Page 2 of Built for Goldie

“You okay?” he rumbled, slowly releasing me once he realized I was steady on my feet.

I nodded, tucking my blonde hair behind my ears. “I, uh, yeah,” I stammered. Christ, I never tripped over my words. I was always confident and sure of myself. But this man had managed to scramble my brain cells. “I’m so sorry for running into you.” I waved my hand toward the parking lot. “It’s just raining and—”

He chuckled. “Calm down, goldie.” My eyes snapped up to his in surprise. I’d gotten used to being called blondie all the time because of my very blonde hair, but goldie was different.

And I liked the way his southern accent drawled the word.

“You here getting lunch?” he asked as he pressed his massive hand to my lower back and gently steered me to the line.

I nodded like a stupid bobblehead. “Yeah. I just opened the new gym in town—Training Ground—and I decided to treat my assistant manager to lunch since she brought me breakfast this morning,” I overexplained, but eh.Thatwas one of my worst traits. When I got nervous, which was rare, Ialwaysoverexplained everything.

He flashed me a smile so fucking gorgeous, I forgot what words were for a moment. Jesus. He washorriblefor my brain.

“Training Ground, huh? I heard talk of a new gym. Maybe I’ll come check it out.”

I beamed at him. “Really?” That was probablywaytoo enthusiastic, but fuck it. I was going all in now. “If you have any friends, please spread the word.”

He chuckled. “I will, but only because you’re adorable as fuck when you’re excited.”

Cue my ovaries exploding. Justboom. Gone. Poof.

My cheeks heated, and I nervously tucked my hair behind my ear. “Are you flirting with me?” I boldly asked, hoping I wouldn’t make a huge dumbass of myself for doing so.

He hummed, a devilish smirk tilting his lips. “I am. Is it working?”

I laughed, already at ease again. There was just something about this man that settled me. “It would if I knew your name.”

He winked at me. “Beau Justice. Proud member of the Storm Hogs MC and one of the owners of Storm Hogs Construction.”

My eyes widened. I hadn’t realized he was basically the town’s royalty. I couldn’t goanywherewithoutsomeonetalking about the club or the construction company. “This town worships you guys.”

He snickered and gently grabbed my arm to turn me around. I cringed when I realized the line was basically gone. Damn, had I beenthatcaptivated by him? His lips hovered at my ear, and I froze, my heart skipping a beat in my chest. My belly clenched. Christ, how did he smell so good when he was sweaty and covered in dirt and dust? “Stick around, goldie, and maybe you’ll see why,” he murmured.

With that, he gave me a gentle push to the window so I could order my food.

two

Beau

“Dude,could you have taken any longer?” Remi grumbled when I walked into the building we were renovating with two bags of food with three styrofoam containers in each. “I thought you decided to run away and never come back.”

I rolled my eyes and thrust his bag of food at him. Remi was known for being overdramatic, and not only that, but much like Elliot, he didn’t seem to know when to be serious. Sometimes it was funny; other times, it could be downright annoying. “Stop being so fucking overdramatic and just eat, Remi.”

I handed everyone else their food before sitting my ass on the dusty floor and leaning my back against the wall. Shit, I was tired, but today was going to be yet another day with a shit ton of overtime put in. “So, whatdidtake so long?” Harlan asked, ever the curious one.

“Y’all are some nosy mother fuckers,” Adler said, glancing at Harlan before focusing back on his food. “Maybe he wanted a damn breath of fresh air away from you and Remi breathing down his fucking neck.”

I snorted. “Nah. I actually ran into the owner of the new gym in town—Training Ground.”

“What’s he like? Heard it was a new guy in town opening it,” Elliot said before shoving food into his mouth.

“She,” I corrected, “is actually really nice. And she is new to town. Definitely don’t recall seeing her around before.” I would’ve remembered a gorgeous blonde like her. Slim and fit. Pretty blue eyes. Fuck, she was just my type.

“Shit, it’s a woman that opened it?” Remi asked. He whistled. “Is she hot?”

I narrowed my eyes at him, something akin to jealousy and possessiveness slithering through my veins almost like poison. It was a foreign feeling to me, but something about Mikayla had hooked me from the get-go. She wasn’t even mine yet, but I sure as fuck wasn’t sharing her.

“Back the fuck off, Remi,” I snapped at him.

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