10
Sutton
I push out the last set, my bench press done, sweat running down my body, yet my mind still not exhausted. Ripping my singlet from my frame, I wipe my face before throwing it on the floor. My mind is full of one thing and one thing only. Her.
Nikki doesn’t work today, and I’ve been here in Sawyer’s gym all morning, wondering what she does on the weekends. Does she sleep in? Does she garden? Does she make a big breakfast? Does she walk to town?
“Told you he’d be in here.” My brother's voice filters in from the doorway, and I look up, seeing him walk in with Tanner and Griffin. He isn’t wrong. Aside from my daily visits to the diner, the next place I spend most of my time is the gym. I work out every day. Both strength and stamina. I run for an hour, and then I lift heavy for another hour. Usually, I also swim and steam, my body put through its paces for at least four hours a day. I was buff before, but all this work is really getting my physique toned. Besides, I need to work off all the chicken pies I eat at the diner.
“Boys. Come for a session?” My comment is a flyaway because none of them are dressed for the gym. Sawyer is in his signature suit, one that looks completely odd in this small town. Tanner stands tall and proud in his jeans and shirt, Griffin dressed similarly by his side.
“Are you getting your body ready for the shoots?” Tanner looks at me with a lifted eyebrow, and I flex my bicep. I’m happy that I’m in prime condition to be the face of his latest release.
“I don’t need to get ready. I’m always ready.” It’s true. If LA has taught me anything, it’s that a healthy body is what’s constantly needed. You never know when the next offer will land, and you never know what the role will entail, and after Nikki got mugged this week, I want my muscles ready for that takedown as well.
“I’m here going over the new accommodation build at the distillery, so thought I’d drop by to chat with you to finalize your plans and get started,” Griffin says, holding some paperwork. He and I are new friends, having only met a few weeks ago. As soon as I told my brother I bought a plot of land next to his, he immediately called Griffin.
“I can’t believe you’re moving here.” Sawyer shakes his head, but his smile is wide.
“Well, maybe not to live permanently, but I might base myself out of Whispers, at least for a while.” I have no idea what my future is going to be like. I’ve lived in LA for my entire career. I have a penthouse in New York right next to Sawyer, too, as well as a house in Hawaii, a lodge in Colorado, and even have a loft in Paris. My investment in real estate is in depth.
“Believe me, you won’t find anywhere better than Whispers.” Tanner grins, happy to have a global celebrity in his town.
“You should fund a tourism commercial,” I quip, because his love for this town is well known.
“Want to star in it?” He looks at me seriously, and I frown. I hadn’t thought about that, but it could be yet another project for me to consider.
“First the whiskey and now Whispers. God, I’m so sick of seeing your face,” my brother says as only a brother can.
I shrug, chuckling. “Better looking than yours.”
“I love a bit of sibling rivalry. Does that mean your place is going to be bigger than this one?” Griffin grins with a waggle of his eyebrows. Known for his luxury builds, Griffin likes doing new and different things. Which comes with people with money. He charges well, but his portfolio is detailed and seemingly endless.
“I have low skin in the game. I just need something secure, with a theater room, a pool, a gym, a few bedrooms, an office, maybe a tennis court…”
“That’s a yes, then,” Tanner cuts in, making me laugh.
“I just need the basics.”
Sawyer joins in. “Do you need a secret entrance for all your models to come and go unseen?”
I look at him sharply. Once upon a time, I may have thought about that. But now it leaves a bad taste in my mouth.
“No models,” I grit out, thinking about the one person I’d like to visit me and how she’s probably the last person who would.
“Alright, well, I’m also getting started on mine next week, so I’ll finalize the plans for you, and we can get it sorted quickly. I’ll put two teams here. One on each house, making it a fast build; they can work on both sites, in tandem, around the clock. Deliveries will be structured, cutting the usual time frame in half.” I see Griffin mentally calculating his to-do list. This is why he’s the country’s best builder. He works fast, has the best teams, and is always two steps ahead.
“Glad you’re gonna make a home here, even if it’s not your only one. There really is no better place to be.” Tanner’s smirk reeks of I told you so. Again, his love for this town is unmatched.
But what he says reminds me of something. “Speaking of that…” I frown as soon as I say it, wondering if I should bring this up.
“What’s going on?” Sawyer’s already on guard, obviously knowing my uneasy look.
I clear my throat. “Well, did you know that Nikki got mugged?”
Tanner’s head rears back, eyes widening in a way I haven’t seen from him. “Mugged?”
“What happened?” Sawyer asks, his tone taking on an edge, already in detective mode.
