Page 95 of The Knockout Rule

He turned, needing to get away, get air. Figure out how to get over Isla, but she grabbed his arm. “Eric, wait.”

For what? To be told they were done? He wasn’t sure he could handle that right now. Along with nausea, the urge to break something flared. Destruction. The base human need to sink his fist into plaster. Embody his alter ego Brick Smash one final time. He was furious at himself for pushing Isla into another man’s arms. For making selfish choices that had hurt them both. But he didn’t have the strength to leave and lose this small connection to her.

Reluctantly, he turned.

She was right there, inches from him, those shiny dark eyes softened at the edges. “My plans are with Heather, not a man. There’s been no man since you.”

His breath rushed out of him. Thank God. But adrenaline still had his blood pumping and heart pounding. “I’m really glad to hear that.”

I’m really glad you’re still free to be mine.

She quirked her lips. “Would you have been jealous?”

“Extremely.” He wouldn’t pretend the idea of her with another man didn’t break him.

She bit her lip, seeming pleased with his reaction. A good sign, and he wanted that lip between his teeth, her mouth on his, her taste filling him up. He wanted a lot from Isla Slade, but he said, “I’m so sorry about your father.”

Sadness flickered across her face. “I wanted to tell you in Vegas. He wouldn’t let me.”

They were in the hallway. Nowhere romantic or private. Eric closed the distance between them anyway, couldn’t handle not having his hands on her. He brushed his palms down her back. The tank top was as soft as it looked, worn and flimsy. He spread his hands on her back, tried to touch as much of her as possible. She placed the flat of her hands on his chest.

He liked her hands there a lot. “You don’t need to apologize,” he said. “I’m the one who needs to apologize. Losing you, Isla…it’s been unbearable, and I did an interview, hoping you’d see it. But I guess you didn’t, so I need you to know I’ve quit boxing and—”

She pressed her finger to his lips. “I saw it. Most of it, anyway. Until some big man started making a racket on my door.”

She was teasing him. Teasing was good. Teasing meant flirting, which meant she might actually be giving him another chance. A different sensation swam through his stomach. Like he’d swallowed sunshine.

He walked forward, forcing her back a few steps until he had her against the hallway wall. “Then you know I’ve quit. No false promises this time.”

Her chest rose faster. “But what about your family? The medical bills and money you owe. And you signed an endorsement deal.”

“Preston got me out of the endorsement contract. As far as debt goes, Rosa took a full-time job and Aldrich Pharma is paying me and a small team to coordinate the Parkinson’s fundraiser with your dad. A one-time thing for now, but it’ll help cover my family’s expenses. There could also be more of that kind of work in the future. Weston, who runs the company, is smart and intense, but incredibly supportive. There’s also the assistant coaching, and I’ve researched online courses, programs I’ll take in my free time. It’ll be a lot of work, and money will still be tight for a while, but this is what I want, Isla. Unfortunately, without you, it all feels empty.”

She was his knockout rule. His loophole to true happiness.

Get up off the mat. Get her back. Get on with living a better life.

“I’m so proud of you.” She hooked her fingers through his belt loops. “I love the idea of you coaching and especially translation work. You’ll be brilliant at it, help so many people. And how’s Eliza? And Whit? And is your mother’s wrist better?”

“They’re all good.” Not as good as him, though. Seeing the concern and care on Isla’s face proved how important this life change was for him. Isla was part of his definition of success—having the love of a smart, strong woman, who cared about him deeply. “I’ve missed you so much.”

“I didn’t know it could hurt this bad,” she whispered, her eyes tearing up. “I didn’t know I could love someone this much. I just…I can’t go through this again.”

Fuck. He knew exactly how she felt. The pain. The sadness. The worry. No more. “I’ll never choose boxing over you again. Or over myself. And you were right about my family, how hard boxing has been on them. I was too blind to see it, but Rosa and I had a long talk. We both misjudged a lot about each other. So I’m learning to work with my family instead of trying to take care of them on my own. And I want you, Isla. More than anything, I want us.”

“You have me,” she said, breathless. “I’m yours. And I can’t believe you got my stubborn father to announce his illness. He’s been—”

He kissed her, couldn’t wait another second. She squeaked in surprise and leaned into him, desperate sounds escaping as she tugged him closer. This. He’d missed this so damn much. Her soft sounds and sweet taste. Their lips met and moved, trying to cover the distance of the past three months. He was out of breath in seconds, panting for her, sliding his tongue against hers, moaning at the contact.

“You two need to get a room.”

He pressed his forehead to Isla’s, chuckling. “Hey, Heather.”

“You’re welcome for cooking you dinner. Have a nice night.”

He didn’t look at Heather or watch her go. He only had eyes for one woman. “Can I come in?” he asked.

Isla’s pink lips were swollen. She licked them, took his hand, and led him into her place. When he shut the door, he finally got to absorb Isla’s home.