Chapter 20
Caden
“Jab, Jab, kick, duck,” I say to Brandon as he pummels his fists into me with a speed that has only increased over the last few weeks. “Again.”
He huffs out, but he does it again before dashing across Rebels Advocate in a hard sprint, only to return and do it again.
He collapses to the floor as he tries to catch his breath and I find myself deep in thought as I watch him annihilate his bottle. The kid still tells me how he doesn’t feel safe and ever since I saw him at my doorstep, I haven’t been able to stop thinking about ways I could help him.
I help him to his feet and we turn to face Imogen, Susan, and Katia.
The second my eyes connect with hers, she lights up and I can’t help but grin. Fuck, she’s incredible. I can’t believe my fucking luck. How did I score a woman like her? She’s independent, fierce, and knows what she wants and how to get it, well, except for me. I had to force her to see what was right in front of her face, but the second she did, she’s never looked back.
Imogen and the women get to their feet as we reach them and they thank me before leading Brandon out the door. The second they’re out of sight, I can’t resist wrapping my arms around her and pulling her in.
“Hi,” I murmur as she raises her chin to allow me to kiss her.
“Hi to you too,” she smiles.
“Ugh,” Cole groans as he steps out of the front office. He looks down as he walks past us, but I have no doubt his next comments are directed right at me. “This really isn’t helping me not wanting to knock you out.”
Imogen presses her lips into a tight line as she attempts not to smile at her brother’s discomfort, but her eyes sparkle, telling me just how much she truly loves it. “Do you have another client?” she questions. “We could go to lunch?”
“Sure,” I tell her. “I want to run something by you anyway.”
Her eyebrows crease as she tries to work out what I could possibly be talking about. Curiosity grows in her eyes, but I don’t say a word, not yet. I haven’t mentioned this to any of the boys yet and I’d prefer to get her professional opinion on it before I say anything and get anyone’s hopes up.
“What? Tell me now. I don’t like to wait,” Imogen demands.
I smirk at her little attitude. “Shut up and get your things,” I tell her. “You’ll have to wait.”
She rolls her eyes and huffs as she turns around to grab her bag off the chair. I duck into my office and grab my keys, phone, and wallet before dashing out and escorting her into my truck. “What do you feel like?” I ask.
She turns to me with pure seduction in her beautiful eyes. Her bottom lip slips in between her teeth and she looks me up and down. “I wouldn’t mind a bit of you, right about now.”
“Say that again and I’ll fuck you on the sidewalk,” I warn her. Her eyes go wide and I see the inner battle between her need and her morality, though, when it comes down to it, there’s no way I’m about to let the world see what’s mine. “Now, what do you want to eat?”
She grins at me but actually answers the question. “I’m good with a salad,” she tells me.
“Alright,” I say as I start heading for the salad bar down the street.
I pull up a moment later and she jumps down from my truck and instantly laces her fingers through mine. I look down at our conjoined hands and love how comfortable she’s gotten with publicly showing affection. It’s like she’s finally come to terms with the fact that we’re together and admitted that she truly has feelings for me.
I swear, getting her to actually admit it was the fight of my life. I was terrified on the inside that she was about to shut me down, but I was persistent and acted as though I was the most confident prick on the face of the earth.
I was honest with her though. Every word I said to her was the truth, even the part about her being in love with me. I know she feels it too, she’s just not ready to admit it yet, but when she is, I’ll be right here waiting.
Unfortunately for her, she’ll never get rid of me now. I’ll be her world until the day I die.
I pull the door open for her and she gets straight into searching through all the options for her salad. She goes nuts with the woman behind the counter, adding all sorts of shit into her salad, like shit I’ve never even heard of.
I point out something that looks good but has some fancy ass name and we head out of the salad bar. I walk with her down the road until we come into a park which fortunately has a park bench. We take a seat and she digs into her salad. I find myself watching as she rambles on about her day and the new little girl she saw this morning.
Once we’ve finished lunch, she turns to me and it’s like a light bulb moment. Her eyes widen and her mouth drops into the perfect little ‘O’. “Oh shit,” she gasps. “I’m so sorry. You wanted to tell me something. I’ve been too busy talking about work.”
“Don’t worry,” I laugh. “I like hearing you talk about your work. You get excited and your eyes light up like Christmas.” Her eyes drop and her cheeks flush with embarrassment. “Don’t be embarrassed,” I tell her as I take her hand. “I’ve seen you with your legs in the air and your ass perfectly on display.”
“Shut up,” she laughs. “I wasn’t embarrassed.”
“Bullshit.”
“I wasn’t,” she argues. “I was just… I don’t know, I guess I’m still getting used to the way you notice all the little things about me.”
“You better hurry up and get used to it,” I tell her. “Because I’m not going anywhere, and even though I’ve known you forever, I have a feeling there’s still so much I haven’t learned about you yet.”
She leans across the bench and gently presses her lips to mine. “You’d be right about that,” she murmurs before kissing me again and pulling back. “Now, what do you want to tell me?”
Shit. Now it’s my turn to cringe as I try to get words out. “I, um… what’s the deal with Brandon’s living arrangement?”
She gives me a funny look before answering the question. “He’s staying with Katia and her family until they can find something permanent for him,” she explains. “Why? You know, he’s safe there. His father can’t get to him.”
“I don’t doubt that. It’s just… what if I took him?”
“You want to foster him? Permanently?” she questions.
“Yeah, I do,” I tell her.
Her eyes begin to shine and a look of complete adoration comes over her. She gets up and walks around to my side of the bench before taking a seat on my lap. “You’re incredible,” she murmurs before she kisses me. “If you’re really serious, I’ll look into and get in touch with Susan. She’ll tell us how to go about it.”
“Us?” I question.
She grins up at me. “Well, you keep making a big deal about how we’re a package deal now, so I guess if Brandon is going to be yours, then by default, he’s going to be mine too.”
“Shit,” I curse. “I’m sorry. I didn’t consider that this would affect you too.”
“It’s ok,” she says. “I think it’s a great idea. I love that kid too, and if you want him there with you, then I fully support your decision.”
“You’re sure?” I question.
“Yeah,” she smiles. “I’m sure. Though, you know you’ll have to apply for a foster license which could take months? Social Services will have to do financial and health checks on you and probably a shit load of paperwork to go with it.”
I grin at her. I can’t believe how quickly she’s accepted this. In the last few minutes, it’s gone from something that’s been circling my mind for a few weeks to something that I’m positive I’m going to do. “You’re the best,” I tell her.
“I know,” she tells me. “But that shouldn’t be news to you.”
“It isn’t,” I smile as I get up off the bench and help her safely to her feet. “Come on,” I say as I take her hand. “Let me get you back to Rebels. I have a three o’clock appointment.”
“That’s still thirty minutes away,” she grins.
I shake my head in disbelief, knowing exactly what she plans on doing. I pull her into me and put my arm over her shoulder. “We’re in a park, babe. There are four families by the swing set and I’m not fucking you at Rebels with your brother in the building.”
“Please,” she murmurs quietly so no one around can overhear our conversation. “I could just sit on your desk and you could slide straight in. No one will ever know.”
“Don’t tempt me,” I beg. “I really don’t feel like being knocked out by Cole today.”
“Fine,” she says with an exaggerated sigh as we reach my truck. “I’ll have to do it myself.”
I grab her around her waist and press her up against the passenger’s side. “Don’t you dare,” I tell her. “From now on, your pleasure is mine. I’ll come over tonight and make it up to you.”
From the excited sparkle in her eyes, she’s completely played me and I absolutely love it. “Will you bring handcuffs?” she asks as she slips her hand under the hem of my shirt and splays her fingers across my abs.
“What makes you think I have handcuffs?” I question.
“Oh, I know you have handcuffs.”
I shake my head as the grin takes over. “Get your ass in the truck.”
For once I don’t have to fight her on it and she climbs straight in. We get back to Rebels ten minutes later and I park next to her car so she doesn’t have far to go. “I’ll see you tonight,” I tell her.
“I’m counting on it,” she grins before hopping out and getting into her own car. I wait and watch as she backs out of her parking spot before crossing over to Rebels. I walk in to find the gym exactly how I left it. Xander is busy grappling with Cole, the punching bags and speed balls are being used, and the weights are being lifted and dropped. Just the way I like it.
With fifteen minutes now left before my next client is due to walk in, I go down to my office to get as much shit done as possible in the short time frame. When it’s time to start setting up for my session, I head back into the main part of the gym and spot Jace in the studio, setting up for his boxing class.
“Hey,” I say, sticking my head through the door.
He looks up and as I’ve gotten used to over the past few days, there’s still a haunted look in his eyes, one I know won’t go away until he knows that Luke is ok.
We’re all devastated, but it’s hitting Jace the hardest. They’re best friends, but I think it’s more than that. I think he feels guilt for not being there with him. They used to serve together and this was Luke’s first tour without him. I hope he doesn’t blame himself, but after knowing him for so many years, I know that’s exactly what’s going on. Add all the guilt from hurting Cami and I couldn’t imagine what he’s feeling right now.
“Hey,” he grunts with a slight lift of his head.
“You all good, man?” I ask.
“Yeah,” he says, though he doesn’t mean it, he’s just saying it so I’ll leave him the fuck alone.
He goes to keep setting up but I stop him again. “Any news on Luke?”
He shakes his head and he almost looks pissed off. “No,” he grunts.
“Alright,” I sigh, disappointed. “I’m here if you need me.”
He doesn’t respond but I don’t expect him to. He turns his back and carries on with what he’s doing, so I leave him to it. I get back to setting up for my session and try my best to give it my all, but with thoughts of Luke heavy on my mind, I’m afraid it’s my first time delivering a session where I don’t give one hundred percent.
The only thing getting me through is knowing that in a few hours, I’ll be sliding into my girl and getting lost in her beauty.