Tyler's Undoing (Gloves Off #1)(7)

My brother had a lot of enemies and I prayed no one recognized me as his sister. Not that they would, considering I pretty much kept to myself. I’d hate to have to face persecution from those who were victims of his heinous schemes.

It was pretty easy to see that all of the guys around the ring had a bloated ego and a leer of arrogance. If their reputations were the same as those I knew before, then they only had two things on their mind . . . fighting and women.

I wasn’t desperate enough to date a fighter. I wanted more, something deeper than a thug who used his fists to earn money and a dick to screw women. I was ultimately looking for Mr. Right, not Mr. Right Now.

All I had to do was keep my distance.

“Everyone here is so nice,” Bree whispered before we reached the desk.

The woman behind the desk looked to be in her early sixties, and had sandy-colored hair, mixed with a little gray. Her head was down, looking at a magazine, but when we came into view she looked up and smiled at Bree. “Why hello, Bree, how are you?” She glanced over at me. “I see you brought a friend. Do you want to use one of your friend passes today?”

Bree shook her head. “Actually, Kacey wants to get a membership. Do you mind getting her set up?”

“Certainly.” The lady pulled out a clipboard and placed a couple sheets of paper on it before grinning over at me. “Thank you, Kacey, for joining. My name’s Mary Rushing and my husband owns the place. I don’t usually work the front desk, but as of right now, I’m the only one capable of doing it. I think he and my son would be lost without me.”

Grinning, I said, “That’s usually how it goes.”

With a warm, genuine smile she handed me a clipboard and pen. I took it to the edge of the desk and started filling it out while she and Bree caught up.

After I paid my membership fees, Bree took me over to a vacant corner with several treadmills and some high-tech stair climbers. Give me a road and sneakers and I was good to go. I didn’t usually spend my time in gyms, because I knew I could work out just as well at home, if not better—and for free.

“All right, Kace, let’s get started on the treadmills. Then we can hop on the stair climbers before we move to weights. Cole gave me some amazing tips on changing up my workouts to give me the ultimate toning.”

Cole Bennett was the guy she’d been interested in for the past few weeks, but so far nothing had come of it, much to her dismay. I hadn’t met him yet, so I had no idea if he was at the gym or what he looked like.

“Is he here?” I asked, looking around. Climbing on the treadmill, I started off with a brisk walk.

Pursing her lips, Bree glanced around the gym and shook her head. “Nope, he’s not here yet. Usually, he comes in around two o’clock, which only gives me thirty minutes to talk to him before I have to leave and get ready for work. Hopefully, he’ll be in today so you can meet him. The guys have been dying for me to bring in some of my girlfriends.”

I snorted and rolled my eyes. Yeah, I’ll bet. However, this brought up a question. “So, is Cole an MMA fighter?” I asked. “I don’t think you ever mentioned anything about that. Surely, you know better, right?”

Narrowing her eyes, she picked up her pace and glared at me. “What’s that supposed to mean? Cole’s a good guy and he’s funny as hell. Why would I not want to date him just because he’s a fighter?”

Because they were all worthless, I wanted to say. “So he is one,” I stated instead.

“Yeah, and a good one too. I’ve watched him spar with the owner’s son plenty of times.” She looked off toward the ring and pointed. “There he is, Tyler. He’s the one with the bright blond hair.”

I followed her finger and froze. Holy mother of pearl. Was he—? Yes. He’s the one who fought against my brother in the video that was spread all over the internet.

“I think you’ll like that group of guys down there,” Bree chimed.

I wouldn’t count on it.

“So what does Cole look like again?” I asked. “Does he pump steroids like the other raisin nuts down there?” Not all of the fighters had overly huge muscles, although most were deemed questionable. I loved strong, athletic bodies, but too much muscle wasn’t sexy—on men or women.

Bree rolled her eyes and groaned. “Kace, they’re not allowed to take steroids if they want to compete, and no, Cole doesn’t look like that. He has muscles, don’t get me wrong, but he competes for the Light Heavyweight title. Also, he has the most gorgeous jet-black hair I’ve ever seen, and his eyes . . .” She fanned herself with her hand and smiled. “I have never seen anyone with the same color eyes as his. They’re a bright blue with a ring of gold around the pupils. At first I thought they were contacts, but he says they are his real color.”

“Yeah, that’s great and all,” I said, “but looks aren’t what’s important. Is he nice? Would he be faithful? Because frankly, those types of guys down there aren’t what I’d consider relationship material. Dating is one thing, but getting serious with one of them is another.”

Shaking her head, Bree chuckled. “I swear, Kace, I don’t know what I’m going to do with you. Whatever Cole’s intentions are, I honestly think he’s a great guy. I have no doubt that you’ll think so, too.”