Outmatched

I needed someone else for this. For a hot second, I thought about telling Parker, confessing. But I couldn’t. I had to do this or I’d never be able to fight well. She’d understand that. She’d get it, even if she thought less of me.

She had to. Because I couldn’t do this fight any other way.

Twenty-One

Parker

It was nice to escape the office for lunch. With only a week to go until the charity fight, I was preoccupied. However, not preoccupied enough to not be worried by how quiet Jackson had been lately. He was spending a lot of time going to meetings that he never explained and talking on the phone with his office door closed.

Moreover, I still had to deal with Creepy Pete and his petulant attitude. He no longer crossed the office to speak with me when he had a payroll question about my overtime. I received an email. And whenever there was a discussion amongst our colleagues, he deliberately acted like I didn’t exist.

The man was like a five-year-old.

That morning he’d asked a mathematical question that I’d answered.

His response was to keep searching the room. “Anyone?”

My patience finally snapped. “I just answered your question, Pete.” I glowered at him. “I’m getting a little tired of your attitude toward me, the only female member of staff in this office. If it doesn’t stop, I’m going to consider this a problem I’ll have to report.”

Pete’s shocked expression was almost funny. “No need, there’s no problem here.” He held up his hands in a surrender gesture and returned to his desk.

Xander shot me a proud look but the tension in the office was awful after that. Deciding to use the extra hours I’d accumulated with overtime to take a long lunch, I departed the office with a relieved sigh. Leaving the building, I tried to call Rhys but got his voicemail. I sent him a text just before I got on my bike.

ParkerB: I’m on a long lunch. Do you have time to join me?

Rhys’s training had only escalated and the times I did see him, we mostly spent in bed. As far as I was aware, there had been nothing from Fairchild yet and Rhys was completely focused on the upcoming fight.

This meant we didn’t discuss much. He asked about my day, of course, and seemed interested in what I had to say, but anytime I turned the conversation on him, it felt like he immediately initiated sex.

And I had absolutely no willpower because the sex was amazing.

My phone beeped a few seconds later as I turned down Spring Lane off Devonshire Street. I drew to a halt on my bike to pull my phone out of my purse.

HotHarley: Sorry, can’t, Tink. In the middle of something. We’ll talk later?

Disappointment filled me but I texted back.

ParkerB: Of course. Talk to you soon xx

I turned around and decided it was such a nice day, I’d hit Boston Common Coffee Company for a takeout lunch and then ride to the Common to eat it.

Once I had food in my basket and the great weather lifting my mood, I rode down the pedestrian area of Summer Street toward the Common. As I glanced to my right, however, a familiar head and pair of shoulders caught my gaze and I slowed.

Seated at the tables outside Café Nero was a broad-shouldered guy with long legs, sitting close to a gorgeous blond. His head was bowed toward her, his hand on top of hers, and she was looking at him with utter tenderness on her lovely face.

I slowed to a halt, my heart racing. I watched as he turned his head, and I caught his profile.

Confusion and pain scored across my chest as the familiarity that had caused me to pause revealed itself.

Rhys.

Who was in the middle of “something.”

With a beautiful blond whose impressive cleavage was visible in her tight camisole. She had lots of hair and her makeup, although heavy, was done to perfection. She was tan and her long, bare legs were resting against Rhys’s beneath the table.

She was everything I’d always assumed Rhys would want in a woman.

Feeling sick, I shook myself a little.

There was an explanation. Obviously.

There had to be.

But then she pushed her chair even closer to his and wrapped her arms around him, her head resting on his chest.

And he pressed an affectionate kiss to her forehead, holding onto her like he’d done it a million times.

That was it for me.

My chest tight, the pain almost blinding, I turned my bike around, not wanting him to spot me, and used the electric motor to get me the heck out of there.

I couldn’t even remember the ride back to the office. The next thing I knew, my hands were shaking as I chained up my bike in the underground parking area.