Page 185 of The Tempted

“Fine, but I’m not exerting myself,” she said pointedly, sliding back into her seat and opening the door. I reached for her, tugging on the hem of her shirt so she fell back into her seat.

“I promise you, you’ll be exerting yourself once we’re done here.” I released her shirt and climbed out of the car. She slammed the door and walked around to meet me on the sidewalk. I took her hand, watched as she lifted her eyes to the building we were standing in front of, zeroing in on the sign.

“Xhonerated?” she asked, turning to face me.

“Yeah,” I replied, as I shoved my hands in my pockets and stared up at the building I owned.

“Anthony is this…”

“Mine? No, baby it’s ours,” I turned to her, watching the shock that radiated from her face and smiled easily at her. Taking her hand in mine, I walked her towards the door. “Let me show you inside.”

She remained silent, in shock, as I unlocked the door and escorted her inside the gym. I purchased the building after I had been released from jail hoping I’d be able to one day turn this place into something I could be proud of. I had taken the bankbook my mother gave me, and with every red cent of the money I had made working for Victor, I built this gym. I didn’t earn that money by working hard but I wanted to put it to good use. I hope this place will be a watering hole for young kids, that, it will give guys like me a chance to stay out of trouble.

Adrianna looked at everything, her eyes scanning the room, taking it all in, every square foot.

I pointed to the right side of the gym to where a small boxing ring was set up, a replica of the large one that centered the room.

“See that? It’s for kids. I’m going to offer boxing lessons to children from ages four and up. I even made a separate locker room for them.” I crossed the room to where there were two dozen heavy bags lined up in front of a mirror. “Over here is where I will teach the adults and, in the back, we’re going to put a juice bar.”

She turned around, closed the distance between us, and finally smiled. “It’s amazing. You’re amazing. I am so proud of you,” she whispered, lifting her hand to run her knuckles along my jaw.

“Yeah?” I asked cupping her face in the palm of my hands. “What do you think about the name?”

“I love it.”

I swallowed. “I don’t want to forget the past. Yeah, it would be easy to forget it, but every bump in the road led me right here. It’s a tribute to what we lost but it’s a promise of what’s to come.”

“It’s perfect.”

“You’re perfect,” I said, leaning in and kissing her forehead. “There’s just one thing though.”

“What’s that?” she asked, looking up at me through the fringe of her lashes.

“All this means nothing if you and Luca aren’t a part of it.” I slowly pull back, dropping my hands from her face.

“Whatever you need help with, of course I’ll help. I’ll run the front desk, I’ll make smoothies, but I will not put gloves on ever again.”

I smiled. “That’s not what I meant,” I released a breath and reached into my pocket. I took her hand, turning it over so her palm was facing upward and dropped the diamond hoop into her hand.

She glanced down staring at the earring she thought she had lost and then lifted her head.

“Where did you find this?”

“You left it at my apartment the night you ran out on me.”

“I went back for it …” she trailed off, running her fingers over the trinket. “My father gave me these.”

“I know and I’m sorry I didn’t give it back to you sooner.”

“Why now?” She asked.

“Well,” I said, as I scratched the scruff that lined my jaw. I had rehearsed this a thousand times in my head, and then I said fuck it because moments like this you can’t plan or rehearse.

“I figured you’d wear them when you marry me.”

The earring fell from her hands, her lips parted but she remained silent. I knelt down, picked up the earring, and held it out to her.

“It would be like having a piece of him with you when you walk down the aisle.” I closed her palm so she held the earring and took her other hand. “And then you could hand them down to our daughter and tell her all about her grandpa.”

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