Page 85 of Runaway Pride

Rick laughed, setting the barbell down. “Wow.” He sat up. “I’m the one related to you. Shouldn’t you askherthat?”

His brother looked at him. “Charlie’s intentions are pretty clear. She’s just crazy sick and blind in love with you. Butyou, I can’t get a good read.”

Alex’s casual statement about love had the air sucked out of Rick’s chest. Did Charlie say that? He knew she was very into him, butlove? That was huge.

“She’s my good friend. I can see how it’ll play out for her. I want to know whatyou’rethinking,” Alex said. “You didn’t like her for the longest time, and somehow that’s changed?”

Nick stopped lifting and sat down, his attention fixed solely on the conversation. Rick’s discomfort wasn’t on the third degree his brother loaded on him, but the tone. Despite knowing he wanted to be with Charlie, his views hadn’t changed much, just in his opinions of her.

“Ever since Mom?—”

“Don’t call her that.” Rick scowled. “She doesn’t deserve that title.”

His reaction caused both Alex and Nick to wince.

“Fine. Sincesheleft, you’ve got this weird bias against people with a certain… income. Is Charlie now the exception?”

“Yes.” It was that simple. Charlie was different. She’d proven it.

“I’m happy to hear. You’ve been avoiding her like the plague since you met. But are you serious about her? I know she is about you.”

“Of course I’m serious about her.” Now his discomfort was on having to justify himself to his brother. “Can you just calm down? I won’t do anything to hurt her. This is really weird that I have to say this to you. You should give me the benefit of the doubt.”

Alex blinked, noticing the change in Rick’s tone, but wasn’t backing down. “As your brother, I also know your track record. You weren’t serious with any of the women in your past. I haven’t met any of them, actually. And that period where you and Charliewere good, then reverted to her being hurt, and now back on again? I can’t be sure it won’t flip flop to her crying to Sarah because my brother was being a dick.”

Okay, that part was on Rick. But the fuckup was before he realized how he really felt about Charlie. He wasn’t going to make the same mistake.

“It won’t happen again,” Rick said assuringly, his tone hardened. “And stop hounding me about this. We’re all adults. Charlie makes her own decisions. Even if you don’t approve, it’s our choice.”

“It’s not that I don’t approve,” Alex defended. “Hell, this is great if it was true. But I want to keep the important people in my life together. If shit hits, then I’ll be compartmentalizing between you two again and who knows, maybe I’ll lose Charlie as a friend altogether.”

“I get it, solet it go. She’s important to me, too!” Rick was just as surprised as Nick and Alex looked at hearing him let his emotions slip. Before any of them could get out another word, they heard their names called.

They turned to find Charlie walking toward them. She brought a friend. Aera.

Both dressed in workout clothes of fitted tops and sinfully tight leggings, they came over and ripped all working brain cells in his mind. From the looks of it, Nick and Alex didn’t seem as composed either.

“Alex! You’re here too,” Charlie said. Aera stood alongside her, curiously looking at each of them.

“What are you doing here?” Rick asked, not remembering if she’d told him she was arriving. Was everyone coming over today?

“My partner thought it was a good idea to skip work,” Charlie pointed at Aera. “Said we need a break and some irons pumped into our system. Wouldn’t leave me alone until I agreed. I’ve spoken highly about this gym and she wanted to see for herself!”

“Hello, everyone.” Aera zeroed in on Nick, whom she’d nevermet, and offered her hand. “I’m Aera, Charlie’s business partner, childhood neighbor, and spectacular friend.”

“Hi, Aera. I’m Nick.” Nick sounded breathless, enchanted, as he took her hand for a prolonged shake.

“Did you sign up for a membership here?” Alex asked.

“Not exactly. We’re trying out the Pilates studio across the street. Aera just wanted to see what all the fuss was about here,” Charlie said.

“The fuss? What fuss?” Rick inquired.

Aera came in to explain. “Charlie kept raving about how the hottest people worked out here. I think she was just talking aboutyou, Rick. But now that I’m here…” she smiled at each of them. “She was right! Only the hottest.”

Nick and Alex looked at each other smugly, while Rick’s eyes set on Charlie. Fuck, she was looking especially good today. He’d forgotten that a moment ago he had to defend himself in front of a jury of his brother and maybe even Nick, of his feelings for her.

His feelings were hitting it deep. The mere sight of her had his blood running at a rate that couldn’t possibly be healthy. Looking past the way her leggings outlined her lush curves, her radiant smile as she looked at him, and how she naturally gravitated to him, did things to his heart. He felt the organ rising as high as the one tenting his pants.

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