In the Alpha’s Arms

Negotiations

“Oh, are we negotiating now?” He played it cool, but Lita could tell he perked up. The gym could obviously use the money to work on the exterior, she assumed. This was the pressure point she’d already planned for. Her parents were expecting her to pick an upscale gym anyway, they wouldn’t even bat an eyelash at the price, whatever it was.

“I want to join the gym—the fight club—and I’m willing to pay for it. Money’s not an issue.”

Lita really hated to play the money card. It wasn’t like she was one of those socialites that only cared about shopping and Instagram. And she wasn’t a snob like her parents. But money had its uses. It inevitably opened a lot of doors that would have otherwise remained closed for her. Especially when men wouldn’t take her seriously and that had happened more times than she could count. She often had to find ways outside of her temper to get things done.

“I don’t negotiate with terrorists, lady,” he smiled like he’d caught a fish on a hook. He didn’t see that he was the fish.

“I have done nothing. All I did was step foot in the gym and already I’m a terrorist?”

“You step foot in here and disrupted half the workouts—” he nodded his head to the larger gym and Lita saw that most of the men were watching. Some laughed, some nudged each other. But no matter what they were doing, it was clear they had all stopped working.

“The attention span of a man is not my problem,” Lita said plainly, “I’ll pay double the yearly membership fee upfront if you let me train here. C’mon, every gym has beginner classes. Or at least personal training?”

“Not us,” he shrugged, “This ain’t the place for beginners and this ain’t the place for a clueless girl with as much muscle as a chihuahua.”

That stung, and Lita didn’t suppress the flinch. He saw the reaction and softened a fraction, “Look, I can recommend another gym if you let me write it down.” He turned toward the desk outside the office area and Lita followed.

I have to

said something suspicious, “Why? Why are you willing to pay so much? Why do

social media news about your famous fighter, James Dillard. He trained here, right?” Lita had to think on her feet, and she wasn’t very good at it. As soon as he’d applied a little pressure to her reasoning, she’d gone and said the last fucking name she wanted anyone to know about. James was her reason for being there, but not in

got the address? You’re one of

of what?” her stomach clenched. Did he somehow know the truth? Was her plan going to fall apart

psycho fans, looking for a connection with a dead fighter?” he spat the words as if it disgusted him. That made two of them. “Or… are

ring bunny? She wondered who she could ask about that. She was sure from his expression she

didn’t approve of whatever he thought of her. But the suspicion melted from his eyes once he labeled her, “Triple the yearly fee. Man, I thought your kind moved on to the next best

nearly a year already since she’d last seen him. She lightly fingered the tattoo

Lita shrugged, “So what’s it to be, do we

turned to face her and immediately it felt like he overshadowed everything. She forgot about the gym, about her reason for being there. Lita even forgot about the annoying conversation she’d

from head to toe and his eyes hardened, nostrils pinching angrily. It was apparent that he didn’t like her, though, for the life of her, Lita couldn’t say why. She stole a brief glance down at herself and

taller than the Gymhead by another half foot. She could see the bulk and definition of his body—every bit built for

he glared at her, rubbing the side of his jaw in what seemed to be confusion. He made her palms sweat with an unfamiliar heat.

asked, her voice shakier than she would have liked. She turned to Gymhead and waited. Lita started getting more anxious. She couldn’t lose focus. Not for a second. Gymhead turned around to

beginners. So, you’ve gotta go.” Gymhead grumbled as he turned his attention back to her, trying to backtrack his way to the original point: Lita wasn’t

the absurd idea when she sat in the parking lot and there was a tiny petty part of her that wanted

the menace behind Gymhead. No, he definitely didn’t make her feel calm. In fact, he made heat grow at the base of her spine. Definitely not calm, but he was one man. It wouldn’t be hard to avoid him. However, being surrounded by these other muscular men helped her emotions. She felt safer than she had in a long time. Like that familiar presence