An Act of Redemption by K. C. Lynn Page B

what the hell am I saying? I fucking crave to see her, but every time I do it ends badly, and I hate causing her pain.
    I finish pulling on my shirt then take a deep breath before walking out into the gym. Like always, my first glance of her hits me like a blow to the chest and sucks the oxygen right out of my lungs.
    Jesus, she is fucking beautiful.
    Her soft yellow tank top and jean shorts compliment her warm skin tone and tight, lithe body. A body that I’ve missed almost as much as the girl herself.
    As if feeling the weight of my stare she looks up and her gaze collides with mine. Her soft brown eyes flare with surprise and something else, something that I can’t decipher. I break eye contact first, not wanting to see the pain and anger I know is to come, then head over to the ring and grab my stuff. As I’m shoving my shit into my bag I feel a soft finger trail down my arm. I look over and have to bite back a curse. Shit. This chick does not give up. Lindsay is her name, I think. No wait, Lana. No…Lauren? Oh who gives a fuck—the bitch is relentless.
    “Hey, Logan.”
    I want to cringe at her whiney voice but manage to hold back. “Hey.”
    “What are you doing right now?”
    “Heading home.”
    “Want some company?” She tries to sound seductive but it comes out annoying and grates on my nerves.
    “Nope.”
    I feel her tense next to me but I don’t bother to look up. “Well maybe I could leave my number in case you change—”
    “I’m not interested.” Just like the last four fucking times.
    With a huff I hear her walk away or at least I thought so, but when I feel a hand on my arm again a moment later I fucking snap and turn on her. “Look, I said to fuck…” I trail off when I look into the face of an angel, the same one that haunts my dreams every night.
    “Sorry,” Anna apologizes softly, releasing my arm.
    “No, I’m sorry. I didn’t realize it was you.”
    “It’s okay.” I wait for her to say something, bracing myself for a confrontation. “So I was wondering if maybe you wanted to…um, well…” She releases a frustrated breath at her stammering and shakes her head. “Did you want to come with me to Grace’s pie bakery down the street to…talk?” Her offer renders me speechless and she takes it the wrong way. “Yeah, okay, never mind. Forget I asked.” She turns to walk away but I grab her arm before she can escape and it’s like a bolt of fucking electricity straight to my system. I can tell she feels it too, if her slight gasp is anything to go by. She glances down at where I touch her but I don’t let go.
    “Yeah, Anna, I’ll go with you.” I’d fucking go anywhere with her.
    “Okay, let me just say goodbye.”
    With a nod I step back and watch as she goes to retrieve her purse, my eyes glued to her incredible ass. When I finally pull my gaze away, I look up to see Jaxson glaring at me like he’s about to take me out. It’s a glare that I remember well, but I don’t let it deter me and shrug unapologetically.
    Anna walks over to him and wraps her arms around his waist. That sight used to really piss me off when we were first together. Actually, their entire relationship bothered me. She’s always had a hero worship thing for him. Don’t get me wrong, I was glad the guy was there for her, I just hated that someone else was that for her because I wanted to be the only one she turned to. But then I pulled my head out of my ass and accepted their relationship for what it was, and I’m glad she has him. Especially since I ended up fucking up and couldn’t be there for her anyway.
    I’m pulled from my thoughts as she walks over to me, and I realize I’ve been staring at her like an idiot. “You ready?”
    “Yeah.” I decide to leave my bag for now and gesture for her to go first.
    Just as we make it to the door Sarge calls out to her. “Hey, Anna girl, bring some pie back for Bandit and me, will ya? Just tell that sweet woman to put it on this guy’s