“Don’t test me right now, Ray,” I grit out, pinching the bridge of my nose.

She whirls around angrily, her long, blonde hair whipping through the air as she stomps off toward my bike. I follow along behind her, noticing the subtle sway of her hips and her narrow waist. That same waist my hands caressed over as she rode my cock. The four-year-old memory is still fresh in my mind. Don’t go there, dude.

Reaching in one of my saddlebags, I remove the extra helmet I have stored there.

Turning toward Reagan, I place the helmet on her head and move to fasten the strap under her chin.

“I can do it,” she says, slapping my hands away.

I take a step back and hold my hands up. “I’m sorry it’s not a full-face helmet. I remember you always preferred to wear one of those.”

“It’s fine,” she says, sounding like it’s anything but. Judging by the scowl on her face I know she’s upset with me.

I store my gym sack in the saddlebag then lower my sunglasses to shield my eyes from the bright sunlight, before strapping on my brain bucket. “Are you ready?” I ask, climbing on my girl. This bike is the only girl I’ve ridden in a while. Training has been my top priority and women only complicate things. I haven’t met anyone since Reagan who’s worth the effort.

Gripping the handlebars, I ease the kickstand back with the heel of my left boot and gesture with my head for her to get on.

She swings her right leg over the seat and squirms around, trying to avoid any contact with me.

Reaching behind my back, I place my hand on the inside of her bare thigh. She gasps before she can hold it in and I smile. I like knowing she’s still affected by my touch. “You’re going to need to hold on, Ray.”

Her arms tentatively wrap around my waist, barely touching me. Gripping both her hands I press them against my stomach. “Hold on tight,” I instruct, firing up the bike. She grips me tighter as I pull out of the parking lot. She’s motionless behind me on the seat. If it wasn’t for her tight hold on me, her body pressed against me from tit to pussy, I wouldn’t know she was there.

The ride to her parent’s house passes much too quickly and once the bike stops, Reagan’s off in a flash. She stumbles for a second, her legs unsteady from the ride. My hand on her arm steadies her. “How long has it been since you’ve been on a bike?” I ask, raising my voice loud enough for her to hear me over the rumble of the V-twin engine. I don’t know why it’s so important for me to ask her. I only know it is.

“Four years,” she says, unfastening the chin strap and removing the helmet.

My heart thumps hard in my chest. I’m not sure why knowing she’s never been on the back of anyone else’s bike gives me such perverse pleasure, but it fucking does.

She leans down and returns the helmet to the saddlebag and pushes her hair back off her face as she straightens up. “Thanks for the ride. I appreciate it.”

My eyes trek over every inch of her, drinking her beauty in. With tomorrow being Sunday, I won’t see her again until Monday. It shouldn’t matter. I went four fucking years without setting eyes on her and now after a few weeks of her being back, I can’t go without for one day. Pathetic.

Disgusted with myself, I don’t answer. Instead, I give her a chin raise and drive off.

* * *

After a long nap, I’m feeling more like myself. The drama of the media frenzy and Jimmy kicking my ass all around the gym had me worn out.

A long, hot shower helps me loosen up some of the tightness in my muscles and wolfing down a couple of sandwiches and drinking a protein shake doesn’t hurt either.

There’s a party at Griffin's house tonight. He’s one of the guys I train with every day. While I’m not in the mood to be around people, especially after what happened last night, I did promise to stop by. Plus, Griff’s a cool shit and a good friend. I don’t have a lot of friends, not close ones anyway. I’m not someone who invites people into their life. Griff and Nick are the only ones who know about my dad and why I’m consumed by this upcoming fight. But, I’ve never confided in either of them about Reagan. They know I’ve never gotten over an ex; they just don’t know it’s her.

Jumping in my jeep, I hit the road, heading toward Griff’s. It’s only a ten-minute drive and I’m sorry to see it end so quickly. The night air is mild for June. The humidity is lower than usual and having the top off my Jeep is the next best thing to riding my bike. The sensation of the wind surrounding me relaxes me.

Parking curbside, my eyes scan over the numerous cars lining the street. Shit. It looks like he invited everyone and their fucking brother.

Scraping my teeth over my bottom lip, I think about my options. Stay or go? I don’t want to bail on Griff. He’s a loyal friend and a great training partner. Running a hand over my short brown hair, I shut off the Jeep and undo my seatbelt. Might as well get this over with.

I walk down the sidewalk, hands in the pockets of my jeans while my eyes search the parked cars for any I recognize. I spot Nick’s truck and I’m instantly relieved he’s here.

As I walk up the driveway, moving closer to the gray split level ranch house, I can already hear the music and feel the bass pounding in my chest.

By the time my hand closes around the doorknob, I’ve already decided I’ll chill with Griff and Nick for one beer and then I’m out of here. I don’t feel like being at a party where I like two people out of one hundred.

Pushing the door open, I freeze when I step inside, caught off guard at immediately seeing Reagan. Make that three people. And this one I like more than I should. Fuck. I wasn’t expecting to see her here. After our talk earlier, and then having her plastered up against me on my bike, she’s the last person I need to be near.

Feelings I’d put to rest long ago have been stirred up since she came to work at the gym. It’s a daily struggle to keep my distance from her as my actions last night and earlier today reflect.

My eyes hungrily drink her in from head to toe. She’s wearing black shorts, revealing most of her long, lean legs and a fitted green tank top that leaves little to the imagination. When I combine the picture she presents now with my memories of her naked body from four years ago it has me clenching my teeth.

Why does she have to be here tonight?

Tearing my gaze from her I move along searching for Griffin or Nick. I need to get a beer in my hand before I’m tempted to grab her hand and pull her into one of the bedrooms. I’d like nothing more than to fuck her out of my goddamn head.

Maybe that’s the answer.

Maybe I need one night with her. One night of animalistic fucking. One night to take her against the wall, on the bed, in the shower and any other place I’ve imagined. The more I think about it, the more this idea seems to have merit. I’ve been building up how great our only night together was in my mind. It can’t be as good as I’ve made it out to be. I’ve always had Ray on a pedestal above all other women and with my training schedule and my fucked-up past, it’s not like I’ve let anyone else close enough to knock her off. I need to remember she’s just a girl I used to know and I’ve done fine without for years now.

I exchange greetings and fist bumps with a few guys from the gym and continue maneuvering through the people gathered in groups conversing and laughing. I’ve been to enough parties at Griff’s to know the coolers with all the beers are out back.

Slipping out the sliding screen door that leads to the large deck on the rear of his house, I notice the red container and move toward it. Flipping the lid, I search through the ice until I find a Sam Adams. Popping off the top, I chuck the cap in the barrel.

“Hey man, you made it,” Griff says, as he ambles over closely followed by Nick.

“Did you think I wouldn’t?” My eyebrows raise in surprise. “I never miss your parties, man. I might not hang around for long tonight, but I wouldn’t miss it.”

“No-No is here. Let the party begin,” Nick says holding his fist out for me to bump.

Knocking knuckles with him first, I reply, “My days of being the life of the party are No-No more.” I smirk and the guys chuckle. “That’s your job now, bro.”

Nick smiles. “True dat. I have been known to get the party started.” He wiggles his eyebrows and pats himself on his broad chest.

I laugh when I notice that his t-shirt says, ‘Trust Me I’m a Doctor,’ with an image of a stethoscope underneath it.

“Nice shirt.” I lift my chin, gesturing, before taking a sip of my beer.

He glances down. “You like that? I thought I’d just put it out there - spread the word a little.”

“Don’t you mean legs?” Griff asks with a grin.

“Hey, spreading legs is what I do best. Just call me Dr. Pussy. I’m offering free exams for any of the girls who don’t have health insurance.” He raises his bottle to his lips, pausing before taking a sip to add, “I’m generous like that.”

“It must be difficult to be such a help to humanity,” I reply, drolly.

Nick nods, his expression serious. “It’s a daily struggle, but I keep fighting the good fight.”

“Shut the fuck up, dude.” Griff shoves Nick’s arm, laughing.

“I never got a chance to ask you earlier, how did the discussion with Jimmy go?” Nick asks, suddenly serious.

My shoulders raise in a shrug. “It could’ve been a lot worse. Fight coming up or not, I expected him to kick me out for a few days.”

“Jimmy’s not dumb. He knows that would be the worst thing he could do for your training right now. You’re not the only one with something to prove,” Nick says. I know Jimmy’s been working just as hard as I have for this fight. It’s not just my big shot - it’s his too.

Nodding, my lips close around the rim of my bottle. Pulling some between my lips, I enjoy the taste of the ice-cold beer as it goes down. “He said there was a lot of media interest over the incident in the bar. Reagan had to do a lot of damage control.”

“Speaking of Reagan,” Nick smiles like a shark, “that girl has a rack on her that won’t quit. Every time she walks through the gym my eyes hone in on her tits like I’m a missile and she’s the target.”

My teeth clench together as I fight the urge to punch my friend in the face.

“She’s sexy as fuck and sweet too,” he continues, inciting my anger even more.

Breathe. I try to calm myself.

“I was thinking of asking her out. I haven’t seen any sign she has a boyfriend.”

“Not going to happen,” I say, shaking my head, my voice tight.

“What do you mean? I’m a catch. Why wouldn’t she want a piece of this?” he gestures at himself.

“Reagan is my ex,” I blurt out. Fuck. I press my lips together...wait for it.

“I knew it,” Nick shouts, pointing at me. “The tension between the two of you is fucking palpable.”

“You’re a dick for winding him up,” Griff says, shaking his head.

“Hey, we’re his best buds - his bff’s,” he jokes in a high-pitched girl voice. “We should know this shit already. I shouldn’t have to push his buttons to get him to tell us. Why are you so closed mouthed about her?” He studies my face for a few beats and then nods his head. “She’s the one who got away, isn’t she?”

I gulp down the rest of my beer, throwing the empty bottle in the trash before glancing toward Nick, annoyed that he’s a fucking mind reader. “Yep, that would be her.” I shove my hands in my jeans pockets for lack of anything better to do with them. Things just hit a sky-high level of uncomfortable. “I don’t want to divulge a bunch of details and rehash ancient history. We broke up not long before she went off to college and I hadn’t seen or heard from her since.”

“Until the day Jimmy introduced her to us?” Griff questions.

Nodding slowly, I turn my head to look inside the house, but I don’t spot Reagan. “Yep, and I had no idea she was going to be there.”

“Just so you’re aware, I do think she’s hot and if she wasn’t your ex I’d already be tapping that. But - with bro code and all, I’ll just have to work on her equally hot friend.”

“Moira? They’ve been friends forever.”

“Moy-raaaah,” he groans her name. “I’m practicing for later.” He winks.

“Good luck with that, dude.” Turning around, I bend over to flip open the top of the cooler once again. I shouldn’t be doing this - famous last words and since Ray’s return it seems to be my new personal motto. Grabbing another Sammy, I promise myself this will be the last one I drink.