Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 91058 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 455(@200wpm)___ 364(@250wpm)___ 304(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91058 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 455(@200wpm)___ 364(@250wpm)___ 304(@300wpm)
I don’t know why these rules exist for us, but they’ve been especially in play since the Halloween party. In fact, I rarely see him in the office. Sophie’s kept me plenty busy, and Hudson hasn’t gone out of his way to pull me in on any spicy deals or mergers. It’s a bummer considering how much I’d love the distraction right now.
I only really have work to keep me occupied at the moment. My social life has dwindled down to nothing. I’ve had dinner with my parents a few times. Last weekend, Nyles and Barrett dragged me out with their friends and it was a lot of fun, but I’m still just adjusting to this new life and the title I now have to endure: BORING IN BED.
There is no getting over that comment, by the way. It’ll be with me until the end of time.
I head straight for the punching bags hanging in the corner near the boxing ring and work through a circuit my trainer usually puts me through that incorporates strikes and kicks alongside jumping jacks and crunches. After, I pull three-pound weights off the rack.
It’s fine. I mean my heart rate is up and I’m sweating down the front of my black sports bra, but when I’m done, I still head for the punching bag.
My dad bought me pink boxing gloves for Christmas last year, and my mom had them monogrammed with my name in curly script. I love them and use them every chance I can get.
I rear back and punch the bag, right-left-right, trying to remember to use the proper form Jake is always drilling into my head, then I freeze when I sense someone behind me.
“Want to get in the ring?”
I turn back to find Hudson standing there, sweaty and hot in his black t-shirt. No backward hat today. His hair is a shade darker near his temples, damp and slightly unkempt. There are pronounced veins in his arms. He’s clearly been working hard over there with the weights.
With my AirPods in, I’m not sure I heard him properly. I take them out and ask, “Pardon?”
He nods toward the empty ring. “Want to join me?”
I laugh. “Hilarious.”
His face gives nothing away. “I’m serious. Come on.”
“Isn’t it against company policy?”
He tilts his head like he’s not quite getting it. “To work out together?”
“For me to kick your ass on the premises…”
Now this makes him smile.
“That’s cute.”
“I’m pretty good, you know.”
“Yeah, I’ve seen you with your trainer.”
Nothing fazes him, does it? “But you think you’re better?”
He doesn’t answer that. He walks over to the empty ring and holds the elastic rope down so it’s easy for me to crawl up and onto the mat. Then he follows after me.
I go to one corner and adjust the Velcro around my wrist. “I’m serious, I don’t want to hurt you.”
He looks at me with unabashed amusement. “How about I promise to tap out if you’re hurting me?”
“Fine…” I arch a brow. “What are you proposing?”
“A little light boxing. You attack, I’ll parry. I don’t have my gloves with me so we can’t get too carried away.”
Is that warning for him or for me?
This sort of game is nothing I haven’t done with Jake. It’s usually the last thing we do at the end of our sessions, mostly just to goof around. It’s really fun though, and not only is it good exercise, it’s also a good lesson in self-defense.
I’m no expert when it comes to actual boxing strategy. I’m not like a secret black belt, but I’ve memorized the key areas my trainer has drilled into me, so I go for those places. The thing is, though, for such a big guy, Hudson’s faster than I thought he would be.
He blocks my first punch and my second, and on my third, he grabs my wrist and twists me around so my back is flat against his broad chest. My arm is wedged between us, and if I try to finagle my way out of the hold, my shoulder screams at me. Worse, he doesn’t let me go right away. “Okay! You’ve made your point.”
He lets go and I shake out my arm as I turn around. My eyes are narrowed suspiciously now.
“You’ve clearly trained in the ring before.”
He shrugs. “I’ve done a bit of boxing over the years.”
‘A bit’, my ass.
I would love nothing more than to sweep his legs out from under him and take him down to his back. Oh my god, I’d be so satisfied I doubt I’d be able to wipe the smile off my lips for months.
“You going to just stand there?” he taunts with a lift of his chin.
“I’m trying to decide if I want to go for your face. It’d be a shame to wreck your pretty boy image.”
He frowns like he’s seriously worried I’m about to deliver on that promise. “No faces, Elwood. We don’t have mouth guards in.”