FIGHTER: An MMA Romance Novel (7 page)

K
ade ignored
his phone for the weekend and buried himself in a different kind of work, but when he scrolled through his messages on the flight back, he was pleasantly surprised with the fight's hype. Not all the sponsors were happy that a rookie with no back story had taken Rico down, but some saw the benefit of it. A newcomer meant new advertising opportunities. New hype meant renewed interest. If the right steps were taken, this would pad Kade's bank account as much as it would Jax's. Once the sponsors understood how much money they could make off Jax, they’d come around. Until then, there were other matters to attend to.

Matters like Nicole.

Seated beside him, dressed in one of the outfits he'd picked out for her, she looked mouth-watering. Full breasts plump and lifted so high they almost spilled from the top of her shirt, round ass planted on the seat beside his, there was a lot for Kade to soak in. That weekend he'd discovered just how much of a freak between the sheets she was, he couldn't wait to make her his perfect toy. A woman with brains was harder to break than one who relied on looks alone, but Kade was persistent. Finally, Karen wouldn't be his only office slut. Maybe, just maybe, once Nicole was eating out of his palm, he’d get the two of them to play nice while he watched.

"What time are we supposed to show up at the office tomorrow?" Nicole asked. It was Monday afternoon, and they were scheduled to land in another hour. Suki kept their drinks topped off, and Kade indulged himself. The buzz brightened his mood and made her stupid questions tolerable.

"Tomorrow is a regular work day," he said, tone even, perhaps a little chipper. Sometimes, Kade surprised himself with how well he played his role. " rest of today after we land is yours. I suggest getting some sleep. I don’t think you got much in Brazil."

Drink in one hand, the other stroking Nicole's thigh, Kade felt like he had it all. Since the fight, Nicole's mood had sunk. The sparkle in her eyes disappeared, and although she'd given herself to him willingly, he couldn't help but feel as though something was wrong. Whatever her problem was, Kade wanted to sort it out before it became an issue.

"I'd like you to be at my party Friday," he said. "All of the fighters on the Brazilian card will be there. The event sold out, and the pay-per-view numbers were through the roof; everyone deserves to be rewarded."

Nicole's eyes caught his before dropping again.
What was going on in that pretty head of hers?
After everything they'd done that weekend, it couldn't be regret. A woman that sinful couldn't be capable of such emotions.

"Another event to record?" she asked. The lack of life in her tone upset him. After the weekend he'd just given her, Nicole had
nothing
to be upset about. Kade fired off a text message to Suki as he spoke, ordering her to fix Nicole something strong to take her mind off of matters.

"The first hour or so will be plenty of time to get that stuff out of the way. I don't expect you to be caught up in work all night. In fact," Kade's hand squeezed her thigh for emphasis, "I don't want it to be all about work. I don't think I'm done welcoming you to the UFL yet. If you get your shots out of the way early into the night, I'll take you on a personal tour of my house."

There was no choice. Either Nicole would agree now, or he would push the work aspect of the night and demand she show up for her job. As naughty as she was, there were a million other girls like her who could take her place.

"Sure," Nicole replied with a nod of her head. "I think I'd like that a lot." At last she smiled, and Kade finally felt content.

Only a handful of seconds after the text message was sent, Suki approached with a pastel pink colored drink.

"Excuse me, Ms. Washington," the flight attendant said. God, did she have a nice body. Kade's eyes swept her up and down, drinking her in. On flights where he didn't have a woman at his side, he enjoyed Suki in the bedroom, ordering her to ride him until he was exhausted. The woman knew her place, and she knew how to serve. Maybe the next time he flew out, he'd have Nicole and Suki share him. The thought made him grin.

"Yes?"

"I have a fresh drink for you."

"Oh, thank you." Nicole accepted the drink, then turned her head to look at Kade. "Thank you. I can't believe how lucky I am to have this job and… you. None of my friends are going to believe I went to Brazil for the weekend."

"None of my friends will believe how lucky I am to have spent the weekend with a woman as stunning as you."

Even after he'd fucked her raw, his flattery still made Nicole blush. She raised the glass in silent cheers then pressed the rim to her lips

"Good?" Kade asked

"It's amazing," she replied in earnest. "Really light, but really flavorful. You can barely taste the alcohol."

Suki bowed her head and left, silent. A few seconds later, Kade's phone buzzed with a text message.

The sparkle was back. Whatever Nicole was struggling with was forgotten. Kade was relieved. Now more than ever, Kade was glad he hadn't settled for Violet.

O
n Thursday afternoon
, a dress was delivered to Nicole's office wrapped in white tissue paper flecked with gold pieces. Along with it was a blank face card.

K
ade Holland
.
Nicole's fingers ran up and down the seam of the card, considering all it said before she unwrapped the dress. Her friends were right, Kade was hot. But ever since she'd run into Jax in the locker room, Nicole was thinking more and more about what she was doing with her life. At twenty-six, half of her friends were married, were buying houses, and had kids on the way. Or they were losing themselves to drinking and late nights on the dance floor. Now that she'd landed her first stable job, potentially the foundation of a long career, Nicole wasn't sure which category she wanted to belong to. Having fun with Kade was wild — the wildest time of her life. But was fun worth jeopardizing her job over? Maybe it was time to think of settling down. Maybe it was time to get serious. Realizing how quickly she'd taken to Jax even while out with another man was a reality check.

'Fond regards'. 'Daydreams'. It was clear that Kade's thought highly of her. Despite how crazy he was in bed; she knew he valued her. Wanted her. Nicole folded back the gold flecked paper to reveal the dress beneath. Marked with a Gilla Veracca tag, it was couture. Hand sewn crystal beads decorated the plunging neckline and the deep swoop down the back. This was the kind of dress a Hollywood actress wore to awards, not the kind of dress that a woman wore to a work party.
How many thousands of dollars had Kade spent on her? Nicole chilled at the thought. If he was this serious about winning her, was he her future?
Every girl dreamed of a handsome, wealthy man sweeping her off her feet. Maybe Nicole had found hers.

Nicole folded the dress back up without examining it further. If Kade picked it out, it was sure to be gorgeous. So far, his taste had been nothing short of fantastic.

O
n Friday night
, after a long day at the office, Nicole returned to her apartment and started to get ready for the party. She showered as quickly as she could without turning her hair into an unsalvageable mess, then pulled the dress from the wrapping for the first time. It was floor length, the fabric strangely opalescent. When she slipped it on, it fit perfectly, as though Kade had taken her measurements when she hadn't been looking. The built in cups hugged her breasts and made them pop, showing off her fantastic cleavage. The back clung to her round ass. From there, the skirt opened up to give her room to walk. Nicole had never worn a dress so stunning.

In a dress worth thousands of dollars, she piled into the back of a taxi and gave him the directions Kade had sent her. The man couldn't stop staring, which used to make Nicole beam with pride, but now she felt uncomfortable. She turned her attention out the window to distract herself.

As beautiful as the dress was, it wasn't her style. Kade meant well when he showered her with lavish gifts, but Nicole felt like a fish out of water. Money had always been tight for her. She'd always enjoyed stylish things, but took pride in earning them. Having clothes thrust on her, clothes that had her playing dress-up as someone she wasn't, felt wrong. It felt fake. All her life, Nicole had strived to be true to herself. That’s why she'd come to Vegas, after all. The idea of endless summer and hot parties every night was a dream come true. The fact that her brother lived there in case she needed someone to help her out of a jam was just a bonus.
What was she doing? Pretending to be the billionaire's sophisticated lover?

"You uh, you a celeb?" the taxi driver asked idly as they waited at a red light. "Sometimes I get them. What are you famous for?"

"You got it wrong," Nicole insisted, eyes staring out the window to the distance. "I'm just a girl from the east coast here to work."

"Method acting," the driver gave a knowing nod, "I get it. I'll be on the lookout for that movie. Well, it's nice to be driving you around, Ms. East Coast. You need to get somewhere else while you're in Vegas, you got my number."

The man held a business card back to her, and Nicole accepted it. Maybe one day she’d have a name worth knowing. For now, she was going to do her best not to focus on having fun with Kade tonight. It'd be rude to be moody at his party.

To Nicole, a party meant music, dancing, drinks, and laughter. A work party meant a stiffer version of the same, with everyone on their best behavior for the boss. What Nicole saw when the taxi pulled up was like nothing she'd seen before. To the rich, a party meant grandeur, lights, and famous faces. It truly was a social event. Even looking out over Kade's vast green lawn, a rarity in the desert, Nicole knew she was in for the evening of her life. The mansion beautiful in an old European kind of way. Beautiful men and women loitered outside beneath the front overhang, chatting and smoking.

"That'll be twenty-nine bucks," the taxi driver said. Nicole pulled a few bills from her purse and exited the cab, approaching the closed gates. As the vehicle sped off, she realized what a long walk it would be. Most of Kade's guests were wealthy enough to afford private transportation. Nicole wasn't so lucky, and when Kade hadn’t arranged for a car to pick her up, she felt uncomfortable asking him to.

At the gate was a lone employee, eyes set on her long before she approached. The young man's eyes looked her up and down.

"Nicole Washington," he announced. Nicole was taken aback.

"Um, well yes."

"Mr. Holland is expecting you. He wants one of his vehicles to drive you to the door. Please wait here while it arrives."

Nicole was flattered. If she wasn't careful, she'd get used to being treated like this.

Soon enough, the car arrived from behind the gate to pick her up. When at last it pulled up to the winding pathways that led to the front doors, all eyes were on her. Men and women of influence, likely Kade's friends and colleagues, picked apart her every detail as she emerged from the back seat of the car.

In a sea of pale skin, Nicole was the only drop of color. She did her best to look confident. Let them all think what they wanted to think — she was proud of who she was, and she was proud of what she'd done with her life. Nicole's was on an upward path, and one day she hoped to make as good of a name for herself as any of them. But it wasn't hostility she was greeted with. Instead, one of the women parted from the crowd, cigarette dangling from between her fingers, to smile at her.

"I need to be the first to say it — you look amazing. That dress, is it a Veracca original? It looks fantastic on you."

It was not the reception Nicole expected, but she rolled with it. Drinks appeared from nowhere, and she indulged herself. When the conversation grew thin and Nicole headed inside, she was greeted with more of the same warmth. No matter where she went, the well-dressed men and women Kade had brought together laughed and smiled along with her.

The buzz Nicole developed helped her ease into conversations with them. It turned out she had nothing to worry about. The friends Kade kept were as charming and delightful as he was, and no one seemed to mind when she snapped candid photos to capture the moment. The night was going off without a hitch.

A divide in the guests became apparent when she walked around. Clustered around the table in Kade's vast dining room were the fighters from the Centra Carioca match. Apart from some young, beautiful girls who mingled with them, they kept largely to themselves.

The quality of the suits they wore were notably shabbier than Kade's friends. Their thick muscles pushed the arms of their suit jackets to near breaking point, while their pants were poorly fitted around sturdy legs. Whether the fighters segregated themselves, or it was pushed on them, Nicole didn't know. Every one of the men gathered were talking and laughing like college guys at a frat party. They were drinking like it, too. This was the atmosphere she was used to. No matter how many elite ‘friends’ she'd made outside the front doors, this was the atmosphere she craved.

"You fought a good fight in Brazil, Jax! Got some real skill there." A new fighter brushed by her, joining the herd. Nicole's eyes followed him, sweeping the crowd for Jax.

"Yeah, just a shame he couldn't bring it across the border!"

The whole group devolved into hooting laughter, and then Nicole saw him. Jax. Even from across the room he was stunning. His tie matched the trademark green of his fight shorts. Wearing a pair of poorly fitted black dress pants with a belt and a white dress shirt, he was a fashion failure compared to the professionals in the next room. Still, Nicole thought he was gorgeous. The black jacket of his suit was slung over his shoulder, and although he grinned at the joke, he didn’t laugh.

"You're such an asshole, Bill."

"You gonna bring it in the cage, then?" Bill laughed in good humor. They were joking and poking fun at each other like brothers, Nicole realized. All this time, she'd thought that they all hated each other. In all of their pre-fight smack talk it seemed like they couldn’t stand each other, but there was no bad blood between them.

"Nah. But if you come back with me to Brazil I can show you all that skill I left behind first hand."

Another round of laughter. Nicole snapped shot after shot, capturing the heartfelt moments. Some of them wouldn't fly, since she knew it'd make some of them look too soft, but there was power in exposing their humanity. Sometimes, stripping away bravado to expose the truth made performances even more impressive.

As the conversations split off and jokes ran rampant, Jax separated himself from the group and moved to the refreshment table. Nicole wasn't sure if he hadn't caught sight of her, or if he'd forgotten their encounter in the locker room.

Usually, Nicole was good at reading guys. Night after night at the club had honed her ability to pick up on body language. When she'd been talking to Jax, he looked interested.
More than interested.
But Kade shut that down, and Nicole wasn't sure if Jax had moved on. Guys worked through their desires differently, but it’d be a long time before she forgot the spark between them, and how he had made her feel. Deep down, despite the fact that she attended the party as Kade's date, Nicole hoped that Jax remembered her, too.

Where was Kade? He still hadn’t bothered to even say hello to her after insisting that she show up tonight.
Nicole looked around, but didn’t see Kade anywhere.
Why did he spend thousands of dollars on a dress he wanted to see her in, but didn’t care when she showed up? Why did he have a car drive her up from the gate, but let her take a taxi to his house?

Nicole shook her head, trying to push away her nagging doubts. Kade was the head of the UFL, he probably had to rub elbows with some investors or something. Still, she couldn’t quite believe her own excuses.

Jax grabbed one of the pre-made martinis from the table and headed back to the herd. As he did, Nicole wove around the crowd in an attempt to get some good pictures. One eye on the muscular men she moved around, the other on the screen of her camera phone so she didn’t miss the perfect angle. Nicole didn't see the encroaching disaster before it was too late.

Jax's path back to the fighters was intercepted by a man Nicole only knew from the posters at the UFL headquarters. The broad width of his shoulders and the way he filled out his suit assured her he was a fighter. However, it took her a second to place the blonde hair, striking green eyes, and nasty scowl. Wes 'The Killer' Kidwell, undisputed champion of the UFL, slammed his shoulder into Jax as he passed by.

Caught off guard, Jax spilled his drink down his shirt, and the martini glass toppled from his fingers, shattering on the floor. Laughter ceased. Conversation dried up. The eyes of every man in the room were on the champ and the new hit sensation. Nicole froze. It didn't take a genius to see there was going to be trouble.

"You need to watch where you're going, rookie," Wes spat, words like venom.

Enraged, Jax squared his shoulders and stood up much taller. In seconds he went from a casual, normal guy, to a towering wall of muscle. Nicole had never seen anything like it, and a gasp caught in the back of her throat.

"What the fuck you sayin', Kidwell?" Wes was the champ, but it didn't stop Jax from getting up in his face. Chin-to-chin, one set of angry eyes boring into the other, there was no way he’d back down. Nicole's heart hammered.
Jax was good, but was he good enough to hold his own against the man who held the belt?

"I'm sayin' that your little KO might have impressed a couple people, but it was a fluke. If you know what’s fuckin’ good for you, you’ll get out of my face while you’re still in one piece."

"Sounds like you’re afraid another fluke might knock you the fuck out right now." Jax bit back, tone mockingly infantile. "Worried I’m gonna steal your belt away? Cause you fuckin’ should be!" Jax shoved Wes' chest, but the man did not stagger backwards. Instead, he caught Jax by the wrist and wrenched it down.

"You're dead," Wes growled, and swung his fist at Jax's jaw. As soon as Wes balled his fist, the surrounding fighters swarmed. With no way to end the violence, all Nicole could do was hope Jax would be okay.