Page 61 of Back in Black

Working nights, weekends, and college classes? Not many could handle that. Audrey couldn’t help but wonder why a man with an education would choose to be a fighter. “What was your major?”

“Business.” Sheepish, he grinned again. “I had thought to do some kind of suit-and-tie gig. I don’t know, just . . . because. To prove I could, maybe, you know? And if I didn’t make it as a fighter, I’d have that to fall back on. But I’d always been an athlete, and I like being physical, so MMA is a good fit for me.”

There was so much she didn’t know about him. “Who taught you to fight?”

“I did.” Covering her hand on his thigh with one of his own, he smoothed his thumb over her knuckles. “I’m analytical. Always have been. It’s why I’d be good in business and in sports. I can look at things and see why they do or don’t work. I’d watch a fight, see what moves the fighters used, and then copy them.”

The discoloration under his eye worsened. “I can’t imagine why anyone would enjoy getting hit.”

That brought a gruff laugh from him. “It’s not that I like getting clobbered. But I do like fending off a hit. I like testing my strength and endurance. After a fight, win or lose, I feel more alive.”

“I watched you in the gym.”

He shot her a surprised look. “I’m sorry I didn’t notice you.”

“It was . . . brutal.”

“That was just practice, Audrey.”

“You’re still beat up.”

He laughed. “Woman, you’re insulting my ego. I am not beat up. But with any sport, you get banged around a little during practice and sparring. Believe me, I got worse than this in high school and college sports.”

Audrey was so attuned to what he told her that she almost missed it when he turned toward an impoverished neighborhood. He caught her quick look around and apologized.

“Sorry. I haven’t been in town long enough to look for more permanent housing. The place where I’m staying is close to Havoc’s gym, lets me have Spice, and stays out of my business.” Flexing his hands on the wheel, he said, “If you’d rather not be here—”

“I’m with you.” Smiling with sincerity, she smoothed a hand over his shoulder. “I feel totally safe.”

That gave him pause. “I’m glad.” He pulled up in front of a four-family brick house and parked on the street. Turning toward her, he used his pinky to smooth back a few strands of hair that had escaped her ponytail. “I wouldn’t let anyone hurt you, Audrey.”

“I know.”

He looked beyond her and grinned. “There, in the second-story window? You can see Spice.” He opened his door. “She’s waiting for me.”

Audrey looked out the passenger window and saw the cat’s silhouette on the inside sill. When Brett opened her door, she stepped out. “Does she like visitors?”

“Haven’t been any since we moved here, but she’s a social creature. She won’t mind you.”

So he hadn’t brought any other women to his home? Given how she already felt about him, Audrey was glad to know it.

Several young men, maybe in their late teens and early twenties, loitered on the poured concrete porch, smoking and drinking beer. Brett only nodded to them as he led her to the door.

“Dude, when you fightin’ again?”

He paused with a theatrical groan. “I told you guys, I don’t know yet.”

“Been forever, man. Why’s Drew Black draggin’ his damned feet?”

“Yeah,” another one said. “If the man had any sense, he’d get you out there.”

After an apologetic smile to Audrey, Brett turned to the young men. “Drew’s a businessman, and the SBC is a business. That means everything has to be legal. Takes a little time, you know?”

One of the older boys drew on his cigarette, then flicked the butt into the yard. “There’s a fight going down at the club on Saturday. You should enter.”

Hearing that stole Audrey’s breath. An unsanctioned, unsupervised brawl meant that things could easily get out of hand. There’d be no one to enforce fair play, no rules.No holds barred.

Her vision narrowed and her chest hurt. Boys could get hurt, or even . . . killed. She had to do something.

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