Page 21 of Fighter Daddy's Girl

I scoff. “Have you seen the state of public schools today? Teachers are totally getting pummeled by unruly kids. I’m safer in the ring.”

Her face lights up as she laughs. It’s a high, musical sound that makes me smile. Her laughter is something I could hear every hour of every day and never get tired of. Everything I learn about this girl only makes me want to learn more. She has seriously opened a door in me that I never anticipated. It’s one I never knew existed. And now that it’s open, I find myself wanting to delve deeper into what’s behind it. With her.

“Those people have been staring at us for the last ten minutes,” she says.

“They’re probably not used to seeing somebody as beautiful as you.”

She laughs again. “That’s such a corny thing to say.”

“Doesn’t mean it’s not true,” I reply with a shrug.

I noticed people staring at us, too. And it’s probably because she looks way too young for me. Like I give a fuck what other people think. I turn to the couple giving us strange looks and fix them with an icy-cold glare.

“Something I can help you two with?” I ask, my voice low and hard.

They quickly turn away and whisper amongst themselves, doing their level best to keep from looking over at our table again. Shaking my head, I turn back to her. Grace’s lips are curled upward, and she’s got an amused expression on her face.

“What?” I ask.

“Nothing,” she replies. “But a girl can get used to having her own personal bodyguard.”

“Well, get used to it then.”

“Oh, you’re going to protect me from all the bad people out there?”

“Yes, I am.” Her smile melts my heart. “So, I have a little news.”

“What’s that?”

“I’ve got a fight coming up in a couple of weeks. Nothing big, just a small club thing like where we met,” I tell her. “But I got a call from my former agent. It looks like there are going to be a couple of promoters there looking at me. Turns out, the guy theyhad slated to challenge for the belt injured himself and can’t go. Because I still have something of a name in the game, if I can impress them, they’ll put me on the card and give me a shot at a title.”

Her eyes widen, and her mouth falls open. “Oh my God,” she almost shrieks. “That is amazing news! I am so happy for you!”

“Well, nothing’s set in stone yet. I have to win this fight, and a couple of other things have to fall into place for all that to happen?—”

“Well, I know you’re going to win that fight,” she says. “And I know you’re going to impress them. As far as I’m concerned, you’re guaranteed a shot at the belt.”

“I like having you in my corner.”

“And that’s where I plan on staying,” she replies. “So, that’s why you’re in such a good mood tonight, huh?”

“I’m in a good mood mostly because I’m with you, but yeah, getting that call today sure didn’t hurt.”

“I’m so excited for you.”

“You’re going to be there, right?” I ask. “You’re my lucky penny.”

“Of course, I’m going to be there.”

“Good girl,” I say. “I’ll be right back.”

Standing up, I lean over the table and give her a quick kiss, earning a disapproving frown from some of the nosey fuckers who think I’m doing something wrong. They turn away when I glare at them.

Grinning to myself, I head to the bathroom. After finishing up my business, I walk back through the restaurant and pause when I see a man I don’t know standing at our table. Maybe six feet tall with light brown hair and eyes, and he’s lean. Almost scrawny. And I don’t like the way he’s looking at Grace. He’s looking at her like she’s a possession. His possession. What I don’t like more is the way she’s looking back at him. She looks terrified.

When he reaches out and takes her arm, she yanks it away, her face etched with fear. Gritting my teeth, I cross the restaurant and push the man out of the way, inserting myself between him and Grace. The restaurant falls completely silent, the commotion drawing the attention of everybody around us, but my eyes are fixed on him, so I don’t give a shit who’s staring. The blood in my veins is boiling, and my hands are balled into fists.

“Who the fuck do you think you are?” I growl.

---