Along Came Us (Man Enough) Read online

  “We need to take you to the Emergency Room.”

  “No, it’s not necessary. I told you, Tyler’s friend already was here working out and he looked me over. Really nice of him since we probably couldn’t afford the ER.”

  “I’d find a way if we needed to,” she said, slightly affronted at his lack of faith in her ability to care for him. They struggled, but they were far from destitute. “So what happened? Why are you here, and who did this to you?”

  She gingerly ran a finger over his hairline, checking him for wounds. It appeared the worst part was the shiner and split cheek. Averting her gaze, she tried to focus on his eyes, which wasn’t much easier, considering the left one was swollen to a slit. When he didn’t answer, she pressed.

  “Caleb?”

  “Just some assholes.”

  The edge to his words surprised her. “Well, that doesn’t answer my other questions. What are we doing in this gym? Did you fight here?”

  With a sigh, he draped an arm over his face, wincing when it made contact with his bruises.

  Lia blew out a breath and looked over the rest of his body. There was blood on his right arm and she wasn’t sure where it had come from. Possibly his face. Or was it someone else’s blood? No obvious signs of broken bones stood out to her, but his clothes were dirty and he just overall looked like hell.

  “Caleb, don’t ignore me. I left work to pick you up in this strange place. I deserve answers. Who did this, and I need more than ‘some assholes.’”

  Caleb shook his head, his arm still covering his eyes. “I don’t want to talk about who did it, Lia. Let’s just go home.”

  Her head jerked back, fury overtaking her previous sympathy. “Are you kidding me? What is going on with you?”

  “I got jumped, isn’t that obvious?”

  “Clearly! I’m not blind. But who did it? You don’t have any enemies.” Did he? She’d tried so hard to keep him safe and sheltered for the past year. They’d moved to an apartment she had trouble paying for just so he could live in a decent part of town. She kept strict rules in the house, made sure he did his homework, had a consistent curfew that he never broke since he rarely left home. They’d coexisted so effortlessly because Caleb had always been a perfect teenager. Or so she’d thought. Was she being naïve?

  His arm shot out, slapping against the back of the sofa as he leveled his angry glare on her. “How would you know if I have enemies? I never even see you.”

  Lia sat up straight, her lips snapping shut. She hesitated before finally responding. “That . . . wow. I guess that’s a fair statement. But you know, working two jobs and going to school full time is not my idea of living my best life, Caleb. I do it for us. For you. I thought we were on the same page here. Do I need to quit a job to keep you out of trouble?”

  Caleb turned his head to stare at the back of the sofa, his face full of irritation. Yeah well, the feeling was mutual, and the thing that pissed her off was that he was mad at her, when all she’d done was try to do the right thing. Standing up, Lia adjusted her skirt. She suddenly wanted to pace, to scream, to wring her hands. Instead she held herself together and tried to keep her voice even.

  “Let’s start from the beginning. I need to know what is going on. Because Caleb . . . I thought I could trust you.”

  “This is not my fault,” he growled, which surprised her. He pushed himself up off the cushion, holding his weight with his hands as he adjusted his body. Caleb was always so chill and laid back. Almost to a fault. This entire scenario was so unlike him, and her comment had clearly set him on edge.

  “So why don’t you fill me in.”

  Caleb shook his head, scooting his butt back on the cushion. “Shit happens. Okay?”

  “No, it isn’t okay. And why are you acting like this? Maybe you have a concussion. I need to know who did this and why.”

  “So, you can do what, Lia? You won’t be there to protect me if it happens again!” His chin up tilted up, his face full of masculine teenage defiance. She’d never seen this side of him before. This . . . inner rage.

  “Why would this happen again?” she asked, shocked and confused.

  “Don’t worry. Next time he’ll know how to fight,” a deep voice said behind her.

  Lia jerked around and froze. Caleb muttered something unintelligible from the couch as she took in the incredibly handsome, yet intimidating man filling the doorway. He leaned against the doorframe, arms casually crossed against his wide chest and tattoos peeking out from his T-shirt just below a thick bronzy collarbone. His short-clipped dark hair made him look too severe, but she guessed that was his intention. Awareness sizzled through every nerve in her body.

  “Are you Tyler?” She was grateful her words had come out strong and steady instead of nervous, which was what she was feeling in this beast of a man’s presence.

  “I am. Tyler Cavallo. I own this gym.” He put out a hand, and Lia hesitated before finally shaking it. She hadn’t yet decided if they were friends or foes but her instincts were telling her to be on alert. His hand was warm against hers and when he released, she quickly yanked it back into her body, crossing her arms under her breasts.

  “What happened here?” she asked.

  He raised one eyebrow. “Nothing happened here. Caleb walked to the gym after getting jumped. He won’t tell me where it happened or who did it.”

  Lia jerked around to face her brother. “Why not?”

  “Because it doesn’t matter, Lia.”

  She had a lot to say in response to that, but Tyler spoke before she could.

  “A client of mine was here when Caleb came in. He’s a doctor and I asked him to look Caleb over as a favor.”

  “Thank you,” she muttered. “I’m afraid he could still have a concussion.”

  Tyler nodded. “He does, but he’ll be fine.” He turned to Caleb. “Rest and fluids for a couple of weeks, then we can get back to work and help you prepare to defend yourself if this happens again.”

  “You have to be kidding,” Lia said to Tyler as he made his way to his desk chair and sat down. “How about we prevent next time from happening. And by we, I mean me, because while I appreciate you helping him today, I don’t know why Caleb came here, or how you know him, but he’s not coming back.”

  Tyler hesitated, glanced at Caleb and then leveled his gaze back on her. It was unsettling how thoroughly his blue eyes took her in. “Ma’am, Caleb has been coming here since April. There’s no reason for him to stop now.”

  “What?” And did he just “ma’am” her? She turned around to glare at her brother. “How have you been paying for this?”

  Caleb opened his mouth to speak, but Tyler cut him off. “It’s free.”

  Lia put a hand on her hip, her eyes narrowing on the man behind the desk. The last thing she was interested in was encouraging her brother to be violent. Or a freeloader. “Nothing is free. Do you really think I’m going to walk in here, see my little brother battered and bruised, and then agree to let him fight even more with some . . . some . . . random tattooed He-Man who I don’t know from Adam?”

  “Please understand that I’m not trying to cause a problem here. I just want to help Caleb.”

  “Help him do what? Become a thug?”

  Tyler stared at her for a second, his jaw going rigid, and she instantly regretted her choice of words. She knew nothing about this man, so it was unfair to judge, but he really had a lot of nerve. And the complete wrong approach. Caleb had grown up with violence, it was in his DNA, and Lia had every intention of helping it lay dormant inside him. This man in front of her was everything they didn’t need in their life. She could not believe her brother had been coming here right under her nose. What else had he been up to?

  After taking a deep breath, Tyler went on, turning his gaze to her brother. “Caleb, you can’t assume this won’t happen a third time.”

  Lia jerked around, gasping. The shit show just got better and better. “Third time? Oh my God! Caleb, is that true? Why are
you keeping secrets from me? And how do you know this man?” She jerked her gaze back to Tyler. “Do you know the guys who did this to him? Were you there? Are you in a gang? Is that what this is about?”

  Tyler’s lips parted as if he didn’t know how to respond. Behind her Caleb spoke up.

  “He actually used to be in a gang, which is why he feels this way about self-defense, Lia. Maybe he knows more about being a teenage guy than you do.”

  When Lia turned back to Tyler, he was shooting Caleb an annoyed glance. She started to process what her brother had just revealed about that man in front of her.

  “You used to be in a gang,” she said, her voice expressionless, her words a statement.

  “That was a long, long time ago. Not anymore.”

  Lia choked out a laugh. She had officially entered the twilight zone. “‘Not anymore.’ Right. So, you’re going to stand there, with your big muscles, and your scary tattoos, and tell me you’re not in a gang . . . anymore, and I’m supposed to trust you with the most important human in my life? I’m not sure you understand how this first-impression thing is supposed to work.”

  Tyler shook his head as if something was humorous, and stood up from his chair. He pushed his hands into his pockets. “Listen, let’s just agree that we both got off on the wrong foot.”

  “‘Both’?” she scoffed. “What are you judging me on?”

  “Maybe the fact that you allow the most important human in your life to constantly be alone? That he’s been coming here for months and you had no idea. I probably see him more often, know more about what goes on in his life than you do. When he needed help, he came to me. I’d say that’s solid grounds for judgment.”

  Embarrassment and shame burned through Lia’s chest. She sucked in a breath through her nose, words escaping her. Damn it, she was not going to cry.

  Was. Not. Going. To. Cry.

  And the only thing that would stop her was turning the emotion into fury. Easy enough, she had plenty to go around.

  “How dare you, you assuming, self-righteous dick. You don’t know jack shit about our life. What we’ve been through, what we’ve sacrificed.”

  The asshole standing behind his desk had the forthrightness to at least look apologetic. “You’re right. I don’t know about you, but you also don’t know about me. I did have a troubled childhood. Part of the reason why I allow teenage boys to come here and train for free. My way of giving back.”

  Lia’s head tilted to the side. She was nearly vibrating with anger. “Well, isn’t that precious.” She lifted an arm toward her brother. “Look at how well your influence is working on my brother.”

  He leaned his hands on his desk, muscles in his biceps straining. “You are choosing to miss the point here, Lia.” He stared at her, and being admonished by this asshole was so humiliating, especially when she knew there was some truth to his words. She wanted to slap him. Instead she just stared back as he went on with his bullshit. “You can be pissed off all you want, but the fact remains the same. Caleb is being targeted, so he has to learn to defend himself.”

  “Caleb, go to the car,” Lia said.

  “But—”

  “Please!” Things were about to get real between her and the handsome do-gooder. Plus, she needed a minute to collect her thoughts. With a sigh, Caleb pulled himself up off the sofa. He hissed out a breath at the pain as he moved, reminding her of what he’d gone through today. It made her heart ache to imagine how afraid he must have been, all the while she was peddling cash from loser perverts.

  She’d get to the bottom of what happened, but first she needed to give the man in front of her a piece of her mind. All her life she’d known to be wary of men. They weren’t to be easily trusted, if at all. No reason to change her tactics now, because not even a handsome face and could sway Lia Hanson.

  * * *

  This was going epically wrong.

  Tyler watched as Caleb collected his things off the floor and then focused back on the woman standing opposite him across the desk. Damn she was pretty. And hotheaded. Both were unexpected, and here he’d been so certain what kind of woman this absentee sister would turn out to be. Mainly irresponsible and uncaring.

  So much for assumptions.

  Lia quietly helped Caleb with his backpack and ran a hand over his shoulder. She was gentle with him. Loving and compassionate. And her obvious fear since coming into the building was evident. Tyler had been across the gym when he’d seen the beautiful woman in a short skirt and ratty flannel rush through the room like her life depended on it. Watched the way her shoulders had sagged when she laid eyes on her brother.

  Tyler had been surprised, but pleased that Caleb had felt comfortable enough coming to him for help after getting jumped. The young man had always been quiet at the gym. Came in, did his workout, and that was about it. Tyler had convinced him to do a few self-defense sessions, but it hadn’t ever turned into anything more. And he never really socialized much with the other kids. But he’d seemed to be a good listener, followed Tyler’s advice, and thanked him when he left. Every single time. That kind of maturity and manners were rare in young men these days.

  As Caleb made his way to the door, Tyler stepped around the desk and laid a hand on the kid’s back. “Hey, man. I mean it about taking it easy. And maybe no video games for a few days. Give your brain a chance to heal. Feel me?”

  Caleb nodded and threw a worried glance over at his sister who watched them with pursed lips. He obviously didn’t want to leave them alone. Interesting. And Tyler couldn’t help wondering who he was worried about, her or him. Caleb had to know his sister was safe with him, but there was no telling about his fate.

  As soon as Caleb was gone, Tyler turned to face Lia. Now that there was no longer a desk separating them, she took a step back. Instinctively, he glanced down at her legs, taking in her sparkly flip-flops and hot pink toenails.

  She was strikingly beautiful. The kind that of face that belonged on magazines, in music videos, and in the bra section of the Sears catalog. Now that really dated him, but those ladies used to keep him very entertained as a kid.

  And yet, as perfect as her made-up face was, everything else about her was a hot mess—as his receptionist liked to say. Her dark hair was in a crushed ponytail—some pieces sticking out, others plastered to her neck. Her flannel was ancient and big enough for two of her, and her sexy-as-hell legs were on full display under her surprisingly short skirt.

  “You done?” Her irritated voice pulled his wandering gaze up to her eyes, which were narrowed in on the fact that he’d been checking her out.

  Busted.

  “I like your pink toes,” he said, desperately trying to save face.

  “Uh-huh. I bet you do.” She crossed her arms, her facial expression totally calling his foul.

  Up close with her eyes spitting fire at him, he could see she wore a lot of eye makeup. The kind girls would put on when they went out on a weekend night, and something about the smoky, bold look felt off to him, like the flannel and the short skirt. It was pretty, but a bit too much for his taste. He was tempted to wipe it off her. Along with her scowl.

  “Let’s just get this over with. I want to be very clear with you. You are to stay away from my brother. I don’t want him coming in here, and I don’t want you contacting him.”

  Respecting her desire for distance, but wanting to make his own point clear, Tyler took a small step forward. Her eyes widened a bit, but she held strong and didn’t move an inch. He caught her scent this close, fruity, like when you walked past one of those lotion stores in the mall.

  “I’m not Caleb’s enemy, Lia.” He liked saying her name, and he noticed her frown deepened when he used it. She was icy, this one.

  “You might not be his, but you’re mine, now.” Unlocking her arms, she stuck out a finger, nearly touching his chest. It was tempting to step closer. He didn’t. “I’m not going to encourage violence of any kind. It doesn’t even make sense.”

  “Why is
he being targeted?” Tyler asked, taking control of the conversation. He wasn’t proposing that Caleb become a hit man or anything. Just that the teen knew how to protect himself. “Someone needs to figure out what’s going on.”

  Her hands flew up in frustration. “Do a couple fights have to mean he’s a target? Don’t boys sometimes get into tussles or something? He can just avoid them.”

  Tyler shook his head. “That’s not how it works. Boys like these are assholes. If they want to harass someone, they’ll find a way. This is the second time, so he is being targeted. We need to find out why.”

  “I need to find out why. You need to mind your own damn business.”

  Frustrating woman. He blew out a breath. “Calm down, I know you’re upset. And I get it, I shouldn’t have come in there talking about fighting the way I did. I don’t want Caleb to fight any more than you do. But there’s nothing wrong with a man being able to defend himself. I know that split open cheeks and concussions are not what you want for him, but if he doesn’t learn to fight back it might be even worse the next time.”

  Lia turned away, her eyes glistening. Damn it. He’d really been looking forward to finally giving this woman an earful, but now he just wanted to comfort her. A lock of hair slipped from her messy bun, into her eye, and before he thought better of it, Tyler reached up with one finger and slid it over. She instantly jerked back.

  “Don’t touch me.”

  “I’m sorry. That was . . . forgive me.” He hadn’t any right to touch her, and he knew he deserved her response. “I’m sorry our conversation turned out this way.”

  Her eyes softened, and for a moment he thought they might come to a truce.

  “Thank you for what you’ve done. Taking care of Caleb today, and letting him come here for free. But . . . I will not allow him to fight. He’s my brother and my responsibility, and I’ll make sure he’s safe. I don’t want your help.”