I walk Jaci to her car and kiss her forehead before going back into the shop to clean up. She has my balls in her fist, and she doesn’t fucking know it, or she doesn’t care. I’m not sure which one it is at that point.

Jaci didn’t see her face when Kelly left, I did. She was jealous as hell, and I wonder if it had anything to do with why she put a halt to what we were doing. I wasn’t planning on fucking her and told her that much, but I was planning for both of us to get some much-needed relief. To give her a taste of what she desires.

When I left the shop, I was still on edge. My gym bag is still in the car, so I go back to do another workout. It is my only chance to get this pent-up energy and frustration out.

“You don’t normally come here at this time of night?” Neal moves behind the bench press to spot me.

“Not normally, but I’ve got a lot on my mind. What are you doing here?” I ask through clenched teeth as I struggle to lift the weight up.

“I worked late at the office, so I wanted to work out before I go home.”

“What the hell are you working on this time of night?”

“A paralegal for one and I had some briefs she needed to fix.” My cousin gives me a shit eating grin.

“I hate you right now,” I grumble as I lower the bar again.

“Don’t tell me some woman has your balls on a leash.” I don’t bother answering him, just keep lifting weights. “Damn. Bas, who is she? That girl Nads was talking about at dinner on Monday?” He asks when I finish with my rep.

“Yeah, Jaci.” I wipe the sweat from my face. “She’s skittish; this is the third time this week I’ve had blue balls.”

“Damn. It’s not like you not to get the girl.” My cousin is getting a kick out of the fact that I’m not getting laid.

“Fuck off. One of these days a woman’s going to bring you to your fucking knees. And I’ll remember this conversation.”

“That’s not going to happen.” He grounds out through clenched teeth. “I wouldn’t want to deprive women of access to me.”

“God, I thought my ego was big. I got nothing on you, asshole.”

“It’s a Marx family trait.” He laughs getting up from the bench and wiping the sweat from his face with the bottom of his shirt.

“I call bullshit on that. Nadine isn’t a total egotistical asshole.”

“She takes after our mom’s side of the family. Kind of like you.”

“Meaning what? I’m soft?” I can’t believe my asshole cousin thinks I’m soft. I was a fucking marine. Neal and I have a weird relationship. We are cousins, and we are friends. Nadine and I are the opposite. We are friends who happen to be cousins.

“I didn’t say you were soft. You just have a heart like my sister and our mothers. I’m more like my dad. He’s a heartless, emotionless asshole, and so am I.” Nathan Marx is a major asshole, and for reasons I’m never able to figure out, Neal follows his dad’s legal path.

I consider him for a moment before nodding in agreement, “You have a point.”

Neal and I continue to work out separately and only working out together when we need a spotter. We leave at the same time. “See you Monday.” He says as he veers off towards his Lexus.

“Yeah, and I won’t mention your after-hour debriefing. Aunt Em. might start thinking about grandkids.” I joke, but it is only fair since he and Nadine tried to throw me in the line of fire this last week.

Neal stops and runs an agitated hand through his hair, “God, I swear that’s all our moms think about.”

“I know. I thought Nadine was going to get us both off the hook for a while, but I’m glad we found out before she married the prick. Fuck Derrick.” The thought of that asshole sets my blood to boiling all over again.

“I know.” Neal is parked next to my bike. He leans on the top of his sleek sports car. “She wants us to leave it alone. So, for now, that’s what we do.”

“I still say we should’ve beat him. That’s one of my biggest regrets. Not getting to kick that fucker’s ass.”

“Don’t worry; he’ll get his one day. We just have to be patient and wait.” The way Neal said it is as if it is a fact and not a guess.

“You know something I don’t know?” I get on my bike and wait for him to answer.

He gives me a pointed look, “See you at dinner on Monday.”