“I’ll give you three months. After that, we’re going to have to think about selling.”
“I’m not going to let you down,” I promise.
“I know you mean well, Marco. Your mother and I know you’re a hard worker. You’re a good son. We worry about you.”
“I’m going to turn this around. You’ll see.”
“No fighting…promise me.” He stares at me with a frown.
“I promise,” I say, wondering if it’s a promise I can keep. I know if I started fighting MMA again, I could turn this place around in a heartbeat. Since my brother’s accident, I feel like I’ve lost my ambition. I’m not sure what my purpose is anymore. At least, when I was fighting, I had direction. Now I feel like my life is spiraling out of control, and I have no idea how to grab hold of it and gain it back. “I’ll see you guys Sunday…we can talk about everything.”
“I love you, Marco,” he hugs me before heading to the door. “Everything will work out. It always does.” I’m not so sure.
I walk Dad out, sighing when the phone rings at the front desk, and Leah is nowhere to be found.
I turn around abruptly and slam straight into a petite female frame. The impact nearly causes her to fall on her ass. “Jesus, are you okay?” I growl, still clutching her shoulders to steady her.
My heart stops cold, and I melt into a puddle where I stand. I stare into the prettiest, most exotic hazel eyes I’ve ever seen.
“Watch where you’re going,” she snaps, looking a little flushed, giving the bronze skin tone of her cheeks a radiant glow. Her body straightens and she pulls away, forcing me to release my grip. “I’m looking for Marco.”
She’s stunning.
All vocabulary leaves my mouth as I continue to stare at her slack-jawed. I’m too mesmerized by her sparkling brown eyes, wondering what those pink lips taste like. My blood pressure spikes as her sweet vanilla scent invades my senses.
Her long, black hair is cinched back in a neat ponytail, allowing me to take in all the different blends of color on her warm caramel skin. If I had to guess, I’d say she’s a mix of Asian and African American. Her flawless skin tone reminds me of a drive in the countryside on a late autumn day. The sun filtering through the car as the kaleidoscope of fall colors reflect off the windshield.
“Uh…hello.”
Skintight black leggings hug her long, shapely legs, and all the rest of her, in all the right places. They showcase the perfect curve of her ass. Fuck, she has a nice ass. She’s wearing a simple, white buttoned-down blouse, and she’s daring enough to leave a few of the top buttons undone. From what I can tell, her perky tits look fucking fantastic.
“Why are you staring at me like that?” She blinks rapidly, and I know I’ve been caught.
“I’m not,” I manage to grunt. I shake my head, trying to concentrate. I really am staring, but in my defense, it’s hard not to. She’s a fucking ray of sunshine in this gloomy place.
“Well, stop. It’s kind of creeping me out.”
“Sorry, I…I’m Marco.” I scrub my hand over my face, trying to fathom why this beautiful creature is standing in front of me. “Marco Antonio Campos at your service. Are you here about the defense class?”
“No, I’m Mila,” she says, folding her arms across her chest like I’m supposed to know already who she is. “Soraya said to talk to you about a job.”
Shit! I forgot. Soraya mentioned she was sending a friend of hers, from the women’s shelter she volunteers at, who was desperate for a job.
I can’t seem to say no to Soraya, but I’m not so sure this woman is the right fit for this place. I do need a front-end person soon, since Leah will be leaving.
“And I’ll work hard.” She’s been talking fast this entire time, and I haven’t heard a word. All I can think about is the butterflies doing jump squats in my stomach. “I desperately need this job.”
“Look, a lot of different types of personalities work out here. This is not some fancy, uptown gym. The guys here might give you a hard time.” You’d have to be blind not to notice how attractive she is. The guys will eat her up. Hell, I want to eat her up.
“I can handle it.” Besides the note of desperation in her voice, telling me she needs this immensely, there’s a toughness about her that makes me think maybe she can handle herself.
Christ, she’s beautiful. More than that, something is drawing me to her, like a moth to a flame. Maybe it’s the way her eyes light up when she speaks. I can tell those eyes have a unique story behind them, and fuck me; I need to know everything about her.
I’m not sure about the situation she’s in, but she’s willing to take a risk to change it. This woman is five foot two, one hundred twenty pounds soaking wet, yet seems like she can handle herself. She’s like a pint-sized spitfire.
The smart guy would let her walk out of here without another thought. The hard up me wants her to stay since he hasn’t been this excited over a woman in…well, since…Soraya. The horny, desperate me is curious about this new mystery woman and can’t wait to know everything about her.
When I gaze into her kaleidoscope eyes, and stare at her mouthwatering curves, I’m in lust. All thoughts of Soraya fly out the window, and I think I like it. She just might be the kick in the ass I need.
Some things are worth the risk.
“You’re hired.”
Chapter Two
The sun is shining brightly, and the angry, yellow taxicabs are honking. Loudly. Mainly, their horns are blaring at me, since my speedometer won’t push past twelve miles per hour. The cabbie in such a hurry a few seconds ago, suddenly has time to slow down enough to make sure I catch him flipping me off — Gotta love New York.
I guide my beat-up Honda Civic off the busy Brooklyn street, cringing a little as my car sputters into the gravel parking lot behind the building location Soraya gave me.
I coast the clunker into the closest spot I can find and rush to turn off the ignition, since the engine sounds like it’s about to explode any second. A loud bang, followed by a low-pitched squealing noise, clamors from underneath the hood, before the hissing and sizzling sounds commence. Fuck my life.
I’m already in a panic since I’m ten minutes late, and just when I think things can’t get any worse. They do.
The warm, humid summer air hits my face when I swing open the car door. I sigh, thinking about how uncomfortable sleeping tonight is going to be with my new living arrangement.
I stumble down the grimy, sordid alley, scolding myself for my own self-pity when I notice the down-and-out homeless woman rummaging through the dumpster against the brick wall. There’s always someone out there worse off than you, Mila.
I dash back to the car and grab my banana, granola bar, and a cold bottle of water out of my bag. Who needs breakfast? It brings a smile to the woman’s face when I hand her the items, making me wish I had more to give.
I step over the small puddles from the rain we had last night. I hate it when it rains, especially when there’s thunder. It reminds me of the night that changed everything for me. I set aside the painful memories, knowing there’ll be plenty of time later to dwell on the past. I briskly make my way to the front of the old building and glance up at the large sign above the arched entry that reads Marci’s Gym. At least I’m in the right place.