Page 35 of You're the Reason

The bell over the door chimed as a few kids walked in. All about junior high age, and all a little too loud for the space.

A kid with dark hair and dark eyes raised his hand as he passed. “Hey, Seth.”

Jimmy, maybe? Or it could be Zane. They’d both come with Nate last time he’d worked out with Seth, and he hadn’t been clear on who was who.

“Hey.” Seth greeted him but left it at that. They seemed like good kids, but Nate seemed worried about them, and Seth didn’t blame him. There was a lostness in their eyes that was probably not too different than what others must have seen in his own face at that age. They were searching, and no doubt, Nate wanted to offer answers before they chose a destructive path.

The bell rang again as Grace walked in. Her blonde hair was in its normal bun but looser, softer. She must have just come from working out because she wore her black leotard, but she had covered it with a pink half sweater and gray sweatpants. Her footsteps paused as she met his gaze. She offered a quick smile, then hurried to the counter and chose a seat at the opposite end, leaving about five seats between them.

Their training sessions had gone better than expected. She hadn’t brought up the past and neither had he. He’d even tossed a comment out there about his time at Quinn Ranch, expecting she’d jump all over it. But she’d just smiled like there was an unspoken truce regarding the past, and he was good with that. She might never forgive him for everything that happened with Gregory, and he didn’t blame her. He wasn’t so sure he deserved or needed to be forgiven. What he did need was more money to get his gym up and running. And even if it wasn’t a lot, if she was willing to pay him, he’d take it.

Although as he feared, spending more time with her had only increased his awareness of her. Even now as she sat at the other end of the bar, every cell in his body seemed painfully aware of where she was and how she tucked that wisp of hair behind her ear every few minutes.

It wasn’t just physical attraction, which was a given. There was something about her determination to beat the odds that he identified with and respected. The girl didn’t quit. And the more he learned about her, the more he wanted to learn about her.

“I hear you’re going to build a ninja gym out in Lansing.” Janie was back. She passed over his check. Her dark hair was tied up in a messy bun, and the stains on her apron testified that it had been a long day, but her ever-present smile didn’t waver.

“That’s the plan.” He pulled the cash from his wallet.

“I still think you should look at some of the other properties.” Jon dropped onto the stool next to him, his elbows resting on the counter.

“I like the Lansing property. Bigger city, more customers.” Seth grabbed another fry and then eyed the pies in the display behind the counter.

“You haven’t even seen it. You just like that it’s two hours away.”

Seth didn’t comment. Jon wasn’t wrong about that. Two hours meant it was close enough to keep a bit of the family connection here but far enough to start over and to not have people in his business all the time.

“Just saying, the property in Heritage off Teft would be perfect.” Jon spun so his back was leaning against the countertop.

“Not going to happen.”

“We need to put something in there, Seth. Why not your ninja gym?”

“Why not a basketball court. You could probably fit two.”

“One court is plenty. You of all people know that not every kid wants to play sports. What were you interested in, in high school?”

“I am pretty sure my only extracurricular activity in high school was my next hit.” Seth kept his voice low so Grace wouldn’t overhear. Not that it would matter, but he still didn’t feel like reminding her of that part of his life.

“What if we’d had a weight room back then? Would that have been a place to go and burn your energy more effectively? There are lots of Heritage kids who could benefit from that right now.” Jon had cast a glance toward Grace and matched his volume. He never missed much.

Seth’s gaze flicked to Zane and Jimmy with their friends in the corner booth. Maybe Jon was right, but that didn’t mean he was the guy to make it happen. “They don’t have kids in Lansing?”

“The property isn’t even near residential living. It’s located in the industrial section. How many kids do you think you’re going to get?”

“Heritage doesn’t want me here.”

Jon pressed his lips together a moment, then seemed to let the issue drop. “How’s the rest of the apartment? You get it furnished yet?”

The last thing he wanted was to explain again to his rich cousin all that he didn’t have.

His flight instinct must have shown on his face. “You know if you walk away, I am just going to follow you, and at six-four, my stride is longer. So again, how’s the place?”

“I have a recliner. It’s enough.”

The satisfied smirk dropped from Jon’s face. “Why are you so opposed to help? Your pride will be your undoing one day.”

“It isn’t pride.” Maybe it was, but he wasn’t going to admit that to Jon. Seth reached for his pop and polished it off. “We agreed that I’d take care of it. And I will after my first paycheck. And no, I won’t let you give me an advance.”

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