Page 7 of The Reluctant Siren
But once it was over. He was coming for her. This time hewasn’t going to let her go.
Chapter Two
Niall Griffen liked The Hideout. He likedwalking in and having the guys around him give him shit and handing it rightback to them. He liked the camaraderie.
He was almost certain this club was some sort of CIA front,and he weirdly liked that, too.
Of course what he liked most about the place was the thinghe wasn’t supposed to like at all.
Maybelikewasn’t the right word. He was certainJensen wanted him to like Harlow Dawson. He was also certain Jensen didn’t wanthim to think about her every second of every fucking day since he met her.
“Hey, Griffen,” a voice called out. “Wait up.”
He turned, still holding both his gym bag and his kit. Heusually left his kit here in his locker, but he’d spent the night beforeensuring all his equipment was well taken care of. He’d spent time ensuring theleather falls on his flogger were soft and glossy and ready to use in caseHarlow decided she needed a session.
Luke Taggart jogged up, carrying his leathers in a garmentbag over his shoulder, his knife case in his other hand, and his kit danglingfrom there as well. It looked like he was coming straight from his job. Whichwas surprising since it was Friday night and he worked at his father’srestaurant as a chef and usually handled the dinner rush. On Fridays andSaturdays he tended to not show up until after midnight, but he often was inearly on Thursdays. Luke was a big, muscular man with sandy hair and a smileguaranteed to knock the socks off every sub within a hundred feet.
He also had a bit of a reputation for sleeping with as manyof them as he could.
Luke often played with Harlow, and though he knew damn wellshe wasn’t one of his bed buddies, it still made jealousy rise every time hesaw them together. Which wasn’t a good thing since she was his best friend’sgirl and he was supposed to watch over her. “What’s up?”
“You own the gym on Good Latimer, right?” Luke asked.
He bought the space right after moving to Dallas. He’dalways intended to put down roots in a city but hadn’t made the decision beforeJensen showed up on his doorsteps six months before, and he reluctantly agreedto watch over the woman he loved.
And a whole new world opened for him.
“That’s my gym. Why? You looking for a new place to workout?” Niall pushed open the door to the men’s locker room, holding it forLucas. He had no doubt Luke Taggart had a gym. The guy was in excellent shape.
“Yeah, kind of. I’ve been going to this place close to Top,and it’s getting overcrowded, if you know what I mean,” Luke explained.
“He means he’s slept with too many women at the gym, and heneeds a new hunting ground.” Gabriel Lodge sat on the sofa inside the lockerroom. The actual lockers were in the back along with the showers and prettymuch anything a guy could need to be presentable for playtime. This space wasmore like a lounge, complete with a TV and a fridge stocked with soda andmineral water and beer—though they drank it sparingly. If a dude was playing,he better not over imbibe or he could find himself on the street and notwelcome back.
It was one of the things he loved about this club. Theydeeply cared about safety and consent.
“That is not…” Luke sighed. “Okay, it might be a bit of theproblem, but I’m not only asking for me.”
“But you are also asking for you.” Gabriel Lodge was insweatpants and a T-shirt, a bottle of water in his hand and a bit of whatlooked like sawdust on his sneakers. So he’d likely been here for hours,working in the shop on the third floor. Niall thought his latest project was acomplete redo of one of the play spaces. Despite the fact that the man camefrom a ridiculously wealthy family, he loved to work with his hands. “Tell mewhich one got too clingy.”
Luke’s blue eyes rolled. “No one got too…”
“It was Sally Eight Pack.” Seth Taggart, Luke’s cousin androommate, threw the name out with a big grin on his face. “She showed up at ourplace three times last week. He slept with her once but made breakfast the nextday. His crème brûlée French toast. I told him not to do it. I warned him thatrecipe is magic. Even I kind of want to hug him when I eat it.”
“She’s fine,” Luke argued and sighed again. “But the truthis it would be better if I get a fresh start, and there’s something else.”
“Is it the chick who can bench press you?” Seth asked.
“Fine. It’s all of them,” Luke shot back with a shake of hishead as Gabriel laughed. “But beyond that, we have a couple of new guys workingthe line who are looking for a gym that can meet their somewhat unique needs.”
Oh, now he was interested. Top was known for hiring veteransand training them in the culinary and hospitality arts. And many of them weredisabled. Niall was interested in physical therapy. After he left the Army, hegot his four-year degree in kinesiology, with plans to work on his DPT. Someday. “I’m kind of spare right now, but I’m absolutely interested in workingwith vets if that’s what you’re talking about.”
Lucas nodded. “I am. There’s a physical therapist a coupleof the guys have been seeing, and he recently lost his space. The buildingowner upped the rent on everyone. He’s looking for a place where he can work.He has some of his own stuff, but he relies on gyms for the big equipment.”
If all he needed was basic equipment, Niall could help.“Sure. Have him come by.”
“Thanks, man,” Luke said with a grin. “He’s a good guy, andhe can probably give you a cut of what he makes. Though he’s paid through theVA, so it’s not a lot.”
He believed in some serious karma. “He can use the place forfree. You, on the other hand…”
