Page 48 of Army
“You’re welcome.” Keri handed her a credit card and a fifty-dollar bill.
Mia shook her head. “Keri, this is too much, really.” She tried to give the money back.
Keri gently pushed her hand away. “Nonsense. You deserve it. I know you do late nights for me, and I appreciate how accommodating you are.” She glanced at the clock on the back wall. “Oh … I didn’t realize it was so late. I have to pick something up for dinner. I’m sure my family is starving and wondering where I am.” Keri slid out of the chair and walked to the front of the salon.
Mia locked the door after Keri left and cleaned up her station. With everything in order, she walked out to her car and made her way to the gym.
The first thing she did when she entered Champion was scan the room for Army. She spotted Taylor sinking his fists into a speed bag, but there was no sign of his brother. At that moment, Mia’s stomach suddenly gurgled reminding her how hungry she was.
“How did your day go?” Kat asked. She wore tight neon-green fighter’s shorts and a sports top. Her makeup was impeccable, and her long hair was twisted up in a tight bun.
“How do you look so good all the time?” Mia asked, taking a protein bar out of her gym bag.
“Waterproof makeup and self-tanners are the secret.” She tucked a few strands of stray hairs into her bun. “Not having to work or worry about money also helps.” Kat had inherited a ton of money after her grandfather—a surgeon who’d invented a screening machine used in hospitals—had died three years before.
“I’m sure it does.” Mia glanced around again as she walked toward the locker room.
“Army’s not here,” Kat said.
“And …?”
“I know you’re looking for him, and I don’t blame you. I wish he was into me. I’d go for him in a minute,” Kat replied, following Mia.
The truth was, Kat would have any well-built man, and she was continuously on the lookout even when she was with a guy because her relationships never lasted more than three months. She’d once told Mia that with so many men around she never could pick just one forever. She called herself “greedy,” and the way she blitzed through men, Mia agreed with her self-assessment.
“I’m not looking to get involved with anyone right now.” Mia put the gym bag and purse in the locker and went back into the gym. “Do you want to practice after I warm up?” she asked Kat.
“Sure. I’ll just go over and watch Taylor. I love the way his biceps flex when he hits the bag.”
A half hour later, Kat and Mia were rolling on the ground with Kat trying to get out of Mia’s submission. When a low whistle broke Mia’s concentration, Kat instantly escaped and pushed Mia down on the mat and straddled her.
Another whistle, this time louder, and Kat looked over and smiled. Mia took advantage of the distraction and pushed Kat off with her feet, securing the blonde fighter in another submission until she tapped on the mat several times. Mia stood up and wiped her sweaty brow with the back of her hand, then glanced over and saw Army standing with his arms folded across his sculpted chest, smiling. She smiled back as she bent down and picked up the water bottle.
“Good practice,” Kat said, patting Mia on the shoulder. “I should be mad at you for distracting me,” she said to Army, sticking out her lower lip in an exaggerated pout.
“I couldn’t help it. You two looked hot as fuck.”
Mia’s smile fell and a pulse of anger went through her. “What did you say?”
He walked toward her. “I paid you”—his gaze flicked over to Kat—“andyoua compliment.”
“Thank you,” Kat said arching her back and thrusting her more than ample breasts forward. She used that tactic successfully many times when she wanted the male fighters to do things for her, and by the way Army’s gaze lingered on her cleavage, she’d been successful again.
“It’s an insult to me,” Mia said as Kat threw her a small smile then walked away.
“Really? I’ve never met a woman who didn’t like a man to think she looks hot.” Army’s gaze fixed on hers.
“Congratulations, you met one now. Kat and I were practicing our skills and you disrupted us. Thinking we’re hot while we’re perfecting our moves is juvenile as fuck.” Heat rushed up her neck and to her face, and she was pretty sure she resembled a tomato.
Army laughed. “If you think men are admiring female fighters’ style and their skill, you’re naïve as hell. The truth is,sweetheart,when we watch them fight, we all have wood and just want to drill them.”
Her fingers flew to her parted lips as fire raced through her veins.
Army took a step closer to her. “Are you seriously clueless? Do you have any idea how many male fantasy buttons you push?”
“Since you’ve got a one-track mind, you think all men just see women as sex objects. At Champion, we’re all fighters—male or female—it doesn’t matter.”
“Bullshit. I’ve seen the dudes in here throwing looks at you while you stretch or move around in the ring.” He rocked back on his boot heels. “And when you and Kat or some of the other chicks are wrestling, or in the ring wearing your sexy clothes, these dudes are sporting hard-ons for sure. I mean … that shit’s like every man’s wet dream, only it’s in 3D.”
