Page 5 of Fighter Daddy's Girl

GRACE

“That was awesome. What an incredible fight,” I practically scream.

“What?”

I turn to Lila and see her nuzzling up next to the douchey frat boy she’s been trying to get her claws into. She apparently succeeded. He came over about halfway through the fight, and they spent the rest of the bout with their tongues down each other’s throats. It’s been nauseating. At least I had the fight to pay attention to.

“Never mind,” I say.

The house lights come up, the music starts to play again, and the crowd filters out of the Warehouse, everybody still chattering away excitedly. I get to my feet, ready to go, but Lila is so absorbed with Chris that she doesn’t seem to notice. He whispers something in her ear, and she giggles. When she turns her gaze to me, I already know what she’s going to say before she utters a single syllable. She’s so predictable sometimes.

“Gracie, I was wondering?—”

I cut her off with a disgusted snort. “I’ll find my own way home.”

“I’m sorry?—”

Without waiting for her to speak further, I turn and storm off. I hear her calling after me, but I ignore her and walk away, so angry, I wouldn’t be surprised if there was steam coming out of my ears. I knew she was going to do this. I knew it. Why the heck did I agree to come with her tonight? I should have known better. I did know better. And that’s why I want to kick my own butt right now. Lila likes to say she only bailed on me once, but the truth is, she’s done it to me more times than I can count. She’s only left me without a ride once. I guess by her math, that’s the only time she’s truly bailed on me.

I raise my head and realize I have no idea where I am or where I’m going. I’ve been stomping around so mad that when I stop, I realize I’m in the locker room. My heart threatens to stop beating, and my stomach drops into my shoes when I see Griffin Harris sitting in a chair with nothing but a towel around his waist. His shoulder-length dark hair is wet and plastered to his head, and his body is dotted with beads of water from the shower.

I’m trying to force my gaze away from him, but my body betrays me. My eyes roam the hard angles and planes of his taut, muscular body. I’m mesmerized watching the beads of water rolling down his chest and abs, noticing how they glisten in the dim light. He is a remarkably beautiful man. And I thought I was uncomfortably wet before. My goodness. I clear my throat and offer him a shaky smile.

“Hi,” I say.

“Hey,” he replies, his voice deep and gruff.

His eyes drink me in, sliding up and down my body in a way that sets my skin and soul on fire. There’s a hunger in his eyes, and I have the crazy urge to let him sate himself on me.

“T-that was an incredible fight,” I say lamely.

“Thanks,” he says slowly. “Um, what are you doing back here? The locker room is for the fighters?—”

“I’m lost,” I admit. “I got into an argument with my friend and took off. The next thing I know, I’m here. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to barge in on you like this.”

“It’s fine. I don’t want you to get in trouble.”

“Yeah. I’ll go.”

As I turn away, his voice stops me, and I turn back. My heart is thundering in my chest, my belly is roiling, and my most intimate parts are quivering wildly.

“What’s your name?” he asks.

“Grace,” I say. “Grace Hill.”

“Nice to meet you, Grace. I’m?—”

“Griffin Harris. I know who you are.”

He nods slowly. “So, what did you and your friend fight about?”

An awkward smile touches my lips. “She hooked up with some guy and bailed on me.”

“That’s shitty. Sorry.”

I shrug. “I should be used to it by now. It’s not the first time it’s happened.”

“She doesn’t sound like much of a friend.”

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