Total pages in book: 113
Estimated words: 107012 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 535(@200wpm)___ 428(@250wpm)___ 357(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107012 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 535(@200wpm)___ 428(@250wpm)___ 357(@300wpm)
He’s pretty tall. His hair is cut in low brown curls. If I’m honest, he looks like he could be Ciara’s brother. It’s the nose and the lips.
“Hey, kid. How old are you?” I ask as we move down the steps.
“I turn twelve next week.”
I nod my head as I do the math in my head. Cadlha heads right for me as we get down to the gym, breaking right into my thoughts. I hold a hand up and take a step back as she tries to step into my space.
“Dylan, I was hoping to see ya today. I thought ya might be gone by now. Do ya want to get a bite to eat tonight with me?” she sings as she bats her lashes at me.
I had planned to leave. I was on my way out when Taegan and the kid walked into my office. I try to be gone before Cadlha comes in on Thursdays and Fridays. That or I remain out of sight until I know she’s gone.
“I love you guys’ accents around here,” the kid says with a huge smile on his lips.
“You don’t know anyone with an Irish accent?” I ask, thinking of Ciara’s heavy accent when we were little.
If this kid were her brother, he would surely have been around one all the time. Damn, I think I’m losing my mind.
“Nope. Miss Taegan is the first person I’ve ever met with one.”
I chuckle. “Don’t let her hear you call her that.”
“Who’s this?” Cadlha asks.
“A friend. I’m busy. I’ll talk to you later. Come on, I have a pair of gloves for you over here,” I turn to say to the kid.
Ignoring Cadlha, we grab the gloves, and I tape his hands then mine before we climb into the ring. I’m immediately impressed.
He’s good. He reminds me of myself in the beginning. I had been good when Ciara’s dad started me out. I got better after coming to America.
“Keep your hands up. That’s it. We could work on your stamina, but you have the basics. Great footwork, kid,” I coach as we’ve been sparring for a while.
“You would be willing to work with me?” he says with wide eyes.
“I’ll need to meet your guardian, and you’d have to join the gym, but sure. I have an opening.” I shrug.
“Cool, you can meet my sister when she arrives. I’ll ask her if it’s okay.”
A glance at the clock tells me an hour has gone by. Suddenly, the air is sucked right out of the gym. I turn to look toward the door and nearly stumble back.
In walks the most gorgeous girl I’ve ever seen. She’s dressed in a pink pencil skirt and a white, silky-looking sleeveless blouse. Her dark hair is curled into deep waves that are layered, causing it to flow and bounce around her pretty face.
She looks around the gym frantically until her gaze lands on the kid in the ring with me. Relief comes over her face. My heart is hammering so fast I think it may give out on me.
“Ciarán,” she breathes as she rushes to the side of the ring.
The kid whips around, causing me to knit my brows. He told me his name was Chris. Although he did stutter when saying it, as if he was going to say something else.
My mouth falls open as I look down at the gorgeous girl who must be his sister. She’s a tiny little thing; the black patent leather heels on her feet only help her a little in the height department, even though they look to be pretty high.
However, her height isn’t the reason I’m standing here in shock. It’s her. It has to be. Ciara has just walked right into my gym.
CHAPTER 12
Nagging Feeling
Ciara
I could kill my little brother in this moment. The Uber to get here cost me almost two hundred bucks. I didn’t want to risk getting lost on the subway. Besides, these heels weren’t meant for any of that.
So not only did I miss out on an interview to get a really good-paying job. I’m out two hundred bucks, which I could definitely use at this point. However, what pisses me off is the fact that I’ve walked in here and he’s dancing around in the ring with a smile on his face like he hasn’t a care in the world. The little stinker.
“Ciarán,” I breathe as I rush to the side of the ring.
He turns to look at me and his smile grows. My heart pangs. I never thought I would see him look so happy with a pair of gloves on while standing in a ring.
The guy he’s been sparring with seems to stumble forward, placing a gloved hand on Ciarán’s shoulder as if he’s using my brother to help keep himself upright. He’s one tall guy.