9

Christian

Seeing her frustrated, I wanted to kick the car myself. I wanted to take away her anger and make her feel better. Hitting something always made me feel better, and judging by the way she slammed her foot just now, I suspected it would help Hailey, too.

We had a gym in our office back in New York, but nothing here in California. However, I remembered a boxing club I used to work out in as a teen. I took a chance that it was still around and drove there.

As I approached the gym, the familiar red and gold sign hung from the door and I eased the car next to the curb.

"We're going to box?" she asked, looking up at the window.

"Uh-huh," I responded, staring up at the sign through the front window. "Let's see if Johnny's still here."

"Johnny?" she asked hesitantly as she got out of the car. She looked ready to bolt, but to her credit, she followed me inside.

The gym was packed with guys in boxing shorts and sweaty chests. For a moment, I worried she would be put off by the smell and atmosphere. This wasn't your typical Beverly Hills circuit training or Hot Yoga sort of place, with plants and crystals lining the front counter.

But when I turned to gauge her reaction, a small smile played on her lips as she drank in the men around her.

I narrowed my eyes and looked around the room again, this time wondering how she saw it, and I sighed.

"Maybe this was a bad idea," I said and grabbed her hand to pull her away from the heightened testosterone.

"No, no, no," she said, her smile widening. "This is a great idea."

A few of the boxers stopped sparing and stared at her. One guy with a particularly wide chest and fucking huge arms flashed her a cocky grin, and she grinned back.

I moved in front of her and pulled her hoodie up. "It's best if no one recognizes you while we're here. I don't want to hurt anyone for trying to get near you."

She peeked around me, and her smile widened. I moved my body to block her from flirting with the guy behind me. It was for her own safety. It had nothing to do with the tightening in my chest. The need to punch the asshole for grabbing her attention.

Fuck, this was a bad idea.

She smiled as I tucked her hair inside her hoodie and smoothed out the material around her face. "There. That should do it."

Tilting her head, she smiled at me. "Are you sure? I think you missed a strand."

I narrowed my eyes. Was she teasing me? Of course she was. I dropped my hands and approached the man at the front desk.

"Hey, is Johnny around?" I asked.

"Yeah, sure, he's in his office around back."

I waited for him to call Johnny. When he didn't, I arched my brow. "Mind calling him?"

He looked at Hailey behind me and picked up the phone. "Hey, John, there's someone here to see you."

He moved the phone away from his ear. "What's your name, dude?"

"Tell him Christian Machado is here to see him."

He relayed my name and a few minutes later, Johnny came through the office door at the back of the gym. He wore a Gold's Gym cut-off shirt and a big smile on his face. His long blonde hair was pulled back into a ponytail.

"Dude, it's really you, man. So good to see you." We shook hands, and he pulled me in for the one-hand pat on the back bro hug. "How have you been? I haven't seen you in, what, ten years? Not since high school."

"I'm good. Real good. Listen. I have a client here and we're hoping to hit the bag for an hour. I'll pay for a membership for the two of us, but I just want to get straight into it."

"Yeah, sure, man. You know your way around better than I do." Then he turned to the guy at the front desk while placing his hand on my shoulder. "Give this man anything he needs."

The guy looked at my suit and tie and nodded at me. "Do you have a change of clothes?"

"Yeah, in my car." I didn't want to leave Hailey unattended. "But I'll take a T-shirt and shorts." I pointed to the merchandise behind the counter. "And the smallest size boxing gloves you have."

The guy sized me up and then pulled out the clothing. "I'm going to change quickly. Wait right here."

She nodded, but her gaze was on the boxers. I grabbed the T-shirt and shorts and marched to the change room. I ripped off my jacket and pants and unbuttoned my shirt as quickly as I could. It couldn't have been more than five minutes since I'd left her, but when I returned to the gym, Hailey wasn't there.

I searched the room and quickly located her talking to the man in red shorts. He grinned at her with his gold teeth, and my fist clenched.

"Are you ready?" she asked when she saw me approach.

"Yes. Come with me."

She waved goodbye at the boxer, and I stared him down. He raised his chin at me and I ignored him. Experiencing as much combat as I had, these types of pissing matches meant little to me.

Except I hadn't liked the way he looked at her. And as rarely as it happened, I had to admit that for the first time in a very long time, I let some random guy get to me.

I stretched my neck from side to side, forgetting him and focusing on Hailey. This was about her and letting her frustrations out.

I held open the gloves as she slid her hands inside.

"All right. We're going to start slowly." I positioned myself behind the heavy bag and held it steady for her. "Use your right fist to protect your face and then jab with your left." She raised her right arm and hit the bag tentatively with her left fist.

"Good. But try it like you mean it this time."

She repeated the movement with the same light punch. That type of hit wouldn't release a fart, never mind her frustration.

I stepped away from the bag and positioned myself behind her. Raising her right hand, I held it close to her face, nearly touching her cheek. Then I pulled her left hand back past her chest, and she inhaled slowly. An electric current passed through my body and seemed to run through hers as we both stood still for a minute. I wasn't sure what she felt, but for me, it was as though my body tingled from my toes to the tips of my hair.

"How did you know I was left-handed?" she whispered.

I curled my fingers around her shoulder. "I notice everything about you, Hailey."

She inhaled again, and this time, my body moved closer to her.

What the hell are you doing, soldier?

Shaking my head from the stupor, I stepped back and cleared my throat. "Try hitting the bag again in this position. Keep your arm straight when you punch so you don't hurt your wrist."

I moved behind the bag and watched her try again. "That's it. Much better. One more time."

She pulled her arm back and jabbed harder this time. "Perfect, Hailey. Again."

She grunted and punched it harder still. I ran back behind her, eager to show her the next move. "Let's try a combination punch. Ready?"

She nodded.

"Okay. You're going to jab twice with your left and then hook with your right. Like this." I wrapped my fingers around her wrists and simulated the jabs along with her. Then I grabbed her right wrist and showed her how to hook the punch.

"Think you got it?" I asked next to her ear.

"Yes."

Reluctantly, I moved away from her and grabbed hold of the bag. "Give it everything you got, Hailey."

She gritted her teeth and punched. "That's it. Again."

With a grunt, she hit the bag with all her might, and I smiled. "Move your right leg back. It will help you balance better and give you more power." She followed my instructions perfectly.

"Good girl. Hit it again. And don't stop until I tell you to."

She let her punches fly. Grunting, punching, and moving her body along with her arms. Perspiration beaded her forehead and her cheeks shone red. She was glorious. The most fucking beautiful thing I'd ever seen.

Then she stopped.

Crossed her arms, grabbed the hem of her hoodie, and pulled it off.

Holy hell .

Hailey stood in front of me with nothing on but a black sports bra. Her chest rose and fell with every labored breath, and a few strands of hair clung to her wet nape. My throat went dry, and I stood there gaping at her like an idiot until she stepped back into position and called, "Ready?"

I don't think I am. Not for this. Not for you.

I swallowed the desire inside of me and with a curse under my breath, I moved back behind the bag and grunted, "Again."

She jabbed the bag twice and hooked her next punch. Her breasts bounced with the movement and her smooth stomach contracted. I don't think I could have been more turned on if she were naked.

I closed my eyes. "Again."

She punched and punched and I fought my desire just as hard as she hit that bag.

Harder, I think, because I was sweating now as much as she was. The heat inside of me burned for her, and I didn't understand how this could have happened.

She stopped and dropped her arms. Wiping the sweat and hair off of her face with her forearm, she smiled at me. "How was that?"

I swallowed. "Fantastic."

She beamed. "Thank you. I have a good teacher."

She placed both hands on her hips and then made a sour face when she brought her nose close to her armpits. "I need to shower."

I shook my head before she could move a muscle. "Not here. You're not getting naked here. I'm taking you home."

I grabbed her hoodie from the ground and put it on her. She giggled when her head got stuck. "This would be easier if you helped me take the gloves off first."

Damn it.

I stepped back. "Sorry."

I opened the gloves, and she slipped her hands out. After I wrestled the top over her head, she pulled her hair back into a ponytail.

"Great. Let's go."

Grabbing my arm, she smiled. "Thank you," she said. "I really needed that." Then raised herself on her tiptoes and kissed my cheek. My skin burned where she had touched it with her lips.

Damn.

I was in deep fucking trouble.