Page 28 of Your Two Lips
“Only from the pretty girls.” I was flirting, but I couldn’t help myself. I grabbed the bike and pulled the front tire between my legs to hold it steady. I leaned over the handlebars and inspected the brakes. The front pads were fine, so I clicked the brake handles. They weren’t as responsive as they should be.
“Thanks for this,” Emily said. “You’re a good friend to have. I rode to the grocery store yesterday and noticed the brakes were loose. We’re practicing hills and climbs tomorrow. I’ll need my brakes.”
“You’re right. I think it’s the lines. It’ll take a few minutes. Do you have the time?”
“Sure. I’m not due in for a couple of hours.” She tucked her silky hair, loose today, behind her ears and relaxed her stance to one side, bringing one white Keds-clad foot to rest at an angle over the other one. The move accentuated her long legs in tight black yoga pants. Those little torture devices highlighted the flat of her stomach and gentle bump of her hip bones. She wore a short white tank top under a little green cardigan she’d left unbuttoned. She looked sweet and relaxed and fucking edible.
I wanted to skim my hand up her thigh to her apex and watch her sexy lips part in surprise. I wanted to slip my fingers under that top and caress them higher to flick my thumb across a firm nipple.
I blinked and leaned the bike against the bike stand table in the center of the space. I crouched down to loosen the brake lines; glad the position would hide the growing situation at my crotch.
“Everything still going well at the spa?” I asked, going for the relaxed friend vibe.
“Mostly.” She looked down at her clasped hands. It was her tell that something was difficult.
“What’s up?” I paused. “ReeAnn and I don’t braid each other’s hair and swap secrets. I’ll keep what you tell me between us.”
“Nice image.” She laughed.
“I have a younger sister, remember. She’s been enlightening on more than one subject.”
Emily walked around the bike and pulled out the stool from under the workbench. “Right. Be nice to her. We little sisters have magical powers when it comes to our big brothers. My brother Grayson is five years older. He and his wife live over in Richmond.”
I nodded and got started on her brake line. “So, work?”
“Oh, it’s fine. A client hit on me yesterday. I’m not sure I’ll ever get used to it.”
“What? Why would you need to get used to it? You’re doing your job.”
She waved a dismissive hand. “It’s a thing. It’s even covered in school, you know, how to manage it. They teach us techniques to set clear limits, make sure we know our rights. Sometimes guys push boundaries—at least for me it’s always been guys—but I suppose women might do it too. Usually, they start by asking personal questions, fishing to see if I’m single, or they brush their hand against my leg. I’ve known some single therapists who wear a gold band on their ring finger to help ward off the behavior.”
“They touch you?” What the hell?
“It isn’t always touching. Yesterday, an older gentleman,” she said, adding air quotes around the word gentleman, “suggested giving me a larger tip if I would do the massage in my underwear.” She lowered her voice. “‘You are so beautiful. Surely it would add to my relaxation to see more of you.’ Or something like that.”
“Did you punch him in the balls?”
She laughed and shook her honey hair around her shoulders. “No. I wanted to. I refused his suggestion, of course. Then ReeAnn encouraged him to consider other establishments more aligned with his needs. I doubt he’ll be back.”
“Emily, don’t take chances.” She looked at me with ado you think I’m stupid expression. “Some people don’t like to be told they can’t have something they want. Who was it?”
“I couldn’t tell you, even if I wanted to. He is—was—a client. He’d been coming in regularly these past few weeks. Said he’d been working hard and needed extra time on the table. He was fine at first, but then he chatted about his family, his wife being out of the country, and him in his big house all alone.” She pulled a face. “I knew he had the potential for trouble and mentioned my concern to ReeAnn.”
Guys could be assholes. This guy was next level. If he harassed her, he would do it to others. I hoped I never found out who it was. Dad would definitely be disappointed in me if I got arrested, even if he knew it was for a worthy cause like kicking that douche’s ass.
“There’s no one you need to beat up.” Emily held out a hand toward me, reading my mind. “I like my job, and this isn’t attention I want.”
“Your job’s not in jeopardy, is it?”
“No, nothing like that. I want to be known because I do excellent work, not because I get hit on.”
“Yeah, I get that. You’re the professional, and I’ll respect your judgment. But if you need someone beaten up, I’m here.” I placed my hand on my heart.
She smiled. “Thanks, Finn. One more reason you’re a good friend to have. You’re a good man.”
Good enough for something real, a future with you?
She stood and wandered to the shelf above my workbench. “These trophies, they’re all yours?”
