On The Ropes (Tapped Out 3)

The dude loved to be naked. Or at least I had to assume so, judging from how often he shed his shirt while he worked. Hell, even his jeans always seemed permanently slouched beneath the waistband of his boxers, revealing whatever name brand he was modeling today.

He and his crew had started renovating the gym a week or so ago, but I’d known him for longer than that because of Lily. They’d met years ago in a woodworking class, and I’d always kept a close eye on him. Lily claimed they were just good friends, but any guy who named his construction business O’Connor’s Wood shouldn’t be left alone with an inexperienced woman.

“Lose your shirt?” I asked idly, grabbing one of the ladders.

“Aw, you noticed. I’m touched.” He grinned up at me from where he’d bent to tie his shoelace. He could because Lily had grabbed one ladder and the sawhorse.

“Jesus, Lil, give me those.” I pulled them away from her, ignoring her pouty face. She was a strong girl and she was certainly able to help carry

some stuff, but it bothered me on a cellular level to watch her struggle when I was right there to help.

“I’m perfectly capable of carrying something.” She tugged on the sawhorse and I relented, not wanting to fight. She was right. I was just being stupid.

“You’d deny Knapp his chivalry? Tsk, tsk. Now he’s going to burst a blood vessel and make a mess.” JC leaned against the doorjamb and grinned, shaking his head. He dropped his gaze to her skirt and his eyes widened. “Speaking of messes, did you run into a Smurf or what?”

“Or what.” She turned her back on both of us and carted the sawhorse across the foyer to where JC was framing out a doorway and putting down flooring in the new circuit room.

Since Marks’ Gym in Brooklyn had stopped accepting anyone who even appeared to be training for MMA due to the dangerous underground scene, more women had joined The Cage. Apparently, the ownership had decided to expand their services to cater to a larger crowd, including creating a room where machines could be done on a prescribed circuit.

Some of the guys were bitching it was turning into a pussy fest. Me, I figured they hadn’t gotten any in too long and were fucking crabby.

“Hey, wait up.” JC grabbed the ladders out of my hands and followed Lily, his mouth still running as usual. He talked about as much as I remained silent, and Lily was somewhere between the two of us.

All at once, an image formed in my brain—one I did not want there. Imagining Lily’s naked curves pressed against me wasn’t the problem. Envisioning JC’s ripped body pressed against her back, his big hands caressing her pale skin and continuing on to touch me, however, was a big frigging issue.

I didn’t want him with Lily. He had a reputation. He’d fucked his way across town, and he drank too much and caused too much trouble, like starting fights and getting kicked out of places for talking shit. He wasn’t the kind of stable influence I wanted for her.

If I wanted anyone for her, and the truth was, I didn’t. I was too busy wanting her myself.

That JC happened to turn my crank too was incidental and unimportant. I didn’t like the guy. Okay, fine, I didn’t want to like him, because of the Lily thing, and that was pretty much the same.

But I wanted him. There was no denying that. I’d probably be up for a hate fuck or two if he was into that sort of deal, though he’d never given any indication that he swung both ways. He’d also have to keep his mouth shut, since I kept my predilections on the down-low. Too bad JC never kept his lips closed.

“So Saturday night,” JC said as I walked into the unfinished room. I hadn’t been invited to join them, and I didn’t really have a purpose there since they’d carried off all his crap. Didn’t stop me, though.

There was a reason Lance told everyone he never worried about Lily as long as she was with her shadow. I never took offense. It was true. Where Lily was, I followed.

I owed her father that much and so much more.

“What about Saturday night?” I folded my arms over my chest, shifting as the damp material clung to my torso.

JC glanced at me, his focus dropping to my stomach and the clinging material before returning to my eyes. I might’ve missed the look if I hadn’t just been inadvertently fantasizing about the dude. But I had been, so I didn’t.

Hmm. Could’ve just been an accidental glance. Or maybe I wasn’t the only one doing some fantasizing, inadvertent or otherwise.

“I was just telling Lil about my new apartment.” Casually, he braced an arm on the ladder opened beside him. “You guys should come over. I’m having a get-together.” His lips quirked. “Housewarming or some shit.”

“I have work orders to fill,” Lily began. “I just put up my website and I’m finally starting to see some action.”

I nearly groaned. Christ, I needed to get laid. There was absolutely no reason every damn thing she said should make me think of sex.

Not that I’d be able to take care of business for a few days yet. My Friday-night fight meant I couldn’t bust a nut until at least the weekend. When it came to keeping my advantage, I was superstitious in the extreme.

“Yeah, and I’ll be recovering,” I said quickly when JC glanced my way. “I have a fight Friday night. I really don’t want to spend my weekend partying.”

Other than picking up a couple of shifts at my seasonal job, mowing lawns and doing other landscaping, I intended to be sleeping. And fucking. In that order.

“Damn, you two are seriously lame. What if I said the get-together would be totally low-key and if you didn’t want to stay more than a couple hours, you didn’t have to?”