Chapter 4

CHAPTER FOUR

LULU

Hey, Lulu, you ready for our lesson?” I smile at the trainer whose name I always mess up.

Is it Kev or Ken?

“I am. Let me just put on my gloves.” I turn and drop my bag on a guy’s foot.

He groans and hops up and down to help stop the pain. I gasp when I see who it is and step back. His face is red, and the grimace he’s looking at me with makes me feel like I’m the last person he wants to see today.

“What the fuck do you have in that thing? Bricks?” He’s not that far off.

“First, you shouldn’t have been that close. Second, I have some old cameras I’m recycling. I’m sorry I hurt you. Are you okay?” I point at his foot.

I check out his tattoos while he sits to take inventory of his injury. He’s covered in ink, sweat, and those fucking sexy veins that people have dubbed arm candy.

“Nothing seems broken.” His voice comes out gruff, and my core lights up.

Is that how he sounds when he’s fucking?

JESUS, woman! Horny much?

“I’m glad. It’s nice to see you again. I hope your sister is doing well.” I bend to get my bag, but he catches my wrist.

Our eyes lock, and then I notice how close his face is to mine. Our lips are inches apart, and my stupid heart starts to pound in my chest. I hold my breath, afraid to move.

“I want to apologize for the way I spoke to you that first day. I was under a lot of stress, and I lashed out.”

Oh. That is unexpected. I barely know this man, but one thing I can say for sure is that Brice Wyatt Dare is not the “I’m sorry” type.

“Apology accepted. I really need to go. I’m holding up my trainer.” I glance over my shoulder at the man watching us closely.

“He’s been staring at your ass the whole time you’ve been bent over.” The angry growl in his tone shocks me.

“Well, it’s a great ass. See you around, Brice.” I pull away slowly and enjoy the look he gives me.

Well, I guess the attraction goes both ways.

The thought warms me up more than the workout does. After forty-five minutes of intense cardio, during which I lose track of everything around me and try not to get my head knocked off, I cool down in the yoga room and stretch.

At this time of day, it isn’t unusual to be alone. It’s rush hour, so the men aren’t off work, and school picks up, so women are grabbing their kids. So when the doors fly open, I startle and glance up at the mirrors around me.

“Brice?” I turn to look at him from the position I’m sitting in.

“Would you like to grab dinner with me? I’ve been banned from the hospital tonight. I’d rather not be alone.” I slowly close my legs from the near split I was in and turn fully to see him.

“Um, I’m not sure that’s a good idea.”

What the hell is wrong with me? It sounds like a great fucking idea! The best. Especially if I’m the main fucking course.

“Why?”

Well, shit. How am I supposed to answer that?

“You don’t really like me. You’re just lacking options.” I point out the obvious, hoping that will get him to back off.

“You’re a beautiful woman I’d like to get to know better. It’s unfair to assume I don’t like you without giving me a reason to.”

Touché.

“Fair enough. You like barbeque?”

He smiles, and it transforms his face entirely. “I grew up here, remember?”

Oh, right.

He may live in New Orleans now, but he was raised in North Carolina, which makes him a good old Southern boy. He’s just forgotten his manners is all.

From the way he’s standing in the doorway, waiting for me, it seems like they may be resurfacing.

“All right, fine. There’s a grill on the corner. Meet me in an hour?”

He nods and walks out, leaving me to finish my cool down.

I’m on my second beer when the door opens yet again, and it’s not him.

Wow.

He really stood me up? I could be home getting myself off and making money while doing it. But no! I’m sitting alone in a bar and turning away free drinks from men I have no interest in.

“This is bullshit.” I slap a twenty on the bar and grab my purse.

I walk out the door and sigh when the sky outside sparks with lightning, followed by a loud boom that tells me I’m going to be drenched before I make it the four blocks home.

“What a fucking day,” I grumble as I start my walk home.

Lightning cracks again, and I pick up my pace as the sky opens.

Great.

“HEY!” Someone behind me is yelling, but the hell if I’m checking who it is.

I can see the door to my building and quicken my steps. I’m basically jogging now as I pull my keys out and am ready to open the door.

“LULU!” I spin at the sound of my name and swipe the keys through the air, nailing Brice across his left eye and cheek.

Blood wells up quickly and drips down his face with the rain.

“Oh my God!” I reach for his face.

“What the fuck, woman?” He pushes my hand away and touches his eyebrow.

“You scared the shit out of me!”

“I’m sorry. I haven’t been sleeping well. I only meant to take a nap, but the alarm never went off. I saw you as you were leaving the grill.”

I sigh at his excuse. I can’t fathom how someone could rest while going through everything he’s been dealing with.

“Come inside. I’ll clean you up.” I turn and unlock the door.

As we’re walking inside, lightning hits the transformer right outside and explodes, sending sparks up in the air. He tackles me to the ground and uses his body to protect me.

“Are you okay?” His voice sends shivers down my spine.

Or is that the cold I feel from the air conditioning on my wet skin?

“Yeah,” I answer once I get myself together. “I’m upstairs.”

The emergency lights are on, but everything else is dark. I use the light on my cell phone to lead the way and get inside my apartment. I leave him sitting at my kitchen counter while I grab some candles and my little first-aid kit from my bathroom.

“What a mess. I really am sorry.” I carefully clean away the blood.

“Head wounds bleed like a bitch. I’ll be fine. I’m sorry I was late.”

I nod as I put a few butterfly bandages on his eyebrow. “That should probably get stitches. You’re going to have a scar.”

He shrugs and mumbles something under his breath that sounds an awful lot like “Not the last.”

“Well, my night was shit. Some asshole stood me up, and I’m starving. How about some takeout? I’d cook, but no power kinda fucks you up with electric appliances.” I try to spin away, but his hands on my hips stop me.

My voice hitches as his warm fingers mold to my cool skin.

“You should get out of these wet clothes before you catch a cold.” His voice is low, and his eyes, usually jewel green, reflect the candlelight, reminding me of embers after a bonfire.

It’s hypnotizing.

“So should you.” I tug at his shirt, and it makes a sopping-wet sound.

“You trying to get me naked?” His lips twitch into a little grin as he waits for my answer.

When did I end up standing between his open legs? I lick my lips and come to a decision.

I’m having Brice for dinner tonight.