“Darcy.” He shoved his hands in the back pockets of his black jeans. “You ladies having fun?”
She gestured to the four empty shot glasses on the tabletop. “Hell yeah we are.” She grinned. “On a related note, I think you boys will need to call us a cab later. Sky and I will be way too plastered to drive.”
Reed frowned. “Are you sure getting loaded is a good idea?”
Darcy threw her head back and laughed. “It’s girls’ night. Getting loaded is the one and only requirement.”
Skyler nodded in agreement. “Definitely.” She winked at Gage. “You don’t mind, right?”
He nearly swallowed his tongue at the coy question. He’d seen Skyler drunk only once: last weekend when they’d split a twelve-pack during an action movie marathon. And he could honestly say he’d never had more fun watching a woman get sloshed. With her cheeks flushed and her eyes shining, she’d chattered a mile a minute throughout every movie—and proceeded to end the night performing an hour-long striptease for him, followed by a blow job for the ages.
Greatest night of his life.
“I don’t mind at all,” he drawled.
Skyler hesitated. “You sure? Because I’m happy to come to the arena with you.”
She’d already offered several times, and he gave her the same answer as before—a quick shake of his head.
“Are you sure?” she pressed.
“Positive. I really don’t want to make a big thing out of it,” he admitted. “I just want to finish the match and leave. I’ll meet you at your place when it’s done, okay?”
“Sounds good.”
“Sounds great,” Darcy corrected. “That gives us lots and lots of time for dirty girl talk and shooters.”
Next to Gage, Reed had begun edging away. “I’ll leave you to it then. Find me when you’re ready to go and I’ll arrange for a taxi.”
Darcy blew him a kiss. “You’re a prince, Reedford.”
“You know my full name isn’t Reedford, right?”
“But it sounds so much more distinguished,” she protested.
Reed looked like he was fighting a laugh, but then his eyes went shuttered and he glanced at Gage. “I’m heading upstairs to look over those liquor orders. Later, bro.”
The moment Reed was gone, a male voice boomed out of Gage’s earpiece. “We’ve got trouble at the front door, boss,” one of the bouncers reported. “Three douche bags refusing to wait in line. They’re trying to rough Leo up.”
“On my way,” he said briskly. He clicked the earpiece and looked at Skyler. “Duty calls. See you later?”
“Yep.”
He leaned in to plant a brief kiss on her lips, then stalked off to take care of business.
…
Two hours later, Gage was taping up his hands just as Mitch strode into the locker room.
“What’s up?” he muttered without a shred of enthusiasm. He’d been expecting the visit, but that didn’t mean he was looking forward to it.
Mitch cocked his head at the two other men loitering near the locker banks. “Can we have a minute, boys?”
The fighters nodded, leaving the room without delay. Once they were alone, Mitch fixed his shrewd dark eyes on Gage. “So.”
He raised a brow. “So.”
“After tonight you’ve filled your end of our arrangement.”
“Well aware of that.” Rising from the bench, Gage tucked his shirt, pants, and boots into an empty locker behind him.
“I have a proposition for you.” Mitch leaned against the cinder-block wall, his expression thoughtful.
Gage slammed the locker door and turned to face the other man. “Not interested.”
“You haven’t even heard me out yet.” Irritation flashed in Mitch’s eyes. “At least show me the fucking courtesy of listening.”
Stifling a curse, he folded his arms over his chest. “All right. Let’s hear it.”
“There’s a tournament in eight weeks.”
Gage stayed quiet.
“It’s an elimination tourney. Prize is half a million bucks…”
He still didn’t answer.
“I want to sponsor you.”
His silence continued.
“Nicky over at Sal’s gym is willing to train you. I’ll put up the entry fee, and if you win or place, we split the cash fifty-fifty. Whadda you say?”
Gage looked Mitch in the eye and said, “No.”
The other man swore in annoyance. “Fine, I’m willing to go sixty-forty, but that’s it.”
“I don’t care about the cash. I’m not entering.” He flopped down on the bench again and planted both hands on his thighs, the look on his face brooking no argument.
“Come on, man, just think about it. It’ll only cost you two days of your time, and if you win you’ll earn a cool two hundred and fifty G’s. If you place you’ll get a hundred. Easy money, brother.”
“I already have a day job,” Gage said curtly. “I’m part owner of a very successful club. That’s where I want to be.”
“I’m sure your partners will give you time off if you—”
“You’re not hearing me. I want to be there. I have no interest in fighting anymore, which is what I told you three months ago. I only agreed to these matches because you backed me into a corner, but we’re square now.” Gage shot the other man a dark look. “You’re a man of your word, or at least that’s what you like to tell everyone. Isn’t that right?”
Mitch’s jaw tensed. “My word is gold, Gage.”
“Then prove it. I’ve carried out my end of the deal, now it’s your turn. After tonight, you leave me and Denny alone.”
A long silence fell over them. Anger, frustration, and resentment twisted O’Donnell’s face into an expression so volatile Gage almost expected to have to fight the guy. But after several more seconds ticked by, the other man backed off. “Fine. Your loss. If you want to throw away this opportunity, then go for it. But FYI—it makes you a fucking idiot.”
“Then I’m a fucking idiot.” Gage flashed a humorless smile. “Will you tell LeSean to grab me when it’s time for my match?”
Mitch scowled. Nodded. Then stalked out of the room.
In a flash, a colossal weight was lifted off Gage’s chest.
When LeSean came to get him thirty minutes later, Gage walked out of the locker room with an actual spring in his step. Genuinely looking forward to climbing in the cage tonight, knowing it was the last time he’d ever have to do it. And once that final bell rang, he’d get the hell outta there and head to Skyler’s house, where he’d spend the whole night in her arms.
Life was finally looking up again.
Chapter Eleven
“Remind me to get you in a good mood more often.” Skyler gasped as Gage rolled off her and collapsed on his back.
“Baby, I’m always in a good mood when I’m with you.”
The smile he flashed made her heart pound. He’d been doing that a lot this week. Smiling. Laughing. Saying the sweetest darn things. He was a gazillion times more relaxed since his last fight, and she was reaping the rewards of it.