How could he gamble his career on a single match and sit there so casually?
Joaquin held out a hand and she advanced until his palm was cupping her cheek. In his sunglasses she saw her earnest reflection.
“I heard about Jules and the trainer change. I’m sorry he’s going through that.”
The only indication that he’d absorbed her words was a subtle twitch of his lips. Then, “You’re beautiful, Martha.”
She took away the sunglasses, hooking them on the neckline of his shirt, combing the depths of his solemn dark irises. It hadn’t been a restful night, and she’d awakened early nervous about the fight and what choice she might make afterward. “Say it again.”
His fingers barely brushed the delicate, puffy skin under her eyes, then traveled to the corners of her frowning mouth. “Martha, you are beautiful.” Not stopping there, he agilely climbed into the ring and helped her onto the canvas. “You’re so beautiful. In this square, we don’t lie. That’s why we’re here.”
She ran a hand along the top rope as she walked. “Every time we’re in this ring, we get overtaken.” Letting go, she met him in the center of the square. “We can’t this time.”
“The pregnancy.”
“No, I meant you. Save your energy for the fight.”
Joaquin grinned, and there was the dimple in his cheek. “Okay.” His fingertips brushed down her spine, lingered on the curve of her ass, and she wanted to keep him there. “And after the fight?”
“After the fight, I’ll be squirmy about your bruised face and battered body.” This time she smiled, but it quickly fell. “After the fight, we’re supposed to be done.”
“We’re going to choose now to stick to the lines in the sand?”
She shrugged. But there were no lines anymore. There was an unborn child. There was love. “So this is our honest place. This boxing ring.”
“‘No lies, no bullshit,’” he quoted. “I wanted you to be standing on this canvas with me when I told you that I’m not going to throw this fight. I can’t give Brazda a freebie. Above that, my kid needs a father with integrity.”
Martha nodded—or she tried to. Respect for his decision combated dread. In her heart, she believed he would outclass Brazda. Then the goodbyes would come. “Okay. My turn to be honest.” She glided a palm down his arm. She could touch him, study him, for hours. “I’m not going to hate you for choosing the fight, Joaquin. In fact, I love you. And I feel really good about being the one you gave your trust virginity to.”
“Is that so?”
“So.”
“So…” He turned and somehow maneuvered her against the ropes. “Make an honest man out of me. Upgrade me from ‘guest’ to ‘groom’ at your wedding.”
Martha gave a shove. “That’s not funny. Asking me to marry you when you’re about to fight your way out of my life?”
“I said I’m not throwing this match, Martha. I didn’t say there would be more.” Joaquin shook his head. “After this event, I’m retiring. I decide whose challenges I accept, and I decide when I’m done searching the ring for the meaning of my life.”
“Do not retire for me.”
“I’m retiring because what I want isn’t at the end of a championship anymore. My place in this sport doesn’t mean what it used to. Not to my uncle, and for damn sure not to me anymore. I took on Brazda because I didn’t have a reason to stop getting in the ring.” Joaquin’s touch was warm, comforting on her belly. “This baby’s my reason. You’re my reason. I’m not the machine…not the beast. That’s my reason.”
Martha swayed into his arms. Let the scandals begin. If loving Joaquin Ryder was a scandal, then she was thoroughly, shamelessly, dirtily scandalous.
“I’m still nobody’s fairy tale. I’m just a man.”
“Thank God.” So complicated, so difficult, so hard to understand, he would fit perfectly in her unconventional, out-of-order family. Someone to love and someone who loves me. Martha smiled against his mouth. “Kiss me, champ.”
*
Don’t miss Lisa Marie Perry’s next romance
from THE BLUE DYNASTY series,
MINE TONIGHT,
available April 2015 from Kimani Romance!
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ISBN-13: 9781460343838
Just for Christmas Night
Copyright © 2014 by Lisa Marie Perry
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