His brows rose as though shocked anyone would dare refuse him. It probably didn’t happen often, if ever.
I stood up and with difficulty that I tried to mask, set the weights back on the rack.
“Maybe I should help you with the next few sets,” he offered, smothering another grin.
He might be an asshole, but my body didn’t seem to care about that, if my rock-hard nipples and pounding heart were any indication. Getting as far away from him as possible was clearly my best bet.
“I—” A group of girls walked in, chattering loudly over the drone of the treadmills. Their eyes all immediately fell to Cash as they preened and pulled at their outrageously skimpy workout attire. It was obvious they’d come in hopes of seeing him.
He looked down at his hands, his brow furrowed as he muttered something unintelligible.
“I’ll just leave you to it,” I told him as the girls moved closer still.
“Hi Cash,” one of them chirped hopefully.
I didn’t watch their exchange, instead walking back past the front desk to my car, leaving him with his pack of admirers.
Chapter 4
CASH
Iwatched the blonde with the stunning green eyes walk away, ignoring the pack of tittering girls trying to get my attention.
Easy pussy was just that, easy. And boring.
The blonde sparked my interest in a way a female hadn’t in years. I’d assumed she’d been hitting on me last night, and with her daughter in tow, no less. Hell, it had happened more than once before. But I’d been wrong. Way fucking wrong. She hadn’t felt safe, had been asking me for protection, and I’d responded like a dick. I’d thought about it all night, unable to sleep wondering why she needed help in the first place. She looked young to have a daughter, younger than me. I wanted to know her story. I was surprised how much.
And now, after having those gorgeous green eyes turned on me with a mixture of vulnerability and fire lighting them, I was fucking obsessed.
“Looks like you’re making friends,” Gunner chortled, coming to stand alongside me, his amused gaze on the spitfire’s back as she stormed away, her delicious ass swaying as she went.
“Who is she?” I demanded.
His brow rose. “Why? You’re interested?”
I didn’t blame him for being surprised. I didn’t typically express interest one way or the other. Women typically came to me, as was evidenced by the three giggling around me now as I tried to work out. If I wanted someone to warm my bed for the night, I took the opportunity. More often than not, I preferred to be alone or with my brothers. “More than,” I confirmed with conviction.
“Man.” He shook his head. “I think you should steer clear. Layla’s got a lot going on in her life. Plus, I don’t think she’s the one-and-done type.”
My eyes narrowed. “That’s not what I’m after. Not with her. And why do you know so much about her?”
“Em had me help her out with some legal shit,” he explained. “Her nan passed away, left her the house. Marty was pulling his typical shit, being pushy. I looked over the paperwork for her. Made sure it was straight.”
I nodded, glad she’d had the help. I made a mental note to have more than a word with Marty. The man was a fucking weasel. “She have a man she’s running from?” I wondered out loud. Gunner looking into legal shit didn’t explain why she’d been so spooked the night before.
“Don’t know,” he replied. “All I know is she’s got custody of her niece. Not sure what went down with that.”
Her niece. It made sense why she looked so young. The fact she’d obviously taken on so much responsibility at a young age made me want her even more.
“Appreciate you looking out for her.” I nodded. “I’ll take it from here.”
He chuckled, his gaze swinging toward the exit Layla had marched through and back to me. “Oh yeah? Seems like you have your work cut out for you, brother.”
I grunted in the affirmative. “Somethin’ tells me she’ll be worth it.”
Chapter 5
LAYLA