“You made a conquest there,” he stated, hoping he didn’t sound as jealous as he felt.
“Adam is a nice guy. I had fun today. So did I miss anything here?” she asked with a casual smile, looking around the gym. Before she would have linked her arm through his and flirted with him. Now he was lucky if he got her to smile at him.
Royce swallowed down his urge to questions her further. They were friends and that’s all. Sometimes it was hard to remember. She looked delicious enough to eat. He forced his mind not to go there. It couldn’t go there, not when he insisted they be friends. “I was helping Gabe. He’s a really good kid and he has potential. If he can learn to fuel his anger into determination he might just get somewhere.”
“I’m glad to hear that. Let me go and say hi.” She walked over to where Gabe was standing by the vending machine. Royce noticed how sexy she looked in her short skirt and snug sleeveless shirt and he felt like dunking himself in a bucket of cold water. She made Gabe laugh at something she said. The kid was usually so stoic and sad looking, but with Jessy the regular teenager came out and he turned into a different kid.
He couldn’t fault Gabe for that. Hadn’t he always sought out her company when dark thoughts and memories threatened to consume him? He missed Jessy even though he saw her every day.
Chapter 8
On the next public appearance for Adam, Royce offered to be the driver. He didn’t like feeling jealous because he had an easygoing friendship with Adam and the others. He knew he didn’t have the right to deny Jessy from moving on with someone else. He couldn’t expect her to sit around waiting for him to work through his mixed emotions. Part of him wanted to hold her in his arms and demand she not even look at another man. Then he heard that small voice in his head telling him that path led to pain and headaches.
“I think we’ll be fine, Royce.” Jessy looked a little bewildered. “You have such a busy schedule.”
He shrugged carelessly, hoping he looked casual. “I’ve been cooped up in this building all week. I could use some fresh air.”
“Okay,” she said, and looked at her watch. “Adam has another radio spot to do. We should go.”
“With Destiny?” Adam perked up and Jessy pushed him. “Behave. You’re training, mister. No romance for you.”
Adam looked crestfallen.
So they weren’t getting romantically involved? Royce couldn’t understand why he felt such a big sense of relief. He tried to convince himself he was just glad Adam was concentrating on his fight, but he knew he was lying to himself. He turned to Tom. “Yo, Tom. You’re in charge.”
Tom grinned and cracked his knuckles. “Hear that, peasants?”
Blake and Sam looked at Jessy with puppy-dog eyes. “Can we go with you?”
“No.” She laughed. “Help Gabe with his workout if he comes in.”
The young man had been coming in as often as possible. He was a good kid and her dad thought he had potential, too. She was glad. If only one kid got off the street that was an accomplishment.
The radio appearance went smoothly. Although Destiny wasn’t the interviewer, she did come to cheer Adam on. He couldn’t hide his pleased smile. There was one tense moment when the deejay repeated some trash-talking Jonesy had been doing. Adam handled it well with grace and Jessy gave him a thumbs-up. Soon the interview was over and Destiny greeted him in the hallway. They stood together talking in low voices.
“I think she likes him,” Jessy whispered with
a smile, leaning toward Royce. “She’s cute.”
“He doesn’t need to be distracted right now, especially by cuteness.” He frowned and she rolled her eyes and leaned back against her chair. He thought he heard her mutter “men are stupid” but he wasn’t sure.
Sitting next to Jessy and smelling her fresh soapy scent was messing with his concentration. He barely heard the interview. Instead he was thinking of that night with her when she had boldly stripped her clothes off in front of him and he had felt so filled with lust he was surprised he had been able to take his time with her. He had loved her slowly until she was writhing uncontrollably underneath his body. Shit, now he was feeling hot and his body ached in rebellion at his self-imposed abstinence. He wasn’t even sure why he hadn’t picked up anyone else. He went to the clubs with Sam and Blake and each time he went home alone. He told himself he just wanted to concentrate on work but he wasn’t sure he believed it.
“I hope you’re not getting sick, Royce, you look like you’re sweating.” She gave him a worried look and frowned at him. His cell phone started buzzing, saving him from having to think of a lie.
He looked at the incoming text and muttered under his breath. “Shit, Jessy, we need to go now.”
She looked at him with fear, her green eyes filed with apprehension. She grabbed on to his arm and he hugged her. She was upset and as a friend he was allowed to hug her. “What is it? My dad?”
“No, sweetheart. Sorry, there’s a problem with Gabe,” he explained, soothing her back with small circles. It felt so good to have her in his arms. He would gladly have stood here for another few minutes if the text had not been so urgent.
She stood up and called out to Adam. He said his good-bye to Destiny and went up to Jessy and Royce. “What’s going on?”
“There’s trouble at the gym,” Royce said angrily, heading out the doors at a fast pace.
Chapter 9
Jessy was glad she wore tennis shoes and jeans to keep up with Royce and Adam.