Page 3 of Embraced at Seaside
“Before you give me a hard time, I’m a big girl, Brock. I can handle myself.” And according to the look on Hunter’s face last night, she handled herself very well.
“I have no doubt you can, but Hunter? You know he’s gone out with half the girls who hang out at Undercover.”
“So?” She began punching the speed bag again.
“So? Jana, hasn’t anything I’ve said to you over the years sunk in? Why would you hook up with a guy who’s been around that much?”
She turned to face him and wiped the sweat from her brow. “Brock, look who you’re talking to.”
He winced and held up a hand. “Let’s not go there, please. You know how I feel about your choices.”
“What? It’s not like you’re a prude or anything.” She wasn’t embarrassed that she didn’t do relationships. Why should she be? Most guys didn’t care about relationships. Why should women be looked at sideways for doing the same?
“No, but you are my little sister.” He took a step back, as if just the thought of her having sex repulsed him.
“Good. That’s exactly what I was going for. Stay out of my personal life. ’Kay?”
“Point taken. Just be careful. Hunter’s a nice guy, but…”
“Don’t worry, Brock. I know exactly what he is. Arrogant. Annoying. Bullheaded.” Tension riddled her body just thinking about their debate over boxing. She turned back to the bag and said, “Obnoxiously loud with his opinions,” and then spent the rest of her training period purposelynotthinking about Hunter.
After practice, she showered and dressed in the locker room, feeling bad about snapping at Brock. He was a great brother. Macho, protective, funny. How could she fault him for caring?
On her way out she stopped by the front desk and found him working on the computer.
“Hey.” She peered at the computer screen. “Working on schedules?”
“Mm-hm.” Brock glanced at her outfit. “You look cute.”
“Thanks. I’m trying to get a good price on advertising for the studio. I figured a cute outfit couldn’t hurt, and besides, I’m waitressing for Colton tonight. This outfit earns great tips.” She twirled in her short skirt. “Hoping for huge tips to help offset the new boxing gloves I want.”
That earned her one of his heart-melting, brotherly smiles, which made her feel better. She didn’t want him to think she was slutty, even if she believed in enjoying life to the fullest.
“Cool,” he said. Then his eyes turned serious, and she knew she was in for one of his lectures. “Look, Jana. What happened with you and Spencer, that was ages ago. It’s time to get over it and treat yourself like you deserve to be treated.”
Just hearing her last boyfriend’s name made her feel guilty and angry. He’d wanted marriage, and she hadn’t been anywhere near wanting to settle down. She’d tried to break up with him for weeks, and he wouldn’t take no for an answer. She’d done the only thing she knew would finally end his efforts once and for all—she’d made sure he’d found her with his best friend. Hurting him hadn’t been her intent, but after a string of broken promises by men before him, she’d been at her wit’s end. Hurting him had been an unavoidable outcome, but his revenge had been humiliating, and from that day forward, she swore she’d never put herself in that position again. She pushed those thoughts away, unable to deal with them right now.
No, she was never going to change her ways. She’d only hurt someone else, and that wasn’t something she ever wanted to do again.
“I know you care, Brock. I get it, and I appreciate your concern, but there’s nothing between Hunter and me. It was a onetime thing.”
He shrugged. “Even if there was, you’re right. It’s not my place to get involved. But I swear, Jana, if he hurts you, I’ll take him down and I won’t feel bad about it. Got it?”
Thank goodness he didn’t know about the other times they’d hooked up. He’d probably have already killed him.
HUNTER WORKED INTO the evening, surrounded by sounds of torches hissing, the forge and the blowers creating an underlying hum, mallets clanging, metal twisting, and machines cutting. The potent aroma of smoldering metal centered him. He loved the hard hands-on work, but it was the creative aspect that came from somewhere deep inside his soul that made him feel as though he was adding something of value to the world. He and Grayson both enjoyed designing, and they both excelled at getting the details on paper. But while Grayson was known for creating larger, solid pieces like hibachis and furniture, Hunter was all about finite intricacies and the melding together of delicate lines and bold statements.
He was busy working through a few ideas on the whiteboard when Clark entered the shop.
“I thought you took off hours ago?” Hunter had assumed Clark had left when Grayson had, although he’d noticed that Clark had been staying later at the shop over the last few weeks.
“Nah. Not tonight. I thought we could go out and grab a beer.”
“Sure. Let me just get this thought down on the board.” Clark and Hunter had been each other’s wingmen until Clark had begun dating Nina, whom he’d eventually married, and now they had a one-year-old son, Billy. They rarely went out anymore.
“Give me ten minutes?” Hunter asked.
Clark pointed a thumb over his shoulder. “I’ll head over to Undercover and grab us a table.”
