Читать книгу In Her Corner - Vicki Essex - Страница 13

CHAPTER FIVE

KYLE WATCHED THROUGH his office windows as Bella shadowboxed, pummeling her invisible opponent with the grace and power of a pro. She had perfect form—Wayne had praised her discipline and skill—and what she lacked in strength she made up for with finesse.

Something she obviously lacked when it came to working with him.

He knew he’d overreacted the other day when she’d tackled him. He’d lain in bed awake—which was no new thing—mad at himself and at her. Of course, it was always dangerous pulling stupid stunts like that. She should’ve known better. But he wasn’t about to admit that the real reason he was so pissed off ran much deeper. No, she’d been in the wrong.

Sometime later, Orville joined her, along with Tito, and they began a few grappling and takedown exercises. He noticed she had no difficulty or awkwardness working with either of the men. Apparently, things only got weird when she worked with him.

And whose fault is that? His self-recriminating thoughts always took his father’s berating tone. Stop trying to put the blame on everyone else. This is all in your stupid head.

He put down his file and rubbed his tired eyes. He had to try harder. He’d been unfair to her, and he was treating her like...well, not kindly, and it was entirely his problem.

The phone rang. Liz rarely transferred calls that weren’t important, so it was with some trepidation that he picked up. “Hello?”

“Hey, killer.” The soft, husky voice that beckoned from the other end of the line had him sitting up. He’d know that siren’s call anywhere. “How’s it hanging?”

“Bree Hannigan.” A broad smile spread across his lips. “I thought you were in Australia.”

“I was. I’m in California right now, doing some photo shoots for Chanel.”

“Fancy. How are you?”

“Lonely,” she whimpered. “Henri and I broke up a few months ago.”

“I’m sorry to hear that.” He wasn’t. Not really. Bree had followed the photographer to the other side of the world almost two years ago. She’d been crazy about the guy.

They caught up with each other’s lives. Bree told him about the dozens of exotic places she’d visited, complaining about how she’d had to live out of a suitcase and eat out all the time.

“Woe is me,” Kyle teased. “Touring the world first-class as a fashion model? What a trial.”

“You laugh, but you have no idea. All I really want is to relax and unwind in a big, comfy bed with a big, comfy man. Speaking of, I’m going to be in New Orleans in February. I was hoping we could...get comfy together.”

Heat rolled lazily south through his chest and lower. The last time they’d been together, they’d spent most of that time in her hotel room. It had been an unforgettable weekend. “I’d like that....”

A sliver of doubt pricked his libido, and he hedged. His performance of late had been subpar. He didn’t want to risk a misfire. “Let me know what your schedule’s going to be like. Things have been busy here.”

“Too busy for me?” He could hear her pout. “Kyle, have you been working too hard? You know stress only makes you tighten up.”

How she managed to make everything she said sound like sex, Kyle didn’t know. His gaze snagged on Bella as she tackled Orville, throwing her legs around his waist and dragging him to the ground. “I’ll make room in my schedule.”

“Good. I’ll see you soon.”

They hung up. Kyle was still smiling, but inside, threads of anticipation and dread tangled into a tight, messy knot.

* * *

BELLA SANK HER fists into the heavy bag, driving frustration into the leather and sand with each blow.

Wayne made her take a break. “You’re going at it a little hard today. Everything okay?”

“I want to get a good workout.” She took long, deep, calming breaths as she shook out her limbs. She was still frustrated by what had happened with Kyle. He’d been avoiding her since that incident, and part of her couldn’t blame him. She’d behaved irresponsibly—Fulvio would’ve turned her over and spanked her if she’d tackled an unprepared teacher the way she’d attacked Kyle. She couldn’t even say why she’d done it—it was that reckless impulse to mess with him she couldn’t control.

Still, she didn’t deserve the silent treatment.

Obviously Kyle had issues, and that thing between him and Karla was probably at the root of it. But it wasn’t as if she was going to put him into a compromising position and get him in trouble. Anyhow, how was she supposed to grapple with other men under his rules? She couldn’t jeopardize her training because Kyle was afraid of cooties.

At least the other guys had been generous with their time. Tito and Orville both took turns working with her, and Wayne had given her some terrific tips on her footwork. If it wasn’t for them, she might have packed up and left a week ago.

“Excuse me, are you Bella Fiore?”

A man in white shirtsleeves flashed a smile big enough to carry a logo. His thin black tie was loosened and he carried his dark gray suit jacket slung across one shoulder. She got the distinct impression he had to make a real effort to look that casual. He pulled his hand out of his pocket and handed her a business card. “Ryan Holbrooke. I’m a fight manager and agent.”

She wiped her arm across her sweaty brow and took the card with a gloved hand. “Is there something I can help you with, Mr. Holbrooke?”

“Call me Ryan, please. I’d heard you’d come from Brazil to train here and I wanted to stop by and meet you in person. I’m a big fan. I was hoping we could grab a drink sometime and discuss what your future might look like.”

She scratched her nose. “I appreciate the offer, but my family’s never used managers or agents. We take care of our own careers and book our own fights.”

“Oh, so you have a fight coming up?”

She bit her lip. “Well, no...”

“Because I happen to know of an upcoming event, and you’re exactly what their card needs.”

She gave him a skeptical once-over. On the surface everything about him seemed legit, but he gave off a vibe she couldn’t quite put her finger on. “What’s the fight?”

“I won’t lie, it’s local. Kind of small, but it’s a well-stacked league. Ever hear of Fury Fights?”

“Vaguely.”

“Well, they do a convention and exhibition card mid-November. Your opponent’s from Kansas—Betty The Hammer.”

“Yeah, I know of Betty Heimer,” Bella said. She’d fought and lost against one of Bella’s opponents a couple years back.

Ryan nodded. “I’ve got plenty more details. I’d be happy to discuss them with you.”

He was earnest, and he seemed open. It wouldn’t hurt to talk. If nothing else, she’d get free drinks.

They agreed on a time and place, and then Ryan left with a wave.

“Was that Ryan Holbrooke I saw walk out?” Tito asked.

“Yeah. Do you know him?”

“He’s a sports agent. He works with a lot of MMA fighters and boxers. You were talking to him?”

“He wants me to meet him for drinks. Says he might have a fight for me.”

“Huh. Interesting.” Tito folded his arms.

“What? You don’t think I should?”

“No, no. He’s an okay agent, I guess. He’s helped get his clients signed with some pretty big sponsors.”

“I hear a ‘but’ in there.”

Tito lifted one thick shoulder. “It’s nothing personal. For me, anyhow.”

“But it’s personal for someone...like Kyle?” she ventured.

His lips flattened out. “They have a thing.”

Bella scoffed. Were they in high school or something? Regardless, talking with Ryan Holbrooke shouldn’t be any concern of Kyle’s. If he had issues, he could bring them up with her. He was good at that.

“Do me a favor. Be careful around Ryan,” Tito warned. “He’s a smooth one.”

* * *

RYAN HOLBROOKE WAS smooth, all right. He met her at a swank restaurant in the Garden District where they started with drinks at the bar, then, as their conversation lengthened, moved to the restaurant for dinner. If she didn’t know any better, she would’ve thought it was a date.

She had to admit she was flattered by his attention, how he hung on her every word. Then again, if he wanted to snag her as a client, she didn’t expect him to ignore her the way Kyle did.

She’d done a quick internet search to check Ryan Holbrooke’s credentials, and he seemed to be the genuine article. He was good-looking, too, with flirty blue eyes, jet-black hair and a cocksure smile. He knew MMA, and had even competed for a while, so they didn’t run out of things to talk about. He didn’t challenge her or make her work too hard to like him. She’d forgotten what it was like to be with someone who appreciated her for who she was rather than someone who tried to mold her into something she wasn’t.

Ryan paused and regarded her frankly. “I have to ask...how is it a girl like you is still single? You are single, aren’t you?”

Her cheek ticked. “I’m not comfortable talking about it.” It wasn’t that the story made her particularly sad, but she’d just met Ryan, and sharing this kind of intimacy with him didn’t feel...natural. Besides, it wasn’t any of his business.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you.” He sounded as though he were the offended party. He was rubbing his left thumb against his bare ring finger, and he held up his hand when he noticed her looking. “Three years divorced,” he confirmed with a wry twist of his lips. “My ex didn’t understand the demands of my job. We didn’t see eye to eye on a lot of things. Honestly, I’m better off without her.”

“Tell me more about this fight,” she said, hoping to change the subject. They hadn’t gotten around to it with everything else they’d been discussing. “You mentioned Betty Heimer, but last I checked, she was in the 145-pound division.”

“She had a kid and put on some weight. This’ll be her first fight since she’s been back. I think it’ll be an easy one to win.”

“I don’t take fights because they’re easy to win,” she said, irritated he’d even suggested it. There was nothing worse than a mismatched opponent.

“That’s not what I meant. Like I said, it’s a convention with a small-time exhibition. More to showcase local talent, drum up publicity. Probably two or three hundred spectators, tops, which, at this stage in your career, is pretty good.”

“I’ve fought for bigger crowds.”

“But that was when you were fighting under your family’s banner. Their backing got you sponsors. Do you have sponsors now? Don’t answer that, I already know.” He named them. He’d done his research, apparently.

“Everyone knows the Fiore name, but as a fighter, you need to build your personal profile. Get on social media, get your face in magazines, market yourself, that kind of thing. A fight right here in New Orleans will drum up some good publicity to start.”

“And you’re the guy to help me?”

“I wouldn’t have come to Payette’s to see you if I didn’t think you were worth it. I don’t know if anyone told you, but Kyle and I don’t have a great working relationship. In fact, I’m thinking you could do better at a place like Star Gyms.”

She knew of the national chain of high-end, full-service boutique fitness centers. They had a price tag to match the facilities, but that wasn’t her issue. Bella fixed her mother’s patented listen-to-me glare on Ryan. “I’m staying at Payette’s. I signed a contract to stay on for six months. Besides, we’re working with an at-risk youth center, and I won’t give up on them.”

Ryan raised his hands placatingly. “Hey, no sweat. I’m just here to offer my services to help you become a champ in all the aspects that your coaches can’t train you in. What you’re doing at Payette’s is admirable—plus that community outreach stuff is PR gold.” He flashed those billboard teeth again. “Listen, I’ll be totally up-front. I like you, not only as a client, but as a person. In my business, that’s rare.” He shifted forward in his seat. “You’re twenty-six, right? How many more years do you want to fight for?”

She shrugged. “If injuries don’t slow me down? Realistically...I dunno...till I’m thirty-three? Thirty-five?” She hadn’t thought quite that far ahead. She knew she’d have to stop for a year or two if she had children. And some fighters continued well into their forties, though she wasn’t sure she’d be one of them. Quite frankly, it was hard to envision the future beyond the next match.

“Let’s say you decide to quit at thirty-five. That means you’ve got less than nine years to scrape together enough for whatever you want to do afterward. There is an afterward, you know, and a lot of athletes don’t realize that unless you get a sweet deal with a big-name brand, sponsorship money dries up pretty quick. Do you have any idea what you’ll do once you quit fighting?”

“Train others,” she said automatically. It was what her family had always done—pass on their teachings and raise new fighters on the Fiore system. “Work in my family’s gym, I guess.”

“Okay, so picture this—what if you could have your own gym?”

Bella admitted she’d thought about it. She’d always been resigned to the fact that she’d end up working for her father and grandfather and brothers for the rest of her life. But now that she’d broken off from her family tree, she could have dreams of her own.

The idea of that much freedom and autonomy saddened her a little. She missed everyone in São Paulo. Even Fulvio. At the same time, the chance to build and own something that was hers and hers alone was almost too sweet a dream to contemplate.

A gym. She’d call it Bella’s. Her name would finally be featured ahead of the Fiore family name....

“You’re starting to see it, right?” The glow of his smile reflected the stars in her eyes. “If you become the star you were born to be, you could have it all. Retire at thirty-five. Open your own gym. Your own restaurant. Whatever you want.” He leaned toward her. “I want to see you succeed, and I know you will. I can help you move to the next level—won’t you let me?”

* * *

“SO YOU SIGNED with Holbrooke?” Kyle sat back and carefully put down his coffee mug, afraid he might crush it in his hands or throw it at the wall.

Bella nodded. “He got me onto an exhibition card next month with Fury Fights, and he’s working on getting me some sponsors.”

“You should have talked to me first.” He rubbed his temples, feeling a brand-new headache coming on. If he’d seen Ryan within ten feet of Bella, he would’ve...

You’d have what? His father’s voice mocked. Told him to get away from your girl?

He pressed his palm onto the top of his desk. “I’ll be honest with you. Ryan’s scooped some of our clients before. I think he gets commission or something for bringing new clients to Star Gyms.”

A look of understanding dawned on Bella’s face. “He did try to sell me on switching gyms, but I made it clear that I won’t leave Payette’s.”

The knot inside him eased a touch.

“Why do you even let him in here if he’s stealing clients?” Bella asked.

“Our more serious fighters like that agents poke around here. I can’t really ban the guy for searching out new talent.” Of course, that wasn’t the only reason he didn’t ban Ryan from the gym. Bella had every right to look skeptical about his answer.

The truth was, Kyle didn’t like Ryan, and it wasn’t only because of his slimy business practices. The man was friends with Karla. And while he’d never said anything to suggest he knew about what had happened, he leered at Kyle whenever they saw each other.

If he banned the agent, who knew what the guy would say?

His irritation ratcheted up. “Tell me something.” Kyle leaned forward. “What did he do to convince you? Fancy dinner? Promises of fame and fortune?”

“You say it as if I’m gullible. I didn’t agree to it right away. I went home, did some research and talked to a few people. The guy has some serious fighters on his roster who’ve all moved on to the UFF.”

“What you probably haven’t heard is that he’s had more burnouts than superstar successes. Ryan pushes hard, Bella. He’s only interested in making money, even if it means making his clients do things they don’t want to.”

“You mean steroids?”

“I mean anything.”

Bella shook her head. “I won’t do anything I don’t want to. I’m not that desperate. I know what’s best for me.”

Kyle had seen her kind of cocky conviction before. Usually in overconfident guys who thought they’d be the next Dominic Payette. She might be a Fiore, but he wondered if she knew how far she’d have to go to become a star.

“Look, it’s done. Ryan will help me do some marketing and PR stuff. But you’re the one who’ll make me a good fighter.”

But why Ryan? he wanted to whine. Not that it was his business. It was her career, after all. But that didn’t mean he couldn’t warn her.

Bella leaned forward suddenly, her eyes softening. “Look, I know things have been tense between us. I know you don’t like Ryan, but he believes in me. I really need that.” She glanced down. “I need someone to believe...” She trailed off.

His eyes widened. Suddenly, he got it. She’d signed with Ryan because he supported her in ways Kyle hadn’t. Ways her family hadn’t. Why else was she here and not at a Fiore gym? Marco Fiore had mentioned something to him about a falling-out. Kyle understood that feeling of desolation when no one had faith in you. The ache spread as he realized his cold attitude hadn’t helped. He’d practically pushed her toward Ryan.

“I believe in you,” he blurted. Too little...but maybe not too late. Wry cynicism lurked in her eyes, but there was a spark of hope there, too. He swallowed thickly and leaned closer, trying desperately to infuse his words with sincerity. “I’m here for you, Bella.”

“I really need to believe that, Kyle. You’re the one I came here for. I want to bring something new to the cage. Betty Heimer has some major takedown skills, and I don’t want to be unprepared. Will you help me? Please?”

He bit down on the inside of his cheek. As wildly infuriating as Bella could be, right now, she was vulnerable and she needed him.

He couldn’t say no.

* * *

AFTER BELLA HAD finished with one of the fitness classes she taught, a young guy named Joe who’d been training at Payette’s for over a year joined them on the mats at Kyle’s request. At eighteen, he was a gangly kid who weighed a few pounds more than Bella did. As before, Kyle started from the beginning with basic wrestling stances. It never hurt to check a fighter’s habits. It seemed Bella had taken his advice and adjusted her staggered stance. Joe was more sloppy, but he was still new to MMA.

They went through the basic takedowns, and Kyle found Bella’s techniques a bit rough. Brazilian jujitsu and wrestling were separate disciplines with different rules and goals, but in MMA, the two were more fluid. He stopped the pair as she pinned Joe to the mats.

“Bella, you’re still not cutting the corner fast enough,” he said. “Betty’s going to be fighting you off, so you’ll have to do this in a snap. Don’t give her time to readjust.”

She shot him a look as if to say duh.

He raised an eyebrow and subbed in for Joe, getting into position.

Bella’s lips curved. “Do you want me to fight you off?” she asked wryly.

“You can try.”

Joe took another step back. Kyle said, “Go,” and lunged forward. He snagged her wrist and hooked one hand behind her head, controlling her so she couldn’t strike him.

But Bella was strong, and she’d had years of training with the first family of BJJ. She reversed their positions, dropping to her knees with one arm hooked under his thigh.

“That’s good,” Kyle said, grappling with her, keeping her close. “Using your height difference as an advantage definitely throws off a bigger opponent. But—” He shot his legs back and dropped his hips. He landed on her, then went for the full mount, straddling her chest. “I’m still bigger and stronger. From here I can get you into a lot of different submission holds.”

“If you can hold on,” she gritted. She lifted her hips and rolled and twisted beneath him. He lost his grip and slammed a hand down to stabilize himself. His nose ended up buried in the crook of her neck. The smell of hot-cross buns assailed him.

Before he could regain himself, she’d wrapped her muscular legs around his waist, ankles hooked into the small of his back. She pulled him down on top of her, gaining control despite still being pinned beneath him.

Her face was flushed, and strands of dark, curly hair stuck to her sweaty face. The combination of her piercing green eyes and the way she squeezed him between her thighs sent electricity across his skin. Blood pounded through his temples and made its way south.

“Nice guard,” Joe said.

Kyle startled. He’d practically forgotten about Joe. He tapped out hastily, discreetly adjusting himself as he got up. “In wrestling, your opponent will be fighting against you all the way. The name of the game is domination.”

“Well, I guess it’s a good thing the name of this game is MMA.” Bella rolled into a sitting position. “That would’ve been a perfectly legal move.”

He couldn’t fault her for that. And he had to admit he was impressed. “Let’s refocus on your takedown. Do the double-leg again. Joe, stand in for me.”

The hour slipped by quickly as they ran through the exercise several times. He realized too late, though, that having the amateur spar with Bella had been a bad decision. The kid’s technique was sloppy, and didn’t provide a real challenge for Bella. Kyle itched to replace Joe, but getting that close to her again was a bad idea. He was still shaking off the tingles running figure eights through his groin. He’d felt her, and whatever went through him made him wholly aware that she was an attractive woman.

Apparently, he wasn’t the consummate professional he thought he was.