“Holy shit, Enzo! You’re crazy. Thank you!”
She stepped back, her soon-to-be-husband’s arm wrapped around her waist, and looked at her painting, which was now part of her very own house. “Sometimes a girl can get the happily-ever-after without ever setting foot in a fairy tale.”
“What movie’s that from?” he asked, kissing her head.
She turned into his arms and kissed him lovingly. “No movie. That one was all me.”
Epilogue
“Good workout, man,” Iggy said to Enzo. “Just what I needed before I head back to Miami tonight.”
“Thanks. You too.” Enzo took a long pull from his bottle of water and used the back of his hand to wipe the sweat from his brow.
“How’s your baby mama doing?”
“She’s great. Speaking of…” Enzo excused himself and reached for his ringing phone.
“Hello?”
“Guess what!” she squealed, happiness and excitement radiating from the phone.
“What?” he asked.
“I just saw a commercial, and McDonald’s brought back the McRib. The McRib, Enzo! Can you believe it?”
“I can’t believe it,” he teased.
“You don’t know what that is, do you?”
He chuckled. “I don’t. But I’ll stop by and get it for you on the way home. I should just open a tab at McDonald’s.”
“I don’t know what’s gotten into me. The cravings are in full effect. Don’t forget the large fries and a strawberry milkshake.”
“Fine, but tomorrow you have to eat something healthy. I’ll cook,” he said. “How’s Sarabelle? You okay alone with her?” After they’d flown to Vegas and gotten married, JL had finally told Enzo about Penny’s baby. He’d given Penny his word that he wouldn’t mention it to anyone—especially since Penny had panicked when she found out Enzo knew. He suspected there was an issue with the baby’s father and maybe some sort of abusive relationship, but he wasn’t sure.
“She’s fine. Sleeping. Hurry home—I’m starved. Tomorrow we’ll eat carrots and lettuce or something. Love you.” Then the phone went dead.
He laughed, because there was no way his woman was starved. She’d eaten a bowl of spaghetti before he’d left an hour and a half ago.
Slade, Tony, and Travis were a few feet away talking to a group of people he’d seen around the Academy since the fight a few weeks ago. “Hey guys, can you all come here?” Tony said to the group. Cain and Iggy followed him to where the other guys were.
“What’s up, boss?” Travis asked.
“This is Dakota Nelson. She’s the producer of Fight Night.”
“The television show?” Cain asked. Enzo was vaguely familiar with the show—it was on one of those cable channels.
“Yes. They’ve chosen Worth the Fight Academy to film a docu-series. They’ll be filming for about a month before the big fight Cain and Travis are headlining.”
“Hi, guys,” Dakota said. “This is my crew. Don’t worry, you’ll become familiar with them. You won’t even notice them after a while. Anyway, I’ll need to speak with you all separately if you decide to take this on. Travis is already onboard. You’ll all be compensated for it, and I think you’ll find it to be more than worth your while.”
Tony took over. “We’re still working some things out, and I’ll get back to you guys about it with more details, but I wanted you all to meet Dakota before she headed back out to L.A.”
“Why us?” Enzo asked. “This is a small town. I’m sure there are others to choose from.”
“Why you?” Dakota laughed. With her red hair and power suits, she reminded Enzo of Francesca. “First, you have Scarface.” She pointed to Tony, using his infamous nickname. “Since he retired everyone’s been dying to see what he’s been up to. He makes for great television, especially when you put him together with his feisty wife. After the test shoots we did last month, we knew it would be perfect. But then we saw Travis. There’s no star to the show per se, but it’s going to center in large part around him since he’s the single one. It’ll bring in viewers.”
“Sounds too much like a reality show,” Cain scoffed.
“No! It’s not,” Dakota corrected. “It’s a docu-series. We want to see you train, talk smack to your opponents. See the road that leads to the big fight. But we need viewers, and you all, with your sex appeal, can bring in viewers. Especially this guy.” She pointed to Travis. “The single one.”
“I’m single too,” Iggy said. His eyes were fixed on Dakota, and when she noticed, she looked slightly taken aback.
“I haven’t seen you much. You’re not always here and weren’t part of the roster. Is it something you’re interested in doing?”
“Nah, I’m not from here. But it’ll be nice to see a pretty face when I come to Tarpon Springs to get in a workout,” Iggy said flirtatiously. The woman blushed as she followed Slade and Tony to the office.
“You’re laying it on kind of thick there, brother,” Travis said to Iggy.
“She’s gorgeous. Too bad I can’t get security clearance to do the show.” He tipped his chin up. “Catch you all later.”
“See you, Iggy,” Enzo said, and then turned to Travis. “I have to go too. Your sister wants something called a McRib.”
“Oh, shit. Those things are back?” Travis said, a sparkle in his eye.
“You two are weird.”
“Is JL working today? I’ll take her the food,” Travis said.
“You just want an excuse to see Penny.”
“The woman has been avoiding me, and she hasn’t been at work for the last few days.”
“Jamie Lynn’s at home today. No idea if Penny’s working.”
“Does JL ever talk about her? Is she seeing anyone? Why hasn’t she been at work?”
“Yeah, we sit around doing our nails and talking about who Penny has a crush on.” Enzo shoved Travis’s shoulder. “I don’t know what’s up with Penny. Leave her alone. She seems to have a lot of things going on.”
“Yeah? Like what?”
Enzo shrugged. “You’re about to be the star of a reality show, and I suspect they’re going to make sure you have very little clothing on. Women are going to be lining up. Leave Penny alone.”
“I’ve been trying to. I think one date is all I need to work her out of my system.”
Enzo bent over in laughter. “Yeah, one date and she’ll be out of your system. That’s what I said about your sister,” he replied, remembering how their first date had lasted four days.
I dedicate this to all the bloggers who’ve been so instrumental to the success of my fighters. I can’t thank you enough.
Acknowledgments
I can’t ever thank my agent, Sarah Younger, enough! You really did change my life by taking on Against the Cage and Drogo. I love you to pieces, lady! And Junessa, I can’t imagine having a better relationship with an editor than I do with you. Both of you ladies make this crazy industry…not so crazy! So, from the bottom of my heart, thank you both.
My readers and all the bloggers who read my books and spread the word so enthusiastically, I wish I could hug you all individually. Thank you. And a special heartfelt thank-you to a group of ladies who go out of their way to help a newbie like me—my COPA girls (especially Ella Fox, Aurora Rose Reynolds, and Rochelle Paige). You have taught me so much and have been so wonderfully supportive, I can’t thank you enough. You’re such a talented group of women, but more than that—you are good and kindhearted human beings who deserve all the success in the world. I still can’t believe you even talk to me! (*I’m still fan-girling*). And to Tif, Rachel, Annie, and April. I feel like we started this journey together and it’s great to see all of you on your way up. Also, to my two funny and lovely betas—Leisha and Heather—I love you ladies! Thank you for not letting Enzo be whiny!
Finally, to the most important people in my life: my family. From my supportive parents to my husband and kids. Thanks for picking up the slack when I’m too busy wr
iting. But, especially my husband, my fighter, you are—without a doubt—the best husband and father in the entire world. Thank you and I love you.
Xoxo!
BY SIDNEY HALSTON
Against the Cage
Full Contact
Below the Belt
Laid Out
Fighting Dirty
Stacked Up (coming soon)
PHOTO: © GABRIEL ESCUDERO
SIDNEY HALSTON lives her life by one simple rule: “Just do it.” And that’s exactly what she did. At the age of thirty, having never written anything other than a legal brief, she picked up a pen for the first time to pursue her dream of becoming an author. That first stroke sealed the deal, and she fell in love with writing. Halston lives in south Florida with her husband and children.
sidneyhalston.com
Facebook.com/Sidneyhalston
@SidneyHalston
The Editor’s Corner
Bring in the New Year with a new romance from Loveswept—all are specially written with you in mind, so I know you’ll find a story that’s a perfect fit.
Elisabeth Barrett returns to Briarwood, an unforgettable place where legacy and longing make dreams come true, in The Best of Me. USA Today bestselling author Jamie K. Schmidt follows with the first book in her new Hawaii Heat series, Life’s a Beach, an irresistible tale of second chances. The bad boys of baseball only get better with Katie Rose’s fourth book in the Boys of Summer series, The Heat Is On, where a homegrown baseball star returns to snag the one that got away. USA Today bestselling author Mira Lyn Kelly finishes her Dare to Love series with Now and Then, a steamy short novel of lost love, second chances, and hidden dangers.
New York Times bestselling author Kathy Clark releases After Love, book one in the suspenseful Austin Heroes series. Cecy Robson’s Of Flame and Promise kicks off a sizzling new series in the Weird Girls saga as Celia’s sister Taran fights to have it all. Jessica Lemmon introduces the ultimate bad boy in Forgotten Promises, and Gina Gordon starts her powerful, deeply sensual series Body & Soul where one woman discovers the courage to face life’s greatest challenges in Naked.
Let’s get sweet with USA Today bestselling author Laura Drewry and her latest, Off the Hook, part of her Fishing for Trouble series, and Zoe Dawson and her first Laurel Falls novel, Leaving Yesterday, for fans of small-town romance. Sidney Halston’s fans will be happy to know another mixed-martial-arts story is en route with Fighting Dirty, and then Claire Kent has you Taking It Off with a male stripper—yum! Adding to this USA Today bestseller list is a fast MC story from Maisey Yates, Strip You Bare. And Sawyer Bennett is bundling her books from her New York Times bestselling Cold Fury Hockey series.
Looking for a few historical romances? Lavinia Kent releases a Regency favorite in Ravishing Ruby, Sharon Cullen brings you back to Culloden in Sutherland’s Secret, and Pamela Labud’s Hunt Club series begins with To Catch a Lady—all with heroes to die for.
That’s it for this month—but February is bigger and better than ever before. Hope to see you soon.
~Happy Romance!
Gina Wachtel
Associate Publisher
Read on for a sneak peek of the next book in Sidney Halston’s Worth the Fight series
Stacked Up
Available from Loveswept
Chapter 1
Penny’s hand hovered over the ornate metal door handle at Ruby’s, the local strip club in Tarpon Springs, Florida. Actually, the only strip club in the small town. When she decided to run away from her privileged life in Oklahoma a year ago to raise her daughter far away from the judgment of her family, she never imagined most of the raising would be done by her new friend JL, who watched Sarabelle while Penny ran back and forth between two exhausting jobs, just trying to make ends meet.
Earlier in the day while waitressing at EE’s Diner, Jeffrey, the owner’s smarmy son, had gotten a little handsy, and when Penny had made it clear she didn’t appreciate his hand “accidentally” touching her butt, he’d gotten defensive and threatened to fire her. The fact that the threat of losing the crappy job scared her more than the creepy man touching her made her realize it was time for a change.
A major one.
Penny felt herself sinking and the harder she treaded water, the more tired her legs felt and the closer she felt to drowning. She needed a lifesaver immediately or she would not survive, and that thought made her even more despondent. Fortunately, during her midday break at EE’s, she had seen a flyer about an opening for a bartender at Ruby’s that paid double what she made now, which meant she could quit one of her jobs and spend more time with Sarabelle. The problem was that Ruby’s was a strip club and even though she wouldn’t be stripping, the thought of working there, after her highly sheltered, highly religious, and highly judgmental upbringing, made her feel like a failure.
Working at a strip club had never been the plan. In fact, it had been ingrained into her that things like strip clubs, which created “lustful” thoughts, were mortal sins and that strippers were the devil incarnate, luring men to make poor choices. In the last two years she’d realized how much of her upbringing had been based on hypocrisy and how clueless she’d really been, having been raised in a little bubble.
But even with all these eye-opening experiences, she still knew that she had been naïve to think she could survive all on her own when she’d never lifted one single finger in her twenty-one years of life. Heck, she’d never even washed clothes before Sarabelle was born. She was in way over her head and the fact that she was even entertaining working at Ruby’s was a clear indication. Penny braced herself, prepared to see naked women gyrating in the seedy club as men groped them. She expected drugs to be snorted on tabletops, liquor being poured and drunk off naked bodies, and sex to be had everywhere. The only man she’d ever seen naked was Lawrence, and that had been one time and it had been fast and painful and had resulted in Sarabelle. Regardless, Penny braced herself and opened the door.
And, bam!
“Oh, shit!” A woman shrieked as red liquid poured down the front of Penny’s white oxford shirt. “You okay?” the woman asked.
Penny looked down at her wet and stained shirt but instead saw two round globes still pressed smack-dab against her own breasts. The woman backed away and patted Penny’s chest with a napkin. “Sorry, sorry.” She continued to fondle Penny’s chest and then began wiping her own bare breasts. Flustered and embarrassed, Penny stepped back from the topless woman holding a now-empty glass and tray.
“Hey, it’s cool. I’m sure it’ll come right out. Don’t think it’ll stain, do you?” The woman seemed genuine in her concern and went to reach for Penny again in an effort to assist the already mortifying situation but Penny held out her hands to stop her. She looked around quickly; the place wasn’t at all what she’d imagined. It was dark but not seedy. Not smoky. There were groups of men having drinks in leather booths and there wasn’t so much a stage as various small stages with poles where women were dancing and chatting with the men who sat close by. The waitresses, such as the poor woman currently apologizing to her, were topless, but the bartenders at the big modern-looking bar a few feet away, were dressed. Scantily, but not nude—just as the ad for the job had said.
“Honey? You listening? Hello?” The woman snapped her fingers in an effort to get Penny’s attention. “Your shirt? You think it’ll come out?”
Penny shook her head to get her thoughts in order, then looked down at her chest. “Uh…yes, I’m fine.” Penny took the napkin from the woman’s hand and patted her drenched top.
“You okay? You lost or somethin’?”
“Yeah…no. I mean…” She really didn’t belong in a place like this. She had on pearls, for goodness sakes. Her oxford was buttoned almost all the way up, she had decided on modern slim-cut black slacks—it was, after all, a job search—and the plaid headband on her head holding her hair away from her face in a perfectly smooth coif definitely made her stand out. Suddenly feeling self-conscious, sh
e held out the flyer to the woman.
“Joe!” She yelled over her shoulder. “You need to see Joe,” she said to Penny. “Joe!” She yelled again. A man, presumably Joe, leisurely walked toward Penny. He had a shaved head and tattoos that went up both arms, disappeared underneath the tight fitting black T-shirt with the Ruby’s logo, and then crept up his neck. He had gages in both ears, pierced eyebrow and lips. If he didn’t have a big toothy, dimpled smile, she’d have turned around and run away.
“Did Darlene spill a drink on you?” He asked, shaking his head almost as if he was upset, but by the adoring look he gave the nude waitress, it was obvious he was more amused than anything.
“In my defense, she stumbled right in and ran into me,” Darlene said and Joe looked at her with squinted eyes. “Honest,” she added, holding up a hand and then turning to Penny. “Tell him.” Darlene gestured for Penny to speak.
“Oh…uh, yes. I ran right into her.” It was difficult to talk when there were women completely naked a few feet away and a topless waitress a foot away whose breasts jiggled every time she spoke and pointed.
“I’ll let it go this time,” Joe said with a wink to Darlene.
“This time? Honey, I haven’t gone one day in the last five years without screwing somethin’ up. But you love me anyway.” She kissed Joe’s cheek with a loud smack and walked away.
Joe tipped his head, motioning for Penny to follow him. He pulled a chair out for her. “You asked for me?” he said, sitting down next to her.
Penny showed him the flyer with the want ad. “I was hoping the job was still open. I’d like to apply, please.”
Joe cocked an eyebrow and leaned back to assess Penny. Immediately she reached for her pearls and began to fumble with them, like she did whenever she was nervous. “You don’t look like a stripper.”
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