“Make sure you tell dear old Walt that Sophie’s feeling confident that this other network will decide to quote take Sophie up a peg or two endquote. Got that?”
She grinned as the lackey jotted down her words on a small pad, verbatim.
“How does this sound for the name of my new show: Inside Investigation with Sophie Morelle?”
As predicted, the guy looked crestfallen. His own job was probably on the line if he didn’t bring her back.
He’s better off working somewhere else, she thought. She patted the guy’s shoulder, a goodbye to him, her former network, and her crass, smart-ass persona.
Her image was about to pull a one-eighty. America was going to find out that the real Sophie Morelle was a smart, ambitious, caring person, and a dang good reporter.
She’d found her first interview, too.
Earlier, during Caden’s weigh-in, she’d done a bit of show and tell herself—well, without the actual footage, it’d been more like tell and tell. Still, she’d caught the attention of a few reporters, who promised to share her news with their networks. Bracken had stood off to the side, his lips twisted slightly as he eavesdropped on her sales pitch. Afterward, he’d promised her the return of her SD card within the week and an interview with his sergeant about the investigation. Turns out, he didn’t want to piss off his soon-to-be sister-in-law.
She’d smiled at the thought, thinking back to the incident in the Cuppa Joe parking lot, where she’d once claimed to be Caden’s fiancée.
A self-fulfilling prophecy? Or had she known all along that Caden was her soul mate?
Her country-crooning, smart-mouthed, smooth-talking man.
She wouldn’t change a thing about him.
Anxious to see Caden, she headed to the locker room. Raising a free elbow to knock on the door, she stumbled forward as it abruptly opened. Sal came barreling out, swinging a duffel bag over his shoulder and almost taking her out in the process.
The bag with the water and chicken breasts sailed through the air.
“Jeez,” she muttered.
“There you are,” he said, oblivious to the mini-drama he’d created.
She bent over to scoop the items up.
“There you are,” a second voice commented, his tone rich with humor and laced with promise. His arms wove around her waist and tugged her in for a kiss.
“Uh-huh,” Sal cleared his throat, interrupting them. “I brought you your duffel bag, Sophie. Found it in the luggage bin beneath the bus. Nothing pricked me this time. Nearly pulled my back out, same as back in Wichita. Just leave it to a woman to overpack.”
Caden stepped away a second before she did.
“Hell.”
“Holy Crapola,” Sophie echoed Caden’s sentiment. “You put the duffel bag in the Aston, Sal?”
Sal looked at her, then Caden. Frowning, his gaze turned back on her. “Good thing, or whatever is inside might have ended up like those pretty panties of yours.”
Caden set her on the ground, then burst out laughing.
Sophie followed.
“Aw, guess what the Boys did with your panties was kind of funny.”
“Do me a favor, Sal,” Caden asked, “Go get Bracken.”
“Does my ole heart good to see you two lockin’ lips.” Sal hovered, waiting.
Dang-diggity.
“Jesus, Sal. Can we get a little privacy?”
That did the trick, and the old-timer hustled off.
“Come here, chili cheeks. For once, the trainer’s got the right idea.”
Sophie stepped closer, and teased, “What makes you think I’d want anything to do with a hot, sweaty fighter?
Caden just smiled, and looked at her, his eyes bright and full of love.
“Besides, you have something on your T-shirt.”
“That right?”
“Yep.” She placed her finger on his chest, and waited.
He glanced down. She traced her finger up his chest, ever so slowly over his throat and chin, and ever so lightly flicked his nose.
Laughing, he grabbed her by the waist and tugged her in close. “How about it, chili bean?” he whispered. His lips found hers and, in typical Caden style, he stole her breath away.
* * * * *
Find out how the Worth the Fight series began with Knock Out, available now!
Logan Rettino never imagined she’d fall so far. Dropped by her ex on national TV, she’s gone from prima ballerina to ring card girl, reduced to revving up the crowds before MMA bouts. However distasteful she finds her new job, it pays well...and she needs the money if she’s ever going to rebuild her life. Promised a huge bonus if she can convince a brooding, gifted welterweight to keep fighting, she’ll do whatever it takes to earn his trust.
Keane O’Shea is unbeatable in the octagon. A former marine, he fights with a ruthlessness no gym jockey can match. He knows his brutal strength is too much for the delicate ex-ballerina, regardless of how fascinating he finds Logan’s tight dancer’s body. But one private performance and he’s drawn to her in a way he can’t—or won’t—resist.
As Logan discovers the heartbreaking truth that lies beneath this handsome warrior’s rage, she’ll need to forfeit everything she thought mattered for the one thing that matters the most: saving Keane from himself.
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About the Author
Michele Mannon believes life would be incredibly dull without an endless assortment of books and a good sports match on television—preferably with shirtless men (which is, by the way, her inspiration for writing a debut series featuring hot and oh-so-muscular MMA fighters).
Michele lives in central New Jersey where she divides her time between writing sexy and sassy contemporary sports-themed romances, laughing with her family and caring for not one but three heartless cats. Michele loves hearing from readers, so please visit her on the web at www.michelemannon.com.
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ISBN-13: 9781426898228
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Copyright © 2014 by Michele M. Mahon
Edited by Kerri Buckley
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All characters in this book have no existence outside the imagination of the author and have no relation whatsoever to anyone bearing the same name or names. They are not even distantly inspired by any individual known or unknown to the author, and all incidents are pure invention.
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