Page 57 of Blitz & Breach

"Linda, I would never do that. If I find out who took those photos, I'm going to be having a very intense conversation with them. I already talked with the resort, and let them know that whatever the hell happened, I'm not happy about it."

"Do they know what happened?" Linda asked.

"No, but the staff on duty said they don't remember any press around that weekend. The invited me to come by when I get back, apologize face to face and try and make it up to me," Brutus answered. "If they really didn't have anything to do with it, I'll be cool with them, don't worry. My agent figures that it was a random fan thing, someone saw us and snapped a pic, then later realized they could make some cash with it... so they went further."

"It's that further that pisses me off," Linda said, and Brutus's low rumbling growl on the other side of the line told her how he felt about the issue. "So what now?"

"Well, immediately for me is catching a flight back home, I'm still stuck in New York for another hour or so," Brutus said. "And I know there's a lot to talk about. I want to sit down, talk this all over with you. This... I know this is a part of my life that we haven't dealt with before. And I want to figure it out. I don't want this to get in between us, Linda."

"I don't want it to get between us either," Linda said. "Okay, well I'm here at the gym with Jess Adams, so I've got my evening planned out. If I can lift my arms tonight after this I'll count myself lucky."

Brutus laughed softly. "How about I check in with you as soon as I land then?" he asked. "I'd like to make sure my girl is doing okay."

"Your girl?" Linda asked warmly.

Brutus hummed.

"I like that."

"Good. Because there's something else I wanted to tell you," Brutus said. "I know the timing isn't great on this. And I know that there's a lot about my life in football that we haven't really addressed. I want to though. I want to work with you, to bring you up to speed. Because you don't deserve to ever be unhappy. I love you."

The words flowed out of her phone and into her ear, and in her mind Linda could feel her lips spreading in a wide smile.

"Good. Because I love you too, and I want to figure all this out too. Call me when you get back."

"I will. I was thinking coming down Thursday, if that's a good time for you?"

"That sounds perfect," Linda said. "We can meet up Thursday afternoon after I get off work."

"Great. Well then, I'll let you go. Have a good workout."

Brutus hung up, and Linda put her phone away, locking it in the gym locker. Out in the gym, Jess Adams was halfway through her drink, rolling her shoulders as she shook out her arms. "Well you had a good call."

"You can tell?"

Jess laughed. "It's written on your face, Linda. So, what happened?"

"He... he said he loves me," Linda admitted, blushing a little. "And he wants to work things out, to... I think he wants this to be long term."

"And how do you feel about that?"

“I love the idea of long term with him!” Linda gushed, grinning.

Jess smiled, and offered her a fist to bump. "Okay then. So let's get to it."

They did, and Linda felt good. As she expected, she was nowhere near able to hang with Charlie Company's 'Muscle Mommy,' who even in a light workout was moving weights that made most of the men in the gym glance over in admiration.

But Linda held her own on an effort and energy level, and as she and Jess completed the last set of standing rope crunches to complete their workout, she was in a good mood.

Thursday couldn't get here fast enough.

20

BRUTUS

“So what’s the surprise?” Linda asked.

From his driver’s seat, Brutus looked over, smiling mysteriously. In the Thursday afternoon light, he looked youthful and happy, like a man at peace.

---