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"No reason."
A moment of silence falls wherein I take the last sip of my coffee, before placing the cup on the table and brushing my hand over the nape of my neck.
"Who did you invite?" I pinch the bridge of my nose when she doesn't answer straight away. "Let me guess. You're on another one of your find-my-son-a-woman quests. If that's the case, my answer is simple: No, I’ll pass on the dinner."
"Cole. Please, don't be stubborn. The woman I invited is the daughter of a friend, and she’s a sophisticated, ambitious young lady. Perfect for you."
"I'm not interested." She continues giving me her opinion as I walk inside to the kitchen. "Cole, you're thirty-three. I want you to be happy."
"Mother, I'm fine."
"Nonsense. Your life exists off work and spending time with your friends. Take an example from Nick. He found himself a sweet, caring woman who has also set up a successful business. It's time you find a lovely woman who fits at your side. And to find her you need to be more open."
Tired of listening to my mother's rambling session and not waiting before she begins her lecture about my lack of serious relationships and my contemplative personality, I cut in. "I have to go. I'm running late." Not caring, she's still talking, I press the button. Before I can slip it in my pocket, it beeps from an incoming text message, and when I read it, the last inch of relaxation I accumulated during my morning ritual goes up in flames.
Good morning, Bulldozer. Are you up for a fresh round in the gym? Nick and I will be there in ten minutes.
I growl at my best friend's words. I'll show him a bulldozer. I let out a sigh as my mind drifts to the woman who gave me the specific nickname. Of all the women walking this globe, my mind and body go haywire over the blonde who turns out to be the best friend of my best friend’s wife. Unbelievable.
Time to focus on someone or something else. I walk back inside and smile, seeing my neat, sparkly kitchen counter and the rest of my tidy interior. Order in the house means order in the mind. I grab the keys of my Range Rover Velar and make my way to the elevator. Forget another espresso. It's time to teach Brian Fox a lesson.
* * *
Labored breaths fill the air,and little rivers of sweat drip from my pecs straight to my abdomen. I don't care that the muscles in my arms burn with every stretch and flex as my fists hit the punching bag. What I do care about is the fact that my fucked-up mind found another way of torturing me. Images of Alisha with her luscious, sinful body; wavy, long, honey-blonde hair; and feline green eyes that scream 'touch me' keep popping up in the most random and inappropriate times. God, those lips covered in ruby red lipstick would look amazing around my... Shit.Goddammit, woman. Get the fuck out of my head.As I said… at the most inconvenient moments, she's invading my mind!
"Oh, our Bulldozer doesn't have it in him today," Brian says in a teasing tone.
Every drop of annoyance I sense flows into my limbs, and to make a statement, I kick my right leg full force into the punching bag, causing it to smack against Brian's chest. He loses his balance and falls to his backside. Nick laughs loud as Blondie jumps up to his feet.
"I hit a nerve." Brian grins.
"Oh, fuck off," I mutter.
"Come on, Grumpy. Why don't you just admit you're interested in Alisha?" he says with a broader grin.
I kick the bag again.
"Says the man who's been too chicken for years to admit he's in love with a particular woman. Newsflash, Fox… There comes a time where she'll stop waiting for your sorry ass, and then you'll have lost her."
I step aside when he throws his water bottle at me. "Fuck you, Walker."
"God, you're both enormous babies in denial," Nick says as he crosses his arms in front of his chest. Before I can react, a woman's voice draws our attention.
"Oh, there you are, guys. "
We glance sideways to find Emma walking towards us with a bright smile.
"Dad!" Charlotte yells while running our way. I can't help but grin as she hugs him.
"Hey, Smarty, how was school?"
She shrugs. "Boring."
We all laugh at her statement.
"Can I play with the jump ropes over there, Daddy?"
Nick nods, and the girl runs away.
