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  “Come on in,” Vi’s voice called from the other side.

  Kiki opened the door, peeking in. “Uh, hey Vi. Do you have a minute? If not, I can totally come back later. Like, really, I don’t want to be a bother.” Please let me go. Please give me the easy out. Kiki tried to remain calm, hoping Vi couldn’t tell that she was terrified of the conversation they needed to have.

  “Kiki, come in and shut the door. Are you all right? You look... I don’t know. Are you coming down with something?” Of course Vi would notice something was off. She was a caring person, always looking out for others.

  “No, no. I’m not sick,” Kiki said, sitting in the chair in front of her boss’s desk. Yes, therein lies the problem. Vi, her boss, had strict rules, which Kiki wasn’t sure if she’d technically broken by dating Wade. He wasn’t quite an employee of the elite gym, but a silent owner. But that was only half of the complication. She was worried how her friend Vi would handle the news that she was dating her little brother. Kiki’s insides felt like twisting knots, and she tried to keep the ache from showing on her face.

  “What’s up, lady? You’re worrying me. Is someone at the gym hassling you?”

  “No, no, nothing like that.” Kiki took a deep, calming breath. It’s now or never.

  “Good,” Vi cut in. “I’m happy you came in, because I have something I need to talk to you about.”

  Oh God, she knows already! Kiki’s heart pounded in her chest, and her mouth went dry. She was overwhelmed with emotion, and tried to keep the tears from pooling in her eyes.

  “You’ve been doing a fantastic job around here, and with me working more and more at the other gym, I’d like to promote you to manager. You’d basically take over most of my responsibilities, and you’d be responsible for hiring a new receptionist. What do you think?”

  The big smile from Vi only made Kiki feel guilty. She most definitely wanted the position, and she was honored that Vi would even offer it to her, but after she came clean about Wade she wasn’t sure the offer would still stand.

  “It comes with a pretty substantial pay increase,” Vi said, raising her eyebrows.

  “I’m just going to say it.” Kiki took a deep breath. “Please don’t be mad. Wade and I have been kind of dating. Well, we’ve gone on a couple of dates over the last few weeks since he’s been back in town. Nothing serious, but we’d like to see where it goes. I will quit, since I broke the rules, but I don’t want this to ruin our friendship. If it is a problem with you, I will end it right away.” Kiki rushed the words out.

  The paled and shocked look on Vi’s face was not reassuring. Kiki didn’t want to lose her job and a friend over a man. But it wasn’t just any man, it was Wade. Who was totally haughty in a loveable way, who was self-assured and strong, but soft and tender. It was a beautiful contradiction. He made Kiki feel confident and competent. Something she couldn’t remember ever feeling. As much as it would hurt, she would give him up to save her friendship with Vivette—the only true friend she’d had in years.

  “Oh, Kiki.”

  “It’s okay, Vi. It isn’t really serious yet. I’ll just break it off. I just didn’t want to lie to you.” Kiki tried to hold back the disappointment in her quaking voice and the tears that threatened her eyes.

  “No, Kiki. That’s not it. You’re amazing, and I insist that you never quit!” Vi smiled at her. “I don’t know what I’d do around here without you. I just feel that I need to warn you. My brother is charming and a great guy, but he has never really been the one-woman kind of man. I’d hate to see you get your heart broken, and I would hate it more if that affected our friendship.”

  “I appreciate your concern. But…I think I want to see where this goes. He really is unlike any other man I’ve ever met. And we are taking it slow,” Kiki added sheepishly.

  Kiki let out a sigh of relief when Vi came around her desk, embracing her in a hug. It had gone smoother than she’d expected, but Vi’s concerns were not missed. It was something she’d wondered about more after Wade’s revelation last night. They hadn’t spoken much about past relationships, mostly his, and very vaguely. But when Wade admitted that he’d been dating while they were communicating long distance it hurt her feelings. She knew it shouldn’t, and while she didn’t hold a grudge toward him for it, it made her heart a little tender thinking about it. However, last night’s conversation did offer some reassurance.

  What really had her head spinning was Vi seemingly giving her the okay, and so easily, without anger or resentment. Kiki began to panic. She thought this was going to be the hard part, but when her mind taunted her with thoughts of what now, her heart raced. Although they weren’t dating, she now officially had permission to do so. Maybe it would have been easier if Vi was upset—it would have given her an out, or given him an out. What could she offer a man like him, how could she compete with other women? Confidence Kiki, she scolded.

  “Kiki, I am happy for you, if this is what you want.” Vi gave a genuine smile, pulling her from her gloomy thoughts. “But I’m not going to be very helpful. I’m not sure how much of my brother’s love life I can hear about,” Vi teased.

  “Thank you for being so understanding about this. Really.” Kiki smiled big.

  “Everyone deserves happiness, especially you and my brother. All right, lady…” Vi said pulling away from Kiki. “So are you going to take the job?”

  “Yes!” Kiki exclaimed. “I’d love the job.”

  “Great. First thing is to get started finding a new receptionist.” Vi giggled. “I think you’re going to have your work cut out for you.”

  Kiki laughed. She remembered hearing about how much trouble Vi had filling the position before deciding on Kiki. Now it was her turn, maybe even an initiation into management.

  “Okay.” Vi cleared her throat. “We both need to get back to work. Don’t think you can slack because you’re dating one of the owners.”

  Oh God. Kiki looked horrified at Vi, wondering if she really thought she would do such a thing. Kiki had promised to work hard when Vi gave her a chance and hired her, and she’d agreed to not fraternize with anyone at the gym. Breaking the rules was not her style, and this was more than uncomfortable.

  “Kiki, it was a joke. Lighten up. I’ve said it’s okay. I won’t go back on that. I know you.”

  Kiki gave her friend a kind smile. There wasn’t anything left to say, so she headed back to work. Even though Vi had said it was a joke, Kiki was determined to show Vi that she was still the same hard worker as ever. Now to find the perfect replacement!

  * * * *

  Wade was leaving his apartment and heading to class when his phone rang. Digging the sleek phone out of his pocket, he saw Kiki’s cute picture pop up on the screen. Kiki told him last night that she was going to talk to Vi, and now he was eager to see how it went; even though he didn’t give one damn about what his sister thought, it was more for Kiki’s sake.

  “Hey, babe,” he answered.

  “Wade!” Kiki squealed, causing him to pull the phone back from his ear.

  “Sounds like it went well?” Wade smiled as he spoke.

  “Beyond well! Vi is okay with us seeing where this goes. And…” Kiki paused. “She offered me a manager position!”

  “She did?” Wade was surprised by that. And for a split second he hated the idea. Unless she did something to get fired, or she quit, regardless of what happened between them romantically they were going to be tied together in business.

  “Is that okay? Did she not check with you? I don’t have to take it if it’s weird for you.”

  The panic was clear in Kiki’s voice. He had to admit that it was great dating a girl who really cared about what he wanted. She was always putting him first, and while it was nice, he wanted to make sure she was her own person too.

  “You don’t have to ask me if it’s okay. It sounds like you’re really excited about this, and I’m proud of you. You earned it. We should celebrate.”

  “Oh, Wade. Thank you.
I’d love to celebrate, but my first mission is to find a new receptionist, and then I’ve scheduled a couple more MMA sessions, so I’m going to be burnt out.”

  Beep, beep.

  Wade pulled the phone back from his ear and saw his sister’s number pop up on the screen.

  “Hey, Kiki, I have an important call coming in. I’ll see you Sunday for sure.” Wade rushed his words. He knew if he didn’t take his sister’s call he was going to have hell to pay. But answering it might not be any better.

  “Uh, okay. Sunday.”

  “Bye, babe.” Wade hung up, not waiting for a response. “What up, sis? I’ve been waiting for your call. I’m a little surprised it took you so long,” Wade said casually.

  Vi must have been taken aback by his chipperness as she stumbled to get her words out at first. “Well then, little brother, tell me, why is it I am calling you this fine day?” The sarcasm in her voice didn’t go unnoticed, nor was it unexpected. He knew she wasn’t going to take it easy on him for this. Wade could usually charm his big sister and slide right through her soft spots, but he expected this would hit a nerve.

  “Listen, Vi, I know how you feel about Kiki. But I like her too. I mean, it isn’t major yet, so just cool it.”

  “Does she know that?”

  Wade was stunned by his sister’s question. They weren’t not serious.

  “It’s not really any of your business, is it?” Wade countered back. He didn’t have to answer his sister’s fucking questions, this interrogation about their relationship. It was only something that they’d just explored as of late. “Don’t worry, I’ll make sure to let her down easy if I don’t see it going anywhere,” Wade said with venom, knowing that’s what his sister was really worried about. What was going to happen when he hurt her. When his player status caught up.

  “Sure,” Vi answered flatly.

  “Hey, I’m gonna be late for class, so unless you have something important to talk about, I need to go.”

  He heard Vi take a deep breath. “Nope.”

  Wade’s goodbye was met with a dial tone. He had most definitely struck a nerve. He couldn’t remember the last time his sister had hung up on him.

  Dating had been so much easier when he lived far away from his sister’s big nose. She didn’t know that he hadn’t had a real girlfriend in years, not since he’d had his heart crushed. He didn’t think her naïve enough to not get what he was doing—sleeping away his loneliness. But Kiki did something to that loneliness, something different. But he didn’t need to explain that to anyone.

  Chapter 4

  It had been reaching 9 PM when Wade decided his apartment was far too quiet. He’d sent a quick text to his buddies, and they easily agreed to a meet up at their favorite local spot, just off the strip.

  His homecoming transition had been, almost, seamless. He moved back into his condo that was previously rented out. Both he and Vi had purchased condos with part of their inheritance. She insisted that it would be a good investment and ensure that they always had a place to live. They sold their family home, knowing that even though it was full of love and memories it would never be the same without their parents. That house deserved a new family. And with him buying a condo, it kept him rooted in Vegas, exactly as his sister planned.

  Wade took a hardy sip of the cold wheat beer in the pint glass. He sat at a tall table in the bar, waiting for his friends, with the idea of coming home weighing on him. He would never admit it, and shrugged it off when anyone asked him, but it was hard to be back. After his parents passed away he had to get out of the state, and college was a perfect excuse.

  How his sister had stayed, and kept the gym going was beyond him. Every time he walked into that place he expected to see his dad come out of the back office, and he could still hear his mom’s voice scolding him to stay away from the girls’ locker room. In the years he’d been gone those feelings hadn’t changed, but staying away forever wasn’t an option. Everyone said to embrace what they still had, but it was impossible when the ghost of everything he didn’t have haunted him. His sister, however, seemed to be doing fantastic, thriving and falling in love even.

  “Hey!” A strong hand slapped him on the back, and his friend Parker came around, sitting in the chair next to him.

  “Hey, dude.” Wade nodded.

  “You been sitting here long?”

  “Nah, just long enough for a beer.”

  “Cool. So, what’s the vibe in here tonight? If it’s a sausage fest, we’re bouncing.” Parker glanced around the area. “Is she ours?” he asked, gesturing to the waitress.

  Wade gave a nod before taking another sip of his beer. The waitress was pretty, in a forgettable sort of way, and there was a table of girls who every so often burst out in a round of laughter. They’d be easy for the picking in a few more rounds, and Parker was sure to notice them any second. Sure, Wade noticed the pretty girls around him, but he had something kind of, sort of going with Kiki, and he was trying to behave.

  “Hey, are you here to see your boy, or to chase some tail?” Wade asked, nudging his friend with his elbow.

  “Can’t I do both?” Parker teased, crossing his arms and resting them on the table as he watched the waitress approach.

  “Can I get you another round?” the waitress asked.

  “You sure can,” Parker said. “What’s your name?”

  “Oh sorry, I’m Sarah,” the woman said with a blush.

  “Thanks, Sarah. I’ll have one of those.” Parker pointed to Wade’s beer. “And we need two shots of Makers.” Parker glanced at Wade, waiting for his approval.

  “Yep.” Wade smiled at the redheaded waitress.

  “All right, guys. I’ll be right back.” The way her tiny ass swayed dramatically as she left the table was almost laughable, but it had Parker hypnotized.

  It made him wonder if it would have hypnotized him too if Kiki wasn’t in the front part of his mind. That was part of the shit he was trying to avoid thinking about, alone, in his quiet apartment.

  “Dude, I think you could totally hit that.” Parker sat back in his chair, folding his arms over his chest.

  “What are you talking about, asshole, you know I could hit that.”

  “So?” Parker challenged.

  “Hey, the night is young. I’m gonna hang back and check out the options.” Wade leaned back in his chair, a wide, cocky smile on his face. “I’ll let them sweat it out a bit.”

  He only meant half of what he was saying, protecting his rep, knowing that his buddies would give him shit if they found out he was hung up on some girl. Besides, things with Kiki weren’t set just yet, so if he was going to have wandering eyes, now would be the time to do it. Figure this shit out now before he hurt Kiki’s feelings, and before he pissed his sister off too much.

  The waitress came back with the beers, shots, and a side of tots. “These are on me.” She winked before sashaying away.

  Wade returned Parker’s wide grin, lifting his shot glass up, Parker following suit. “Here’s to pretty redheads and free tots!”

  He tossed back the warm liquor. The first shot of the night was always the toughest, so he quickly chased it with a gulp of the cool beer.

  “Where’s Landon at?” Wade asked. “I thought he was coming with you.”

  “Oh yeah, he got held up. He should be here soon.”

  “Cool.”

  “Any plans for tomorrow? I’m thinking about taking that trail over at Red Rock. You should come. Landon is going for sure, but I have another buddy who bailed. It’d just be us—like old times.”

  The mere thought of Saturday irritated him. His mind filled with a mental image of Kiki in tight yoga pants and a tank top, rolling around on the ground with Joshua. Who the fuck was Joshua anyway? Wade was sure as hell going to find out. Maybe he should give his brother-in-law to be a call and get the details? That might be a little too suspicious, and would certainly get back to his sister. But it might be worth it to find out what this guy’s intentions w
ere. Kiki seemed to consider Joshua a friend, but unless the man was gay, there was no way in hell he wasn’t trying to get into her panties.

  Maybe Wade had hoped to get into her panties, at first, so he couldn’t be too hard on the guy. But they’d gone on multiple dates, and he hadn’t made it past second base, and was still excited to see her. She’d said that Joshua was just a friend, but had he tried? Was he successful? Was she the kind of girl who stayed friends with her exes? Even so, was this how it was going to be? Would her friend Joshua come before them? If they ever became a them. Fuck that. Wade knew what was going to have to happen—he was going to make it very clear to this douchebag that he had dibs on Kiki. And if he didn’t like it, he could kick rocks. Wade owned that gym too, and he could get the fuck out.

  Wade could feel the beer and shot of whisky riling him up, filling his cheeks with heat and his head with ideas of grandeur and invincibility. If he wasn’t out with his boys, he might do something dumb like call Kiki or send her a text message...or half a dozen. Who are you? He’d done the booty call thing, but the drunk ‘miss you’ thing, he’d never done that. Did he miss her?

  “What’s up, fuckers!” Landon shouted from the bar entrance, making a classy entrance as usual.

  Wade rolled his eyes, but he was thankful for the ridiculous entry pulling him from his weird inner monologue. Parker waved Landon over to their table, giving him a stern look. Landon had gotten them eighty-sixed from many bars because of his antics. Wade loved his friends, but he had moved back home to finish graduate school, and his buddies were still acting like frat boys. He had set a lot of goals for himself to reach by twenty-five, and that wasn’t too far off; he’d like to have more to show for it than a bar tab and a new blonde every night.

  Not tonight! Game face. Wade pulled it together as another round of shots were set on the table.

  Chapter 5

  The past week—not even week, four days—was easily the most exhausting time Kiki had ever had since starting at the T&A MMA Gym. After her talk with Vi she got right on the search for a new receptionist, determined to prove to Vi that she hadn’t changed since dating Wade; that she still took the job very seriously. Vi had given her a couple of pointers about what to avoid and how to go about finding a good candidate. Kiki was surprised at how quickly she’d gotten responses to the job ad she’d posted. Jumping right on the phone screenings and after only a handful of interviews, she was thankful when Vi approved her new hire, Lawson Greenshire.