“Fuck.”
“Excuse me?”
“I said fuck,” I blurted out to the producer and turned away from that knowing, teasing smirk, and back to the person talking. “Just thinking out loud. Anything else I need to know?”
“Uh, no.”
“Great. Thanks.” The first fight would start soon and I needed to check on a few more things. Taking my time on the steps, I didn’t see Travis Stone until it was too late.
“Kat, you’re looking beautiful and harried this evening.”
I couldn’t help the smile that spread across my face because Travis really was a likable guy. “Thank you, Travis, that was almost a full compliment.”
He shrugged. “I’m sure you get plenty as it is. May I escort you to your seat?”
I shook my head and took his arm. “I’ll escort you, but I still have a few more things to do before fists start to fly.”
His laugh was deep and full bodied, like a man who laughed a lot. “The most incredible part of watching a fight this close up. Barbaric and invigorating.”
I tilted my head up at him and laughed. “You are a strange man, Travis.”
“From you, I’ll take that as a compliment.” To the outside observer we looked like two attractive people flirting, but Travis really was just a fun guy to be around. “I know you have to rush off,” he said, “but I have an idea for a fight app that I would love to run by you, when the time is right.”
“Yeah? You have all my contact info and even if you didn’t, I’m sure you could get it, Spy King.”
At my words, Travis threw his head back and laughed, drawing stares from all around us. “I look forward to it, Kat.”
“Enjoy the fight. Maisie is just over there if you have any questions, or strange needs.” I gave a little wave and then rushed off to make sure the doors were unlocked for the big splashy entrance of the final six fighters of the night.
Time continued to fly and I couldn’t shake the feeling I was being watched, which was ridiculous because I was surrounded by tens of thousands of people. Some of them were bound to be staring, but no matter how hard I tried to convince myself of that, I didn’t believe it. But each time I turned to spot someone, there was no one there. At least no one who stood out.
“You’re doing too much, Princess.” Terry’s out of the blue appearance actually startled me. Okay, he scared me enough that my heart raced with an all too familiar sensation. Fear.
“Whoa, you all right?” he said when he saw my reaction.
The hot singe of his hands on my shoulders settled me instantly, which should have pissed me off, but I was too relieved to give a damn.
“Yes. No. I don’t know.” My shoulders fell in frustration. “I’m fine, Terry. Did you need something?”
“Not specifically. You looked a little alarmed and I want to know why.” Gone was the easygoing man who’d flashed that charming smile at me, in his place was the badass, sometimes enforcer, I’d known since I was a girl. Arms folded over his broad chest; Terry’s icy blue eyes stared at me expectantly just as the bell sounded for the lightweight belt fight.
“Well?”
“Who says I’m alarmed?”
“Me. You went pale inside the cage and you’ve been looking over your shoulder every two fucking minutes. Somebody following you, Kat?”
“You tell me since you’re watching so closely.” My heart raced and I wanted to kick my own ass for not being honest when Terry was the one of the few men here that I knew wasn’t watching me. At least not like that.
At my words, his shoulders relaxed just a little. “No one I could spot, beyond Stone and a few guys checking you out.”
His honesty surprised me. “Well shit, Stalker, I was hoping for more from you.” My attempt at lighthearted humor felt forced even to my own ears. Terry’s full lips didn’t even twitch with amusement.
The bell ending round one sounded, startling a gasp out of me.
“Kat, what’s going on?”
“Nothing. I don’t know, and I have to go check on a few things.” Just as the round two bell chimed, I turned away, but Terry grabbed my arm and sent a fire roaring through my blood. “Terry!”
“Kat, I just want to help.”
“Then let me do my job.” The strength of my words was ruined by the loud uproar of the crowd that yanked a loud scream from the depths of my stomach.
Terry’s grip tightened on my shoulders and turned me toward the cage where the Ashby lightweight stood above the unconscious figure of his opponent, arms raised in victory.
“Win number one secured,” he whispered in my ear and I did my best to suppress the shiver his warm breath on my neck caused.
“Oh. Good.” That was good news. Excellent news. Nothing to worry about. “That means Rachel’s fight is next.”
“Stop worrying Kat, she’s got this fight in the bag. The bantamweight belt is hers.”
I nodded at his words of encouragement, annoyed that it was working to calm my frayed nerves. “Thank you, Terry. Seriously I don’t know what’s going on but…thanks. I have to go.”
He let me go without a word, but I knew Terry. He was a tenacious as they came when he cared.
There was nothing to be done anymore, not when the music began for Rachel Cruz’s opponent. The only doors that opened to the arena were the ones each fighter came from and those were protected by Ashby Security. So, with nothing else to do, I made my way to my seat. And Travis.
“Enjoying the bloodshed?”
His smile lit up and he nodded, his golden wheat colored hair bouncing boyishly. “Much more than I thought I would. Thanks for the ticket.”
“Thanks for the lesson. It was worth both tickets.”
Travis laughed again and stood when the familiar bass of Rachel’s entry music, a popular rap song, blasted through the speakers.
“I’ll remember that for next
