When You're Mine (The Gallaghers) Read online

  When You’re Mine

  Layla Hagen

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  ***

  When You’re Mine

  Copyright © 2020 Layla Hagen

  Cover: Uplifting Designs

  Photography: Regina Wamba

  Copyright ©2021 Layla Hagen

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form, including electronic or mechanical, without written permission from the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews. This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

  Table of Contents

  Copyright Page

  When You're Mine (The Gallaghers, #2)

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-one

  Chapter Twenty-two

  Chapter Twenty-three

  Chapter Twenty-four

  Chapter Twenty-five

  Chapter Twenty-six

  Chapter Twenty-seven

  Chapter Twenty-eight

  Chapter Twenty-nine

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  Chapter One

  Dylan

  “I’ll see you later. I need to find my trainer,” my sister Isabelle said. We were in one of Manhattan’s most exclusive gyms. They offered their clientele complete privacy, not that I needed it. Although I was successful in software, no one outside the industry knew me. But my sister’s fiancé, Brayden, did need the privacy. He was a famous rock star, and both wanted a place where they could train without the paps hounding them. I signed up today, mostly because it allowed me to hang out with my sister. Since Isabelle started dating Brayden, her life was turned upside down, and I knew she needed family time as often as possible. It was Isabelle’s way to cope, and honestly, it was also mine. Our family was very tight.

  “Sure. I’ll grab something to drink before hopping on the treadmill,” I replied.

  I headed toward the break room, glad the place wasn’t too crowded. It was three o’clock in the afternoon, and I made a mental note to train in the off-peak hours. The other reason why I’d signed up at this gym was that it was very close to my office and my apartment. Efficiency was essential for me.

  In the break room, I made a beeline for the drinks table. As I poured myself a glass of lemonade, I noticed a bombshell brunette on the other side of the room. She was wearing tight workout pants and a cutoff top, and I could tell something was wrong, even though she had her back to me. She was swaying wildly on her feet as if she were about to lose her balance. She grabbed the back of an armchair, and I set my glass back down, quickly moving over to her.

  “Are you okay?” I asked.

  “Yes.” Her voice was so weak that I barely heard it. She closed her eyes. I’d been right. She was about to faint.

  I secured an arm around her waist, pulling her tight against my chest. She went all soft in my arms. I looked around, ready to call for help, when she blinked her eyes open, whispering, “Okay. I'm a bit better now." She blinked a few more times, clearing her vision, I assumed, as she looked up at me. She was fucking gorgeous, with full pink lips and deep green eyes.

  “You should sit down,” I said.

  She nodded slightly, and I was happy she could support her own weight. Even though I still had a firm grip on her waist, I didn't want to risk her getting limp again. I lowered her on a comfortable armchair, sitting in the one right next to her.

  “Do you need water, sugar? Should I call someone?”

  “No, thanks. I'll be okay in a minute.” Her voice was shaky. Although she smiled, it wasn't reassuring at all.

  “I could still call someone.”

  She waved her hand, shaking her head and sinking a bit lower into the leather chair. Sweat dotted her forehead. Her hair was damp at the temples. "It's all my fault. I tried a juice diet. I wanted to see if it was something I could recommend to my clients. Clearly it's not."

  “What’s your name?”

  “Melanie Dawson.”

  “You work here, Melanie?” I asked.

  “Yeah. Yes, I do. I’m a personal trainer and a very good one. Especially when I don’t feel faint.” She sat up straighter, looking at me intently. A small smile played on her lips. “Can you keep my secret? I'll feel much better once I eat something, and it won't do my reputation any good if word gets around that I’m a fainter.”

  “Your secret is safe with me,” I assured her. “I'll bring you some snacks from the table. What do you want? I think I saw some fruit and nuts and something that resembled bread.”

  She adorably scrunched her nose. “No, it’s gluten-free bread. I tried it once accidentally and threw up in my mouth a little. I mean, it’s a great option for those who can’t eat gluten, but I avoid it at all costs. It doesn’t even taste like bread to me.”

  I chuckled. “Never tried it, and now I never will. So, what would you like?”

  “I'll have some nuts and fruits, then, and I’ll also eat one of those protein bars from the reception desk.”

  She began to rise from the armchair, but I shook my head. “Sit down. I’ll get everything for you.”

  “There’s no need. I can get it.”

  "You nearly fainted. You need to sit down.”

  Her smile widened, and I couldn’t look away from her lips. They were driving me crazy.

  “Okay, then. I’ll wait here for you.” She looked at me questioningly.

  “Dylan.”

  She nodded. “Thanks, Dylan. Are you new to the gym? I don’t remember seeing you around.”

  “It’s my first day.”

  Getting up, I went to the snack bar, filling the plate with fruits and nuts. After handing it to Melanie, I went to the reception desk, asking for a protein bar. I didn't tell the guy she'd fainted, but only because she'd asked me not to. She was an adult, so she knew what she was doing, but I kept an eye on her while I paid for the bar. Not that she could hurt herself sitting down, but I didn't want to let her out of my sight after she'd been so weak. I returned with the protein bar, noticing she'd already cleared the plate.

  "Someone was hungry," I teased, unable to keep myself from checking her out. Her dark brown hair was up in a ponytail, revealing her neck. She was tall, with a lean figure—small shoulders and narrow waist. Her muscles were toned, just as you’d expect a personal trainer to be, but even though she was strong, everything about her made my protective instincts spring to life.

  "Oh, you have no idea. I don't know who comes up with these juice diets. It's like they're made to torture you. They go on and on about how they have all the nutrients you need even though you feel hungry. Well, the truth of the matter is they don't, or I wouldn't have almost passed out. Lesson learned. May I please have my protein bar? I'
m starting my next session in ten minutes, and I need to be in top shape by then."

  I handed it to her, enjoying the way she inhaled sharply when our fingers touched.

  “Let me get my purse so I can pay you for the bar.”

  “That’s not necessary. Can you take some time off?"

  "No, my client is already waiting. She’s used to seeing me by now, so she'll probably wonder what's up." She unwrapped the bar and devoured it. “Thank you for the bar.”

  I leaned in closer. "You said you still have ten minutes. Spend them here with me. I'll keep your secret as long as you take a few more minutes to recover."

  "Oh, so you're a secret keeper only under specific conditions?"

  "Very specific." My protective instincts were on high alert.

  "Okay, Mr. Savior, since I almost fainted on you, I guess I owe you peace of mind."

  “Exactly.” She was a stubborn one.

  “Thank you, by the way, for looking after me.”

  “No problem.” I wanted to insist that she take time off, but I didn’t get the chance because my sister Isabelle entered the break room just then.

  "Hey, Mel. Here you are. I see you've met my brother Dylan."

  Mel got up very fast, and so did I, standing close, in case she felt woozy again. Damn, the woman was gorgeous. Her body was toned, but she also had curves, and they were insanely tempting.

  “Hey, Isabelle. I didn’t know he was your brother.”

  "Mel is my personal trainer," Isabelle said to me. "She's helping me get in shape for the wedding. What are you guys doing in here?"

  Mel gave me a warning look. The corners of her mouth tilted up in a smile. I knew what she was thinking. I shouldn't spill her secret, even if the client was my sister.

  "Mel was giving me some information about the gym."

  My sister narrowed her eyes. Mel didn't catch it because she’d bent to throw away the protein bar wrapper in the trash can, but I didn’t miss it. I could practically read the warning in my sister's eyes: don’t you dare flirt with her.

  Wordless communication was standard in our family. Growing up with two sisters and one brother had made that an essential skill. It made everything easier and faster.

  I wiggled my eyebrows at my sister because I liked riling her up. Was I that obvious? I guess I was. I’d like to say I was only keeping an eye on Melanie because of her fainting spell, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. The woman was smoking hot. However, my sister’s reaction was surprising.

  Until recently, she kept bugging me to date seriously again, and now she was warning me off? That was an interesting change, and I was going to question her about it later. If I was honest, I preferred it this way. Ever since my breakup with Lina, my sister had been on a mission to convince me that I didn’t have to give up on relationships. Getting burned once was enough for me. I wasn’t walking down that path again.

  Straightening up, Mel focused on Isabelle. “Okay, ready to go?”

  “Sure.”

  Mel nodded, glancing at me. “Dylan, if you need anything, just ask at reception.”

  “I will. See you around. Take care.” I emphasized the last two words.

  Her eyes widened, and she nodded almost imperceptibly before leaving with my sister.

  I looked after her until they left the room. Her ass looked delicious in those tight pants. The curve of her neck was beckoning me. Damn. I was determined to push today’s incident to the back of my mind, no matter how hot Mel looked in her workout outfit and how much my protective instincts were demanding I check on her later.

  Chapter Two

  Mel

  Isabelle's program consisted of a Pilates routine that started with quick exercises designed to replace a cardio workout before moving on to standard floor-mat exercises. I led her from the reception and break area down a narrow corridor to a small studio where we held private sessions.

  It was a small room with mirrors on three sides and a hardwood floor. The fourth wall was a floor-to-ceiling window overlooking the Hudson River. Genesis was hands down the fanciest gym I’d ever worked at. It was all hardwood floors and elegant spotlights. The entrance area and the break room had leather seats, and there was a generous employee-only spa area in the locker room. I loved it. It was very spacious, so even though we had a record number of new sign-ups in June, it never felt crowded. The season of the bikini body had officially started, and everyone wanted to get in shape.

  "Should you be working so soon after the car accident?" Isabelle asked as we placed two mats on the floor.

  Three weeks ago, I had the scare of my life. I took a cab because I was late to work, and we were hit sideways by a driver who went through a red light. Thankfully I wasn’t gravely injured, but the cabbie did spend a week in the hospital.

  "Yes, I'm excellent. Don't worry. My doctor said I could go back to work and do my usual schedule."

  "I was worried about you," she said, making my heart happy. In the two months since I'd begun training with Isabelle, she had become more like a friend.

  "Sometimes I still wake up at night reliving those two seconds before the impact." I shuddered at the memory. I’d been in shock for the first two days, and after that, I was grateful I hadn’t been hurt. If I was honest, the accident helped me see certain things differently and perhaps not take anything for granted, like the fact that I was alive and healthy. That I was living in a beautiful city. And that I had my dad close, and his condition was stable. For these things and many others, I was thankful. I did wish a day would come when I wouldn’t worry about his health all the time, but we were blessed as it was.

  I was determined to enjoy life more and also not to repeat some of my past mistakes. At twenty-seven, I’d made quite a few, especially in the dating department. My ex, Elliot, turned out to be nothing like he seemed. We were together for three years, and during that time, I helped him with his business. But when I ran out of money and needed his support, he showed his true colors. I broke up with him more than a year ago, and since then I’ve dated casually. But none of the guys I’d gone out with wanted anything resembling a relationship. So I was done dating any guy who was just looking for sexy fun and no strings.

  After the warmup, I said, “Okay, we’re starting with core now—abs and back muscles too, as they all support one another. As usual, I’ll guide you through the movements, even though you know them, so you don't accidentally forget to tuck in your tummy or not curve your back and you hurt yourself. Okay?"

  "Sure. You know, I always appreciate it that you also do the exercises with me and don’t just give me instructions."

  "Yeah. That's the only way I can work, because if I'm doing the exercises, I know what the intensity level is, and I can adjust that. But don't worry, I'll keep an eye on you, and I'll make sure you do everything correctly." I only did mat exercises, though. When I was with clients who only did weight training, I only watched and corrected their posture.

  "You've been my trainer for two months, and I've never left here injured. I trust you."

  "Oh, that's good to know. Does that mean you won’t give me a hard time when I make you do some extra exercises?" I said with a grin.

  “You’re mean,” Isabelle said, grinning right back.

  I took great pride in my job. I loved being a fitness trainer, and I considered myself lucky to be working at Genesis. It was one of the most sought-after gyms to work at in New York because it offered complete privacy, attracting high-paying prestigious clients—and the salary was excellent. I was very fortunate when they hired me two years ago. I recruited a full client list, and all were happy with me and their results, so management was delighted. They also were very thoughtful after my accident, giving me two weeks off with full pay! It was a family-run business with two locations in the city and took really good care of their employees and customers.

  Many of my clients recommended me to their friends and family, so I’d brought in lots of new customers. After training with me for a
while, Brayden brought Isabelle too, who in turn brought her friend Tess Winchester, and her brother as well.

  "So, what did you and Dylan talk about?" she asked while we did a third set of crunches.

  I stopped my exercises and pointed at her.

  "I know what you're doing. You're trying to distract me."

  "No I'm not," she said. When I laughed, she added, "Yes I am. I always do that during my third rep set, don't I?"

  "Yes you do. Like clockwork."

  "So maybe we should cut the crunches to two rep sets."

  I laughed. It was always such a blast to work with Isabelle. She was like all of us, though, wanting to look good but not wanting to suffer for it.

  "You said you want a trim waist for your wedding day. Unfortunately, that does require three rep sets to tighten your muscles." Her big day was in November, which was in five months. That was plenty of time to get into shape.

  "Well, my abs do look amazing ever since I began following your instructions. So there you go. Torture me away. But I still want to know what you talked about with my brother."

  Oh, her gorgeous, sexy-as-hell brother! He couldn’t look more different from Isabelle, who was petite with red hair and green eyes. Dylan was tall with broad shoulders, his eyes were brown, and his hair was a mix of dark blond and brown. I didn't want to tell her what we talked about. Not only because I didn't want her to know I still fell victim to fads such as juice diets, but I was also afraid she might be able to tell how attractive I found him.

  "If you insist on talking, why don't you tell me about your brother?" I asked. "But you can tell me later, after you finish your workout."

  "Why not now? I can do it now. You know, then it'll take my mind off the third set."

  "Isabelle, if you can talk like this while you're doing the exercises, then it's not difficult enough. Come on, raise your legs to forty-five degrees. That's going to increase the intensity."

  She did as I said, and just like that, she was having a hard time breathing, let alone talking. I wasn't quite sure I wanted to know more about her brother anyway. I could still feel his arms around me. They were so strong and determined not to let me fall, and that was a comforting feeling, one I hadn’t felt in quite some time.