing short of a turtle neck would cover it up. Too bad it’s going to be seventy degrees today.

Jax is sitting on the edge of the bed talking on his cell as I emerge from the bathroom, he catches sight of me from the corner of his eye as I walk out the door. His eyes drop to my neck and I watch as his jaw flexes. “I’ll meet you there at ten,” he says into his phone, before pressing a button and standing.

Dressed in a suit, sleek and confident, he looks every bit the tycoon I’ve emailed over the last few months and far from the fighter I’ve gotten to know intimately over the last few weeks.

“Hot date?” I tease.

“Yep. Meeting her at ten.” Jax tightens his tie, grabs his jacket, and walks toward me.

Irritation written clear on my face, I squint, my hands on my hips, assessing him. He had better be kidding.

A wry grin crosses his cleanly shaven face. Honestly, he looks so delicious I’m not sure if I prefer sweaty fighter man or sexy business tycoon. “Problem?” He leans down, kissing me chastely on the lips.

“You’re dressing up for a date?” I ask, the word date said with disdain, annoyance obvious in my voice. I can’t help but feel a little territorial when it comes to him.

“Yep. With a banker. 10AM.” He grins knowingly, quite enjoying that he’s ruffled my feathers.

“Very nice. I’m sure you’d enjoy it if I told you I had a hot d….”

“Don’t finish that sentence,” Jax growls, pulling me flush against his body in a not too gentle manner.

Inwardly my ego preens, but outwardly I goad him even more. “So you don’t want to hear about my dates.”

“I won’t hear about them, because you won’t be having anymore.” His voice is low and gruff. I look up into his eyes, expecting to find playful, but he’s dead serious. Oddly, his possessiveness totally turns me on, whereas Caden’s was a total turnoff.

***

Jax holds open the front door to Ralley’s Gym, and I hold my breath as I walk through. Joe Ralley is at the front desk and my eyes immediately begin scanning the gym before I even acknowledge his existence.

“He’s not here.”

I turn to face Joe and he repeats himself. “Caden. He’s not here. Told him I had a business meeting and didn’t want any trouble. He’s at the 52nd street location, working the front desk. Brought the front desk person from there over here so you can help out with the banker if we need. They’re doing a financing audit. She’ll probably need reports. You know me and that stupid computer don’t get along.”

I exhale noticeably loud, feeling relieved. “Thank you.” I walk around and stand on my tiptoes, kissing Joe on the cheek. I’m truly going to miss this man when he retires, for more reasons than just help in running the business.

Joe nods and leans down to me. “You’re my girl. I’m sorry things with Caden went as far as they did. Should have seen that coming. The kid’s wound too tight.” He turns his attention to Jax. “Jackson, why don’t you and I go over a few terms of the financing my lawyer asked me to clarify.” Joe steps from behind the desk and motions in the direction of his office.

Jax nods. “Give me one minute and I’ll join you.”

Waiting until Joe is out of earshot, Jax takes my hand as I settle in at the front desk. “You okay?”

“Yes.”

“I’ll just be in the back office.”

“I know.”

He gives me a sweet kiss on the lips and takes a few steps away before turning back. “Gertrude,” he says over his shoulder with a smirk on his face.

“Gertrude?”

“My 10AM date.” He winks.

At precisely ten, Gertrude Waters, managing auditor at City Bank, arrives to meet with Mr. Ralley and Mr. Knight. Happily, I walk the silver haired woman back to the meeting.

***

The auditor stays for hours and pores over reports. It’s nerve-wracking, I really want everything to work out for Joe. Our business is great, membership is at an all time high, though she did seem a little concerned over our tightening cash flow. But Jax was able to alleviate her concern. She left with a pile of data, seemingly pleased with her initial review. Granted the constant smile may have more to do with Jax’s presence, and the way he leans over her shoulder to help her figure out things on the reports she’s reading, than the actual numbers on the page. He’s clueless the effect he has on her, but I saw her blush a few times as he joked with her. If she wasn’t almost sixty, I might even be a little jealous at their playful banter.

By late afternoon, with the auditor gone and my bookkeeping work all caught up, I find myself finally relaxed enough to sketch. Taking out my pad, I glance over in the gym where Jax is sparring with Marco. Low hanging exercise shorts, a sweat soaked simple white t-shirt clinging to his chiseled chest, he looks so different than the businessman in the three thousand dollar suit, but every bit as delicious. I smile thinking how lucky I am to have Jackson, the Ivy League refined tycoon pull out my chair and open my door. And Jax, the gritty, dirty talking fighter that commands my body. God, I had no idea such a man existed, he shatters stereotypes. It’s as if someone told me to fantasize about sexy men, and then they rolled them all into one perfect prototype. I sigh watching him. I never even knew I was capable of swooning, but that’s what the man does to me.

Sensing my staring, I’m caught ogling him when he turns. He arches an eyebrow suggestively and I wave him off as if he’s wrong for thinking I was checking him out. But we both know the truth.

My last project of the semester nearly done, I begin packing up my supplies as Joe comes to the front desk seeing Jax approach.

“Caden’s set up a time and ref, late next week,” Joe says pensively.

“Excellent. Can’t wait,” Jax responds.

Joe shakes his head and looks at me, attempting to provide an explanation, “Boys will be boys. Lucky for us, it doesn’t change.” He slaps a hand on Jax’s back. “Otherwise, we wouldn’t be brokering a deal that will take me long into retirement, would we?”

“No, we certainly wouldn’t want anyone to stop fighting before the paperwork was signed.” Jax extends his hand to Joe and the two share a smile.

“Lily. Caden’s my nephew and I love him. But Jax is a good man, and I know you never showed Caden any disrespect. And I’ll make sure he does the same for you. Now you two get on out of here, I’ll see you in the morning. I’ll make sure he isn’t back here until the fight.”

***

Jax insisted we stay at his hotel suite tonight so we could go out to dinner. After almost two weeks hiding out to avoid the media, it feels odd to get ready to go out in public on a date just the two of us. The paparazzi hasn’t completely disappeared yet, they still follow us and yell rude questions, but it seems to bother Jax less.

I stand silently at the doorway to the bedroom, leaning my head lazily against the wall, watching Jax’s reflection in the mirror in the walk-in closet as he gets ready. He slips on a pair of grey slacks that hang perfectly from his slim waist. Covering up his finely chiseled chest with a crisp white shirt, a small smile forms at the corner of his mouth as he fastens the buttons at his wrists. I wonder what he’s thinking that puts the smile on his face. Too curious to keep quiet, I walk to the closet and take over buttoning the front of his dress shirt.

“What were you just thinking about?” I look up at him through my long thick mascara coated lashes as I button.

“I’m not sure you want to know.”

I stop buttoning. “Well that might be true. But now I have to know.”

Jax motions to the chest high dresser island in the middle of the closet. “I was thinking I want to bend you over that, and watch your face in that mirror while I take you from behind.” He lifts his chin, gesturing to the mirror.

His eyes stay fastened on me. I work to keep my face unreadable, but I resume buttoning. Taking my time, I don’t respond until I reach the top button. “Maybe I should keep these on, looks like they keep us lined up much better.” I pull back a bit and look down, enough so he can catch a glimpse of the five inch heels he hadn’t noticed I’d walked in wearing. They’re silver with thin straps that wrap up my ankles.

A dirty grin washes over his face. “Those are definitely staying on.”

I kiss him chastely on the lips and turn around leaving him watching the sway of my ass as I walk away.

***

The waiter seats us at a table for two in the corner next to the floor to ceiling windows that face outside to the streets of Manhattan. A beautiful view of the Brooklyn Bridge lights up the clear night sky off in the distance.

“You know we’re not getting dessert,” Jax says.

“Why not?”

“There’s a mirror calling my name upstairs as soon as you’re done eating.” His voice is low, deep and seductive. I feel the swell in between my legs and cross them to stop it from throbbing. Jax arches an eyebrow with a wicked grin…he knows exactly what I’m doing.

“What can I get for you to drink this evening?” The waiter hands us both the wine selection menu.

Jax looks it over quickly, double checking with me before he orders. “Red?”

“That sounds great.”

He hands the menu back to the waiter and orders. The waiter nods and disappears. “So you’ve mentioned two glasses of wine makes you sleepy. What does one do?” Jax sips his water eyeing me.

“Nothing much,” I say, lifting the menu and pretending to read it as I continue. “Except it makes me lose my inhibitions.”

I glance up, finding a wicked smile spreading across Jax’s handsome face. His eyes sparkle as he leans in to speak. “We could have that glass of wine and skip dinner.”

“But I was so looking forward to eating yours,” I tease playfully, selecting my words purposefully.

“Oh. I’ll give you something to eat.”