Breaking His Rules (Feeling the Heat #4) (16 page)

The light knock on his open door pulled him from his thoughts. He swiveled the chair around and was caught off guard at the sight of Shauna Atherton poised in his doorway.

“The guy at the front counter said I could come back,” Shauna said, with a tentative smile.

Jake rose from his chair and, still surprised to see her, motioned her forward with his hand. “Come on in.” He waited until she made herself comfortable in the visitor chair before resuming his seat. With one quick glance, he could see she looked much healthier than she had the last time he’d seen her. Her face glowed, and she appeared to have put on a few pounds. Which, considering her extreme thinness at the wedding, was a good thing.

“I’m sure you’re surprised to see me,” she said, taking the words right out of his mouth.

“You could say that.” He pushed his report aside and folded his arms on his desk. “Are you here to join the gym?”

“Kurt and I have discussed it, and we do plan to join in the near future. But that’s not why I’m here.” She set her purse on her lap and grasped her hands together atop it. “I wanted to apologize to you for what happened at the wedding reception.”

“I don’t think you’re the one who needs to apologize. Denise blindsided us both that day. If anyone should apologize, it’s her.”

“She’ll never do that.” Jake caught a trace of disillusionment in her eyes and couldn’t help but feel for her. “When it comes to you, she’s irrational. Ever since I can remember she’s always been able to get any man she’s wanted. I guess when you didn’t reciprocate her feelings she became angry and decided to get back at you by accusing you of harassment.”

A fresh surge of anger shot through Jake like a bottle rocket. He held it in check lest Shauna think he blamed her for her friend’s actions. “She wanted to ruin my life. And she would have if some of the members of my gym hadn’t stepped forward and countered her lies.”

A troubled expression settled on her face. “I feel bad because I believed her. She was very convincing—I think she actually believed the lies she was telling me. Anyway, when I saw you at the rehearsal dinner I couldn’t get back to the hotel fast enough to tell her you were Melissa’s date.”

“It’s not your fault,” Jake assured her quickly. Shauna was just one more of Denise’s victims. If she was smart she’d cut Denise off altogether. He hoped for her sake she had. “She would have seen me anyway. You didn’t make her do what she did. That’s on her.”

“You’re probably right, but it doesn’t make it any easier to know that you were embarrassed in front of a room full of people. I’m truly sorry you had to go through that.”

“I appreciate your apology although, as I said, it’s not necessary.”

“I’d originally planned to invite you and Melissa over to apologize but when she said you and she weren’t seeing each other anymore, I decided to come over so I could do it in person.”

“You saw Melissa?” He lifted his brows. “Today?”

“Yes. I was just at her house. I got there as Nate was leaving.” Shauna smiled. “She was first on the apology tour. I’m hoping we can be friends again. Like we were before Denise came into the picture and I turned my back on both of my cousins.”

“I hope that happens,” he said, then froze as the sound of his thundering pulse echoed loudly in his ears. “Did you say Nate was with Melissa?”

Shauna nodded. “Yes. Nate Simmons.”

“Was Paige there?”

“No. Melissa said she was at the shooting range. She’s trying to get into the police academy. But I’m sure you know that.” She frowned and looked at him with concern. “Are you okay?”

Jake blew out a long breath in an attempt to slow his racing pulse. Nate was at Melissa’s house? What the fuck? “I’m fine.”

She looked at him like she wasn’t convinced. “Maybe I shouldn’t have told you Nate was with Melissa.”

“No. It’s fine. Melissa and I are...are done,” he said, almost choking on the last word. “She can see whomever she wants.”

Ten minutes later, after telling Jake that she and Kurt would be in touch about membership, Shauna left his office. And left him to stew in anger and frustration. Jealousy tore through him like pieces of sharp ragged glass slicing through his soul and for a moment it was hard to catch his breath.

Nate and Melissa? That would
not
be happening. No way. No how.

* * *

Early Monday evening, Melissa made her way to the domestic wares section in the department store where Paige worked and roamed around until she found Paige refolding towels and placing them neatly on a sale table in front of the large stacks of regular-price towels arranged by color in cubby holes mounted on the walls.

“Hey.” Paige smiled at her. “I didn’t expect to see you tonight. Are you doing some shopping?” She glanced down at the table. “As you can see, my customers like to leave the towels in shambles after they look at them. With all this folding, it feels like I’m doing laundry. And get this, some lady tried to return a comforter we don’t even sell.” She shook her head in disgust. “Some people freaking amaze me.”

Melissa couldn’t help but smile. Some of the stories Paige had shared with her since working in the department store were unbelievable. “Did you let her return the comforter?”

“Hell no.” Paige looked affronted. “The customer may always be right, but on my watch they don’t get away with that shit.” She glanced around with wary eyes. “Don’t tell my floor manager I said that.”

“It’s in the vault.” Melissa crossed a finger over her heart and grinned.

“So to what do I owe the honor of your presence?” Paige folded a final towel and checked her watch. “I didn’t get my lunch earlier so I’m due. Want to head to the food court and sit with me?”

Ten minutes later, Melissa sat across from Paige at a table in the middle of the mostly deserted food court. Monday appeared to be a slow night at the mall. As she removed the paper wrapper from her Subway sandwich, Paige looked up at her with curiosity. “So what’s going on? You look rattled.”

Still in a panic over the news she’d received earlier today, Melissa leaned forward. “I got a call from Suzanne Lyn this afternoon.” At Paige’s frown, she added, “The editor’s assistant at
Get Healthy Sacramento
.”

“Oh. Right. Did she call to set up the photo shoot and interview?” Paige asked, then picked up her sandwich and took a bite.

“Yes. They want to do the photo shoot at Jake’s Joint.”

“What?” The word was garbled; Paige was still chewing.

“They said that since Jake submitted me it would be a nice touch to have the shots of me at the gym. They also want a picture of me and Jake together.” Melissa reached for the berry smoothie she’d ordered from the place next to Subway and took a long sip through the straw. Was it wrong to wish there was alcohol in it? She could use a shot of something stronger than fruit right about now.

Paige set her sandwich on the paper wrapper. “Calm down. This isn’t a big deal.” She picked up a small bag of chips and using both hands pulled the top of the bag open. “You and Jake are adults. You’ll go to the gym, make nice with him if you have to, then take the pictures and you’re out of there. Forever.”

“Easy for you to say,” Melissa said glumly, and took another sip of her smoothie. “You’re not in love with him.”

“True. And wouldn’t
that
be awkward if I was?” Paige grinned before popping a chip into her mouth.

“You make it seem so easy. What if this was someone you cared about? Wouldn’t you be nervous?”

“There isn’t a man out there that can shake me up.” Paige’s voice was filled with certainty. “Or if there is, I haven’t met him yet.”

Melissa chuckled. “I’m still amazed at your cavalier attitude regarding men. Have you ever been even close to being in love?”

“Nope. And that’s just how I like it.”

Melissa sighed. “I wish I could be like you.”

Paige’s flippant grin faded, and for a second Melissa thought she glimpsed a trace of sadness in her sister’s eyes. “That’s interesting. I’ve sometimes wished I was more like you. I’m sure Mom and Dad have wished the same thing.”

“I doubt it. They love you just the way you are.”

After a few silent seconds, an impish gleam flashed in Paige’s eyes. “You think? What about when I told Shauna to fuck herself at the rehearsal dinner? You would never do something like that.”

“But I was thinking it.”

“That’s the difference between you and me. You think before you speak. I let whatever I’m thinking and feeling fly right out of my mouth.” Paige snagged another chip from the bag. “I tell you what though. I’m going to have to learn to keep my trap shut if I get into the police academy. From what I hear, the training officers don’t care for smart-asses like me.”

“Think you can do it?”

Paige looked at her with steely determination. “I’m going to be a cop, and I won’t let anything, even my big mouth, get in the way of that.”

After Paige finished her sandwich and chips, Melissa hummed along with the mall’s piped-in music and walked alongside her until they reached the department store. “Thanks for calming me down,” she said, and gave Paige’s arm a squeeze.

“Hey, what are sisters for?” Paige glanced toward the entrance. “Since you’re here, why don’t you go buy something for the photo shoot? Did they tell you what they wanted you to wear?”

Melissa shrugged. “Suzanne said it’s casual—no shots of me on the gym equipment—and to wear whatever I felt comfortable in.”

Paige propped her hands on her hips and fixed her with a hard stare. “Then get in the store and find something that will make Jake drool like a fool.”

“That’s not going to change anything,” Melissa protested.

“Yeah, but it’ll show him exactly what he’s missing.” Paige grabbed her hand and dragged her into the store. “I want to see a knockout outfit when I get home tonight. So shut up and shop.”

Chapter Sixteen

The following Saturday morning, Jake watched helplessly as the magazine’s photographer and other assorted staff took control of his aerobics room. When he’d given them permission to use the room for Melissa’s photo shoot, he’d had no clue how many people it took to take a simple photograph.

Including the photographer, Jake counted at least five other people milling around the room. One of whom was a writer for the magazine who wanted an interview from him for inclusion in the profile on Melissa. More concerned about making sure the magazine crew didn’t damage the hardwood floor with their equipment, he’d blown off the writer and now stood just inside the open double doors as the photographer and his assistant discussed the placement of the lights.

Outside the room, where the cardio equipment was arranged in rows, many of his morning members watched the goings-on inside the room with avid curiosity as they exercised on treadmills, stair climbers, ellipticals and stationary bicycles. Because he’d had advance notice, Jake posted a notice at the front desk on Monday that all classes on Saturday morning had been cancelled but the afternoon classes would be held as scheduled. He’d had a couple of complaints, but for the most part the regulars had taken the news pretty well.

Jake glanced at his watch. According to the informational sheet he’d been given, Melissa was due to arrive at nine. It was now eight forty-five. In fifteen minutes she would walk inside Jake’s Joint for the last time unless he did something about it. What that something was had consumed his thoughts for the past week.

“Mr. Sawyer?” He looked up to find Suzanne Lyn, the editor’s assistant, approaching him with short, precise strides. “I’ve just spoken to Erica,” she said, halting in front of him. “She said she still needs to sit down with you for the interview. Do you have time now? It won’t take long.”

“Now isn’t a good time. But I’ll make time after the photo shoot,” Jake replied, and couldn’t hazard a guess if his answer pleased or displeased her. Her pleasant expression remained unchanged.

“I’m sure that will work.” Suzanne consulted the clipboard she held in her hand, made a quick note on it with her pen, and then peered at him over the top of her wire-rimmed glasses. “Thank you for being so accommodating. We’ll try not to take too much of your time.”

As she returned to the other side of the room where a makeup table and mirror had been set up, Jake rubbed the back of his neck. Although he’d been preparing himself for this moment for days, now that it was here the knot in his gut told him the outcome wasn’t a sure thing.

“Jake.”

Jake’s heart beat a hard rhythm in his chest. He’d recognize her silky voice anywhere. Lowering his hand, he turned slowly and felt the air freeze in his lungs the second he saw her. For what seemed like longer than the last two minutes of a basketball game he couldn’t breathe. Maybe it was because he’d been deprived of her presence for more than a week, or maybe it was because he missed her so damn much, but she looked so achingly beautiful that all he wanted to do was take her in his arms and keep her with him forever.

“Hey,” he said, finally able to get some air. “You’re early.”

“Paige dropped me off out front. She’s parking the car.”

“So Nate didn’t bring you?” he asked, then mentally kicked himself as her eyes clouded and her hesitant smile all but disappeared.

“Why would Nate bring me?”

“I understand you’ve been dating him.”

A frown marred her smooth brow. “Who told you that?”

“Shauna mentioned it the other day when she came by the gym to apologize for what happened at the wedding.”

“She actually said I’m dating Nate?”

He shrugged. “She said she saw him at your place.”

“And that means I’m dating him?”

“Are you?”

She placed her hands on her hips and glared at him. “If I am, it’s none of your business. You made it very clear there can be no relationship between us. In my book that makes me free to see anyone I damn well please. Including Nate.” Lifting her chin defiantly, she brushed past him and headed toward the makeup table.

“Smooth move,
Rico Suave.
”

Jake turned and met the contemptuous gaze of Paige Atherton. He scrubbed his hand over his jaw.
Great.
Now he had to deal with Paige. Not exactly his idea of a good time.

“You really have some balls.” Scorn crackled in her eyes as she moved to stand in front of him. “Melissa is the best thing that could
ever
happen to you, and what do you do? You use her and then toss her aside like she’s nothing.”

Jake’s body went rigid. “That’s not how it was.”

“From where I’m standing that’s exactly how it was,” Paige said, in a hard tone. “I thought you were a nice guy, but it turns out you’re just like all the other players out there. At least Nate doesn’t try to be something he’s not.”

“Are you comparing me to Nate Simmons?” Jake asked incredulously.
Christ
. Paige sure knew how to insult a guy.

A hint of a smirk crossed her face. “If the shoe fits.”

“You have no idea how I feel about Melissa,” he shot back angrily.

“You’re right, I don’t. But your actions speak volumes.” She lifted her hand and pushed her finger into his chest. “If you don’t want her, then leave her the hell alone and let her find a man who’ll love her the way she deserves to be loved.”

Jake opened his mouth to protest, but before he could say a word, Paige placed her palm on his chest and gave him a shove. Caught unaware, he almost lost his balance. “Save it for someone who gives a shit,” she said harshly, then moved around him and strode toward Melissa.

“Mr. Sawyer?”

What now?
Jake blew out an annoyed breath and turned to find the photographer’s assistant scurrying in his direction. The assistant, who looked to be in his early twenties, stopped short in front of him. “We’ll be taking several shots of Melissa first. Then we’ll finish up with the two of you together.” The assistant paused. “If you’ll go over to makeup, they’ll make you camera ready.”

Jake scowled.
That
would not be happening. “I’m not wearing makeup.”

The assistant nodded sympathetically. “It’s just powder. For shine.”

“My brother told me you can fix all that on the computer now,” he said, remembering Josh going on and on about all the cool things they could do to enhance images after photographs were taken.

The assistant, whose name Jake never got, made a short sound of exasperation. “It’s up to you. Makeup is an option.”

“I opt not to wear it,” Jake grumbled, crossing his arms over his chest.

“Whatever you want.” The assistant said in a clipped tone. Jake could tell the he wanted to either roll his eyes or flip him off, but instead he gave Jake a perfunctory nod before beating a hasty retreat. Yeah. He’d acted like a dick to the guy. These days, what else was new?

* * *

“What were you and Jake talking about?”

Melissa looked at Paige’s reflection in the rectangular makeup mirror. For ten minutes, as one of the magazine’s staff had touched up her foundation and applied some blush and a little more eyeliner and mascara, her curiosity had been killing her. Sitting in the chair in front of the mirror, she’d witnessed Paige and Jake’s obviously tense interaction. Now that the stylist had left her and Paige alone, she could finally get her answer.

“Nothing.” Paige’s tone was nonchalant as she shrugged and leaned forward to check herself in the mirror. With a critical eye at her lips, she frowned. “I’m not sure I like this shade of lipstick. In this light it looks a bit orange.”

“Paige.”

“What?”

“Were you rude to Jake?”

Paige put a hand to her throat and innocently widened her eyes. “Me? Rude? Why would you assume that?”

“Because I know you.” Melissa sighed. “I told you I don’t want you fighting my battles for me, remember?”

“It wasn’t a battle. More like a skirmish.” Paige shot her a wry grin. “He’s still standing, isn’t he?” She cleared her throat. “And moving on. How did the interview go yesterday afternoon?”

“Great. Erica didn’t mind meeting me for lunch. We went to that little café a block from my office. My boss let me use an hour of vacation with my lunch so it worked out well.”

“What kind of questions did she ask?”

“The usual. What motivated me to change my lifestyle, my exercise routine, that kind of thing.”

“Did she ask you about Jake?”

“Yes.”

“And what did you tell her?”

“The truth. That he’s a big part of my success.” Paige rolled her eyes. “It’s true,” Melissa said, lowering her voice as the photographer’s assistant, Carter, walked past them and adjusted one of the lights in front of the area the photographer had designated for his shots. “Jake believed in me at a time when I wasn’t so sure I could make such a huge change in my life. He got me off the diet rollercoaster and enabled me to start listening to my body signals. Most other trainers would have put me on another diet.”

“Oh. All right. I guess he helped,” Paige said grudgingly. “But I still think he’s an asshole for what he did to you.”

Melissa reached for Paige’s hand and squeezed it gently. “Thanks for having my back.”

Paige’s eyes softened. “Always. But from here on out, I’ll honor your wish and let you fight your own battles. You’re right. You don’t need me to do that for you anymore.”

Thirty minutes later, Carter put his fingers to Melissa’s chin and turned her head just slightly.

“Thank you,” the lanky, balding photographer, Delano Black, said approvingly and then snapped a couple of shots after Carter stepped out of frame. “Now we’ll get a few of you standing.” As Melissa rose from the raised stool they’d brought in for her to perch on, Black put a finger to his goatee-covered chin and tapped several times. “You’re an attractive woman, Melissa.”

Her cheeks warmed under his intense scrutiny. “Thank you.”

“But I’m baffled as to why you’re being featured in the weight-loss issue when it’s obvious to everyone you still have quite a number of pounds to lose.”

Dead silence filled the room. Dumbfounded, Melissa glanced at Paige, who had taken a seat at the makeup table. Her eyes were as hard as granite and her posture, just as rigid. It had to be killing her to remain silent, but she was keeping her promise and letting Melissa stand up for herself. Neither of them imagined the opportunity would arise so quickly.

The heat from the lights burned into Melissa’s skin like the harsh rays from a desert sun, or maybe it was her white-hot anger washing over her. Anger that some asshole felt it perfectly acceptable to impose his standards of what a woman should look like onto her. For the majority of her life she’d encountered people like Delano Black and she was sick of it—sick of being considered a second-class citizen because of her size.

“Mr. Black, I’m being featured in the transformational issue because I’ve worked hard to change my life and the choices I make when it comes to my health. It’s not about the number of pounds I’ve lost, or if I can fit into a single-digit dress size. It’s not about having a thigh gap, or if I can see my collarbones sticking out of my skin. What it
is
about is listening to my body and caring for it like the precious gift it is.”

Her body hummed with barely suppressed fury as she continued in a strong clear voice, “You may think I need to lose more weight, but
I
don’t. I’m perfectly happy with my body
and
my weight, and my doctor feels the same way. So the next time you feel inclined to rudely and publically criticize a woman’s appearance, you’d better think twice because not everyone shares your opinion.”

“On the contrary, Ms. Atherton, I think you’ll find that the majority of people do share my opinion.” Unruffled by her rebuke, he glanced at the large glass window that separated the room from the cardio area and gestured with his hand. “All those people out there exercising, for instance. I’m sure if we asked any one of them, they’d be apt to say that despite your recent weight loss you’d still be considered obese.”

“Why don’t you ask me?”

Melissa nearly jumped out of her skin as Jake moved to stand beside her. He slipped a protective and comforting arm around her waist and focused his attention on Black. “I’m Melissa’s trainer and the owner of this gym. In my opinion, she’s at an acceptable weight for her height and body type. If she were so inclined, she could lose more weight, but it would take restrictive dieting and excessive exercise. The two main behaviors that lead to eating disorders.” Jake paused. “Do you think
that’s
healthy, Mr. Black?”

Melissa let her gaze skim over the assembled group surrounding them. All eyes were on Black. His irritated expression spoke to his displeasure at being taken to task in front of everyone. He hadn’t cared when he was the one doing the insulting, but now the tables were turned and he was in the hot seat.

“I’ve seen what some women go through to attain what society deems as the perfect body,” Jake said, as Black remained silent. “There’s a woman who comes into my gym at least two times every single day. Three if she feels she ate too much at lunch or dinner. She’s not overweight. But she’s scared to death of gaining even one pound so she does cardio until she can barely stand after she’s done. Is that the kind of life you’d wish on a woman you cared about?”

Black looked around the room as if in a silent plea for support. No one came to his aid. Not his assistant, not Suzanne Lyn, not the stylist and definitely not Erica, the writer.
She
was too busy scribbling notes in her steno pad. In light of the magazine’s mission to promote health, rather than focusing solely on attaining what society deemed to be the perfect body, Melissa had a feeling Erica would ensure his rude behavior would be chronicled in the next issue.

“I think we’re done here.” Black’s tone was cold. Like most bullies, he didn’t enjoy being called out for his behavior. “Carter, pack up the equipment. I’ll be waiting for you in the van.”

“Are you okay?” Jake asked softly as Carter disengaged the camera from the tripod, and Suzanne hurried over to Erica, shooting a hostile look to Black as he left the room.