Risk

by Baylin Crow

  I’d just gotten done with my workout for the night and was covered in sweat. Heading for the showers, Brody, a welterweight and someone I occasionally hung out with, jogged to catch up with me. I wondered why he was still here. Usually by this time, it was just me and staff.

  “Hey, Asher, wait up.” He was already dressed to head out, and I wanted him to leave me alone so I could do the same.

  I stopped to let him catch up. “I need a shower, man.” And a fucking nap, but I left that part out.

  He wrinkled his nose. “Yeah, you do.” He was the odd one of the bunch—kind of preppy, with his short blond spikes and short sleeve button-ups, but in the cage, he became something else entirely. “I’m about to head out, but some of the guys are going to Bridge tonight. You feelin’ up to it?”

  Every bone and muscle in my body screamed it wasn’t a good idea. Exhaustion weighed on me and I wasn’t up to hanging out with a bunch of guys, drinking and looking for hookups when I could do neither of those things. “I’m going to pass tonight.”

  “Aw, man, come on! You never come with us anymore.” His face screwed up like he couldn’t understand why I was turning them down. Again.

  “I’m also a little occupied right now, in case you hadn’t noticed.”

  He rolled his eyes. “Yes, we know. Mr. Badass has a big fight coming up. You’re no fun anymore.”

  I sighed. He was right on that account. Everything revolved around this fight and would until I had secured my title once again. I hadn’t gone out with the guys in nearly a month. As it was, for the last two weeks, I’d had to battle a new distraction at the gym—Drew Everly.

  He wasn’t only dragging my attention away from where I needed my head to be, but his uncle had also asked me to look out for him when I could. Apparently the guy had had it hard when he was younger and had been in trouble quite a bit. Pete didn’t give me details, other than Drew was trying to get his life sorted. I owed Pete a lot. Everything really. Without him, I wouldn’t have gotten to where I was in my career, so I wouldn’t refuse him anything within my power. If Pete knew how much I was struggling to keep my eyes off Drew, though, he wouldn’t be encouraging it. Of that I was sure.

  Then there was the fact that Drew’s mixed reaction toward me confused me. When I let him run into me the other day, he’d seemed nervous, but I didn’t know why. He was a hard guy to get a read on. I wasn’t sure if he was straight or not. Not that it mattered. I was pushing twenty-eight and Drew didn’t look a day over twenty-one, twenty-two at most. He was too young for me, but my traitorous body wanted him anyway.

  In my defense, I’d never seen eyes so light blue, the color eerie. When Pete had introduced us, I’d cut out quick because the first spark of attraction startled me with its intensity. Peering into that pale gaze had been like holding onto a live wire, electricity sizzling and dangerous. I didn’t need that at the gym. Couple that with his tousled, too-long hair, a shade too dark to be called blond, that curled around his ears, and his slim build with a nicely sculpted ass I couldn’t help but watch when he walked by, and it was damn near impossible to tear my eyes away from him.

  I wanted to run my hands through that hair. I wanted…what I shouldn’t. A low groan escaped my parted lips, and Brody cleared his throat, reminding me he wasn’t ready to give up.

  “Sorry, man, maybe next time.” I turned to go but his next words stopped me.

  “Shit, we even got that new kid to go.” That grabbed my attention.

  “What new kid?” Maybe we had a new guy I didn’t know about. It was possible since I’d been wrapped up in my training. Otherwise, he was talking about Drew.

  “Pete’s nephew, Drew. He’s not as uptight as we thought.”

  Uptight? The guy just kept his head down and did his job. He didn’t appear to be the irresponsible kid I’d been warned about either. Sometimes I’d see him talking to Brody, or one of the other guys, but other than irritate me, it didn’t seem like anything was off.

  “You talk to him a lot?” I kept my face neutral, even though I cringed on the inside. I didn’t want anyone to know I was asking about him, and Brody had a big mouth.

  “Not a lot, no, but he seems cool, so I invited him.” He shrugged.

  “And he said he’d go?” Apparently, I had no control over my mouth anymore. Pete had asked me to look after him. I was just doing him a favor.

  Brody was starting to look at me a little weird, and I needed to back off.

  “Yeah, he did.” He raised a trimmed, bleached brow.

  “Okay, well, you guys have fun.” I shrugged to play it off, then waved as I left him behind and continued on my way to the shower. He hollered out behind me that I was a loser. Brody wasn’t a complete jackass, but he put on a damn good show of one.

  Meanwhile, I had to come up with a way to go to the bar and watch out for Drew. From what I’d been told, the guy had a mouth on him and not just that enticingly plump lower lip. Pete didn’t think Drew had been in any real trouble in a while but had been fired for blowing up on his last boss. I’d hit enough bars with Brody to worry about Drew. Once Brody had enough beers in him, he was only concerned about girls, despite the fact he had a girlfriend. He would disappear without notice, get into fights on occasion, and cause general chaos.

  Fuck, I was too tired for this shit.

  After I showered, I left for my apartment. The drive home seemed to take forever since all I wanted to do was crawl in my bed and sleep off the exhaustion.

  “Mr. Ramsey,” the doorman greeted me.

  “How’s it going, Frank?” I tipped my chin at him on my way by.

  “Well, thank you,” he said. The guy was so polite and stiff in a way that made me want to shake him.

  As I was riding up the elevator, my phone buzzed in my pocket. The screen showed it was my manager.

  “What’s up, Jerry?” I asked when I accepted the call.

  “Just got a call from Tiffany. She said you didn’t show.” He let out an exaggerated sigh, but I didn’t care.

  Fuckin’ hell! I couldn’t catch a break. Not only did I need to find a way to be at the bar, but I’d forgotten I also had to make a public appearance with whoever the hell Tiffany was.

  Groaning, I rubbed my closed eyes. “I’ll pick her up in thirty.”

  “You know it needs to be done,” he reminded me.

  No, I didn’t. He thought it needed to be done, and he handled the business and PR stuff, so I went with it. My career was important, but I just wanted in the cage. I left the rest to him and my team.

  “I’ll be there in thirty,” I repeated through my clenched jaw.

  “Okay, I’ll text you the address.”

  “Great,” I bit out.

  By the time we hung up, I was at my apartment door. Thankfully, I’d taken that shower at the gym, so I only needed a quick change. I didn’t have a clue how she was dressed, but I was going casual.

  Tossing on a pair of jeans and a blue button-up shirt, I was back in my truck less than ten minutes later. Checking my text messages, I read that I was picking up a woman named Tabitha, and she lived only a few blocks away. I could’ve sworn he’d said her name was something else that started with a “T”. I programmed the woman’s address into my GPS and then drove the short distance to pick her up.

  Cursing myself, I pulled my truck alongside the curb in front of her upscale townhouse and put it in park. I took a deep breath and climbed out. As soon as I hit the first step to her door, she flung it open. Dressed in a super-tight emerald-green dress with sparkly shit on the top half and her deep red hair up in an elegant twist, she was a knockout but overdressed. I groaned and took another step toward her. I’d agreed to public, not fancy, although I’d done that on occasion. The livid expression aimed my way I could do without too.

  “I’m sorry I’m late,” I said before she could start in on me. “Are you ready to go?” After apologizing to her, her features changed from anger to appreciation, if the way she scanned me up and down with a p
redatory gaze and licked her lips was anything to go by. I shuddered and not in a good way.

  I wasn’t even sure what Jerry told these women, certainly not the whole truth, because a few had tried to kiss me, which I’d turned into a quick peck just for photos. I hated every minute of it.

  “Where are you taking me?” she asked as she locked up and followed me to my truck. I held the door open as she eyed my ride with disdain. “I’m not sure I’m dressed to climb in there. I thought there would be a car service.” She smoothed her hair back, and I smothered a groan of frustration.

  “Let me help you up,” I said and lifted her with ease into the passenger seat. She gripped my shoulders tighter than necessary, and I just wanted the night to be over. I eased her hands away, trying to be nice about it, and rounded the truck.

  Once I was in the driver seat, I grabbed my phone from the magnetic dash mount and texted Jerry so he could tip off the paps. “We are heading to Bridge now.”

  The outside of the bar had an old-school charm about it. There was nothing flashy or showy, so when we arrived, I wasn’t surprised at all when she gasped. “You can’t be serious.”

  “What do you mean?” I asked.

  “This is our date?” she huffed.

  “It is,” I responded. “When I open your door, smile for the cameras.”

  I had to give it to her. As soon as I opened her door, she turned it on, purposely seeking out the lens and smiling while leaning into me. I could only imagine what headlines would be posted by the morning. Everything about doing this made me sick.

  If I had to do this, I didn’t understand why Jerry couldn’t set it up with someone I might enjoy spending time with. Instead, it was always some woman looking to get to the top by doing whatever she had to. She had to be beautiful. She had to have money. She had to be used to making appearances, knowing there would be photographs.

  This wasn’t her first rodeo, and that was why Jerry chose her. That was why he chose them all. Honestly, the whole thing made me feel like shit even if it didn’t matter to them one way or another.

  When we stepped into the bar, the familiarity welcomed me. Bridge was one of the only places where I’d been able to relax over the last several months, and I savored my time there. I took Tabitha’s hand and led her to the back booth while scoping the place, looking for Drew or Brody, but I didn’t see either of them anywhere.

  “Asher!” The owner, Rick, always came to greet me.

  “Rick.” I nodded as I stood and patted his back.

  “Who’s this beautiful young lady?” he asked, to which my date preened and fluttered her lashes.

  “This is Tabitha,” I said while holding my smile.

  She shot me a glare. “Tiffany,” she corrected. My smile faltered, and Rick chuckled uneasily.

  “I do believe you are in serious trouble.” He glanced at me with mirth in his eyes. I wasn’t laughing, because although this wasn’t a real date, I didn’t like making anyone feel bad, even if they happened to be a stuck-up princess. “I’ll send your waitress over. Tiffany, it’s a pleasure to meet you.”

  “Likewise,” she said with a tight smile.

  Sitting down, I muttered, “Sorry about that.” I pulled out my phone to check my message from my manager. Yep, he’d said her name was Tabitha. When I thought about it, he might have said Tiffany on the phone, but that wasn’t what he’d texted me. What an asshole. And what did that make me? I hadn’t even bothered to do proper introductions when I’d picked her up.

  She opened her mouth, no doubt with something ugly to say when Shea, a long time Bridge waitress, popped up next to the table.

  “Hey, Asher.” She leaned in for a side hug. “How’ve you been?”

  “Good. Busy.” I released her. “You?”

  “Same. Hi, I’m Shea,” she introduced herself to my date. “What can I get you?” she asked, looking at both of us while bouncing on the balls of her feet. I didn’t know what this girl would do if she had a desk job. She couldn’t even stand still.

  I was starving after today’s workout and cursed my diet, but found something Pete wouldn’t kill me for eating. After taking our orders, she walked off toward the bar.

  Tiffany began to talk, and I readied myself for the verbal lashing I deserved, but before she could get going, shouting came from the back of the bar. Immediately alert, I glanced toward the pool table at the other end of the joint where people were gathering as two male voices rose along with a high-pitched feminine scream.

  “Stop it, Gage!” she shrieked. I jumped from my seat and hauled ass to see what was going on. It took a moment to push through the crowd, but when I did, I was pissed.

  Drew was lying on the floor with a split lip, grinning like a crazy person while some guy had his hand pulled back ready to let it fly again. The guy’s face was flushed from too many drinks and a vein pulsed in his beefy neck. “Don’t lie to me. Did you touch her?”

  “Fuck you.” Drew laughed. I had to give him props for having balls, because this guy outweighed Drew by at least fifty pounds.

  “You mother…” The guy went to hit him again, and I reached out and jerked him away by the back of his shirt, hearing a few of the threads tearing. I spun around and pushed him against the wall without looking at Drew.

  “Let it go,” I said, calmly.

  “Stay out of it!” he yelled, the smell of hard liquor on his breath. When he took a second to actually look at me, his eyes went wide. “Holy shit! Asher Ramsey?”

  I didn’t acknowledge him and instead repeated myself. “Let it go. We were just leaving.”

  “That little shit was trying to fuck around with my girl.” I glanced at the blond girl in question who was blushing bright red and had her eyes planted firmly on the floor, and then I glanced downed at Drew who still wore a stupid grin. Idiot.

  Maybe there was something to what Pete had been saying after all.

  I returned my attention to the guy. “I’m getting him out of here, but you need to chill the fuck out.”

  He shook me off, and I released his shirt. “Whatever. Get his pretty-boy ass out of here and away from my girl.”

  I didn’t respond.

  Grabbing Drew’s hand, I pulled him up and guided him in front of me toward the entrance with my hand firmly on his back. Shea stood by the bar with a phone in her hand and a question in her eye.

  “It’s over,” I told her. “You should probably keep an eye on that guy or have Rick remove him. I think he’s had one too many.”

  “Thanks for breaking that up.” She paused. “He okay?”

  “Don’t worry about it. He’s fine,” I said, glaring at the back of Drew’s head. “Can I settle up tomorrow?”

  She waved me off. “It’s on the house.”

  “Thanks, Shea.” I winked and she rolled her eyes.

  Drew had started to leave without me, so I latched on to his arm and guided us outside, only pausing to collect my date who was still sitting at our table.

  As soon as the doors closed behind us, I scanned the parking lot and neighboring building, looking for any signs of cameras. No one stood out, thank fuck. Jerry would love having to spin this shit too. Not.

  Drew tried to jerk away. “Let go of me.” When I held firm, he attempted to pry my fingers off his arm. I almost laughed when an aggravated sigh left him and he gave up. That didn’t stop him from running his mouth. Something about an overgrown man with boundary issues.

  Ignoring him, I turned to my date. “I’m sorry. I need to get him home. Can I pay for a cab for you?”

  She gave me an incredulous look and her hands went to her hips. “Are you serious?” Her eyes flicked to Drew then back to me. “Because of him?”

  “Afraid so.” I sighed but secretly was at least happy to get out of the date.

  “Don’t let me screw up your night.” Drew scowled.

  I shot him a glare, suddenly feeling the urge to spank his ass.

  “I’ll get my own cab.” She dismissed me, but I st
ill waited for one to pull over and made sure she was safely inside. Drew had calmed down but continued to shoot daggers with his eyes. I was regretting agreeing to Pete’s request because Drew was a pain in my ass.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  DREW

  When he manhandled me out of the bar, my face heated in anger as people gawked and whispered. He kept his giant paw wrapped around my arm until his date was gone. Then the big asshole released me and turned to face me.

  “So, what was that about?” Asher asked, his eyes scanning my face before locking on to my gaze and narrowing.

  I bristled. Who the hell was he to demand answers? And why did he sound like I had done something wrong?

  I’d had my fair share of fights growing up in my neighborhood. But that was when I was younger and mostly because I’d had to. I hadn’t even fought back this time. I laughed at the utterly stupid situation.

  I’d been serious about getting my life on track and proving myself to my uncle—and to myself. All I had to show for it was a busted lip and bruised ego. When I didn’t respond, Asher released a deep breath.

  “Come on.” For some reason the deep, gravelly sound resurrected that uneasy feeling I got when he was around. “We need to get you cleaned up before your uncle sees you. Pretty sure he wouldn’t call what happened in there staying out of trouble.”

  Asher headed at a brisk clip for a shiny new gunmetal-gray truck, and I had to gather my wounded pride and follow quickly behind him.

  When we got to his truck, he opened the passenger door and placed his hands on my waist before trying to boost me up like a chick. I swiped his hands away and he jerked back. I looked at him, feeling a little odd. Why had it felt natural to let him? I shook my head to dispel the thought and climbed in. As I waited for him to get in on his side, his words registered.

  He’d barely shut his door before I asked, “What did you mean about me getting into trouble?”