Page 15 of Mr. Red

“I know, but it’s fun to give you a hard time.” I smirk. “I scoped out the building today along with some land that’ll work. I’ll send over the information I have so far. I have a meeting with the agent you recommended tomorrow afternoon. Everything looking good on your end?”

“Everything is looking fantastic over here. Eitheroption you go with, will be fine. I’m surprised you aren’t meeting with the agent first thing in the morning. You’re such an inpatient fuck for getting the day started. Something else come up? Orsomeoneelse come up?”

You could say a spirited, dark-haired siren has caught me off guard, but I can’t tell him about her. He’ll see right through it. For a dude, he’s very insightful. I do the only logical thing—I lie a little.

“The agent was busy in the morning.”

“Bullshit. I know you. You already found some chick and it’s been two days.”

“Would you relax? I’m not seeing anyone.”Yet.

“Matt, I swear, you need to stay focused if you want to make this happen.”

“Have I ever let you down?”

“No, but it doesn’t mean it couldn’t happen.”

“You know if there’s someone, it’s nothing serious.”

He pauses, thinking over what I said. He doesn’t have to know Scarlett is different. “Okay, well...update me when you can. Anything you need?”

“Nah, I think I’ll be alright. Talk soon.”

“Sounds good, bye.”

I continue scrolling through more of Scarlett’s pictures. She’s already stuck in my head—it’sbetter to just give in.

Chapter 11

Matt

I got to the gym too early this morning, so I’m on the treadmill, running. Scarlett doesn’t seem like much of an early riser. The earliest appointment I can get with her is eleven—half the day is gone. I’ve already made a few phone calls, had breakfast, drunk too many cups of coffee, and now I’m feeling anxious as hell because Ineedto see her.

It’s fucking weird.

I look to the entrance for the fiftieth time to see if she’s here yet. My chest relaxes when she walks through the door, until she gets closer. She’s walking with a limp—trying her best to hide it, but I notice something is wrong. She makes her way over to me while I’m still running.

“Hello Mr. Reding. Let me drop off my bag and we can get started. Shoulders and biceps sound okay today?”

She walks away at a slow pace after I nod in greeting. I can tell she showered and smells like something tropical I want to drink—peaches, mangoes, and coconut. Goddamn, I bet she tastes delectable.

My first inclination is to stop this session if she’s hurt. Why would she come in if she can barely walk? On the other hand, that would mean I would miss out on thechance to spend time with her. It’d be better if I didn’t stay, so I could get some space. I should make sure I’m not hung up on one woman, but the need to be close is stronger.

She returns a few minutes later. “Why don’t you follow me over here?”

She walks towards the free weights, leaving her intoxicating smell in the air. Looks like I’m going to have to fight off a boner the whole session. Worth it.

Staying quiet would be a smart move, but I want to know why she’s injured. “I thought we would’ve worked on legs today.”

She turns bright red, which is fitting for her name. She responds without looking at me. “Better to get the upper body out of the way.”

Bullshit.“Huh. In the past I’ve always mixed up lower and upper body.”

“That’s good too, but you don’t have to.”

“Is something wrong? Are you sore?” I ask. “You’re walking a little strangely. Maybe you need the day off.”

“I may have hit it hard last night,” she says with a shrug.