Page 134 of Bodybuilders for the BBW

“What? No?—”

“Yes.” I didn’t put my foot down often with him, but as he stared into my eyes, he saw it. “Katie…” My eyes roamed across the car park, taking in each car one by one, because it was easier than looking at him. “The city’s not where she wants to be.”

“OK.” He was trying to keep a lid on it, but I could hear the tension in his voice. “So what the hell happened between now and yesterday?”

I smiled despite the fact my heart was hurting so much it was hard to take a breath.

“Everything,” I replied finally, “and that’s why I need you to buy me out of the gym.”

An hourlater and I was on the road, driving over to the fire station. Rhett had barely spared either of us a second look this morning, his face like thunder. Well, I had a cunning plan, one that would put a smile on his dial. When Drew floated a number past me, my eyes had bugged out of my skull. All that money would go a long way towards helping build Katie’s dream dog shelter. I’d helped build Drew’s dream and now I was gonna do the same for my girl and my dog.

“Rhys!” Noah loped over to say hello as I walked in the door of the fire station. “Looking good, mate.” He punched my arm, forcing me to shove him away. “Look like you’ve made some gains.”

“In more ways than one.’ I couldn’t keep the grin off my face. “Do you know where Rhett is?”

“In there, but…” Noah pointed to one of the offices. “He’s in a shit of a mood. I’d steer clear if I was you.”

“No can do.”

I strolled on in through the doorway and sure enough, Rhett scowled the moment he caught sight of me. That didn’t stop me for a second. I strolled on over to his desk, then shut his laptop screen.

“What the?—?”

“Want to get our girl back?” I had his attention now. That frown smoothed away and naked interest shone in his eyes. “Well, I’ve got a plan. How hard is it to get transferred from this fire station to one in the country?”

“Katie doesn’t?—”

“How hard is it?” I insisted.

“Why?”

Rhett wouldn’t give an inch, not until you did first. Bloody Capricorns. I just smiled. I could lock horns with the best of them, but not right now.

“Because I just sold my half of the gym and looked at what our house is worth on the real estate website. Rhett.” I shook my head. “Our girl needs money, needs labourers, need people to invest in her dream and you and me? We’re just the guys for the job. So, are you gonna sit here looking like someone just pissed in your breakfast cereal, or are you gonna tell your boss the news?”

Chapter68

Rhett

“I quit.”

“What?” Brent looked at me like I’d grown an extra head or something. “What’re you on about? Rhett, you’ve been one of my most reliable guys, and then you up and leave mid shift yesterday, only to come in here this morning with this announcement? What the hell has gotten into you?”

I couldn’t tell him, not really. My lips curved into a small smile as I thought about it. My truck was loaded up with every tool I’d kept stored in our shed, ready to drive back down to Katie’s grandparent’s farm. If she wanted to build a dog shelter, I’d be there helping her through every step. Last night I’d barely slept, so I’d spent time looking at the design of dog shelters, then started deep diving into dog psychology.

“Katie,” I replied and Brent just stared. “I started seeing her, and she’s moving out of the city, so I need to go too.”

“Dave’s ex?” Brent shook his head. “She’s a lovely girl.” He was damn lucky he made that statement, because my hands formed fists the moment he mentioned her previous partner. “But mate, you’re throwing away your whole career for?—”

“The woman I love?”

Because that’s what this was. Everything I’d read or heard people talk about made it seem it should happen later, but what else was this? It’d felt like my heart was being ripped out of my chest when I was forced to walk away from Katie. Rhys was sitting in the passenger side seat of my truck waiting. He’d made clear that Drew could handle the deal with the gym going forward and that he was open to being bought out. He was one hundred percent in, so we had one more stop to make.

“You’re going to tell me I’ll regret this.” Brent’s brows drew down. “That I’ll lose my permanent position in the service and that my career will never recover.” I looked out the window to where some of the guys were cleaning off one of the trucks. “I’m OK with that. What I can’t do…” My throat threatened to close off, but I forged on. “Is say goodbye to Katie. If this is her dream, then it’s my job to make it happen.”

“Tell me where you’re going.” Brent busied himself with finding a piece of paper and a pen, but I saw the slight shake in his hands. “I’ll put some feelers out. Positions don’t come up often in the Country Fire Service, but maybe…” One last look my way. “You’re sure about this?”

“More than anything.” I smiled freely, the muscles stiff and unused to it. “She’s it for me.”

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