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  Falling for Tyson

  Working Class Billionaires - Book 2

  Erica Breyer

  Copyright © 2020 Erica Breyer

  All rights reserved

  The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.

  No part of this book may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without express written permission of the publisher.

  Cover design by: Mallory Crowe, Crowe Covers

  Copy Editor: Kate Kennedy

  To my Green-Eyed Monster...

  Never give up the fight.

  Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright

  Dedication

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Books By This Author

  Chapter 1

  “Oh, my God, Stacy, would you look at the size of her butt?” a voice whispered from behind Cassie as she bent and scrambled for the coins she’d just dropped. She felt her ears burn as she lowered onto her knees in front of the checkout counter, trying desperately not to spill her smoothie. Her hand jerked as she reached forward, and she ended up dropping her muffin as well.

  “Holy crap, Sash, talk about ‘junk in the trunk’!” another voice joined in. “She must’ve been taking out the trash!” The first voice joined in with a giggle, and Cassie could hear the women behind her making a half-hearted effort to muffle their laughter.

  ‘Horrible cows,’ she thought bitterly, setting her smoothie cup on the floor to one side as she tried to retrieve her belongings. It was bad enough that she had to build up the courage to bring herself to gym every day. The Lycra leggings were a challenge on their own, even though she tried valiantly to cover up with oversized t-shirts. But it was the snide comments and dismissive stares that really smashed her self-confidence.

  “Oh, Lordy, I’m never going to get my chai latte if this clown doesn’t get her act together,” the first voice – Sash – muttered. A pink Nike trainer swept past Cassie’s scarlet face, attached to a lean calf as the woman stepped over her and moved up to take a place at the counter. As she went, the toe of her shoe caught the top of Cassie’s cup and kicked the contents across the floor. “Oopsie,” Sash said breezily, making no attempt to help as the drink splashed over the tiles.

  “Oh, babe,” Stacy giggled, moving up to take a spot beside her friend, “it’s not like she needs it anyway.”

  Cassie made a grab for her sweat towel, mopping up the mess on the floor. The coins she’d dropped were now the least of her worries. Her muffin had rolled across the floor in front of her. Cheeks flaming, tears welling and threatening to spill, she reached for the ruined pastry blindly. Her fingers met with warm skin and she glanced up in alarm, staring at strong, tanned fingers and a tautly muscled forearm.

  “Here, let me get that for you,” a rich, baritone voice murmured.

  Cassie looked up. And stared straight into the greenest eyes she’d ever seen.

  ✽✽✽

  Tyson Killoran frowned as he watched the exchange going on at the gym’s juice bar in front of him. A pair of perky blondes were laughing like hyenas over something in front of them, and the sound jangled on his nerves. A pretty brunette had dropped something on the floor, and rather than helping, the nasty bitches were tearing into her like a couple of predators. From the expression on their victim’s face, it was only a matter of time before she burst into tears. He felt his jaw clench in anger. When one of the girls stepped over the brunette and kicked her cup over, he’d just about had enough. He moved forward and knelt in front of the woman, reaching her wayward muffin just before she curled her fingers around it. Such fine-boned hands and wrists, he thought, as he looked down. He was a sucker for elegant hands.

  “Here, let me get that for you,” he said, looking up into her face. He froze. Eyes like molten chocolate met his own. Eyes that were swimming with tears. For a moment, he felt as if he was looking into the face of a terrified deer and every protective instinct in him surged. He broke eye contact, tempted to shake his head and break the spell. He could tell that in another moment, those tears would spill, adding to her humiliation. There was no way he was going to let that happen in front of everyone here.

  “You don’t need to clean that up,” he said to her, taking the sodden towel from her unresisting grasp. “I’ll get the cleanup staff to sort it out.” Rising smoothly to his feet, he picked up her gym bag and put a hand under her elbow, helping her up. He glanced over the shoulders of the pair of blondes at the counter, who were staring at him – finally speechless. “Joe, could you get the lady another smoothie, please?” he asked the guy in the small juice bar kitchen. “And a muffin, too, I think?” He looked back at the woman beside him. She wasn’t short but still had to tilt her head to look up at him. She gave a tiny nod, seeming bemused. “Yeah, a muffin…make it two. The ones with the chocolate chips.” He winked at the woman, and her expression seemed to ease a little.

  “Thank you,” she murmured, her voice hesitant. They were the first words she’d spoken since the whole incident started. “I…I really appreciate…” she trailed off, then smiled, and Tyson’s heart melted a little. Her voice was sweet, warm, her words slightly clipped, as if holding the trace of a foreign accent. British, he imagined, though she hadn’t spoken enough for him to get a better handle on it. He could guess she wasn’t going to say much more without prompting.

  “I’m Ty,” he said, “Tyson Killoran. I run a class here.” He jerked his head in the direction of the studios that ran along the back of the gym. Her eyes widened slightly as she glanced over to where he’d indicated. Those studios were dedicated to the specialized fitness classes. Spinning, boxing, yoga…martial arts. It occurred to him that she didn’t need to know that he was the consulting MMA trainer. She already looked terrified, and so many people got the wrong impression when they found out what he did for a living. He handed over her gym bag and smiled again, hoping it would soften his expression. ‘Ease up, Killoran,’ he told himself. Smiling didn’t come naturally to him, and he hoped he didn’t look like some sort of deranged killer.

  Joe had emerged from around the counter with the new order, easing the tension, and he gave an inward sigh of relief as she reached for the bag with her items. The women at the counter were whispering again, but this time they had the good sense to keep it down. He doubted he’d have the self-restraint not to chew them out if they opened their mouths. Though he suspected they knew better than to start in again.

  “I’m sorry, I didn’t get your name,” Tyson continued when Joe had left. For some reason, he couldn’t bring himself to let her go without knowing who she was. Those eyes…those eyes just floored him.

  “I’m Cassie,” she said simply, clutching the bag of food to her chest. Her tote bag hung awkwardly over her shoulder, and he resisted the urge to take it from her. For a minute, he considered offering to walk her to her car, but that seemed like a step too far.

  “Cassie,” he repeated and tried another smile. He fumbled around mentally, tr
ying to find a reason to stretch the conversation out. The bustle in the dining area had slowed down, and attention had shifted from them now, although he was aware of the sidelong glances the two women were still shooting their way. He reached for his wallet and pulled out a business card. One of his personal cards. “Cassie, I offer one-on-one training if you’re ever interested. Here’s my number. You’re welcome to give me a call.” The words came out before he could think about them.

  ‘Jesus, what are you doing?’ his inner voice demanded. He never took on one-on-ones from this place. Never trained anyone outside of this gym unless they were about to be the next big thing on the MMA circuit. Then they’d get the nod for his own private club. His string of fighters were some of the most respected in the ring. His waiting list of potential clients was a mile-long – and some of them would never make the cut. He just didn’t waste his time on anyone he didn’t think would get to the top. Yet here he was offering his card to a complete stranger in a coffee shop. She took it hesitantly, and their fingers brushed. Those incredible eyes widened again, and he noticed they were framed by lashes as long and thick as a doe’s.

  ‘Tread lightly, you fool,’ he warned himself. ‘This one’s fragile.’

  ✽✽✽

  Cassie stared up at the man in front of her, fumbling for words. Man? Holy heck, this was no man. ‘Greek god’ might seem more appropriate. ‘Adonis’ and ‘Sex on Legs’ also came to mind. She reached for the card he was extending toward her and almost jerked when their fingers touched. For a second, she expected to hear the crackle of electricity.

  “I…I… Thank you,” she said, then went silent again. ‘Oh, my word, he must think I’m simple,’ she thought to herself. ‘Is it even humanly possible to be so sculpted?’ she wondered. His black tank-top clung to a chest that must have been carved out of stone. His shoulders… ‘Oh lord, his shoulders…’ Cassie had always had a thing for them. Broad, rounded, well-muscled. He ticked all the boxes. Every. Single. One.

  A dark tangle of ink wrapped around one thick bicep, but Cassie didn’t dare try to get a better look. She was pretty sure she’d never be able to tear her eyes away. Men like this didn’t appreciate being ogled by women like her. Of course, he’d stepped in to help…just another opportunity to do a bit of self-promotion. She clamped down a small swirl of annoyance.

  “So, then…you’re good?” he was saying to her. She nodded mutely, the bag still against her chest; she was afraid if she moved, her gym tote would swing free, and she’d drop everything again. She was pretty certain if that happened, she would absolutely die on the spot. “Then…” he seemed to be looking for words, “then, I guess I’ll see you around?” Was it a question? She nodded, uncertain of how else to respond.

  “Sure,” Cassie murmured. He was reaching for his own bag on the floor beside them. Something black, with bright orange logos emblazoned across it. She didn’t bother catching the detail because she was too busy trying to ignore the way the muscles and tendons of his thighs tautened and bunched. Of course, he was going to bend at the knee to lift up a weight. ‘That’s what all the articles tell you,’ she grumbled inwardly, using the thought as an excuse to stop herself from drooling. ‘Just get out of here,’ she told herself. “Thanks again,” she mumbled, turning to leave. “I…I…thanks…g’bye.” Cassie snapped her mouth shut and marched in the direction of the exit, painfully aware of his eyes on her back as she left.

  Chapter 2

  Cassie heaved a sigh; there was no sense in resisting. Natalie had made up her mind, and that was all there was to say about it.

  “So, then you’ll come, darling?” her best friend asked, her voice issuing from the speaker while Cassie unloaded her laundry from the drier.

  “Yeah, yeah, I’ll come, Nat,” Cassie conceded. Sunday had dawned bright and beautiful, and she had to admit, she’d be silly to pass up a trip to the beach. She’d spent the previous day cleaning her apartment, and she didn’t have a real excuse not to go out and have fun.

  “You know you’re going to love it. All the usual gang will be there. I’ve packed a picnic with enough for both of us, so you don’t need to bring anything except your lovely self,” Nat said.

  Cassie wrinkled her nose. ‘The usual gang’ included a colorful assortment of friends from their student years, along with several acquaintances she’d made while dating Colin. The thought made her gloomy. Her ex hadn’t been on the scene for six months, but she still got depressed thinking about him. She’d really thought he’d be ‘the one’. They’d dated for nearly two years, and when he’d suggested dinner to discuss ‘something important’ she’d assumed he was going to ask her to move in with him. Turned out, he was ditching her. Over dessert. She’d never be able to eat crème brûlée again.

  Okay, maybe she would. But it wouldn’t be the same.

  “Cass? Are you there, darling?” Nat’s voice intruded into her thoughts. Cassie shook her head to clear it.

  “Yes, I’m here, just folding my unmentionables.”

  Nat sniggered. “Don’t mention the unmentionables! Okay, then I’ll see you in an hour?”

  Cassie glanced at her watch. “Yip,” she answered, folding the last of her clothes. She’d have just enough time to dress and head over to Nat’s place. “I’ll bring a bottle of Chardonnay. Be there in a bit.”

  ✽✽✽

  When Cassie got to Nat’s chic little apartment, she’d changed into a cheerful pink sundress with matching sandals and a wide-brimmed straw sun hat. The unending gym sessions hadn’t turned her into a swimsuit model yet, but she was sure her arms and calves were more toned. Regular lunch-hour walks had given her a touch of color from the sun too. She would never have admitted it out loud, but she was feeling quite pretty. Nat echoed the thought when she opened the door.

  “Ooh, look at you! All pretty in pink, darling,” she cooed as she hugged her friend and kissed her cheek. Cassie dimpled happily but brushed off the compliment by holding up the wine bottle.

  “I brought a bottle of the good stuff! You ready to go?”

  Nat nodded and stepped back inside for a moment to gather her belongings. She huffed as she heaved a heavy-looking picnic basket out the door, then turned to reach for her bag. “Shall we take my car?” she asked, and Cassie nodded, grasping one of the handles of the basket to help carry it.

  “Good grief, did you pack enough for everyone?” she asked. Nat chuckled.

  “Rather too much than too little, sweetie!”

  They shared the fifteen-minute trip in happy conversation, unloading their bags once they arrived at the stretch of beach that had become a favorite summer meeting place.

  “Nat! Cass!” a young woman called as they headed down the path to their regular picnic spot.

  “Hey, Rox!” Nat called back as they reached the group. A flurry of greetings and hugs were exchanged as the pair settled into place, laying out towels under an oversized beach umbrella. Cassie poured them both a tumbler of wine, and Nat started setting out snacks on a platter.

  “Ahh, this is the life!” sighed Cassie as she lounged comfortably on a sun-soaked beach towel. A couple of the guys had brought surfboards and were paddling out to where the waves were swelling. “Hey, is that Andy out there?”

  “Mmhmm,” replied Nat, her eyes fixed on the man in question. Although they’d known each other for ages, Nat and Andy had recently been on a few dates, and Cassie knew her friend had developed a huge crush. She was thrilled. They made a great couple. The pair watched as he caught a wave and deftly maneuvered the board through the foaming water.

  “He’s looking…fit,” said Cassie, with a grin.

  “Mmhmm,” Nat said again. Andy had reached the shoreline and was heading up the beach at a jog, the sun shimmering across his wet, bronzed skin. Cassie handed Nat a paper towel, and her friend looked up and frowned in confusion. “What’s that for?” she asked.

  “You’re drooling,” Cassie giggled and leaned away as Nat swatted at her. Andy had reached the
edge of their towels and shook himself off like a happy dog, splashing them with droplets.

  “Hey!” exclaimed Nat, wiping her face.

  “Hello, ladies,” Andy said, grinning. Compact and athletic, he had the brightest blue eyes and a face that seemed designed for laughter. Yip, he and Nat were made for each other. Cassie often told her friend she had a smile that was visible from space. Andy looked over at Cassie. “Good to see you, Cass,” he said. “You haven’t been around for ages. Work been manic?”

  Cassie’s career was demanding. She’d recently been promoted to Communications Director for the international marketing firm she worked at. As the youngest director in the company, she constantly felt the pressure to perform. She nodded up at Andy, shielding her eyes from the sun.

  “Yeah,” she said. “Had a big launch for a cosmetics brand this month. And the usual stuff. You know…budgets, meetings, all that boring admin.” She rolled her eyes. She wasn’t going to add that she’d steered clear of the group for a while after her split with Colin. Aside from avoiding a possible meeting, the extra work kept her too busy to think about him. At the rate she was going, she’d be in line for another promotion soon.