Total pages in book: 35
Estimated words: 33577 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 168(@200wpm)___ 134(@250wpm)___ 112(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 33577 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 168(@200wpm)___ 134(@250wpm)___ 112(@300wpm)
Picking up her phone, she texted him. Daddy. I’m on my way home.
I’m glad to hear it, Little girl. I’m delayed at the gym on Cincinnati Street. Want to come meet me here and I’ll show you around? We can grab some dinner.
She’d wanted to see the place he’d created for a long time. Boxing was violent and scary to her, but it was part of her Daddy. Hopefully, the only thing getting hit in there tonight was one of those hanging bags. I wonder if he’ll let me kick one of those?
On my way, Daddy.
Call when you’re parked. I’ll come walk you in.
She sent him a salute emoji and found the address for her GPS. In a flash, Melissa was on her way. Singing to the radio as she drove, Melissa enjoyed the signs of the holiday season—the lights, decorations, people shopping...
Oh! She needed to get her Daddy something for Christmas. It couldn’t be anything too expensive. She didn’t have the money for that, even though Rocky wouldn’t let her pay for anything. And what would she get him? He didn’t seem to spend money on frivolous things—but he wasn’t a miser, either. Deciding to watch him and find something perfect for him, Melissa belted out a couple of songs as she navigated through the crowd.
The gym was easy to find, and the parking lot was well lit. There was a group of young men hanging around at the front of the building. They were joking and having fun. She parked and saw a familiar figure emerge from that gathering. Grinning, she waggled her phone at him as she called.
“Good girl,” he said quietly as he answered the phone.
In seconds, he was at her door. She clicked the unlock button and allowed him to open the door. “Hi. This looks like a nice place. I thought you were one of the boxers,” she commented, waving at the group who watched them with great curiosity.
“I am one of the boxers, Little girl,” he said with a laugh.
“Why are they watching?”
“I’ve never brought a woman here. They know you’re special.”
She could only grin at him. He meant it.
“Come on, sweetheart. Let me introduce you and show you around. Start thinking about what you want for dinner. I can’t wait to hear about your day.”
In a few minutes, her brain whirled with so many names. There was no way she could remember all those. It was so obvious the staff and clients at the boxing center thought a lot of Rocky.
The building was well lit and incredibly clean and organized. Pockets of activities were scattered across the large interior. Energy filled the space. Her gaze darted from each different exercise. It definitely wasn’t the dingy, dark atmosphere she’d expected from the movies.
When they were alone, she asked, “How many of these gyms do you have?”
“There are two here in town. They’re on opposite sides. There are others scattered in different cities. I think there are seven now,” Rocky guessed.
“Do you visit all of them?”
“I do. I haven’t left town for a while for a very good reason, but I do try to spend time at all the gyms. They’re important to me.”
“Am I the good reason?”
“You are. I’ll take you with me on my next road trip. The weekends are the busiest times. That works for both our schedules,” he told her with a smile.
He’d thought of everything. Melissa felt the corners of her lips curve up in response. “I’d like that.”
When she’d seen everything, Rocky walked her back to her car. “Where do you want to eat?” he asked.
“There’s a new restaurant a client told me about. It makes like a hundred different types of macaroni and cheese.” She crossed her fingers behind her back, hoping he wouldn’t think it was too unhealthy.
“I can’t imagine that many varieties. Sounds like we need to check them out.”
“Yay! I’ll send you the name and address,” she said, typing on her phone.
“Thank you. I’ll be right behind you,” Rocky promised, opening her door for her to slide inside.
Debating all the different cheeses and ingredients she’d seen on the menu, Melissa drove toward the restaurant. She could see Rocky’s vehicle in her mirrors. Her final concoction decided, at least for the moment, Melissa turned into the parking lot.
A knock on her window made her turn and smile. Gosh, he was fast. Her gaze locked with someone much different from Rocky. It was him.
“Come on out. I thought I’d lost you.”
“My… my boyfriend will be here in a second. He’s the big boxer guy you met.”
“Right. Get out of the car,” he demanded, striking her window so hard, she automatically flinched away.
“Hey! Get away from her.” Rocky’s low voice held a menacing tone she’d definitely not heard before. Not even when the two men had squared off in the hallway.