Total pages in book: 115
Estimated words: 106797 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 534(@200wpm)___ 427(@250wpm)___ 356(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 106797 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 534(@200wpm)___ 427(@250wpm)___ 356(@300wpm)
Rhodes cancelled our session on Tuesday, and his texts were few and far between. By the end of Wednesday, my day off, they had pretty much diminished altogether. Suddenly, the happiness I felt earlier in the week had faded right along with them. When I parked the Rover in front of the club on Thursday, I had to give myself a pep talk to walk inside.
I wanted to believe it would all be okay, but I knew better.
My first clue should have been the dark storm clouds rolling in. I didn’t think much of them, though — just pulled my light jacket tighter around me as I hustled inside. Three strikingly gorgeous women walking out of the training room caused me to slow my steps. They were all laughing, and the pack leader — a tall brunette with long legs and a nose job — clearly had the amusing story responsible for their giggles.
“It’s kind of fun pushing his buttons,” she said in a voice too nasally for my taste. “I mean honestly, he must know that his… services… are all he’s good for.”
I kept my eyes down, adjusting my bag on my shoulder, but I slowed down even more to catch the next part of the conversation.
“I will say, for Poxton Beach trash, he definitely has more than a few talents hidden beneath that scowl of his.” They all giggled at that and my fist tightened around the strap I was holding fast to. I knocked into the woman a little harder than necessary as I passed her and she stumbled a bit.
“Excuse you,” she scoffed before returning to her posse. I kept walking, and she kept being a bitch. “It’s kind of a shame. He’ll never be more than a good lay, but I guess there are worse things to be.”
Those were the last words I heard before I stepped into the training room the women had just left. I didn’t have to look hard to find Rhodes. He was sprinting on the treadmill, its unsteady tracks rocking each time his feet made contact. He stared straight ahead, his mouth pursed, his face hard, and my heart squeezed.
I had no idea what Mrs. Nose Job said to him, but if his strained jade eyes were really windows to his soul, I could see how badly they’d bruised him. He already felt like he was nothing, and these women knew exactly what to say to him to keep those thoughts in place.
“Hey,” I said timidly, dropping my bag to the ground in front of his machine. He continued running, keeping his eyes trained on the window ahead of him, but he slowed his pace. “Ready to train?”
It’s as if those words snapped him out of his daze. “Yep.” The word popped off his lips and he dropped down hard next to me, motioning to where he’d just been. “Hop up. We’re starting with cardio.”
I tried not to analyze it, but Rhodes remained quiet throughout the entire training session. I wanted him to apologize again, to say I didn’t deserve his silent treatment, to say it wasn’t my fault — but he didn’t. After two hours and one of the most grueling sessions we’d had yet, I attempted to break through.
“Are you busy Saturday night?”
“Probably.”
I stuttered at his bluntness, but tried to swallow the embarrassment. “Oh. Well, it’s Willow’s going away party. I was sort of hoping you would come with me.”
“No.”
“No?” I asked, but Rhodes just grabbed his water bottle and took off in the opposite direction. I followed. “Why not?”
“Because I might have plans.”
“Might? You won’t make plans with me, your…” I trailed off. What was I to him? “You won’t make plans with me because you might have plans?”
“Damnit, Natalie.” Rhodes huffed, looking around at who might be listening. We were the only ones in the training room, so I dared him to try to make that excuse. “I’m not going to your friend’s party. Or on any dates, for that matter.”
I wouldn’t exactly have classified Willow’s party as a date, but hearing him say that derailed my thoughts. “Why not?”
“Because you’re my client.”
“That’s it?” I asked, my voice breaking. I could feel my heart close on its heels. “We’re back to this again?”
He didn’t answer, and his silence fueled my anger.
“Really. Huh. Well, I guess you just decided to toss in your extra services free of charge then, right? So gracious!” I regretted the words as soon as they left my mouth, but my pride wouldn’t let me take them back.
Rhodes stopped mid-stride. He was walking away from me, but my comment had cut that motive short. For a moment, he just stared at me, his eyes hollow, and almost questioning. It was like he couldn’t believe I’d said that to him, like he wasn’t prepared for that hit — not from me. I thought I saw him wince, his mouth opening slightly before he closed it again.