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“Miss, you have blood running down your arm and dripping onto the sidewalk. What kind of man would I be if I let you leave in this condition? Come on. I know for a fact they have a first aid kit inside and can get you fixed up quick.” He holds up his hands to show he means no harm. “I promise.”
My initial hesitation evaporates with this compassionate man’s words. For some reason, he makes me feel safe in a fatherly way. A way I haven’t felt in a long time.
“Okay, I guess I do need a little help.”
He opens the door and as I pass through he grins, the fine lines around his eyes scrunching up into the gray hair on his temples. “I’m Bruce, by the way.”
He’s so genuine, I can’t help but give him a small smile back. “Sydney. Nice to meet you, Bruce. Thanks for taking pity on me and my clumsiness. I’m usually much better at staying upright.”
“It happens to the best of us,” he chuckles.
Once inside, I take in my surroundings. Surprised, I glance back over at Bruce. I’m finding it hard to believe that a guy like Bruce, in his dress pants and impeccably pressed shirt, frequents this gym. For one thing, it smells awful, like old sweat socks and industrial-strength cleaner. Second, it’s quite obvious that this isn’t the type of gym people use to stay in shape.
Taking in the huge room, I quickly notice that I’m the only female in this place. Not very comforting.
The remaining ten or so people I can see are half-naked men grappling or punching bags or beating each other up with their fists like the two guys in the huge center ring.
Mixed martial arts training, that’s what they do here according to the UFC banner that spans the back of the room, covering the dreary, chipped cinder blocks that make up the walls.
“Damien!” Bruce calls out, waving someone over.
The two men in the cage immediately stop fighting to stare at us. Both of them hop down the small set of stairs and trot over. I have no idea which one is Damien, but I can’t take my eyes off of the fighter in the black and red shorts with the green eyes. He is beyond attractive—he’s positively stunning.
I feel the prickly heat creeping up my neck and face. I wish I could disappear. It’s humiliating to be standing here in front of these two hot, sweaty men while my blood drips on the floor. Not to mention the rest of the gym, which has gone silent to watch.
“Can you grab the first aid kit?” Bruce asks. “She fell on some ice out front. Cut her arm pretty bad.”
The man with the buzz cut and tattoos wearing black and yellow shorts nods and hurries off to fetch it. That must be Damien.
The other guy, the too-beautiful one, is eyeing me warily. Which, in turn, makes me even more uncomfortable.
“I’m sorry to interrupt,” I blurt out awkwardly.
The man says nothing. Instead, he stares at me as if he’s afraid of me! I have no idea what to make of that, so I stand there bleeding since it’s all I can do.
“Here.” He hands me a small towel. “So you won’t drip everywhere.”
His voice is deep and smooth. When his hand brushes against mine to hand me the towel, a shiver goes up my spine. Fumbling from nerves, I wrap it around my arm the best I can.
“Thanks.” I stare at the ground, glancing up to take a peek at his handsome face. He’s acting really odd, wary, like me. But I’m the one in the strange situation surrounded by men I don’t know. Why would he be uncomfortable?
Not knowing what else to do, I go for mindless pleasantries. “I’m Sydney.”
The beautiful man gives me another strange look before introducing himself… albeit reluctantly. “I’m Drew. So you fell?”
Either I’m so inept that he’s dying to get away from me, or this guy is really off his game. There’s no way a man who looks like that isn’t smoother at making small talk with women.
I shrug, which sends a burning hot spike of pain down my arm. “I fell. It’s no big deal, really.” I wince from the sensation, my voice coming out strained. “Nice to meet you, Drew.”
Bruce and Drew exchange a look. “Have we met before?” Drew asks hesitantly.
I pull down my brows, trying to place him. I don’t think I know him. Do I? Oh my god! What if he recognizes me because of my resemblance to my mother?
I need to get out of here before one of them figures it out.
“No. I don’t think we’ve met.”
Now Drew looks absolutely dumfounded. His perfect lips fall open in shock.
