Page 71 of Rise of the King (Checkmate 5)

Ever.

Except Jay.

“Always working,” I continue. “I had to travel recently to tie up some accounts and stuff.”

“We’ve missed you at the gym. We actually kinda dubbed you a self-defense dropout.” She grits her teeth and makes a long scar on her face wrinkle. I never asked how she got those scars, but they’re not vanity; they’re not accidental. They have a distinctabusive exflavor to them that raises goosebumps on my skin. “Sorry about that. We get lots of women who walk through the door, only to walk out again and hide away. I made shitty assumptions about you.”

“It’s okay. I just got home last night. Literally.” I jiggle my basket as proof. “I need food, or I might die.”

“Will you come back to the gym soon? The girls would love to see you again, and you did so well with the classes you came to. You’re a natural.”

I joined the Rollin On Gym almost two years ago because I needed to know whose town I was in, who Riley Cruz was, and who the local PD were. Conveniently for me, everyone converges in Tina’s gym at one point or another. “I probably will, but give me a couple weeks. I rolled my ankle recently, so I need to let it heal, but after that.”

“For sure. We’ve actually just brought a new athletic trainer on staff, so if you need a little help with that or whatever, her services are part of your gym membership.” Backing up with a kind smile, she glances over her shoulder at her mischievous shopping partners, then back to me. “My daughter and my niece. The bane of my damn existence, I swear. How old are you, Sophia?”

“Ah… I’m twenty-five.” Most of the time, I feel worldly and fifty-five, but right now while under this beautiful woman’s gaze, I feel fifteen. It’s funny how someone can do that to you just with their presence.

“Twenty-five.” She scoffs. “I’d been a mom for years by then. My life was turned upside down from the moment she was born. Hell, from the moment she was conceived. I wouldn’t change it, but I’ve been tempted to tie my daughter to a tree a few dozen times.”

“Parenting is not for the faint-hearted.”

“It sure ain’t. Okay, I gotta run before they set this place on fire.” She spins toward the giggling girls, then turns back as an afterthought. “It’s so nice to see you again! I’ll be in the gym; you know where to find us when you’re ready.”

“I do.”

“Girls!” She turns and sends them scattering when they build a six-foot tower of canned food and start playing Jenga with the bottom cans. “Put them back on the shelves. Now!”

I tilt my head to the side as the girls round the aisle and dash out of sight, but before they go, I catch a glimpse of their sweatpants: matching, black, with purple script. I recognize the gym logo on the thigh, but on their butts in large white writing, it says, “Caution! Do not look here. My daddy is a Roller.”

Something tells me those girls don’tchooseto wear those pants, but are somehow forced. Or maybe they’re being punished.

Either way, they have giant neon lights shining over their heads.

TROUBLE.

Shaking my head, I turn away and select several bags of chips for Jay and me to snack on later, then I head to the freezers and buy up all the steak and chicken. We need protein like we need air.

I never expected to pair up with a guy who eats the way I do, but here we are, eating the equivalent of a family of six, and we get to do it every two hours during the day.

I actually kind of love it. Instead of being a freak for my unique appetite, I just get to pop the button on my jeans and sink into the couch each night with Jay while we fist the chips and protein bars.

* * *

Three hours after leaving the house, an hour longer than my allotted time, and seventeen missed – and returned – phone calls later, I pull into the garage at home and hold my breath, because Kane Bishop stands in his front yard while he checks his mail and patrols his street.

He wouldn’t be a Bishop if he wasn’t extra vigilant when doing mundane everyday things.

I drive a regular SUV on a regular street, with a regular ponytail, and a regular sweater that I bought from one of the only clothes stores in this regular town. I have a trunk full of grocery bags, and nothing at all to alert the neighbors that my house may be different than all the rest.

There’s no reason for Kane Bishop to watch my garage door close, except to make sure I pose no risk to the sweet girlfriend he only just got back.

“Sophia!” As soon as the garage door is closed, Jay moves through the house and stomps down the steps that lead into the garage. He rushes to my door and swings it wide until I climb out and find myself squished between the car and his strong body. “You’re late, woman.”

“I called you back! I told you where I was so you wouldn’t have to worry.”

“And yet I worried.” Leaning in, he presses a punishing kiss to my jaw that ends in a bite. “I worried for you because I couldn’t see you, and short of running my ass through town and blowing our cover, I couldn’t get to you.”

“Which is why I called you right back each time you called. I’m safe. Turn it down a notch, crazy. For this moment, I think we’re safe in this town. Nobody knows we’re here, and no alerts have gone out that Kane’s here either. We have time to breathe.”

---