Tyler's Undoing (Gloves Off #1)(32)

TYLER SHOWED ME around the gym, where they kept their supplies, and how to work all of the exercise machines. So now, if anyone needed help working them, I knew exactly what to do. The fun started when Bree and Cole showed up. Cole smiled and said hello before strolling off to the practice ring where Tyler stood, wrapping his hands and getting ready to train.

My man was dressed in a pair of green and black fighting shorts, completely bare-chested, showing off his tattoos, and definitely drawing the attention of every female in the gym. I waited on him to acknowledge the ogling stares, but he never once did. Instead, his gaze landed on mine . . . all mine.

“Girl, what are you doing? I’ve been trying to call you all afternoon,” Bree scolded, snapping her fingers in front of my face. “I guess you’ve been too busy with lover boy to remember lil’ ol’ me.”

Breaking our stare, I batted my eyelashes innocently and smiled. Her pigtail braids looked cute framing her glowing face. She was still a little angry about me quitting the bar, but once I told her about the money my grandmother left me, she lightened up quite a bit.

“Tyler’s been a big help, Bree. He and I took a helicopter ride over the Grand Canyon and scattered my grandmother’s ashes today,” I told her somberly.

Gasping, she covered her mouth with her hand. “Oh, my goodness, Kace. I know that couldn’t have been easy. I didn’t mean to sound like a bitch. It’s just I haven’t seen you very much in the last week. I’ve missed you.”

“I’ve missed you too, Bree. Look on the bright side, I got a new job and I’ll probably be seeing you every day.”

“Really? Where?”

“Here,” I chuckled. “Tyler asked me to work for him today.”

“I thought you didn’t want to ever come back here again?” she teased.

“I didn’t, but things have changed now. I can’t describe it, but it honestly feels like things are looking up for once. Not to mention, by the end of the year, we’ll have the money we need to get our restaurant up and going.”

Bree smiled and placed her hand over mine. “I can’t believe it’s about to happen.”

I know.

Over her shoulder, I watched Cole get into the ring with Tyler. Other than watching him on the video a few weeks ago and with his last fight, I hadn’t actually seen him fight in the flesh.

“Your boyfriend’s about to get his ass beat,” I stated, pointing behind her.

Bree groaned and peered at them over her shoulder, shaking her head. “They do this every single day,” she complained, “and every single day, Cole gets hammered. When he fights some of the other fighters he kicks ass, but against Tyler he loses. I don’t know when he’ll ever learn.”

I had yet to formally meet Mr. Rushing, but he was walking around the ring, studying Tyler and Cole’s moves, tapping his finger against his lips in deep thought. When Bree and I approached, Tyler quickly glanced down at me and winked before taking Cole to the mat, grappling with him.

“Come on, Cole!” Bree yelled. “I’ll give you a blow job if you beat him!”

Instead of fueling him to win, it caught him off guard and Tyler took that moment to lock him in an arm bar. Cole reluctantly tapped out and collapsed onto the mat.

“No BJ’s for you,” Tyler joked, picking on him. “Maybe she’ll give you a consolation hand job, bro.”

“Oops,” Bree mumbled, “Cole’s going to be pissed now.”

Snarling, Cole got to his feet and got into position. “Again,” he snapped. “One of these days I’m going to make you tap out.”

Sweaty and looking sexy as hell, I couldn’t look away from Tyler even if I wanted to. He was so confident in the ring, focused. Watching him fight was thrilling and erotic. I could picture those bare arms wrapping around my naked body, holding me on him . . . claiming me.

My center clenched just thinking about it.

“Do I need to pick your mouth up off the floor?” Bree whispered, chuckling. “Haven’t you had sex with him yet?”

“No, not yet. I think it’s about time though. He’s been patient with me. Besides, after watching him fight just now, I think my vag would disown me if I didn’t give her something to play with.”

“Oh my God, girl! You are so bad.” We broke out in laughter, leaning on one another. After calming down, she continued, “Yeah, Cole’s been really shocked with the way Tyler’s been around you. He says Tyler has never been like this with a girl, not even Gabriella. I think you’ve got something there.”

I think so too, but . . .

“What about his past? I can only imagine the types of things he’s done. Do you think that kind of stuff really molds a person? I mean, you don’t think he’ll want to go back to f*cking a bunch of women for fun?” I asked hesitantly.

“Not if he finds the right girl, Kace. And it’s looking like he’s already found her.”

It still didn’t help with my situation. I hadn’t slept with a bunch of men, but I had a brother who was Tyler’s ultimate enemy. Would he be able to look past that and still believe I am who I am? That I’m not the same as my brother.

Tyler’s father, Steven, kept his trained eyes on the guys but also managed to meander over, side by side with me and Bree. He was dressed in a pair of dark denim jeans and a navy T-shirt with the gym logo on it. I wonder if I’ll have to wear those when I really start working.