Chapter Two

Will

Meatheads. Never thought I would be working out at a gym called ‘Meatheads’, but the name fit. The big guy that’d been trying to get a rise out of me for the last thirty minutes was a ‘Meathead’.

“Hey, Pussy Boy,” he said again, trying to get my attention. I avoided looking at or talking to him. I just went about my workout. His taunts were juvenile and nothing I hadn’t heard before.

Being in high school, six foot three inches, and lanky, unable to put meat on whether I ate like a horse or not, sucked. I wasn’t much into sports, preferring my computer and video games, but even my sedentary lifestyle didn’t let me gain weight. I was stuck at one sixty-five and holding.

About a year ago, I’d picked up weight lifting, and it kicked my ass, but I kept at it. Slowly, I saw results, and now I love it. I came here because I wanted to start adding in some boxing, and I’d heard this was the best place around to do it. From the looks of it, it’s heavy on the brawn and light on the brains. At least in regards to this asshole. I looked up at the shadow that came over me.

“Hey, I’m talking to you.”

“And obviously, you are unable to take a hint that I don’t want to talk.” I set the barbell in the cradle and sat up to wipe my face off on my towel and the sweat and fog off my glasses.

“You don’t belong here.”

“It’s a gym, not your own personal playpen, and I belong wherever the fuck I want to belong, so back off.” I moved to lie back down to do another set, but I saw eyes around the gym on me and the meathead. The only eyes I held, though, were hers.

There was surprise and respect in her eyes, along with a big dose of curiosity. I’d seen her working at her desk earlier. She was dressed in workout clothes, with her dirty blonde hair in a sloppy knot on top of her head. There was no makeup on her face, and her sleeveless tank showed the ink artwork covering her upper arms. She was stunning; her gold-green eyes were large and exotic, fringed by thick lashes. She was supermodel gorgeous without even trying to be and, from the looks of it, she didn’t really care about or see her own beauty.

I grabbed my water bottle off the floor, figuring my work out was over, and headed for the locker room, “Don’t come back,” the big guy said again.

I stopped and turned to look at the man that outweighed and out-muscled me. I looked him up and down like the pest he was. “Do you own this gym?” I asked him, knowing full well he didn’t.

“No.”

“Great, then mind your own fucking business.” His face went a little red, and the other members around the room had looks of shock on their faces. Apparently, not many people stood up to the fucker; either that or they were all friends with the idiot and didn’t give a shit that he was being an ass.

“I saw the way you looked at her. She’s mine.” My eyes immediately flicked toward the only woman in the room. She shook her head at me, telling me it wasn’t true. Her annoyance at his words was clearly written across her face. In fact, she looked downright pissed that he’d talked out his ass in front of everyone.

“Are you sure about that?”

“Hell, yeah.” He nodded and crossed his arms over his chest. His barreled chest was massive, and I would probably get decked for what I was about to do, but I didn’t give a fuck. This guy needed to get taken down a notch.

I smirked at the big idiot and walked to the blonde beauty behind the desk. Without asking permission, or even catching her name, I pulled her against me and kissed her hard. I heard catcalls, wolf whistles, and laughter from the guys in the gym, but with my lips on hers, I couldn’t care less. She tasted delicious. Her hands clutched at my biceps as her lips and body responded to mine.

“Thanks, Beautiful,” I said when I pulled back from her. I winked, then turned to the locker room. I needed to shower and change before heading to work.

The big guy was pissed. His face was an angry red, hands clenched at his sides, and – if he had one – it looked like his brain was on the verge of exploding. His buddies started giving him a hard time, but I ignored them all and went to change. I had things I needed to get done today, and dealing with this asshole was not on the list.

I’d finished my shower and wrapped a towel around my waist. He was standing there with his arms across his chest – waiting. It wasn’t the big oaf, but the guy that had been sparring in the ring. The one she had kissed on the cheek. He was clearly her father, and from the conversation I’d somewhat overheard, he was protective.

“I didn’t want any trouble.”

“It’s a little late to apologize now don’t you think?”

“I guess so.”

“Want to tell me why you kissed my daughter?”

“To prove to the asshole that he doesn’t own her, or me. She seemed as pissed as I was that he was talking shit.”

“Ox can be an asshole, and no, he doesn’t own her.” He leaned back on the counter and studied me. “You aren’t afraid of me?”

“No.”

“Most people would be.” He studied me, sizing me up critically. The guy could kick my ass and not break a sweat. He was a few inches shorter than me, but between what I saw in the ring and what I saw in his eyes, he could kill me with his bare hands and hide the body without a second thought.

“What are you doing in my gym, son? Ox was right about one thing, you don’t fit in here, so what is it you want or are looking for?”

I grabbed my shirt and pulled it on. “I’ve been working out for a while now. I’ve had a hard time putting on mass my whole life, so I figured building muscle would help, and it has, but I’m starting to get bored with the workouts, so I want to add in some boxing. I was told this is the best place to come for it, and with guys like Ox,” I said his name – heavy on the sarcasm, “I can see why. I’m ready to kick his ass.”

“I don’t let anyone in the ring to spar unless they’re ready. Right now, Ox would feed you your dick for breakfast. You want to fight, I can teach you. I can even teach you how to put mass on, but it won’t be easy and it will take commitment on your part.”

“I’ve come this far,” I said, leaving it hanging between us. I’ve never been in a physical fight before. I used my sharp mind and my wit to outsmart and argue my case. Throwing a punch never happened, so yeah, he was right, the asshole would have me beat in no time.

“Tomorrow morning, come in for your workout. The gym opens at four. Do thirty minutes of jump rope, bounce off your toes, then move on and do an hour of weights, alternate upper and lower body. Take two Ibuprofen before you come in tomorrow night at seven for your first lesson. Bring your own gloves, and bring good ones, not the shit you get at a local sell all store.”

He rattled it all off like a list, and I was wondering why. Why was he so ready to help me without discussing payment? Before he could leave the locker room, I stopped him.

“Why are you helping me?”

“Because I’m impressed with you. I don’t say that often or without warrant. You didn’t lash out on someone behaving like a jackass, but you didn’t roll over and take that shit either. Instead you hit him where it hurts most – his pride. You knew you couldn’t beat him in a fair fight, so you found another way to battle him. It takes guts, especially in a place like this, surrounded by his club. I admire guts. Plus, you seem to have caught my daughter’s eye, and I want to know what kind of man you are. No better way to know that than to see you commit to something, no matter how painful.” He pulled the door open and left. I couldn’t help but grin. I’d caught the blonde beauty’s eye. Out of everything he’d said, that was what stuck the most.