Got A Hold On You (Ringside Romance)

by Pat White

  Abruptly, he paced to the window overlooking the workout area and glanced down at the wrestlers using the machines.

  “I thought about your offer, Sully. I’ve decided you’re right. I do owe WHAK for my success.”

  “I knew you’d come around.” Uncle Joe jumped to his feet and extended his hand.

  “However…”

  Uncle Joe snatched his hand back and ran it through his hair.

  “I need to cut down on my matches. I don’t want to push the knee.”

  “Will you do more promotional appearances?”

  “Sure.”

  “It’s a deal,” Uncle Joe’s hand went out again.

  “About the Tiger Lady...”

  Uncle Joe shoved his hand into his pants pocket. “Non-negotiable. Judging from last night’s performance, this story line will catapult us right up there with Steel’s Outrageous Wrestling. But don’t worry. I’m working on finding you a new Tatianna. Someone with more experience and savvy.”

  “I want the girl from last night.”

  “What?” Uncle Joe said.

  Frankie’s knees buckled. She planted her butt on the corner of her uncle’s desk for support.

  “But, Jack, last night you said—”

  “I know what I said. But I also know it worked last night because there was something real about her, something innocent. She’s not a professional actress, is she?”

  “N-N-No,” Uncle Joe said, turning his back to Frankie.

  “I didn’t think so.”

  “She was a last-minute replacement, a friend of the family.”

  “Great, then she’ll have no problem helping out her ‘family’ again.”

  A knot of panic twisted in her stomach. “The woman who performed with you last night is no longer available,” Frankie said.

  “Yeah?” He sauntered across the room and her heart started that triple-time rumba beat again. Why couldn’t she keep her mouth shut? If he got any closer her circuits were gonna fry.

  “And why’s that, Frank?” he asked, towering over her.

  Intimidation. She didn’t put up with it from insolent CEOs, and she sure as hell wasn’t going to put up with it from an empty-brained wrestler.

  She straightened and stared up into his dark green eyes. Way up. “She has other commitments.”

  “Then uncommit her. I want her back. She’s perfect.”

  His penetrating green eyes seemed to pin her in place. Breathe, she reminded herself. In through the nose, out through the mouth, just like the meditation tape instructed. She certainly did not want to pass out in front of this arrogant bully.

  Arrogant and tall. If only he weren’t so damned tall.

  And handsome.

  And virile.

  And…gawd. She curled her fingers into her palms to keep from ripping off his shirt and running her hands across his rock-solid chest.

  Get a grip! She corralled the animal lust back into its cage. What on earth was the matter with her? She needed some one-on-one time with Bradley. That would cure this hormonal disorder.

  “We’ll find you another woman, Mr. Hudson,” she said.

  “I want the girl from last night.” His eyes grew even more intense.

  Even with his hair tied back, he looked wild, like a crazed boar poised and ready to sink his teeth into fresh meat.

  “Now Jack, Frankie does have a point. Wouldn’t it be nice to work with a professional?” Uncle Joe’s voice cracked.

  “Compromise, Sully. That’s what you’ve always taught me. I’ll extend my contract if you bring back the original Tiger Lady.”

  Jack’s plan clicked away in his head as he eyed Sully’s rigid niece. He was going to have fun messing with this little girl’s head.

  It seemed to him that if anyone needed a little messing with it was Frankie. Hell, she looked like she’d stepped off the cover of Young Executives Magazine. She wore a tailored gray suit, pearl-buttoned white blouse complete with starched collar, and a conservative pinstriped vest to conceal her generous curves. He detected little makeup, with the exception of a conservative stroke of mascara and blush. She didn’t do a helluva lot to make herself attractive, but Jack guessed attracting men wasn’t her objective. She preferred bossing them around.

  Jack Hudson was too old and too cranky to be bossed around by anybody, especially the Franken Niece.

  This was going to be fun all right.

  He couldn’t help but wonder if the prim-and-proper boss lady had ever had her feathers ruffled. Wildly, crazily ruffled.

  “What’s it going to be, Sully?” He snapped his gaze from the Franken Niece and glanced through the glass at the gym. He’d have to get down there today, headache or no headache.

  “I’ll see what I can do,” Sully offered.

  “What!” Frankie cried, glaring at her uncle.

  She actually looked kinda cute when she glared.

  “Looks like blood isn’t thicker than water,” Jack taunted, reaching out to chuck her chin with his thumb and forefinger. She jerked away.

  “Yeah, well...” He gave her the once over, letting his gaze roam her body and linger on her chest to rattle her cage. With a mischievous grin, he turned to leave.

  “Jack, wait!” Sully said. “It’s Frankie’s first week here. I’d like to show her around, but I’ve got so much paperwork.” He motioned toward his desk. Two sheets of paper sat dead center.

  “Uncle Joe—”

  “Sure, I’ll give her the five-cent tour.” Jack rubbed his chin and narrowed his eyes in his best “I’m-gonna-eat-you-alive” look.

  “Really, Mr. Hudson, it’s not necessary.”

  “Call me Jack.”

  “Thank you, but no.”

  “Frankie, I told you how swamped I am today. Go off with Jack and we’ll talk later.” He gently shoved his niece from behind.

  Jack didn’t know what the old man was up to, but he could play the game just as well, maybe even better, than the manipulative promoter. Spending a little time with Frank could keep him one step ahead of his boss. Jack might even be able to dig up some dirt on Sully, something dark and seedy that he could use to persuade Sully to cut him loose sooner than later.

  “Come on, Frank. I can show you the ins and outs of WHAK headquarters.” He opened the door and grinned. “After you.”

  “Uncle Joe,” she ground out between clenched teeth.

  “Go on. Learn about the business. There’s no one as savvy as Jack to teach you all you need to know.”

  “I will talk to you later,” she said. Was that a threat tinging her voice?

  Good. Jack wanted her angry and off balance. This repressed, prudish executive would be very easy to keep off balance.

  When Frank huffed past him, Jack shot Sully one last smile. “Oh, and Sully? When you do get Tiger Lady back here, tell her I’ll be the one to train her and teach her the moves.”

  Sully’s face paled, and Jack knew he’d hit the mark. Which mark, exactly, he wasn’t sure, but the promoter was sweating about something. That’s how Jack liked it. Make Sully sweat and suffer, just like he was trying to make Jack suffer.

  Jack shut the office door and glanced down the hall. The niece was halfway to Catalina Island.

  “Hold on there, Frank. You don’t want to get lost.” He caught up to her, a dull throb pummeling the inside of his skull. Damn concussion.

  “You weren’t supposed to come back today,” she said, taking short, determined steps.

  “Yeah, well, I can’t do hospitals.”

  She smiled at him, her eyes sparkling. “That wouldn’t have anything to do with needles, would it?”

  The she-devil was taunting him? Perhaps, and she was also heading straight for the men’s locker room. Jack followed along.

  “I have no idea what you’re talking about.” He eyed the locker room door. Nick the Nefarious had ripped off the sign last month in a fit of rage, a typical emotion when dealing with a promoter like Sully.

  “I suppose you don’t r
emember passing out last night because of an itsy bitsy needle?”

  She was having fun. He was going to have more fun in about ten seconds.

  “I can’t believe a big man like you would be scared of a little thing like that.”

  “You weren’t the one being stabbed by that ‘little thing.’ ”

  “Maybe not, but when my allergies acted up as a child I had no choice but to give myself a shot in the arm…with a needle,” she said, as if trying to make him pass out by saying the word.

  “You’re a brave girl, Frank.”

  He pushed open the door and she stepped into the locker room. Upon seeing a handful of men in various states of undress, ferocious Frank turned tail and slammed face first into Jack’s chest.

  “Hey, nothing to be squeamish about. Not for a strong, tough cookie who can jab a needle in her arm without blinking an eye.”

  Her fingers opened and closed twice. He had a feeling he was going to feel that sucker punch before the day was out.

  “Jack! What’s up?” Maynard said, walking toward him.

  Jack reached around Frank and gave Maynard a high five.

  “You okay, man?” Maynard asked.

  “A little punch drunk, but I’ll survive.”

  “Who’s the broad?”

  Jack placed his hands on Frankie’s shoulders and turned her around. “I’d like to introduce everyone to Sully’s niece, Frankie McGee.”

  “Frankie? Isn’t that a guy’s name?” one of the other guys asked.

  “I call her Frank for short. Helps her fit in, right kid?”

  She pumped her fist again.

  “Why’d you bring her in here?” Maynard said.

  The small group circled her, the usual guys at this time of day: Luther Rawlings, a six-foot-eight-inch African American wrestler; Teddy, also known as the four-hundred-pound Bald Basher; and Marco, the hard-core king who had more tattoos than David Beckham.

  “Coming in here was her idea,” Jack said. “She wants to get to know the talent, right, Frank? A chip off the old uncle.”

  “Did you say she’s Sullivan’s niece?” Teddy said, snapping the waistband of his shorts.

  “I am,” she said with a lift of her chin.

  Jack had to give her credit. She wasn’t trying to run. Not yet, anyway.

  “Then we need to talk. I’ve got a problem with clause B6 in my contract.” Teddy got in her face, his blood-shot eyes gleaming, his jaw working a piece of watermelon-flavored bubble gum, his favorite. The Franken Niece probably thought he jawed on a piece of worn leather.

  She glanced over her shoulder at Jack and her helpless eyes tugged at his heart. Damn. He had to get out of here before he forgot she was the enemy.

  “Well, I’ll leave you with the boys to get better acquainted.” He slipped out and waited for her to run screaming from the room.

  He’d give her five, maybe ten seconds. With her mightier-than-thou attitude, the boys would rip her to pieces, verbally anyway, in a matter of minutes. If she thought she was smarter than all of them she had another thing coming. Two of the guys were college grads, and Marco owned a chain of successful restaurants. It always amazed Jack how people assumed that because professional wrestlers had hard bodies, they had mush for brains.

  Luther’s hearty laugh boomed from the other side of the door. They were having a great time at her expense. Teddy probably had her over his shoulder by now, demonstrating the Basher Smasher. He loved showing off.

  Jack leaned against the dirty white wall and remembered the last time Marco brought his niece for a visit. Teddy picked up the little girl with one hand and spun her around. The kid screamed with delight, blond hair flying every which way.

  An ache settled low in his gut. Remembering the playful exchange reminded him how much he’d missed: a family and a loving home. His failed marriage proved he couldn’t have either as long as he stayed in this business. But wrestling wasn’t solely to blame for his marital disaster. He’d wanted a normal life so bad he’d worn blinders when Sandra waltzed into his life. Never again.

  One thing for sure, he wasn’t going to end up like his father, blaming everyone around him because he hated his life. Jack had entrenched himself in this insane business without help from anyone. It was high time to jump ship, before he lost any chance of a normal, healthy, and happy life. Before he ended up like his dad—angry, bitter, and dead before his time.

  “Dammit,” he muttered, surprised by the sudden self-analysis. Must be the blow to the head. He touched the goose egg above his eye. Time to put bad decisions behind him and refuse to be manipulated. Actually it was time he did a little manipulating of his own, starting with the terrible Tiger Lady. He was sure he could finesse the wacky female from last night. He wasn’t so sure about a professional actress. No, the inexperienced Tatianna would be the perfect pawn to carry out his plan.

  The door to the locker room swung open.

  “Never would have guessed you’re related to that slave driver Sullivan,” Luther said. “No offense, ma’am.”

  “None taken, Mr. Rawlings. My uncle’s been in this business a long time and has some rather old-fashioned views about how to run things. I hope to change that, bring wrestling into the mainstream.”

  Luther’s eyes gleamed with admiration. She really had him under her spell.

  “I’ll look into the contract issues, Mr. Rawlings. It was nice to meet you.” They shook hands, her small, pale fingers dwarfed in the giant’s burly paw.

  She shot Jack a smug look and proceeded down the hall. Jack glanced at Luther.

  “Nice lady,” Luther said. “Smart, too, not like Sully.”

  “You’re still getting paid, Mr. Hudson, even if you’re not in the ring,” she called over her shoulder as if ordering him to follow her like a puppy dog.

  He ground his teeth. He’d like to get her in the ring for five minutes. A good, old-fashioned submission hold would clear that arrogant tone from her voice.

  “Have fun, Jack.” Luther slapped him on the shoulder and laughed, obviously reading Jack’s mind.

  “Yeah, right,” Jack muttered. He started after her, afraid of what she’d do next. He didn’t like surprises, not one bit. Catching up to her he studied her face, set in stone, like well-carved marble.

  “Let’s get one thing clear, Mr. Hudson.” She stopped and squared off at him.

  He still had a hard time taking her seriously when she barely came up to his chest.

  “I don’t like surprises,” she said. “You pull any more on me and I swear—”

  “Hey, lady, you’re the one who walked into the locker room. I thought you wanted, you know, to sample some biceps for yourself. ” He grinned.

  “In case you haven’t noticed, Mr. Hudson, brawn doesn’t impress me, nor does it intimidate me.”

  Oh, he’d noticed all right. He also noticed that whenever he got within six inches of her, her face flushed three shades of pink.

  Time for a little non-intimidation. He planted his hands on the wall at either side of her head.

  “I’m not here to intimidate you, Frank. On the contrary, I want to live up to my role of tour guide. It’s the least I can do for you and that generous uncle of yours.”

  Her eyes changed color from light blue-green to cobalt in a flash. He glanced down to see whether she was making that tight fist again, but she’d shoved her hands behind her back.

  His gaze drifted to her peach-colored lips, the lower lip a little fuller than the top, giving her a natural pout that most women would kill for. For an uptight drill sergeant she had incredible lips, lips that looked like they needed to be kissed something bad. Hell, where did that come from?

  “Since you’re being so accommodating, Mr. Hudson, please take me to the press office. We need to schedule your appearances for next week. ”

  “Not next week, babe. I get a week off, remember?” He tapped gently at his head injury.

  “That was my uncle’s deal, not mine. I’ve got big plans for you,
Mr. Hudson, very big plans.”

  Chapter Five

  The next day at WHAK headquarters, Frankie and Uncle Joe brainstormed angles, ticket sales, and strategy for handling Black Jack Hudson.

  “I don’t know what else to do. A deal’s a deal.” Uncle Joe dropped a bag containing the infamous leopard-skin bikini in her lap.

  “And since when did you worry about keeping your word?” Guilt snagged her conscience. “Sorry, I didn’t mean it like that.”

  “I take it you’ve talked to some of the guys.” He settled behind his desk in his cracked, maroon leather chair.

  “A few.”

  Leaning back, he tapped a pencil eraser on the tip of his chin. “Business can get messy. Sometimes I have to make unpopular decisions.”

  “I’m not here to judge you. Just dig you out of trouble and be on my way. But that doesn’t include parading around like a fanatical feline.”

  “Just like your mom. Always worried about appearances.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “Never mind. I’m sorry, but it’s the only way. You’ll have to work with Black Jack.”

  “For a year?”

  “The story line won’t last that long. Even if you go back to your real life and fancy job, you can always make guest appearances for the television specials.”

  “Uncle Joe!”

  “I would find someone else, but I think Jack’s got something up his sleeve. You’re the smartest woman I know, princess. If anyone can play hard ball with Jack and figure out what he’s up to, it’s you.” He leaned forward and massaged his temples with his fingertips.

  This wasn’t a ploy or an act, or anything scripted. Uncle Joe looked tired, dead tired. His eyelids drooped and his skin was paler than usual.

  “The mask stays on,” she said.

  “Of course.”

  “Maxine designs a new costume to cover up more of me.”

  “Fair enough.”

  “What about the books?”

  “You got them in pretty good shape. I’d like you to keep consulting with Bert in accounting, if you have time. But your priority has to be working with Jack. This is it, Frankie. My last chance to save this company.”