Page 44

Bryant

Abby clearly had no idea what kind of gym I run. She spins to face me after spotting the boxing ring, and her head tilts.

I chuckle, my hand twitching with the urge to wrap it around her lower back and pull her into my chest.

“We do boxing and MMA training,” I say, shrugging. “But if we continue around that wall over there, we’ll get to the exercise equipment.”

“Oh,” she says, nodding.

Echo leans against my calf, barking at a couple of guys who come around the corner from the locker rooms on their way out.

“Hush, don’t be rude,” Abby says, bending to pat Echo’s head. “If you’re noisy, I’m going to have to take you back to the apartment.”

“She’s no trouble. She was just saying hello.” I laugh. “Hopefully she won’t mind relaxing in my office while we decorate.”

“Here’s hoping she doesn’t whine or bark the entire time.” Abby stands, rolling her shoulders back.

“Ehh, almost everyone wears headphones while they’re on the equipment, anyway.” I shrug. “My office is a decent distance from the ring, so I doubt it’ll bother them.”

Even if they can hear her, they’ll deal.

I want to spend time with Abby, and the entire reason we brought Echo is so she wouldn’t bark while Abby was gone and annoy the restaurant guests.

* * *

I’m going to get so much shit from the guys currently sparring in the ring, but it’ll be worth it. Christmas music plays through the Bluetooth speaker I dug out of my office for just this occasion.

I had no idea that Abby would take decorating the gym so seriously. She checked out the decorations and lights, then carefully circled the gym, coming up with a game plan.

Now I’m her assistant, following her around like a puppy, and damn if it isn’t the most fun I’ve had in a long time.

Her electric scent makes my whole body buzz with a weird energy that I’ve never experienced. It’s unexpected but not unwelcome. I just don’t know what the hell it means.

I’ve met omegas who smelled good before.

This is different.

It’s almost a yearning to be in her presence, and when I am, I ache to touch her.

The latter part is inconvenient.

We aren’t there yet, but I’m laying on the charm and doing my best to get her comfortable with me.

All three of us are.

Christmas is just around the corner, and not one of us likes the idea of her staying at the apartment alone. Hell, we aren’t particularly pleased with her living above the bar at all.

I’ve kicked myself many times for not bringing her directly to our house the day the storm was about to hit. At the same time, that would have felt predatory.

Lawson may have ended up sharing space with her at the apartment, but it was an accident. I can’t help but think that she agreed to stay at the apartment because she believed she would be alone.

“Okay, I’m ready for another,” she says, holding out her hand as she waits for me to place an ornament on her palm.

It’s cute as hell.

She’s perched on the step stool, and even then, she really has to stretch to reach the garland lining the top of the front window.

I didn’t have the heart to tell her that I could have reached the garland without even having to stretch.