Page 55 of Back in Black

At her tone, a mix of revulsion and awe, Simon crossed his arms and grinned.

The poor girl didn’t know which way to look.

If he’d met her before, Drew didn’t recall it. No big deal that, because as prez of the SBC, a lot of women tried to align themselves with him. He forgot most of them.

Shrugging at her, Drew said, “Guilty.”

To which she replied with sharp disdain, “Most definitely.” And then to Simon, “I’m sorry about knocking over that . . . bar thing.”

“No harm done.”

“Okay, then . . . I’ll just wait over there.” She pointed to the far side of the gym, well away from them. “Thank you, again.”

The second her skinny little uptight butt cleared hearing distance, Simon started laughing. Leaning in close to Drew, he whispered,“Ohmigod, you’re Drew Black!”

Drew fought a grin. “Shut the fuck up.”

Simon slapped him on the shoulder. “I don’t think she’s a fan, Drew. I think her shock was based more in horror.”

“Like I give a shit.” He paced around again. “What’s keeping Brett?”

“A desire for cleanliness?” When Drew didn’t share his sense of humor, Simon gave up on him with a pitying shake of his head. He left for the locker room.

A few fighters emerged, freshly showered and dressed in street clothes. Since Drew still stood there, not looking very busy, they paused to speak to him.

Pasting on his patented smile, Drew joked around, encouraged them, bitched about this and that, and then bid them farewell. Off to the side of the front door, he saw the little blonde looking very uncomfortable as she waited for Brett.

She kept sending him cross looks as she, too, paced. With each step, a ponytail bounced and swished. The late March day had brought a taste of early summer, with clear skies, moderate temps, and no wind, so the girl wore light clothes. A cotton football jersey hung loose over skinny jeans and frayed canvas sneakers.

With a jaded scrutiny, Drew decided she was probably cute enough to entice Brett. Too bad she seemed to have an aversion to him already, or he might have enlisted her to help him sway Brett to his way of thinking.

Drew caught himself and scowled.Screw that. Never before had he needed a woman to help him accomplish jack-shit. It was Gillian’s bad influence, making him think such things.

And now that he’d thought of her, that familiar coil of desire tightened inside him.

Their damned dinner before his departure had ended without a recap of their sexual escapades. He hadn’t exactly asked her back to his place, and she hadn’t exactly turned him down.

It was more like both of them were being circumspect. But damn it, he already craved a repeat. Soon.

Somehow he’d have to work it out.

Finally, when Drew’s patience neared an end, Brett pushed through the locker room door. Hair still wet, dressed in jeans and a plain white T-shirt, he headed across the gym with single-minded determination.

He didn’t look at Drew, and when he got close, he beat Drew to the punch, saying,“No.”

Unacceptable. “You’re giving up a great fucking opportunity.”

Without breaking stride, Brett shrugged.

Drew followed him. “This is your chance to make a big entrance, damn it. The public will fuckingsaintyou once they know everything you’ve overcome.”

Through his teeth, Brett said, “I don’t want to be sainted.”

“We can use your background to build up the hype like never before. I’m talking network coverage. ESPN. The whole shebang.”

His expression darkening even more, Brett said again,“No.”He pushed through the front door, and Drew went after him.

Outside the gym, the setting sun painted the skies crimson and nearly blinded him. Drew held up a hand to block the glare.

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