The Fighter (The High Rise, Book 1) (15 page)

His apartment
is set up just like mine and since his bedroom’s closer to where
I’m sitting, I use the master bath hoping he’s left his keys in his
jeans pocket or somewhere more conspicuous like on the dresser.
When I finish in the bathroom, I come out and look around his room
and hit fucking pay dirt. His keys are in the tray of a wardrobe
valet near his bed and I snort that the fucker even has a valet.
I’ve never seen him in a suit but, hell, I don’t know a whole lot
about him to even know if he works somewhere other than the weight
room.

I walk over to
grab the keys when Glenda asks from the doorway, “What’re you
doing?”

I stop,
turning to look at her. “I wanted to see what kinda wood this was
made of.” Christ.

“There’s other
wood I’m interested in,” she says sashaying toward me, and I have
to chuckle at her idiotic pun. When she gets to me, she pushes me
down flat on the bed (the tiny thing is much stronger than she
looks) then climbs on top of me, whipping off her shirt as she
does. She’s fucking fast and reminds me of a goddamned rhesus
monkey the way she’s crawling on me. But, Jesus, she’s probably a
size two and her breasts have got to be at least D cups. I give
them an admiring glance because, hey, I’m a man and we get off on
tits.

She quickly
gets the top button of jeans undone and I have to grab her hand,
stopping her.

“What?” she
asks all pouty. But it’s a forced pout and isn’t anywhere near as
sexy as the way Laney pouts without even knowing she does it.

I sit up,
literally picking her up off me and setting her on the bed to my
side. I stand only to turn to see her now lying on her back,
stilettos on the bed and she lets her knees fall apart so that I
see she’s not wearing panties under that skirt of hers. Her eyes
are on me as she moves a hand down to touch herself.

Again, I might
be tempted if my interest wasn’t elsewhere but I doubt it. I like a
challenge and Glenda’s putting all her cards on the table making
everything pretty damned easy.

“Darlin’,” I
begin, “any other time or place, I’d take you up on the offer. But
right now gonna have to turn you down.”

She moans as
she starts rubbing her fingers faster and I can’t help but watch
for a moment because live porn. I shake my head and leave the
bedroom going to the kitchen to get another beer. Standing at the
bar after taking a drink, I see that it’s almost halftime of the
second game. Regretfully, I also see that Ronni and Craig are
really fucking in the chair now, and turning to go, I catch a
glimpse of Glenda who’s now glaring at me from the bedroom doorway.
Tipping my head at her, I take my beer and leave.

In the hallway
as I walk to the elevator I let the craziness of the evening (after
Laney) slide off me. Hell, I deal with all kinds of people on a
daily basis, but this level of insanity is too much. I ride the
elevator back up and as I walk by Laney’s apartment, I’m tempted to
knock but keep going, deciding to let things lie for tonight.

Monday morning
I’m at a new job site of one of a chain of convenience stores my
guys’ll be building. I’m on hold on the phone waiting to talk to
one of the HVAC vendors when I start getting a little worried.
Laney wasn’t in the weight room this morning nor was her roommate.
I knocked on her door after my workout but didn’t get an answer,
and I’m pissed at myself because I didn’t think to get her cell
number last night so I can call to see if everything’s okay. I’ll
have to check on her after lunch, calling her at Kyle Properties.
Just thinking that name makes my blood boil, and I let out a breath
knowing I’m going to have to learn to separate the shitty feelings
I have toward her uncle and possibly her father from the ones I now
have for her.

At lunch,
Kale, one of the plumbers on site, and I go to a nearby sub
sandwich place. He and I have known each other going on three years
now, we’re the same age, but where we differ is that he’s been
married for two years now.

“Tell me about
the black eye,” he says once we’re in the truck.

On Friday, I
told some of my guys that I was going to start fighting in a club
every weekend, so if I show up battered on Monday mornings not to
worry about it. Guess I forgot to tell Kale.

“Been fighting
in a club.” I shrug. Kale’s a good friend but I don’t want to
involve him in all the bullshit.

“I thought
about doing that. You at a gym?”

“Nah. Just a
little place Aaron was going to,” I say casually.

“Speaking of,
how is he?”

I’d told
everyone Aaron had been in a snowboarding accident and had to take
some time off. Damn. It’s kind of scary how easily the lies spill
from my lips, but if it means protecting someone I love then so be
it.

“Getting
better. Using a cane to get around so that he looks like some old
geezer but he said the doctor told him he should be good to go in a
couple months.”

We get to the
sub place and once our orders are ready, we sit at a table and
shoot the shit.

“Remind me
what it’s like, man. Going out and having your pick of the hot
women every night,” he says.

I laugh. “This
coming from the guy who bitched incessantly because he was ready to
settle down, so tired of the ‘meat market’ and its lack of prime
cuts.”

He chuckles.
“Yeah, well, hindsight and all.”

I frown. “You
and Sarah not doing well?” Sarah’s an awesome woman and she’s
perfect for Kale.

“We’re doing
all right I guess. I mean, ever since Colt was born she never has
time for sex. ‘Bout ready to put a wedding dress on my hand and a
tux on my dick, let ‘em tie the fuckin’ knot since they’re together
so often.”

I snort. “As
long as I’m not the best man, we’re good.”

He laughs.
“But seriously, regale me with tales of all the hot babes you’re
fuckin’ now.”

I can’t help
but grin and shake my head as I put mustard on my sandwich then
pick it up and take a bite only to see him staring at me
suspiciously.

“What?” I ask,
mouth full.

“Who is
she?”

I keep chewing
wondering if I should tell him about Laney then think why the hell
not.

“She lives
down the hall from me. She’s hot, man. Smokin’ hot.”

“She smart?”
He knows that’s always been a prerequisite of mine because although
I’d fuck a not-so-bright chick I’d only get serious with the ones
who challenge me. Yes. I’m a prick.

“Very.”

“Good.”

We continue
eating our talk turning to the job, me letting him know I’ve called
the engineer who’s coming out this afternoon to check a mistake I
found on the blueprints for the plumbing so he needs to hold off in
that area.

Back at the
site the guys are on task, so to get away from the noise, I go back
to my truck to call Laney. I get through the secretary then hear
the sweetest voice ever.

“This is Laney
Kyle. How can I help you?”

“Hey, babe.
Thought I’d check on you since you weren’t in the weight room this
morning.”

I hear her
small gasp of surprise that it’s me. “Oh, hey. I, uh, Dani won’t be
home until tonight so I didn’t want to work out alone.”

“Next time,
let me know. I’ll work out with you,” I offer.

She snorts. “I
know exactly what kind of workout you’d suggest.”

I grin. “Hell
yes I’d suggest it. Woman with an ass like yours, how could I
resist?”

She’s so quiet
I think she might’ve hung up on me.

“Hello?”

“I’m here,”
she says, her voice low.

“What
happened?”

“It’s
embarrassing, you saying stuff like that,” she confesses in a
whisper.

“Better get
used to it because you’re stunning and I can’t help but let you
know how good you look.”

“Are you
always this charming?” she asks snippily.

“Charmed the
pants right off you, didn’t I?” I snort at the scoffing sound she
makes.

“You need to
stop.”

“I guess I
shouldn’t tell you what was on my mind this morning then,” I
tease.

I hear her
suck in a breath which makes me smile. “This isn’t appropriate to
talk about when I’m at work.” Prim and Proper Laney is hot.

“Okay. I won’t
talk about how hot you looked riding me last night. Seriously
turned me the fuck on.”

“Oh, my gosh…
I’ve gotta go…”

“Wait,” I say
with a chuckle at how cute she is. “Write my number down.” I give
her my number then reiterate, “Text me so I have your number, or
I’ll have to keep calling you at work. Got it? And we’re still on
for Andre’s tonight at seven-thirty. Already called and made the
reservations.”

“Well, you’re
awfully bossy,” she snaps. “And you’re also extremely sure of
yourself too.”

Sassy Laney is
even hotter than Prim and Proper Laney.

“Goddamned
right I’m sure. I see something I want, I go for it. And I want
you.”

“Heath…” she
semi-scolds in a hushed voice.

“Text me.”

“Fine.
Bye.”

She hangs up
and the smile I’m sporting feels great. It feels even better when I
get her text a few minutes later.

(213)
555-8619—It’s me. Here’s my number. Happy?

Me—Extremely.
Be ready by six-thirty

Laney—You
really are very bossy

Me—I think you
secretly like it…

Laney—Yes,
when I like something I complain about it

Me—You won’t
be complaining later when I make you come so hard you’re begging
for more

Laney—Seriously?

Me—Seriously.
Just wait. You’ll be begging…

I think I’ve
lost her when she doesn’t text back for a few minutes and then I
receive one that makes me sit and take notice.

Laney—Not if I
make you beg first…

Hold the
phone. Good God. I love how she switches gears and throws shit
right back at me. She just keeps surprising the hell out of me.

Me—Are you
trash talking me, woman?

Laney—Damn
straight I am. I can hold my own, jerkface

Me—Jerkface?
Sounds like someone needs that pretty little ass spanked

Laney—You
wouldn’t dare!

Me—Don’t tempt
me

She doesn’t
text for a minute then I get the next one and let out a fucking
groan at the vision that appears of her in my head.

Laney—I’ll
tempt you & you’ll like it

Me—I’ll love
it, actually

Laney—God, you
have an answer for everything

Me—I’ve been
told I’m quite skilled in the art of conversation

Laney—Hm

Me—Hm? You
just thought of me fucking you, didn’t you?

Laney—You’re
too much

Me—I remember
you saying something to that effect last night except it was more,
“You’re so big”

Laney—OMG
You’re so full of yourself!

Me—But I want
you to be full of me

Laney—Wow. Is
sex all you think about?

Me—When I’m
talking to you? Fuck yes. I wanna fuck you right now… if I thought
I could get away, I’d come to your office now… bend you over your
desk… pull up your tight skirt… squeeze that luscious ass of yours…
then take you so hard you’d scream my name

Laney—I’m sure
the other people in my office would understand

Between
thoughts of her and her smartass comments, I’ve got to stop texting
her before I bust a fucking nut right here on the job site.

Me--Smartass

Laney—As much
as I’ve enjoyed this conversation, I have to get back to work. Have
a great day ;)

Me—I will now
that I’ve talked to you

Laney—Silver-tongued devil…

Me—You seemed
to love my tongue…

Laney—Going
back to work now

I laugh.

Me—You have a
great day too, baby. I’ll call you later

Laney—xo

Thirteen