Read Online Too Hard to Break by Missy Jane - Free Book Online

what?”
    “Down yourself like that? Why would you say I can do better
when I think you’re pretty great?”
    My face heated and I couldn’t hold his gaze. He stood as I
spun to face the counter. His hands landed on either side of mine, his chest
barely touching my back. He was nearly as big as Hank and cocooned me within
his arms just as easily. But where Hank made me feel protected, Ben made me
uncomfortable. I leaned back to push him away but he wouldn’t budge.
    “Tell me why, Elle. Tell me why you don’t realize how
perfect you are.”
    The breath froze in my lungs and panic crawled up my throat.
I suddenly felt trapped by him and had to get away. “I-I’m not. Ben, move. Move
back now .”
    He stayed put for another second before finally backing
away. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to…scare you.”
    I forced myself to laugh it off but still didn’t turn to
face him. “I-I’m fine. You just shouldn’t crowd me like that.”
    “Sorry.”
    He might have said more, might have started asking again for
answers I didn’t want to give. But then Megan returned from her kickboxing
class and I was saved.
    “Whew, that one kicked my ass,” she said.
    Ben and I both laughed as we took in her sweaty form. She
might complain every now and then but she loved leading the kickboxing class. I
did cycling and couldn’t handle much more.
    “Yeah? Anyone hit on you today?” Ben asked.
    She grinned and shook her head. “Nope. I think the others
learned their lesson after Sean gave that one guy a talking to.”
    “What?” I asked. “What did I miss?”
    “Megan had an admirer in one of her classes that kept asking
her out,” Ben said.
    “Yeah. I even told the guy I live with my boyfriend and he
wouldn’t listen. He just kept bugging me after every class.”
    Ben laughed and Megan rolled her eyes.
    “So after one of the classes Sean finally showed up and went
right up to her,” Ben said with a gleam in his eye. “Kissed her right there in
front of everyone and glared at the guy until he left. Then I heard he caught
up with him in the locker room and told him to back off.”
    “Oh my god! And Craig didn’t freak?” I asked.
    They both laughed and Megan shook her head. “Nope. He was
clapping Sean on the back like they were best friends. Seems he hates that
member, but of course he couldn’t ever tell him anything.”
    I laughed and shook my head, just imagining that scene.
Craig was the manager of the gym and our boss. He usually ran a tight ship but
could be counted on at the oddest times. He’d been really good to me every time
I had trouble with Declan.
    “Hey that reminds me, though I’m not sure why, when does
vacation time roll over?”
    Ben frowned and Megan shrugged.
    “I think next month but I can check,” she said.
    “Why? You going somewhere?” Ben asked.
    I scowled at him since it really wasn’t any of his damn
business, but he held my gaze. “I don’t know,” I finally said. “Hank asked and
I didn’t have the answer. I just figured it wouldn’t hurt to know.”
    “Ooh, is he taking you on vacation?” Megan asked.
    Ben frowned at her before walking away from the counter
without a word. I watched his back and wondered if I should have a
heart-to-heart talk with him.
    “What’s his problem?” Megan asked.
    “I dunno. He’s been acting funny but I think he wants to
take me out.”
    She laughed and dropped her towel in the hamper.
    “Are you kidding? He knows you live with Hank.”
    “He does?”
    “Hell yeah. Everyone does. It’s not like we could miss his weekly
visits.”
    I snorted out a laugh and relaxed. Hank did have a tendency
to drop in at least once a week and glare at every man in the place. Poor Ben
usually disappeared when that happened.
    “Yeah, I guess you’re right. I don’t know what he’s
thinking.”
    “You told him no, right?”
    I stopped straightening out new member folders to look at
her. “Huh?”
    “You told Ben to stop asking you out? You told