As horrible as it is, seeing that all play out in my mind isn’t what haunts me. It’s the still of the fighter dropped to his knees when he realizes the man isn’t getting back up. He’s shattered. I can’t take my eyes from his face as I watch him break into a million little pieces. I should’ve felt sorry for the man that just lost his life, but I don’t even look his way. I’m fixated on the man who will never be the same. Never. I know it. I feel connected to him for a stopped moment in time.
In my mind, it’s high noon and the shadow of my past is twice the size of me. Towering over me. I can’t escape it.
Chapter 4
Elle
I’m later than usual when I finally get to the office. I’m still in a fog and find myself dazing out as I catch up on emails and plan my day. Nico “The Lady Killer” Hunter. I didn’t know him before the fight, but that was his name. I remember watching him walk into the cage and smile a cocky smile at the crowd. The ladies went crazy. It didn’t take long to figure out what his name meant. I remember feeling a jolt when I took in his smile and that body, that incredible body.
The press had a field day for weeks after that fight. His name may have been Nico “The Lady Killer” Hunter before the fight, but the press removed the “Lady” part from his name after that.
I’m typing words into Google before I even realize what I’m doing. The pictures that were etched into my brain are no different on the screen when they appear. The referee had ruled the fatal blow a clean hit, but that didn’t stop the press from sensationalizing the story. A few weeks later, after the press had moved on to whatever carcass was yet to be picked over, I read a small story hidden in the back of the paper amongst the advertising. Nico’s opponent had had an unknown underlying head condition and was a walking time bomb.
I’m able to push thoughts of Nico into the depths of my head and finally get some work done after two more cups of coffee. It’s midafternoon when Regina buzzes in to tell me I have a client in the lobby, but I don’t have an appointment on my calendar.
I walk into the lobby, my thick sandy blonde hair being held in place on top of my head in a lopsided bun held together by two strategically placed pencils. I stop in my tracks as I see Nico rise from the couch in the waiting room and toss a magazine back on the table.
I’m surprised by his appearance, but he seems oddly familiar after spending half of the night and most of the morning in my mind. I put on my best game face and straighten my posture. “Mr. Hunter, did I have an appointment with you today?” I pretend I’m concerned I may have forgotten an appointment, but there is no way I’ve forgotten anything about the man from the two times I’ve seen him.
He takes two steps closer to me, just an inch or two closer than one would consider normal space between people. But I notice it. He’s taller than me by at least eight inches, if not more. “It’s Nico, please.” He smiles at me and the room feels smaller, warmer.
I smile back. I don’t have to fake it, it’s a real smile. I’m happy to see him and I can’t hide it anyway. I have no idea why. I should be freaked out after what I remembered, but I’m not for some reason. I’m curious about this man. I nod my head. “Nico, what can I help you with?”
He smiles, it’s a mischievous, lopsided smile that makes me think the man is playful. But damn if it isn’t the sexiest thing I’ve ever laid eyes on. “I remembered a few things I thought I should tell you that I didn’t mention yesterday. Do you have a few minutes?”
I tilt my head to the side and study him. What is it about him that doesn’t want to make me run even though I can feel my heart racing through my shirt? “Sure, let’s go talk in my office.”
Nico smiles a victorious smile and it’s contagious. I smile back and I’m not quite sure what we are even smiling about. He follows me down the hallway and as I turn into my office I catch his eyes lingering on my behind. He looks up just as I take in his line of sight. A normal response would be to be embarrassed at being caught, but not Nico. He grins at me unapologetically. Instead of finding it rude or harassing, for some reason I find it turns me on.
I sit behind my desk and Nico looks at the small chair sitting opposite my desk and back to me. “Would you mind if we sat over there?” He motions to the couch behind him and I realize for the first time that a man of his size wouldn’t fit in the little delicate chair which sits in front of my desk.
“Oh, sure, I’m sorry.” I let out a small laugh. “I guess that chair wouldn’t be too comfortable for someone your size?”
Nico stands next to the couch and waits for me to sit. I sit on the far end and expect him to sit at the opposite end, so there is space between us as we talk. A desk usually fills the requisite space for a business meeting, but there is no desk separating us on the couch. Nico doesn’t do the socially acceptable thing. Instead he sits directly next to me on the couch. Not abnormally close so we are touching, but close, like we’re in a theatre next to each other.
God it’s hot in this little office, I realize I shouldn’t have closed the door. I stand and walk over to the window and open it. I walk back to the couch and Nico turns to face me. He’s so close I have the urge to reach out and touch him. He’s watching me and has a small smile on his face. I get up to grab a pad and pen and his smile is bigger when I return, he looks amused. He must realize that I’m fidgeting. I’m trying hard to pretend he doesn’t affect me, but he does for some reason.
“So, Nico, what did you want to tell me about?” I put my pen to the paper, ready to take notes with my head down. I’m determined not to get caught in his gaze again.
But Nico waits quietly and doesn’t speak. Eventually I have no choice but to look up at him to see why he hasn’t started talking yet. And he catches my eyes when I do and smiles. I smile back, even though I’m aware he just completely played me.
“I forgot to ask you out to dinner yesterday.”
“Dinner?” I’m momentarily confused.
Nico smiles a devilish smile and I get the urge to kiss it right off his face. What the hell is wrong with me? I’m calm, cool, and collected. Not some schoolgirl at a loss around the cute boy in class.
“Yes, dinner. You do eat, don’t you?” His voice is a mix of amused and teasing.
“Umm.” I stammer for a few seconds. “I can’t.”
His response is quick, I feel like I’m at a deposition and I’m the one being deposed. “Why not?”
“Because it wouldn’t be right.”
“Do you have a boyfriend?”
“Not really.”
“Then why wouldn’t it be right?” Nico flashes the crooked smile and I know before he speaks whatever he says will be something flirty. “I think it would be very right.”
His crooked smile makes me smile and I lose my train of thought. Very unlike me.
“It’s complicated.” Those two little words would scare away most men, but apparently not Nico Hunter.
“Okay, let me hear it. I’ll help you sort out the complication so we can get it out of the way.” Nico leans back further into the couch, crossing one leg over the other, settling in for the story. Really?
“Well…you’re William’s client.”
“And you said the other day you weren’t a couple, right?”
“We’re not.” I’m being honest, I don’t think of William as my boyfriend. Boyfriend implies relationship, more than just good friends who satisfy each other’s sexual needs occasionally. But my answer isn’t totally truthful either. “I mean, not really.”
“Okay. He unfolds his arms and settles them on his knees as he leans forward. “So where’s the complication?” He looks directly into my eyes for a minute before he continues. “In the not really?”
I blush, I’m not sure if he realizes what I’m saying or not. “Yes.” I hold his gaze when I respond, determined not to back down.
Nico assesses me and takes in my embarrassment. It’s emanating from me, even though I’m reaching deep for my calm, cool and collected persona. I can’t seem to hide what I’m feeling from him, he won’t allow it, and I have no idea why I let him control me. I can’t help myself around this man and it makes me feel unraveled. “Let me take you to dinner. Just dinner. I’ll be a perfect gentleman. Scout’s honor.” He holds up his hand and three fingers.
I furrow my brow at him. “Were you even a scout?”
“Yes.” He says the word without conviction. I squint and look at his face with disbelief. He knows I can tell he is leaving out something.
“Okay, so it was only for a day. My brother and I got into a fight and got kicked out at the second meeting. But it still counts. I was a scout.”
I smile at him, amused at his attestation, assessing the sincerity with which he spoke. “Why?”
“Why what?” The confusion on his face is evident.
“Why do you want to have dinner with me?”
Nico takes a slow, assessing gaze up and down my body, making no attempt to hide his blatant assault. He gives me a boyish smile that has an edge of sexual undertones to it before he speaks. “Aside from the obvious, that you’re gorgeous?”
I blush, but force myself to remain quiet. A good negotiator knows when to keep quiet and let their opponent squirm to fill the silence.
“You’re smart and confident and the people around you seem to love you.” He stops and watches me, I can tell he is deciding to continue. “And when I look in your eyes I see a little light flicker…”
He pauses for a second. I look at him, but still don’t speak.
“And for the last twenty four hours all I could think about was what it would take for me to turn that flicker into a flame.”
Holy. Shit. I stare at him for a long moment. My mind is spinning, but I already knew my decision before he even spoke. I stand, silently signaling the end of our conversation. Nico stands and joins me. Waiting patiently for my response.
“Okay.”
He smiles, and I’m caught in his boyish charm. “Okay?” I think I’ve actually surprised him.
I smile back and raise an eyebrow, daring him to question my answer.
“Friday, 7pm. Give me your address. I’ll pick you up.”
“I’m barely done by 7pm. Why don’t you pick me up here?”
And just like that I made dinner plans with Nico “The Lady Killer” Hunter.
Chapter 5
Nico
“You give any more thought to taking on Kravitz?” Preach stands on the other side of the bag, struggling to hold it in place as I alternate between kicking and punching. He’s been bugging the shit out of me for four months now. It’s been thirteen months since I stepped out of the cage and today was the first day that I didn’t wake up in a cold sweat reliving it since it happened. Nope. Instead I woke up with a hard-on and a picture of Elle smirking at me, daring me to question what had made her change her mind about going out with me. I took a cold shower. It didn’t f**king help. So instead I came down to the gym and started earlier than usual.
“Are we going to have this conversation again, Preach?” I hit the bag with a series of quick strikes and catch Preach off guard, he takes a step back to steady himself. He knows damn well I meant to knock him on his ass.
“We’re going to have the conversation until you get your head out of your ass and get back in the damn cage.”
I switch to leg attacks. My legs are stronger and I know I have a better chance of taking him down behind the bag with the power of my legs. But f**king Preach is ready for me and his stance didn’t even falter. He probably knew what I was going to do before I did. That’s what happens when you stay with the same trainer for ten years. They get into your head and know you better than you know yourself. They have to. Otherwise how would they break a fighter of their bad habits.