Free Fighting History (Fighting For Love Book 4) by Marysol James Page A

ways. That had all been the real deal.
    And if she were being honest, he’d been fully behind the girls, too. He’d offered Katie some great ideas on some of her photos which had improved the aesthetics; he’d found Mia some writing work; he’d asked a friend of his to commission some paintings from Reena. Joe was a chef and a creative soul, and he got that about Maggie and her friends, and he’d really liked the girls. If Reena was hurting now, then Joe hurt for her, too. Maggie knew he’d listen to her talk now, if she asked him to.
    But I’m not going to ask him to do that. He was amazing in that way when we were together, but that’s not his job anymore.
    When Maggie emerged, Joe was standing in front of the apsara. He was still and silent, and she paused. She recognized that posture: he was fiercely concentrating on something, thinking hard, and she didn’t want to interrupt him.
    She leaned against the wall, crossed her arms loosely. She gazed at Joe’s broad back, and admired the muscles which were clearly visible even through his loose white t-shirt. His ass looked amazing in those jeans, too, she was irritated to see.
    He was a gym enthusiast – or he had been when she’d known him – and from the looks of his body, not much had changed that way. Her sculptor’s eye took in every curve, every plane, every part of his toned definition. Joe Carlisle was an attractive man, still. It annoyed her, and it made her more determined than ever to not be attracted to him.
    He turned suddenly, caught her staring at him. A second too late, she dropped her gaze and blushed, hoping that he hadn’t seen the heat in her eyes.
    “So,” she said, trying to sound normal. “What do you think?”
    Joe felt a half-grin twitching on his lips, and he suppressed it. If she thought he was laughing at her, she’d kill him. But that look he’d caught on her face? God, he recognized it: pure want, deep need, hot desire.
    She still finds you physically attractive. Too bad she finds you personally repugnant.
    “She’s amazing, Maggie,” he said. “I love the details… the delicate anklet, the folds in the material wrapped around her waist.” He ran his long finger over the length of one leg. “What I’ve always loved about apsaras is their curves… they’re not skinny little goddesses, you know? They have hips and thighs and breasts.” His eyes met hers. “My idea of a perfect woman.”
    She swallowed hard.
    Joe looked back at the sculpture. “So when will you get to the top half?”
    “I figure it’ll be totally finished in about two weeks.”
    “Fast.”
    “Yeah, well. I have one hell of a deadline.”
    “I know.” He smiled at her. “Thank you, Maggie.”
    That startled her. “For what?”
    “For this amazing work… it’s beautiful. I knew you’d give me something stunning, but you’ve surprised me. She’s – she’s gorgeous.”
    “You’re welcome,” Maggie said, taken aback at how soothing she found his words. How much she’d needed that encouragement and belief in her. “It’s actually been a pleasure working on her.” As she said it, she realized that despite everything going on in her life, all the craziness and stress, it was absolutely true.
    “You’re enjoying it?” Joe asked.
    She smiled, a real smile. “I am.”
    “I’m glad.”
    She stared over at him, and she suddenly wanted to give him something too; a small offering, a little gift. “Can I tell you something without you getting angry?”
    “Sure.”
    “I lied to you. About not eating carbs.”
    He hadn’t been expecting that , and confusion furrowed his brow. “You what now?”
    “I lied, that day you brought me the croissants. I – I still eat croissants. Most mornings, actually.”
    “So why’d you tell me you didn’t?”
    “Because you were being really nice and it pissed me off and I didn’t want to accept your stupid croissants.”
    He blinked, astonished, then he burst in to laughter. She joined him, and