Tommy stiffened his jaw, refusing to answer.
She pinned Brody with a stare. “How do you know about this ass-whooping?”
His hand froze on the back of his neck. “Huh?”
“How do you know about it?”
He shot a glance at Tommy, an apologetic grimace on his face as he shrugged. “Word spreads, Jules.
You know how it is.”
The muscles in Tommy’s cheeks twisted. “Jesus Christ, Mike’s letting me back in the gym. Okay?” he ground out. “I was supposed to start training tomorrow, but I’m going to wait until you’re at least moving around again.”
Stunned, she stared at him. “Do you think that’s a good idea…postponing going back on your first day?” She bit her lip. “You know, with the way you…” She gave up and exhaled.
“Decided to show up whenever I damn well felt like it before?” he helpfully supplied. “I really don’t give two flying fucks what anyone down there thinks, Julie. You are my priority. You always have been.
Those who know me know that, and those who want to make an issue of it can take it up with me.” He gave Brody a pointed stare.
Warmth spread across her chest at the conviction in his words. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“We’ve been a little busy with back rubs and breakfast in bed.”
How had he managed to make that sound way more sensual than it really had been?
But, Lord, he had. The low, husky voice he’d used painted an erotic picture that spread a current of desire throughout her body. Was this about Brody being here? Tommy had said he didn’t like the man. Was this some kind of weird attempt to get him to go away?
She wasn’t sure. Tommy was confusing the hell out of her, especially with the insinuation he’d made about wanting to make sure he didn’t turn her off. That was the only way to take the statement, right? She couldn’t think of any other, best-friend way to spin those words.
A defiant part of her made her smile and tell him, “Go train at the gym, Tommy. Brody can take care of me here.”
Eyes narrowing, his gaze held hers, heated. “Over my dead body.”
Raw possessiveness sharpened every word. A claiming. Just as before, with the kiss.
But this time it snared her ability to breathe. Before this very minute, Tommy had never looked at her like a man hell-bent on claiming her for himself.
But he sure as hell did now.
…
Julie wanted out of this bed, but Tommy wouldn’t let her. Other than to do some stretches that had felt freaking awesome, he’d kept her confined to the bed. And she was bored…so bored.
She hadn’t pulled her back muscles as badly as she’d initially thought, thank God. Or maybe it had been that rub Tommy had used last night and this morning. Some kind of MMA super muscle rub. Whatever it was, she was feeling pretty good—physically.
Mentally—well, that was a different matter.
Brody had left a few hours ago. Mac had returned to make a delicious lunch. And Tommy had been at her beck and call…all calm and relaxed. Like he hadn’t stared at her with a need so fierce it had made her belly tremble. In fact, as soon as Brody had left, Tommy’d become the same old Tommy again. Had all that intensity just been a show for the other man?
While that thought should have made her angry, she was surprised to feel something akin to relief.
Considering she’d been stone cold in love with Tommy Sparks since she was ten years old, that seemed kind of an odd reaction. But since she had nothing to do but lay in the bed and think about it, she realized it really wasn’t that odd. As things stood between them now, they had their friendship. A really good friendship.
But as well as they got along as friends, it didn’t mean that would carry over into a more intimate relationship. The idea of losing Tommy completely scared the absolute crap out of her.
“I ran you a bath.”
She glanced up to find Tommy standing in the doorway. She let her gaze travel over the tight shirt encasing the breadth of his chest and down to the jeans riding low on his hips. When her eyes slid to his bare feet, a small smile tilted her lips. “That sounds great.”
As she pushed the blanket aside, he came over to help her, but she didn’t need his help. Other than some lingering soreness, which she blamed more on lack of movement than she did the injury, she was better. She wouldn’t even hesitate to take on one of the bigger animals at the clinic right now. At least she wouldn’t miss any work over this.
She made it down the hall to the bathroom, opened the door, and halted in surprise. It took a moment for her to realize what she was seeing.
“Oh. Tommy.”
“You like?”