Page 18 of Falling for You

Maybe today was the depth of the valley and tonight was my first trek up the mountain.

Chapter Five

Rex

Staring at my computer screen,I realize the page hasn’t changed in at least thirty minutes. Normally I’m so lost in my work, I have to set reminders on my phone for me to stop and eat, even. But right now, I can’t seem to focus for more than a few minutes at a time.

And I know why.

A certain dark eyed, deep red haired beauty caught my attention a week ago and I haven’t been able to think of much else.

I called my buddy and gave him Chloe’s contact information, told him to call the salon. It was kind of a weird way of going about it, not having her contact someone, but I trust Brandon. He worked for years with his dad at his construction business and plays in a band at The Flying Goat fairly regularly. He knows how to fix just about any appliance and has done a lot of plumbing work and knew he’d help her out.

Doesn’t mean I didn’t feel awkward as fuck calling him up and telling him to get in touch with a woman who needed his help because I just met her and it sounds like something you do for someone who’s more than an acquaintance, friend, maybe? I don’t know what we are, actually. He made sure to call me out on it, too. Rightfully so.

“So let me get this straight. You want me to call this number, ask for Chloe, tell her I heard she had a problem with a water heater that needs fixed, and offer to help?”

“Yes.”

“You realize that sounds a little weird, right?”

“Well, I told her you’d be calling.”

“Still. Why didn’t you just give her my number so she could call me?”

My hesitation answers for me. He roars with laughter. “Holy shit. You wanted her number and used me to get it!”

“No.”

“Yes.”

“Whatever, man. Are you going to help her or not?”

“I’ll help. This is gold, though, you know that, right? Like absolute fucking gold. Rex, the bartender every woman in Liberty has the hots for, basically had to trick a girl to get her number.”

“I knew I should have called someone else.” I mumble which only makes Brandon laugh harder.

Brandon called me three nights ago, said that he got her fixed up and running again and the part was less than eighty bucks. Something that was a lot more manageable than what she feared, from the way he talked.

The thing is, when I left her at her car on Saturday night, I didn’t want to. It drove me nuts to know she was going home to an empty house with a busted up water heater and sadness over her situation with the salon. I know what it’s like living alone and having all the responsibilities fall on yourself. It can be overwhelming, especially after a bad day and I hate that it’s her reality, too. So instead of going home and chilling out, I got on my laptop and researched the costs that would go into starting up a salon the way she described it.

Sitting back in my chair, I spin around so my back is facing the row of computer screens and scrub a hand down my face. I’m frustrated that I can’t seem to shake the constant thought of a woman I spent only a few hours with and none of those were with us naked.

I’m not completely arrogant, but most of my time spent with women is between the sheets — and it’s all relatively forgettable for me within a few days. I don’t do attachments. And I don’t do time out of the bedroom because of that very reason. Every relationship I had in the past ended because of problems with commitment. On them, not me. So what is it about Chloe that has my thoughts tangled up? Why was it that even after finding out all was good with her home, I couldn’t just let it go?

I stand up abruptly from my chair, it slides back on its wheels and bangs into the corner of the desk. By the time I make it to my bedroom, I’ve already stripped out of most of my clothes and dig through my dresser to change into shorts and throw on my tennis shoes.

Soon after I bought my house, I transformed a section of my basement into a home gym. Sitting in front of a computer all day and not having a way to burn off the energy was getting to me. Rather than having to leave to go to a gym, I invested in everything I need to not only move around when I need to, but also to stay in shape.

I climb onto my rowing machine and set my resistance to a level that I know will make me break out in a sweat and will help me forget the bullshit rolling around in my head.

It was hard enough to accept the fact that I’d grown attached to Ethan, Olivia and, God help me, Penny and her smart ass. But the thought of wanting more from a woman, of Chloe, has me completely unsettled. I don’t even know how, or when, it happened. I feel borderline obsessed with her, because I can’t stop thinking about her and thatneverhappens to me. I feel a connection to her, but I can’t put my finger on what it is. Yet, I don’t even know what it is I want from her. Certainly not a relationship. Sex?Probably.Absolutely. But normally, the thought of sex with a woman isn’t something that stops me dead in my tracks, rendering me unable to function normally. And if I’m being honest with myself, anything physical with Chloe is just a small part of what has me messed up over her.

Instead of continuing to think of it, I increase the resistance even more and sweat it out. I pull back with my arms, feeling the burn in my shoulder muscles while I push against the base with my feet, letting out a deep grunt with each push and pull. My rhythm doesn’t falter once as I lose myself in the mechanics of the back and forth motion. Feeling my arms, legs and core muscles bunch and contract, screaming at me to slow down. I don’t listen, though.

After thirty minutes, I suck down some water, wipe away the sheen of sweat that’s built. After checking my barbell and plates to make sure the weight is where I want it, and climb onto the bench. Raising the bar off the rack, I lower it to my chest and blow out a breath before lifting it above my head. With every rep, I feel the tension in my body leave and by the time I’ve moved on to the weighted squats and pull up bar, I’ve all but forgotten what was causing me to lose my mind in the first place.

While in the shower, I make the decision to shut down for the day. I never take days off but it’s clear I’m not going to accomplish anything anyway. Once I’m out, I dress and decide to head in to The Flying Goat a few hours early.

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