“It is.” Roger set his drink atop the table and let his palm rest against the shiny surface. “Which means the only way to make a little extra on the side is through gambling. Tell me, Miss Lily, are you a betting lady?”
“No.” Lily pursed her lips. “I prefer numbers and facts.”
Dean snorted. “You shouldn’t be at South Side, then.”
The men shared a laugh, and Lily glared.
“Kieran’s a skilled fighter.”
“Oh, sure.” Dean nodded along. “No one is denying that.”
“Three years ago, I would have bet on him, too,” said the redhead. “But he hasn’t been in a real fight in a long time. And South Side just doesn’t have the facilities or the budget to train a prize fighter.”
“Seems to me like Neal trained a prize fighter just fine when Kieran was younger.” Lily crossed her arms over her chest. “You know he didn’t lose a single fight during his last year with Intimidators USA? Everyone thought he’d get nabbed up by the UFC. That’s a fact.”
“Yes, then he disappeared.” Dean shrugged. “Maybe Southpaw’s not a betting man, either. Maybe he knew he couldn’t cut it in the pro circuit.”
“I think he’s got a shot.” Roger swirled the dark liquor in his tumbler before tilting it back and draining the cup. “I prefer luck over numbers.” He shot Lily a teasing wink. “And Southpaw has Lady Luck on his side.”
Lily’s brows drew together, and she turned her attention to her glass. She couldn’t place her finger on what reaction Roger was trying to bait out of her, but nothing about their conversation felt strictly cordial.
“Don’t you think Herrera’s got him beat?” Dean asked.
Roger shrugged. “Maybe. I suppose we’ll find out in two weeks.”
Dean laughed and shook his head. “That’s not a lot of confidence for your own fighter, Rog.”
His own fighter? Lily’s gaze shot to Roger’s. “I thought you run the charity?”
A slow smile spread across his face. “I do.”
“But you have a fighter in the tournament?”
“Roger owns Riverside Gym,” offered the redhead.
Her eyes widened, and her grip tightened around her drink. Riverside on the Loop was the poshest gym in the city. With the best equipment, former Fight Fest Chicago members as their trainers, and several teams—they attracted the best fighters in the city.
Their monthly fee was also more than Lily spent on groceries in a week.
She sipped her drink, her gaze never leaving his. “I still think Kieran’s going to dominate.”
“And I respect your faith in him.” His hand settled at her back, and he tilted his head toward the stairs. “Come on, let’s find our seats for dinner. I’d love to chat with you about your social media presence and how you made South Side really explode.”
Lily polished off her drink and left the empty tumbler resting on the table. Somehow, she doubtedhowshe did it was all he wanted to know. Still. Lily smiled and allowed him to lead the way. “Sure, maybe you can tell me about Riverside, too.”
“It would be my pleasure.”
ChapterTwenty-Six
Where was she?
Kieran pulled out a chair for the wife of one of the board members, but he couldn’t stop himself from scanning the room. There were a handful of women in red dresses, but none of them were as beautiful as Lily. None with her kind smile, bright enough to light up his world.
“Doing alright, Sullivan?” Neal patted Kieran’s shoulder as he separated from the crowd milling about and unbuttoned his jacket to sit.
Kieran answered with a brusque nod and sat, but his heart said otherwise. He’d been surprised by Lily’s request to separate, but he shouldn’t have been. Neal told them to meet with the city’s elite, and now that it was time to eat, Kieran had more business cards in his trouser pocket than he knew what to do with. It would only make sense Lily would’ve done the same.
The emcee for the event called for everyone to start taking their seats. He moved her clutch from her seat to the table, ready for her arrival. Kieran craned his neck to see over the crowd. That’s when he spotted her. Her hand rested inthe crook of a gentleman’s elbow as they walked, and a soft smile lit up her face. The man who escorted her looked to be in his fifties, maybe early sixties.
