The guy may be ripped with muscles like he spends every waking moment in the gym. A puffed-out chest, suitcase arms, veins supercharged with ‘roids. But Torch… He’s as lethal as they come. I’ve faced him down a few times, and had we not been friends, he could’ve ended my life.
“Wait. He’ll be fighting you?” Hemsworth’s daughter looks toward Torch, and my brother smirks.
“Yes, little one. It’s me he has to take down in that ring.”
Fat fucking chance.
“Oh.” Her throat swallows hard. “Maybe you shouldn’t do this, Caleb.”
“Come on.” The beefcake shakes his head. “You know how fucking strong I am.”
Strength is only fifty percent of it.
“It’s up to Torch,” I say. “He gets to choose his opponents.”
“Fine.” Torch turns toward the fool. “You can fight. But you have to agree to the stakes.” He leans in close to the guy, whispering something indecipherable to the rest of us, but Caleb’s eyes are round now. His stare is darting to his girlfriend Evie. I’m curious as to the deal he’s striking.
“Yeah, fine,” Caleb agrees. “I’m gonna kick your ass anyway.”
Those steroids have clearly gone to his head. No one in Vegas will ever bet against Torch. He’s known as The Exterminatorfor a reason.
“Shake on it,” Torch says, holding out his hand.
“What are the stakes?” Evie looks nervously at her boyfriend.
“Come. We have to get going or we’ll be late.” Torch ignores her question and waits for them to follow his lead. He’s going to owe me an explanation later. I’m more than curious as to what he wants with the girl.
“We should probably go, too.” Portia makes another attempt to rub up against Hemsworth. “It’s getting late.”
“I’d like to hear more about you in high school.” He turns his attention back to my princess.
“She was the prettiest,” I tell him. “And the smartest. Every boy in our grade had a crush on her.” Me included.
She looks surprised. I think she thought I had a different tale to tell. We both were wrong about each other. I didn’t know anything about her or what she was living through. I just assumed she was a princess living a charmed life in her castle. But she was fighting her own demons like the rest of us.
“I’m getting tired,” Laur says, tucking in closer to my side. “Is it okay if we go upstairs now?”
My focus should be on Hemsworth and his wants, especially since tomorrow is the day he decides our fate, but I’m done sharing my girl with him.
“Yeah, baby.” I take her hand and stand, turning toward a disappointed Hemsworth. “We’ll meet in the morning to finalize everything. Hope you two have a good evening.”
I wrap my arm around Laur’s waist and lead her out. I’m ready for the silence. Ready to be curled around her body and breathing her in.
“You did good, princess.” I put my private key into the elevator. “But I’ll admit. I was getting jealous of the old guy.”
“Jealous? Why?”
I pull her in close, tucking her hair back behind her ear. “Because he had all of your attention.”
“I was only doing what I was paid to do. But the guy is old enough to be my dad. I’m thankful I got to spend my weekend with you instead of him.”
The reminder of our deal twists my gut. She’s merely doing what she’s paid to do. “What if I told you I don’t want this to be over, Laur? What if I don’t want to let you go?”
Her hands wrap around my neck. “Then don’t. You’re welcome to keep me if you like.”
I lean down and kiss her soft and sweet. My feelings for the girl have gone from one extreme to the other. From hate to love. From never wanting to see her face again to I can’t imagine not waking up to her messy hair and that pretty smile.
The elevator doors open and I lift her up, carrying her straight to our bed. I’m hoping I can convince her to move in with me.
