Page 23 of Kiss Me Forever

"I need to talk to Mick. He's the owner."

They paused at the edge of the ring. Alex made no move to interrupt the sparring match.

Andrea watched for a moment and then said, "What did you mean when you told me that you lived here a long time ago?"

"It was after my aunt died. I didn't have anywhere to stay, and Mick let me sleep on the couch in his office for a few weeks until I could finish high school. I was going to quit school and get a job, but he wouldn't let me."

"I didn't read about this place in any of the articles you've done previously."

"It never came up."

As Alex finished speaking, Mick came down the stairs. In his early fifties, Mick was built like a linebacker, tall, broad and square. His hair was a dirty blond and cut very short. He wore gym pants and a t-shirt, and she could see numerous tattoos on his arms. The heavy lines around his eyes and mouth hinted at some hard living.

"Alex," Mick said, slapping Alex on the shoulder. "Haven't seen you in a few months. Where have you been hiding?"

"My office mostly," Alex said. "Mick Galliard meet Andrea Blain. Andrea is writing an article about me forWorld News Today. She's shadowing me this week."

"And you brought her here?" Mick asked, surprise in his voice.

The two men exchanged a rather pointed look, then Alex shrugged. "She was in the car."

"Well," Mick replied. "I guess that's a good enough reason." He turned his sharp gaze to Andrea. "It's a pleasure."

"Mine, too," she said, shaking his hand.

Alex pulled an envelope out of his pocket. "I wanted to bring this by for you, Mick."

Mick's lips drew into a line. "That better not be money."

"I talked to Howard. You should have come to me."

"You've done enough already, Alex. This is my business, not yours."

"You're doing good things here, Mick. That's what matters. So put your pride aside. And use this for the kids."

Mick hesitated and then took the envelope and slipped it into his pocket. "Thanks. It's just a loan. I'll pay you back."

"I don't want you to pay me back. As long as you keep getting results, that's all that matters. How is it looking for the next event?"

"I've got an up and coming champion," Mick said, nodding his head to a solidly built older teenager who had just stepped into the ring. "Kyle has strength, speed, agility and smarts. Kind of reminds me of you."

"Of you?" Andrea echoed, giving Alex a questioning look.

"I spent a few hours in the ring."

Mick snorted at that. "More like a few months." Mick turned to Andrea. "Alex was good. He won a couple of regional events, but while he had all the moves, his heart wasn't in it. He was meant to do a lot more. And he did. Now I have to get back to work. You two going to stick around?"

"For a few minutes," Alex said.

"Don't be a stranger. I know you've got a gym in your house, but we've got some machines here I know you don't have yet."

"I'll keep that in mind."

As Mick went back to the ring to set up the next match, Andrea gave Alex a thoughtful look. "You keep this place going, don't you?"

"Not at all. I just help out every now and then. Mick has been a savior for a lot of kids in this city—kids who can't pay to use a gym. It's an important place in this neighborhood, and I chip in when he needs it."

"He was your savior, too, wasn't he?"

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