Текст книги "Whipped"

Автор книги: Elizabeth Lee

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Текущая страница: 10 (всего у книги 17 страниц)

My thighs were burning as I extended my legs on my third rep on the leg press, but my knee felt strong. This was the best workout I’d had yet. I finally felt like my old self. That’s not true. I felt better than my old self. I felt stronger, faster, and more than ready to get back on my bike. I’d taken to using the PT facility as my own personal gym. The staff didn’t seem to mind. I couldn’t just work my legs. I conditioned my arms, core and back every day as well. Not to mention, the countless reps of sit-ups and pull-ups I did at the cabin.

I’d talked to Reid while he was home and hearing him talk about everything Throttled Energy had planned for us this season was overwhelming. I had months before the X-Games, which gave me plenty of time to work out all the kinks of riding with a knee replacement. They’d moved the host city to Austin a couple years back. It was like riding in my own backyard. I had to be in top shape by then at the very least. But, what I really wanted to do was get on the Throttled Energy High Flight tour, which was already underway. I’d only missed two events, but I knew I could make up the points. The High Flight tour was global. Riders from all over the world competed and tour stops went as far as Nepal and Abu Dahbi. Not a bad way for a small town Texas boy to see the world.

I wanted to tell Georgia about the tour. I wanted to ask her to go with me. I wanted to show her the world. She’d been in Halstead her entire life, surrounded by memories and people that were never going to let her forget that she was basically a widow. I knew she loved her hometown, but it was holding her back.

“Dude,” Will said locking the plate of the machine into place. “You’re killing it today.”

“Right?” I smirked. “I feel so good.”

“I can tell,” he agreed. “I’d ask if it was all workout and diet, but the goofy ass grin on your face says it’s more than that.”

I raised an eyebrow as I climbed off the machine, unsure of exactly what he meant. I really hoped the track gossip wasn’t suggesting I was using steroids or something stupid.

“Halstead’s hens are clucking about Georgia Bennett being involved with some big shot motocross racer. Sounds like she’s not just your personal nurse anymore, huh?”

“No, she definitely is not.” I felt the goofy ass grin he was talking about return to my face as he slapped me on the shoulder.

“Good for you. She’s a great girl.”

“I know. I’m feeling pretty lucky.” I shrugged. “My knee feels great. My girl is amazing. I really have no complaints in life at the moment.”

“Now to get Dr. Forlani to release you,” he said, pulling out a folder that had my name on the top of it. “I think you’re ready. I’m going to send her my recommendations and your latest progress chart. I’m betting another week and you’ll be good to go.”

“That’s great news,” I told him. It was better than great news. Every time I thought about riding again, I felt a surge of adrenaline. Being able to rev up my bike and actually take off, as opposed to just starting it up to run some juice through it had been on the top of my priorities list. A priorities list that had recently changed. A part of me was reluctant to bust through the door at home and tell Georgia the great news.

The past few days had been so good between us. We were happy. Things were easy. I knew that once she knew I was going to be going back to Texas, we’d have to have the long-distance-relationship talk. I didn’t know if I was ready for that pressure to be on either of us yet. I had no doubts that my feelings for her were real. I was willing to do whatever I had to do to make it work between us. I just hoped that she felt the same.

“Don’t forget about me when you’re back on the track,” Will teased as he signed off on the papers in the folder. “Don’t forget who whipped your broken ass back into shape.”

“I won’t,” I assured him with a laugh. I didn’t want to tell him that he wasn’t the only one who’d whipped me into shape. Georgia was as instrumental in my recovery as Will was. She made me want to take better care of myself. She made me want to be a better person. She made me want to be a guy worthy of having her. Will might have helped strengthen my knee, but Georgia was responsible for fixing my heart and soul.

* * *

After physical therapy, I had plenty of time to plan my night with Georgia. She had class until four and I knew she’d be ready to relax when she was finished. I’d invited her over to the cabin for dinner. Reid and Nora were on their way back to Texas. Not that I minded staying at Georgia’s house, but this place was perfect for a romantic evening in. I’d light a fire, pour some wine, maybe get her naked in front of the aforementioned fire. I had big plans for us.

Not only was I planning our night’s activities, I’d also offered to cook. I’m not sure why, considering that I had no idea how to. I wasn’t even sure I knew how to boil water, but cooking her a meal seemed like something a good boyfriend would do. Which was exactly what I wanted to be. Especially, considering that I was only a week or two away from my doctor’s release. I needed to show her that I was the kind of guy that could make a long-distance relationship work.

As I pushed my cart through the grocery store, I started to realize that I was in way over my head. I’d tossed some chicken in the cart and was wandering around the produce section while I scrolled through a recipe site I’d pulled up on my phone. The recipes might as well of been in a foreign language. How the hell was I supposed to know what blanch or brine meant?

“Excuse me,” a voice called out, giving me a good reason to slip my phone back in my pocket. Georgia had said she was good with pizza once before. I’d put the items in my cart back and pick up Carlino’s on the way home. When I looked up, I saw Iris Shaw standing in front of me dressed in a starched white shirt with a floral scarf around her neck. She seemed very well put together compared to me. I was still wearing my workout clothes and a backwards ball cap. Our carts were nearly touching in front of a display of potatoes.

“Oh, I’m sorry,” I said. “I hope I didn’t run into you.” This woman already didn’t like me. I wasn’t doing a very good job of improving the impression she had of me. I’m sure I looked like an idiot.

“You didn’t,” she assured me. “You were very into whatever you had on that screen.”

“I was looking up—” I paused. I’d already given up on trying to cook dinner. “It’s doesn’t matter. I’m sorry if I was blocking your way.”

“You’re Brett, right?” she asked. “I don’t think we were properly introduced last time.” She extended her hand, and shocked the shit out of me when she smiled. “I’m Iris Shaw.”

“Yes ma’am,” I said, placing my hand in hers. “I’m Brett Sallinger.”

“I wanted to apologize for the way I acted that day we met,” she said as I shook her hand. “I wanted to let you know that it had nothing to do with you. I guess I just wasn’t prepared to see Georgia with someone else.”

“It’s okay,” I said, releasing her hand. “I understand.” I smiled politely.

“You know,” she said, “I can understand why Georgia likes you. You’ve got a sweet smile.”

“Thank you, ma’am.”

“And good manners.”

“I try. I was raised in the South. My mama didn’t give me any other option than to be polite.”

“She did right by you then.” She laughed. “I’ve been thinking a lot about my behavior that day. It was wrong of me to react the way I did. I trust Georgia’s judgment,” she paused. I could see the nostalgia in her eyes. The thoughts of her son with Georgia. “I hope you know how lucky you are to have her in your life.”

“I do.” I’m not sure why, but having Iris Shaw be nice to me was doing something for my morale. This woman didn’t know me from Adam and she surely didn’t owe me anything, but having her give me her blessing when it came to Georgia was beyond reassuring. I knew how much Georgia loved Jamie’s family and how much she worried about them not being disappointed in her decisions, even if they were her own.

“For what it’s worth.” I paused, I wanted Iris to know that I did respect her son’s memory. “I know I didn’t know Jamie, but from what I’ve learned he was a real stand-up guy. I haven’t met a person from this town that doesn’t have great things to say about him. And I really admire him for serving our country, the military and its servicemen are something I have always respected,” I paused when I saw her eyes get a little misty. She smiled and nodded, telling me it was okay for me to continue. “I’d say you did right by him too.”

“Thank you for your kind words.” She started to push her cart past me, but stopped to place her hand on my arm. “Treat her right.”

“I will,” I promised. We held each other’s gaze for a moment, a thousand unspoken words passing between us. This was her blessing. This was her accepting that her son’s fiancée was moving on. This was me telling her that I’d take care of the girl who used to be his.

“Okay,” she said, straightening her shoulders. “I’m sure you’re about done with blubbering woman in the grocery store. I’ll leave you be.”

“Ma’am,” I said, before she wheeled away. “Can I ask you for a favor?” She turned back to face me. “Any chance you can tell me what the heck I’m supposed to do with this chicken?”

I could not wait to get home. The drive back from class that day seemed to take twice as long as usual. The fields were bare and the trees had almost lost all of their leaves. It was a bleak landscape and quite boring for driving. Brett had texted me that he was cooking me dinner. I wasn’t sure what that entailed, but I was starving. I’d texted him that I was on my way and as I drove down the two-lane highway that connected my hometown with the college town, I felt completely at peace.

No stress. No worries. Nothing. Just contentment. I was a go with the flow girl now. Or at least I was trying to be. Brett had helped me see that living in the moment had its perks. Without the stress of planning every single thing I did down to the minute, I had much more time to appreciate the things—and the people—that were right in front of me. We’d spent a fair amount of time with my sister and Reid while they were home. The four of us laughed and talked for hours over beer and take-out.

Moreover, I was thoroughly enjoying my time with Brett. Each kiss. Each touch. Each night that we spent wrapped up in each other’s arms. Not to mention, the hours that we’d spent talking about everything under the sun. I’d thought I had a pretty good understanding of who he was as a person, but as he described his childhood and family to me, I could grasp his wild and carefree side a little better.

“My parents were supportive,” he’d told me. “I mean, as supportive as they could be considering they knew nothing about the sport.” He’d laughed, but I could tell by the pained look on his face that it bothered him a little bit. “My mom always said she didn’t understand it and my dad has always been more focused on my riding as a business. Which is good, I guess. He helped me invest my money and I’ve got more in the bank now than I would have if I was left to my own devices.”

“At least they were supportive,” I’d told him.

“That’s true,” he’d replied. “I mean, I wish they would show a little more interest. I used to think that the bigger and better I got, the more they’d come around, but it never really happened.”

I was glad that he was successful. I was in awe of his commitment and determination. Over the last few week’s I’d watched him breeze through his recovery. He rarely complained and only once had I heard him doubt his abilities. He was as passionate about his career as I was about mine. But still, every time I thought about watching him ride, I got that feeling in the pit of my stomach that reminded me exactly how dangerous his career was. I was always looking for the safest, most responsible way of doing things. Probably because I’d experienced loss. I knew what could happen. I knew what it felt like to bury someone you loved. My idea and Brett’s idea of living life to the fullest were very different. He was no risk, no reward and I was no risk is the reward.

“Hey baby,” he said greeting me with a kiss the second I walked through the cabin door. “Missed you today.” He quickly headed back to the kitchen. His face was flush and he’d thrown a dish towel over his shoulder.

“If I didn’t know any better I’d say you were actually cooking me a meal.” I kicked off my shoes and shrugged out of my jacket, tossing it on the bench that sat next to the door. The extra pep he seemed to have as he swaggered into the kitchen—clearly proud of himself—had me smirking as I followed him. “No take out tonight?”

“I actually did cook,” he told me. “It was touch and go there for a minute, but I managed to pull it off with a little help.” He winked as he pulled open the oven. “Baked chicken.” He grabbed the towel on his shoulder and used it to retrieve the dish he’d prepared.

“You made this?” I was impressed. It smelled as good as it looked—seasoned chicken and cut up potatoes were still simmering as he sat the dish on the counter.

“Like I said, I had a little help. Iris Shaw actually gave me the recipe when I ran into her at the grocery store today.”

“She did?”

“Yep. Turns out I’m pretty charming. It seems she had a change of heart about giving me dirty looks and writing me off.”

“That’s good,” I replied with a smile. He was definitely charming. “I actually went to see her the other day,” I confessed. I’d remembered how upset Brett was when I wasn’t honest with him about my dinner with the Shaws. “When you were napping.”

“You could have told me.”

“I know, but I didn’t want to bring them up with things between you and me going so well,” I explained. “And honestly, I did it more for me than anyone else. I went over there to tell her that I wasn’t going to be joining them for family dinners anymore and that I was ready to move on with my life.”

“I know how big that was for you,” he said, placing his hand on mine. “I appreciate it more than you know, even if it wasn’t just for me.”

“Thank you.” I kissed him lightly on the lips. “And, I wouldn’t have been able to do it if it wasn’t for you,” I confessed. “I guess it was for both of us.” I looked into his eyes and he smiled.

“It couldn’t have been easy,” he said. “How did his mother take it?”

“She was a little resistant at first, but she heard me out in the end.” I reached for his hand. “And clearly, she’s accepted my decision. She even suggested that I donate some of the clothing I have of Jamie’s,” I said. “Not to mention, I don’t think she’d give out her Grandma’s Baked Chicken recipe to just anyone so she must be okay with you.”

“Guess I’m way more charming than you’ve given me credit for,” he said, tugging me closer to him. His arm circled my waist as he leaned in for a kiss.

“I know exactly how charming you are.” I rose up on my tiptoes to meet his lips with mine.

“In the spirit of full disclosure,” he said, breaking our kiss. “I need to tell you something too.”

“Okay. Should I sit down?”

“You don’t have to,” he smiled, “but if you want, I’ll fix you a plate while I tell you how my day went.”

“Deal,” I said, I pressed my lips to his chin before making my way over to an empty barstool.

“My physical therapy was awesome,” he began, pulling two plates from the cabinet behind him. “Will thinks I’m ready to get released.”

“Oh. Sooner than expected.” I was glad I was sitting. It seemed to make it easier to process exactly what he was telling me.

“He’s sending his recommendations to Dr. Forlani,” He said as he worked on making me a plate. I didn’t miss the way he was focusing more on the chicken than me. Was he scared to tell me? Did he think I was going to lose my mind?

“So when will you go back to Texas?” I asked the first question that had popped in my mind.

“I don’t know. I haven’t got that far ahead in thinking about what it all means. It will all depend on how my next appointment with the doctor goes.” He looked up and I immediately knew exactly why he was avoiding eye contact. The second his blue eyes locked on mine I felt the first tear fall down my cheek. I wasn’t sure which was more upsetting, the fact that I was crying or the fact that he knew me so well to know I would.

“Please don’t. It kills me to see you cry,” he said, reaching over the counter to wipe my cheek. “This is good news. I’m healthy. My leg is better.”

“I know. I know,” I assured him. “These are happy tears,” I lied.

“You don’t have to placate me.” He shook his head as he walked around the counter and sat down next to me. He placed his hands on my shoulders, turning me to face him. “I know you’re worried. I know you’re running every worst case scenario through that pretty little head of yours.”

“Maybe.” I was.

“What’s on the top of the list?” he asked. “Most worried about...”

“Us. What if we can’t make a long-distant relationship work?”

“We will,” he said matter-of-factly. “I’m not ready for this…for us,” he waved his hand between us, “to end. Are you?”

“No.” I’d just got him. I wasn’t anywhere near ready for us to be over.

“Okay then. We’ll figure out a schedule and make time to see each other,” he assured me. In theory, he was saying exactly what I needed him to say. His optimism was just enough to make me feel a little better. “What’s next?”

“What if you get hurt?”

“Then you’ll get to nurse me back to health again.” He cracked a smile.

“I’m serious.”

“I know you are. Getting hurt is always a possibility. I don’t know what else I can tell you, other than I’ll be careful. Believe me, the last thing I want to do is get hurt. I know it scares you, but I’m a professional motocross rider, Georgia. I’m not some amateur that isn’t thinking through every single move I make. The last accident was way unexpected, yes, and you better believe I’ll be checking out my bike every single time I get on it from here on out.”

“I know you will.”

“Knowing that I have you to come home to is worth me being a little less reckless,” he said, his voice had gone husky. He placed his hands on each side of my face. The intensity in his eyes had me hanging on his every word. “I want a life with you, Georgia. It’s not just me I have to worry about anymore. It’s me and you. From here on out.”

His thumb brushed across my lips as he wiped away the last of the tears. I wouldn’t cry about this anymore. Well, I would try not to anyway. I wanted a life with him, too, and that meant sucking it up and trusting him.

“I want that. I want that so much.”

I leaned forward and kissed his lips. Every kiss between us had been special, but this one was sealing promises that we’d just made. My heart felt like it was going to pound through my chest. The severity of how badly I needed his kiss was threatening my existence. How was I going to make it being apart from him? I’d gotten so used to having him around to talk to. To see whenever I wanted. To touch whenever I felt the need. It was going to be torture.

I felt selfish with him. Greedy even. I never wanted to let him go. I wanted him to stay with me. I wanted a lot of things I knew were not possible. It didn’t matter though, because at that moment I was going to pretend like it all was.

“I need you,” I told him as I stood up. I held onto him, my hands fisted in his shirt like he might slip straight through my fingertips. “Now.”

“You’ve got me,” he promised, slipping his hands down my body and picking me up. My legs circled his waist as he carried me to the living room. The bedroom was too far. There was too much to be done. “I’m right here, baby.”

He lowered me on the sofa before pushing the coffee table far, far away from us across the room. The last thing either of us wanted was an interruption. I started to smile, but his mouth was back on mine before I had the chance. His hand worked the button on my jeans, as his tongue eagerly worked against mine.

My hands tangled in his blond hair as he kissed his way along my jawline—stopping briefly to nibble on my ear and whisper how badly he wanted to taste me. My insides twisted in anticipation. My blood feeling as if it was boiling to the surface. Every inch of my skin was seemingly on fire as his mouth moved to my neck and then to my stomach as he pushed my shirt up to get to my flesh.

When he grabbed the waist of my jeans and started to tug, I lifted my hips up off of the couch, just as anxious as him. As he pulled my jeans and panties down, his mouth moved over my skin as it was revealed to him. Lower and lower until I could feel the heat of his mouth against my most sensitive flesh. As soon as my pants were gone, he moved himself between my thighs—his tongue slipping through my center.

“For fuck’s sake, you are sweet,” he growled, working his mouth in a way I’d never experienced. Each lick, each nip, each time he sucked my clit between his lips I thought I was going to die. The sweetest death I’d ever imagined. His skills were numbing and exhilarating all at the same time. My body reacted as though I’d been possessed, my back arching and muscles contracting, as I tried to get my body closer to his. “That’s it, baby,” he urged. “Come for me.” He pushed two fingers inside of me, adding to the pleasure he was evoking with his mouth.

I felt myself shatter around him. My limbs fell limp as I let myself enjoy the feeling of being scattered in a million pieces. Pieces that he held in his hand. Pieces that I didn’t even know I had. He knew my body better than I did. I was starting to think he knew all of me better than I did.