Thrust by Victoria Ashley Read Free Book Online

friend did a lovely job, but I think we’ve kept you kiddos late enough. Go home and enjoy your night.”
    Yes! Yes! Yes!
    I smile small and tilt my head. “Thank you for having us. Please tell Mr. Crawford that we’ll have the disk ready in a week,” I say, while trying to stay calm and not too overly excited about finally getting out of here.
    She nods once and waves before walking away to join her husband at the table. She’s been away for less than two minutes and it already looks as if he misses her. Isn’t that something?
    Tori lets out a long, relieved breath next to my ear. “Thank fucking God.” She links her arm through mine, and then starts walking me toward one of the tripods. “Let’s get the hell out of here before I start to wrinkle just from looking at all of these old people. There’s old people everywhere and it’s seriously starting to freak me out.”
    Tori and I pack up our equipment faster than we’ve ever packed up at a wedding before. By the time we get in my jeep, my cell phone already reads two past eight.
    “Shit, I need to hurry.” I shove my key into the ignition and hurriedly pull out of the parking lot. It’s about a ten-minute drive to downtown Chicago and I still have to change into my new workout gear.
    Tori looks up from typing on her phone as I impatiently tap the steering wheel when the car in front of us slows down. “Don’t get your titties all twisted. Why the rush?”
    I scrunch my forehead and concentrate hard on the road. “I’m late for my training session at the gym. It’s rude to be late. I don’t want to leave a bad impression.”
    “I bet you don’t, hussy.” I hear her typing fast on her phone to whom I’m sure is to be Brad. “I bet Mr. Sexy is ready to work you. I may just need to go to the gym with you sometime so I can get a look of this fine piece of man meat.”
    I laugh at her choice of words. “I’m sure we’ll run into him in the building sometime and you can meet this man meat. He does live on the tenth floor,” I remind her. “No need to twist your arm to get you in the gym.”
    “True,” she says uncaringly. “Maybe he’ll be at the bar or something and you can introduce us. Then I can see who has my roomie all flustered and fluffin’ the muffin.”
    I stop a little too abruptly at the stoplight, my face turning beet red. I haven’t mentioned the events of Monday night to her yet so she really has no idea just how turned on and flustered he truly has me. I’m not really sure how to explain, so I won’t. Not yet. “You talk a lot. You know that?”
    “Oh you’re just embarrassed because some guy finally has your lady parts working. There hasn’t been anyone in over two years. You really need to get out more.”
    I grind my teeth at her reminder. “It’s been by choice. I’m just not looking to date right now. When I am, I will look.”

    I FIND MYSELF RUSHING TO the gym door as soon as I jump out of my jeep. I have to catch myself from face planting when my feet hit the blacktop. That’s how fast my feet are shuffling right now.
    I’m already thirty minutes late and I was in such a hurry that I didn’t even bother stopping to send Kyan a message. I have no idea if he’ll be upset and I really don’t want him to think that I forgot about our session.
    When I look around me, the parking lot is empty; all except for an expensive looking motorcycle parked close to the building. It confuses me, causing my steps to slow. “Shit! Please don’t be closed.”
    I place my hand on the handle and pull, expecting it to be locked, but it easily opens, surprising me. A surge of hope rushes through me at the thought that I’ll at least get a chance to explain. I just hope the bike outside is his.
    Walking inside, I look around me, but don’t see anyone else in the gym. One of the tanning room lights are on as if someone may have recently gotten out, but besides that, it’s just rows of empty equipment.
    Once I get closer to the