Page 47 of Vanishing Legacy

They left their socks and shoes in the cubbies and grabbed gloves and headgear. Cash motioned toward the center ring. “Ladies first.”

Alana climbed up onto the apron of the ring and ducked through the ropes. A bit of the old Alana came alive the moment she stepped onto the mat. The former scrappy sixteen-year-old homeless girl who’d lived to fight.

Cash joined her on the mat and adjusted his chin strap. He grinned. “You ready for this?”

“Born ready.” The familiar rush of adrenaline coursed through her veins. She bounced on the balls of her feet to get the blood pumping to other parts of her body than her ears for once.

They circled each other, throwing light jabs and hooks they could dodge with ease.

“You’re quick,” Cash said.

“Thanks, but don’t go easy on me.”

He laughed. “I wouldn’t dream of it.”

Alana threw a kick, and Cash blocked it. “Is that how a world champion kicks?”

Alana laughed. “I was just warming up. I’ll show you a real kick.”

Cash grinned. “Bring it on, champ.”

They exchanged blows, each trying to anticipate the other’s next move. Alana was surprised at how evenly matched they were. She threw a series of kicks and punches, and he continued to block each strike. Cash had a natural agility that made him a formidable opponent.

“Not bad, but you’ll have to do better than that if you want to take me down.”

Alana rolled her eyes. “You wish, cowboy. I’ll have you on the mat in no time.”

Except, watching his smile and his movements had her mind drifting and her focus waning. Someone must’ve turned the heat up, because the room was about twenty degrees hotter. A bead of sweat trickled down her temple. She swiped it with her glove.

Cash saw his opening and faked a left jab, then swung a right hook, catching her off guard. She stumbled backward, losing her footing. She landed hard on the mat.

“Sheesh, are you okay?” Cash leaned in to help her up.

She caught him by surprise and took him down with a swift leg sweep. She rolled over him and pinned him to the mat. Hovering over him, she smiled. His warm breath on her neck sent a shiver down her spine. They were so close. Their faces only inches apart. She could lean in and kiss him...

In a flash, she was on her feet backing away. That was too close. What was she thinking? She’d almost kissed Cash. Her client. This whole thing was so unprofessional of her. She wiped her brow with her glove and headed for the ropes.

“Oh no you don’t.” Cash spun her around. He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her close. “Nice move…champ.”

“Thanks. You’re not too bad yourself.”

They stood face-to-face. So close their breaths mingled in the sliver of space between them. The heat radiated off Cash’s body. Her own heart thundered in response.

“So what are you going to do? Quit on me?”

She shook her head. “Never.”

His gaze dropped to her lips. “Good, ’cause I don’t think I could let you go.”

They leaned closer. Drawn by an invisible force neither could resist. As their lips met, the outside world disappeared. Nothing else existed. It was just the two of them, caught in each other’s gravity.

The sensation was electric. A shockwave spread through her body the likes of which she’d never known before.

“Ahem.” A feminine voice sounded nearby.

The moment shattered like glass. They broke apart, and Alana leaped back, pulling herself out of Cash’s arms, but the electricity between them still crackled in the air. Her cheeks burned as she averted her gaze over Cash’s shoulder.

A woman stood beside the boxing ring, hands planted on her hips, a stern expression on her face. Her luscious strawberry-blonde hair flowed down her back, but she wore a baseball cap pulled low on her forehead. The brim cast a shadow over blue eyes that seemed to be throwing daggers in Alana’s direction. She wore a black leather jacket over a cropped white tank top, and tight black leather pants that hugged her curves. Her makeup was flawless, with long lashes framing her eyes and a nude lipstick that accentuated her plump pout.

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