Reid shot back off the couch. He hadn’t had a clue what Butch’s good news was going to be, but being able to go home a month sooner than anticipated hadn’t even crossed his mind.
“So you can get outta there and come on home. Train with your teammates and prepare for your championship fight in your own gym. Christ, if I know you, you’re probably going nuts cooped up out there.”
Butch wasn’t entirely wrong. He had been getting restless lately. Really restless. But he didn’t think it had to do with not being in his own surroundings and having the freedom to do as he pleased as much as it was not having any quality time with Lucie. In the short time they’d been thrown together he’d come to look forward to just being with her. Whether it was sitting quietly at the table in the morning as he drank his protein shake and she sipped her coffee, or arguing over who got the remote based on who owned it versus who was the elder.
“Son, did you hear what I said?”
Reid cleared his throat and dragged a hand over his face. “Yeah, Butch, I heard you. That’s great that Scotty’s going to be back. I’m sure some of the other guys could use him, too.”
“Well, yeah, but he’ll still have most of his time blocked off to work with you. He knows what this fight means to your career.”
“And I appreciate that, but you know, Luce has taken her vacation time to help me—”
“Luce? Who’s that? What happened to that Miller lady?”
“That’s who I’m talking about. Her name is Lucie. I’m just saying that I think it would be unprofessional if I took her dedication for granted and bailed sooner than planned.”
Radio silence. Shit. Butch was a mild-mannered guy…until you said or did something against him that had to do with training, and the silence was the calm before the storm. It was his only similarity to Reid’s father, but even then Butch never took it to the point of cruelty Stan Andrews had.
“Are you fucking kidding me! Am I being Plunk’d or whatever the hell it’s called? Because I’m having a hard time understanding why my star fighter is turning down help from his professional trainer and professional sports doc to prepare for the biggest fight in his career!”
Reid started pacing in the small room like a caged lion in front of the dude with the whip. “Damn it, Butch, don’t start on me like that, all right? I just said—”
“I heard what you said. What I’m concerned with, boy, is what you’re not saying.”
“What the hell is that supposed to mean?”
“It means the Reid I know would jump all over the chance to come back to camp and focus on taking back his belt. It means I think it’s possible you’re thinking with your dick instead of your head.”
Reid froze. Coach was hitting a little too close to home with that one. “Just because I don’t want to be a heartless bastard doesn’t mean anything other than that, old man.”
“Good. Glad to hear it.” A heavy sigh came through from the other end of the line. “Look, son, you know I don’t want to begrudge you any happiness. But this is it. You’re getting up in age. If you lose this fight, it doesn’t mean the end of your career. But it could mean the beginning of the end. You’ll be given fights with the low men on the totem pole. And those kids are going to be younger and hungrier than you. Then once you’ve got a few losses under your belt, they’ll stop giving you fights altogether.”
“I know.” Reid collapsed back onto the couch and let his head drop back. What concerned him was that the idea of his career coming to an end no longer terrified him as it once had.
“Then stay this next week if you want. But then you come back to camp and we’ll make sure you’re ready.”
Reid still hated the idea of cutting his time short with Lucie, but the more he thought about it the more he realized it was better this way. She’d accomplished her goal, and with her help he was very close to realizing his. She’d worked miracles with his shoulder; it was almost at a hundred percent. And if he was this attached to her after only two weeks, it was bound to get much worse after another five or six. Yeah. This was definitely the way to go.
“I’ll see you in a week.”
…
“Honestly, I shouldn’t have even tipped the guy,” Stephen grumbled. “He was so busy falling all over himself for you that he barely did anything right the entire dinner.”
Lucie stepped through the door he held for her, glad to feel the warm night air wrap around her and rid her of the chill from the air-conditioning. No matter how many times she froze in restaurants, she never remembered to bring a sweater.
“I think you’re being too hard on him. I’m pretty sure he was a new waiter and still awkward at his job. It certainly didn’t have anything to do with me.”
“Well, no matter. Though the dinner itself left much to be desired, my company was easily five stars,” he said as he lifted her hand to place a kiss on her knuckles.
It was a cheesy line with a cheesy old-fashioned gesture and the whole thing made her burst into laughter.
And snort.
Stephen’s eyes widened and paused in his release of her hand like he wasn’t sure if he’d heard correctly. She felt the color rise into her cheeks until she was sure her face was now an exact match to her dress.
“Sorry, I, uh,” Think, Lucie, think! “I’ve been having some sinus issues recently.”
Finally he moved, letting go of her hand and gesturing for her to start their short walk back to her apartment. As she fell into step, he said, “You should get that looked at. You don’t want it to turn into sinusitis.”
She wasn’t sure how she should respond, so she opted for a subject change. “After years of working together in a professional capacity, it was so nice to finally spend some time with you on a more personal level, Stephen.”
“I couldn’t agree more. Although we didn’t do a very good job at ‘personal’ over dinner, did we? We talked shop the whole time.”
Lucie grinned, pleased she’d succeeded in directing the conversation the way she wanted. “Yes, I suppose we did.”
“So, tell me about Lucie. What are your short-term and long-term goals, Ms. Miller?” Stephen sidestepped an empty slushie cup the size of a newborn lying next to a trash receptacle and continued walking.
Pausing long enough to pick it up and throw it away, she had to quick-step a few strides to catch back up to him since he hadn’t noticed she’d fallen behind.
“Um, well, I guess my short term goals would be things like getting some new equipment for the therapy room, taking some more classes on new techniques, and making an effort to get out more often.”
He looked over at her. “Out more often?”
“Yeah, you know, out.” When all he did was raise a questioning eyebrow she looked down at the sidewalk and tried to hide her smile of embarrassment. “As in dating.”
Clasping his hands behind his back he said, “Ah, I see. Well, I hope you’ll give me the chance to check that particular goal off your list.”
Lucie spared a quick glance at him from under her lashes before refocusing on ensuring she didn’t trip on anything. “I’d like that.”
“Good. Okay, so what about the long-term goals? Where do you see yourself, say, in five years?”
She was starting to feel like she was on an interview, although she supposed that’s what first dates were essentially. Considering she hadn’t really been on any—with her only serious relationship they’d skipped over stereotypical dating by hanging out with his friends all the time—she couldn’t really judge what was normal versus odd.
“Professionally I don’t see myself doing anything different. I’m happy where where I am.”
“Really, you don’t have any desire to move up? What about becoming the clinic director instead of just a therapist?”
“You mean take over for Annie?” She laughed as she pictured the scenario. “That woman runs a tighter ship than most naval captains. You’ve seen my office. If I took the helm, we’d go down faster than the Tita
nic.”
He chuckled along with her for a few seconds, but then said, “Seriously though, why wouldn’t you want to advance from where you’re at now? I can’t imagine being satisfied until I’ve gone as far as I can go in my field. I mean, why do you think I spend so many nights working on cases? It’s not for the warm and fuzzy feeling I get from helping the patient.”
Lucie snapped her head to the side. “You’re not telling me you couldn’t care less about your patients, are you?”
“Of course not,” he said, putting his hands in his pockets. “I care about them. But I could care about them during my shift hours without working overtime. I do that part because I want to get ahead, get promoted. And if I have a truly special case one of these times, I can even write about it and get published in one of the medical journals.
“I do care about the people I operate on. I genuinely want to help them or I wouldn’t be a surgeon. But I don’t see why it’s a crime to care about me and my future, too.”
Lucie frowned as she turned her attention to the cracks in the cement before her. She’d always known Stephen didn’t work late on cases with her as an excuse to be in her company, but she’d thought for sure it was due to an immense dedication to their patients.
Then again, like he said, it wasn’t that he didn’t care about them. He was just conscientious about his career. He had goals, which last time she checked, was something to be admired. Giving him a reassuring smile, she said, “I understand. And I think it’s great you have high aspirations.”
As they stopped in front of her apartment building Stephen turned to her and put a foot up on the bottom stair. “We did it again.”
She was suddenly so nervous about what might happen in the last few minutes of their date she couldn’t follow his train of thought. “What did we do?”
He smiled wide. “We managed to bring the conversation back around to work.”
“Oh, that’s okay, I don’t mind. It’s something we have in common, so it’s natural our conversation leans in that direction. I think compatibility is important.”
Stephen took a step toward her and her stomach dropped. He wasn’t as tall as Reid so she didn’t need to look up quite as far, and his leaner build didn’t make her feel like she was being consumed by his mere presence, but the fact that his eyes had settled on her lips was enough to make her want to bolt for the door.
That wasn’t right, was it? She should want him to kiss her. For years she’d dreamed of this moment. The moment he’d wrap his arms around her and the rest of the world would cease to exist as his lips finally met hers.
I’m just nervous. She’d built this moment up in her mind for so long she could scarcely comprehend it was here.
“Well, if this wasn’t perfect timing.”
Lucie whipped around to see Reid walking toward them like a living ad for Nike’s Just Do It campaign, wearing nothing but a pair of their black athletic pants and neon blue running shoes, hands on hips and breathing hard from a run. When he stopped a mere two feet away the street lamp above him highlighted the rivulets of sweat that trickled over the ridges of his torso before disappearing into the elastic riding low on his hips.
He extended his arm to her right to shake hands with her date. “Nice to see you again, Mann.”
Though Lucie didn’t move a muscle she heard Stephen grasp Reid’s palm and saw their arms pump up and down a few time in her peripheral vision. “Likewise, Andrews. I’m sorry we didn’t get much of a chance to talk at the party the other night, but I’m always stretched thin at work functions.”
“Understandable.” They released each other, but Reid immediately pointed at Stephen’s feet. “Careful, looks like you stepped in something there.” In the two seconds it took for Stephen to be momentarily distracted, Reid leaned in and whispered in her ear, “You’re looking to catch flies again, Lu.”
She closed her mouth so hard she swore at least three of her molars cracked.
“I don’t see anything,” Stephen said as he straightened from his inspection.
“My bad. Must’ve been a shadow or something.” Reid gave her a devil’s grin and crossed his muscular arms over his chest. “So, you kids have fun?”
“We had a great time together, as always,” Stephen answered from behind her. “Right, Lucie?”
“Oh, uh, absolutely,” she said, nodding like a bobble head on the dash of an off-road vehicle. “Great time.”
Dear God, he’d had to prompt her! Why had her brain decided to take a leave of absence now of all times? Stephen must think her an imbecile. Or worse, unconvincing. This was too much, she had to get out of there and into her nice, safe apartment. She turned her body a quarter turn so she could keep an eye on each of the threats facing her. “Oh, crap! I forgot I was supposed to feed Remy, Mrs. Egan’s ferret, because she’s…uh…visiting her sister.”
“Ferret?” Stephen had obvious disappointment etched on his face. Reid simply arched a brow as if waiting for the rest of the story.
“Yes, ferret,” she said. “You know, they’re small, weasely creatures. I’m not that fond of them myself, but Mrs. Egan just adores the little rascal.”
“I know what a ferret is, Lucie, and I’m sure it’ll be fine for a while longer.”
Before she could spit out another lie, Reid swept in as smooth as if they’d rehearsed the act. “Actually, no. Remy’s diabetic so he needs to eat and receive insulin at strict times. I’d do it for her, but I’m severely allergic.”
“Yes!” she said with too much enthusiasm. “Um, I mean, Reid’s right, I really do have to go. But I had a really nice time, Stephen. Thank you so much.”
The smile he gave her was strained around his eyes, but he was gracious enough to relent on the condition that he get to take her out again so they could discuss things of a more personal nature next time. After agreeing and receiving an awkward hug from him as Reid looked on, Lucie finally retreated to her safe haven to shower and lay in bed as she mulled a thousand things over in her mind.
Reid hadn’t followed her in earlier, but she heard him come in several hours later. Knowing he was home and the listening to the sound of him taking a shower just down the hall was what finally allowed her mind to rest, and she fell into a wonderful dreamless sleep.
Chapter Fourteen
Thunder rumbled in the distance, seemingly louder for the empty streets upon which it echoed. “Reid, those storm clouds are ready to open up on us. Where are we going?”
Lucie had asked the same question no less than ten times in the last half hour and she wasn’t getting any closer to an answer. He was remarkably tight-lipped about their destination and purpose for going there despite his obvious excitement. Dragging her behind him down a sidewalk in the artsy area of town, he kept glancing at her with a secretive smile that gave him a boyish charm and made her giggle like an equally young girl.
It had been a couple of days since her date with Stephen, and Reid had been extremely scarce other than during his training. Then suddenly he announced he was taking her to a late dinner and then to see something. She’d thought maybe it was a show of some sort, considering the part of town they’d driven to, but by the time they’d left the restaurant it’d been after eleven, so she was clueless.
“A summer storm never hurt anybody. Almost there, come on,” he said as he tugged her into an alley.
She dug her heels in, causing him to pull up short. “What could you possibly need to show me in some dark alley?”
He stepped into her body and cupped the side of her face with his free hand. His thumb traced short strokes at the edge of her cheek. “Don’t you trust me, Lu?”
Staring into hazel eyes that melted her insides with the heat swirling in their centers, she whispered, “Of course I trust you.”
Full lips spread into a smile. “Then close your eyes.”
She almost argued the need for such a thing, but something about the way he looked at her had her lashes lowering without hesitation.
&
nbsp; A light kiss touched each of her lids as reward.
Reid led her down the alley another twenty feet or so and then stopped. She heard what sounded like keys entering a lock and a heavy door creaking open. Once again he led her forward. She desperately wanted to open her eyes, but didn’t want to ruin his surprise. Chewing on her lower lip, she waited while he closed the door and moved around the room doing things she couldn’t discern by sound alone while telling her to keep her eyes closed.
Finally, he approached her from behind, wrapped one arm around her waist and held his other hand over her still closed eyes. “Shit, I’m starting to have second thoughts about this.”
She could hear the anxiety in his voice. “Why would you have second thoughts?”
“Because I don’t know what you’re going to think. I’m worried you’ll hate it.”
Lucie canted her head to the side and repeated his earlier question. “Don’t you trust me?”
…
The room was black as pitch with the exception of the overhead floodlight he’d turned on to shine directly over an easel, and on that easel sat a large cork board holding a charcoal pencil drawing of Lucie…nude.
Don’t you trust me?
Did he? Art was extremely personal and something as intimate as this—the way she looked to him when they made love—was even more so. She had every right to be offended, even if they were the only people who would ever see it. It was still a liberty he’d taken without her permission.
He’d like to think he didn’t know what had possessed him to do something as crazy as sketch a nude of Lucie, but he’d be lying to himself. Something about her—about the way he felt when he was with her—had resurrected his creative side from its years of slumber. Enough to where he’d called different art studios until he’d found a guy who’d been willing to let him use some space and supplies for a couple of days in exchange for some tickets to his upcoming fight.
And this was what he’d been inspired to create.
So whether he trusted her to receive it as the gift it was meant to be or not didn’t really matter, because keeping it hidden from her like a dirty little secret was out of the question. There was no backing down now. No guts, no glory.