“Darcy.” He shoved his hands in the back pockets of his black jeans. “You ladies having fun?”
She gestured to the four empty shot glasses on the tabletop. “Hell yeah we are.” She grinned. “On a related note, I think you boys will need to call us a cab later. Sky and I will be way too plastered to drive.”
Reed frowned. “Are you sure getting loaded is a good idea?”
Darcy threw her head back and laughed. “It’s girls’ night. Getting loaded is the one and only requirement.”
Skyler nodded in agreement. “Definitely.” She winked at Gage. “You don’t mind, right?”
He nearly swallowed his tongue at the coy question. He’d seen Skyler drunk only once: last weekend when they’d split a twelve-pack during an action movie marathon. And he could honestly say he’d never had more fun watching a woman get sloshed. With her cheeks flushed and her eyes shining, she’d chattered a mile a minute throughout every movie—and proceeded to end the night performing an hour-long striptease for him, followed by a blow job for the ages.
Greatest night of his life.
“I don’t mind at all,” he drawled.
Skyler hesitated. “You sure? Because I’m happy to come to the arena with you.”
She’d already offered several times, and he gave her the same answer as before—a quick shake of his head.
“Are you sure?” she pressed.
“Positive. I really don’t want to make a big thing out of it,” he admitted. “I just want to finish the match and leave. I’ll meet you at your place when it’s done, okay?”
“Sounds good.”
“Sounds great,” Darcy corrected. “That gives us lots and lots of time for dirty girl talk and shooters.”
Next to Gage, Reed had begun edging away. “I’ll leave you to it then. Find me when you’re ready to go and I’ll arrange for a taxi.”
Darcy blew him a kiss. “You’re a prince, Reedford.”
“You know my full name isn’t Reedford, right?”
“But it sounds so much more distinguished,” she protested.
Reed looked like he was fighting a laugh, but then his eyes went shuttered and he glanced at Gage. “I’m heading upstairs to look over those liquor orders. Later, bro.”
The moment Reed was gone, a male voice boomed out of Gage’s earpiece. “We’ve got trouble at the front door, boss,” one of the bouncers reported. “Three douche bags refusing to wait in line. They’re trying to rough Leo up.”
“On my way,” he said briskly. He clicked the earpiece and looked at Skyler. “Duty calls. See you later?”
“Yep.”
He leaned in to plant a brief kiss on her lips, then stalked off to take care of business.
…
Two hours later, Gage was taping up his hands just as Mitch strode into the locker room.
“What’s up?” he muttered without a shred of enthusiasm. He’d been expecting the visit, but that didn’t mean he was looking forward to it.
Mitch cocked his head at the two other men loitering near the locker banks. “Can we have a minute, boys?”
The fighters nodded, leaving the room without delay. Once they were alone, Mitch fixed his shrewd dark eyes on Gage. “So.”
He raised a brow. “So.”
“After tonight you’ve filled your end of our arrangement.”
“Well aware of that.” Rising from the bench, Gage tucked his shirt, pants, and boots into an empty locker behind him.
“I have a proposition for you.” Mitch leaned against the cinder-block wall, his expression thoughtful.
Gage slammed the locker door and turned to face the other man. “Not interested.”
“You haven’t even heard me out yet.” Irritation flashed in Mitch’s eyes. “At least show me the f**king courtesy of listening.”
Stifling a curse, he folded his arms over his chest. “All right. Let’s hear it.”
“There’s a tournament in eight weeks.”
Gage stayed quiet.
“It’s an elimination tourney. Prize is half a million bucks…”
He still didn’t answer.
“I want to sponsor you.”
His silence continued.
“Nicky over at Sal’s gym is willing to train you. I’ll put up the entry fee, and if you win or place, we split the cash fifty-fifty. Whadda you say?”
Gage looked Mitch in the eye and said, “No.”
The other man swore in annoyance. “Fine, I’m willing to go sixty-forty, but that’s it.”
“I don’t care about the cash. I’m not entering.” He flopped down on the bench again and planted both hands on his thighs, the look on his face brooking no argument.
“Come on, man, just think about it. It’ll only cost you two days of your time, and if you win you’ll earn a cool two hundred and fifty G’s. If you place you’ll get a hundred. Easy money, brother.”
“I already have a day job,” Gage said curtly. “I’m part owner of a very successful club. That’s where I want to be.”
“I’m sure your partners will give you time off if you—”
“You’re not hearing me. I want to be there. I have no interest in fighting anymore, which is what I told you three months ago. I only agreed to these matches because you backed me into a corner, but we’re square now.” Gage shot the other man a dark look. “You’re a man of your word, or at least that’s what you like to tell everyone. Isn’t that right?”