Page 38 of Movers and Fakers

“Miss me?”

Her brow furrows. “I thought you were fighting?”

“Ladiessss and gentlemen!” Carter crows as he flops over the ropes into the ring. “I have an announcement! Due to some un—” He struggles with the word. “Un-four-seen”—he sounds it out and Aurora snorts beside me—“circumstances, we are going to have a new fight schedule.”

He claps his hands together, and everyone follows, though they look confused as to why.

“Sheep,” Aurora mutters, and I laugh, dropping an arm over her shoulders again.

“Martinez and Jordan will fight first, and the winner will fight our founder, Mr. Hayes Rosewood!” This gets the audience cheering for real. I smile and wink in response. “He’s said that if the fighter can manage to beat him, he’ll double the payout with his own money.”

Aurora looks up at me. “Really?”

I shrug. “Why not? It’s all for show. Half the time they only hit me because it would be boring if I didn’t let them.”

She shakes her head. “You know, when you say things like that, it makes me want to hit you.”

I bend down to whisper in her ear. “My offer of a first-date match still stands. I think it would be fun.”

She pulls her head away, her skin flushed red. I smirk down at her. But then she surprises me by turning her head back toward mine, a challenge in her gaze.

“Don’t let them hit you, and I’ll do it.”

“What?” I ask with a little laugh.

“If they don’t land a hit on you, I’ll do your little date idea.”

I search her gaze to see if she’s messing with me. Her pink lips are set in a straight line, and there’s no mirth in her blue eyes, just fire.

“You’re serious.”

She gives me a look. “You said you let them hit you. So don’t let them.”

“And if they don’t, you’ll go on a date with me?”

Aurora nods. “That’s what I said.”

Pure excitement floods my veins. A grin spreads across my face.

“All right, Princess, you’ve got a deal.”

Surprise flickers through her eyes briefly, but then she sticks her hand out. I laugh as I wrap my hand around hers to shake it. Before she can pull away, I lift her hand to my lips and press a brief kiss there. Our eyes lock, and I know there’s no way I’m losing this bet.

Chapter nineteen

Rosewood vs. Jordan

Aurora Driscoll

Hayes doesn’t understand the concept of personal space. Or maybe he does, and he just simply does not care for it. Because—until he went to change a few minutes ago—he hasn’t stopped touching me all night.

At first it was an arm around my shoulder, occasional kisses to the top of my head that sent tingles down my spine. Then his hand moved to the dip of my waist. His lips at my ear every time he wanted to say something. Soon, that wasn’t enough for him. People kept pushing closer to the ring, and though Mac was doing a perfectly fine job keeping them away, Hayes moved me in front of him. He wrapped his strong arms around my middle and made occasional commentary. Each time he spoke, my abdomen tightened, his breath on my neck disconcerting.

Inexplicably, I didn’t stop him. Not once. His touch is like a computer virus. My brain turned into one of those eternal buffering screens, and I couldn’t do anything but stand there. Now that he’s gone, my mind has reopened its normal tabs, all of which are reminding me this is not real, and Hayes is not boyfriend material.

Carson falls into the ring, his cup in the air like he’s swimming and doesn’t want to lose it to the ocean waves. None of the liquid spills, though, so maybe his method is sound. His appearance draws me out of my mini spiral and reminds me that in a few moments Hayes is going to be in there, fighting. And if he doesn’t get hit …

“Ladies!” Carson bellows, leaving off the and gentlemen part. “The fight you’ve been waiting for is finally here! Rosewood versus Jordan! Place your final bets. When the bell tolls, the wagers are set!”