Page 31 of Uncovering Love: The Wedding

His smile transforms his face as a chuckle escapes his lips. “One of these days I’ll wear you down.” He really is attractive. “Good night, Amelia.” He waves.

“Good night, Carlos.”

The bang of a closing door erases the joy from his features and he balances his stare back on me. “Who are you?”

“I’m someone trying to protect someone I love.”

His laughter is a bark in the night. “Same intentions, but that doesn’t tell me what you’re doing here.”

“I’m sorry. I can’t do that.”

“Then I guess it’s time for you to go.” He reaches for my shoulder but I jump out of his reach.

“I can see myself out.” I back up another step, my eyes on the gate as well as Amelia’s apartment in case she’s doing a little spying of her own. “Carlos.”Yeah, that’s right. I know your name and you don’t know mine.

“Excuse me for making certain you do.” He follows my steps with his gaze, and I breathe a sigh of relief when he doesn’t follow me out. The moment I push open the gate, I run to my car. My heart hammers in my chest because even though I don’t think he’ll chase me, this entire encounter has been too close for comfort. Too dangerous. Exactly why I shouldn’t do field work. At least, not without Jon there for back-up. It was reckless to come here tonight. I only learned more of what I already suspected: Amelia takes appointments in her condo on the hour.Prostitution. It only adds more disappointment to the way I feel about Drew. He wasn’t only cheating on my sister. He was paying for it.

Tears threaten to fall as I peel out of the lot and I don’t even think, steering my car toward the club where Tate works. I need to tell my sister what I saw and Jon what I did, but there’s nothing I need more than to see my man. Have his arms wrapped around me. That’s what I need right now. To assure him, and myself, that no matter the shit storm taking place around us, he’s the man for me.

The drive goes by in a blur, my pulse racing along with the miles. Tate’s almost finished for the night because his last private training session ends at ten. I should head home to wait for him there, but I can’t stand to be alone right now ...with my thoughtsortoday’s revelation.

Pushing through the door to Lift Me Up, I wave a quick hello to one of the girls who work the front counter. She offers a smile as I stride past on my way toward the locker rooms that lead to the weight and cardio floor. I shove at the door but meet resistance, along with a squeal.Crap.

“I’m so sorry—” The words tumble from my mouth but when I see who it is I’m stunned silent.Lindsay.

“Oh, excuse me.” She giggles and flips her blonde locks over her right shoulder. Dressed in casual clothes and wearing full makeup, she looks far too put together for a woman who just completed a workout. I hate her a little more. “Evie, right?”

“Yeah, and you’re Lauren?” I know that’s not her name, but I can’t stand the way she’s smiling at me as though we’re the best of friends. She slept with my fiancé. Sure, it was years before I met him, but still. She’s no friend of mine.

“Lindsay.” Her smile dims a little. “Sorry, I didn’t see you. I’m completely destroyed after a session with Tate. He sure knows how to work me over.” She rolls her eyes and laughs as if it’s a joke I’d find funny.

I don’t.

“Pardon?”

“I probably won’t be able to walk tomorrow.” She laughs again and if I had a sharp object in my hand I’m not sure I could be held responsible for my actions. Lucky for her, all I have is my twenty-dollar purse from Target.

“Yeah, he’s the best. That’s why I’m marrying him on Saturday.” I smile wide but it’s forced and I hate the way it feels on my face.

“Right! Of course. I’m so embarrassed that I crashed the bachelor party. He was sweet to invite me over. I’m still making friends here.”

What. The. Fuck?

“Excuse me. I really need to find Tate,” I say before she can continue.

“See you around, Evie!” she calls out, but I’m already through the locker room and pushing out the other door.

I scan the floor but it only takes a few seconds to spot Tate working with a client. Counting out reps and spotting one of his heavy weightlifters at the squat rack, he doesn’t see me coming when I stomp between the machines and equipment. I cross my arms over my chest, chewing the inside of my cheek while I wait for him to lift his gaze and find me in the mirror.

His client finishes his reps and Tate’s eyes widen with his smile when he notices me behind him. “Evie!” He pulls me into his arms. “What a nice surprise, babe.” When I don’t return his embrace, he pulls back a step. “Evie?”

“Tate.” My eyes burn. I don’t know where to look so I find the floor. Today was a monumentally shitty day and I wanted to find peace in his arms, but that’s been tainted with my little run-in with his ex. She was at his party? He invited her? Worse, he never said a thing. The hurt from that mixes with Drew’s cheating and I have to wonder if all men are the same. You think you can trust them, but you can’t.

“Evie, is everything okay?” His brow furrows beneath his ball cap and it’s all I can do to not scoff.Is everything okay?Is he really that clueless or is he covering his ass?

“Nothing is okay. By the way, I just ran into yourgirlfriend.”

His gaze puzzles with his frown and the moment he connects to whom I’m referring, he steps back. “I’m finishing up with a client. Can we talk after I get off work?”

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