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“Honest truth though, man,” Stuart said. “I’m one of the best fighters I know.” He grinned cockily. “And it’s a rare day that I beat the general.”
“And not for lack of trying,” Wes added.
“Well, you can watch and learn how it’s done.” Aiden grinned as if he didn’t have a care in the world. He didn’t, besides the draw of Chalisa threatening to upend all his focus and life’s path and the stress that he’d already hurt the innocent sweetheart and would hurt her more when he walked away a second time.
“You are a piece of work,” Stuart said.
“I like his bravado.” Wes chuckled. “Reminds me of somebody else I know.”
“Hoo-ah!” Stuart grinned. “Good luck, man.”
“Thank you.” Aiden glanced over to where Chalisa had left Mary’s side and was talking with her family. Kingston was holding his daughter, had an arm around his wife, and was actually … smiling. Huh. Maybe the guy wasn’t always a brute. He hoped not, for Chalisa’s sister and niece’s sake.
“No!” Chalisa suddenly cried out. “Kingston, no.” She pushed at her brother-in-law’s arm. He didn’t budge. “You can’t hurt him.”
Kingston looked over at Aiden, and his smile slid away. He turned back to his wife.
Chalisa ran across the stadium toward Aiden. Stuart and Wes eased away to give them some privacy. Great guys.
“Hey, love. How’s your training going?” Aiden asked. He had to somehow stay nonchalant with her. Being around her was one of the few times in his life that he had no idea what role he was supposed to play. In his weaker moments, he found himself wondering if during the two hours spent with Chalisa he’d truly been himself. Instinctively he wanted to hold, love, and protect her, but he couldn’t let down his guard around her again or he’d be sunk. It wasn’t fair to either of them, just like his father had taught him.
Chalisa got right in close to him. Only half a foot apart. It was a huge exercise in self-restraint not to reach out and pull her the rest of the distance to his arms.
“Aiden, please. This is no time to act like a cocky alpha male. Drop your pride. Don’t agree to this fight. Kingston’s angry with you because he thinks you hurt me. He’s overly protective of me, and he’ll demolish you.”
“Did I hurt you?” he asked instead of responding to her pleas. Act like a cocky alpha male? He was the alpha male.
She grunted and looked away. Aiden’s stomach churned. What had he expected? He’d fallen for her in less time than a typical workout and then sent her on her way as if she meant nothing to him. If he was in Kingston’s spot, he’d want to demolish him too.
The camera was focused on them. He needed to slip some cash to Garrett to give them privacy. He couldn’t let his guard down with Chalisa, or let her or the camera see how gone he was over her.
He put on the most overconfident smirk he owned. “Worried about your man, are you, love?”
“You are not my man, and I am not your love.”
“You know,” he drawled, easing closer to her and gently framing her face with his palms. That was his first mistake. He shouldn’t have touched her. He was instantly weak and wanted to melt at her feet. Yet he was also stronger than he’d ever been. He’d win this fight because he could, and to prove to her he was even more impressive than her general brother-in-law. He’d line up the entire Magnite army and take them down one at time if that would impress her.
“I can’t decide how I like you better—angelic or feisty.” His gaze traveled over her beautiful face. It had been torture having her so close the past few hours yet so far away. Now she was exactly where he wanted her. “You wear both exceptionally well.”
Chalisa’s intriguing blue eyes captured him completely. “Please don’t fight him, Aiden. I need you to be in good condition to help me win the money.”
“It’s a good excuse, I’ll give you that, but you don’t need to worry about me, love.” He leaned in closer and whispered against her lips, “General Kingston will be no challenge for me, but I would happily accept a kiss for good luck.”
He was an absolute jerk. Throwing out lines like that was second-nature to him. He teased women all over the world, but he shouldn’t tease with Chalisa. With her, the lines became real, meaningful, and not a flamboyant shield he wore to hide any emotion.
He definitely shouldn’t kiss Chalisa and lead her on. He’d walk away after this week, just as he had that first night he met her. You didn’t break a promise you made at your father’s bedside. A father who dedicated his entire life to your success.
But he couldn’t seem to help himself around Chalisa. Maybe he could lie to her and claim he was the ultimate player and wanted to have fun this week with no strings attached. She’d be forewarned that he would walk away at the end of the week, but he could savor some incredible kisses and time with her, store it up in his memory for when he had to lose her again.
No. He couldn’t do that to Chalisa. She deserved better than a fling; she deserved a man who could be there for her. That would never be him.
Pulling back took all his resolve, but he did it. “I’m just teasing, love.”
Her eyes reflected the anguish he was causing, and he felt even worse. He had to find his patented self-control. The first step was not touching her.
Releasing her face, he instantly missed her softness and the sparks he felt every time they touched. He stepped back and nodded to her. “Thank you for worrying about me.”
“Are you ready, Captain Porter?” Kingston strode toward them. He’d taken his shirt off and even Aiden could admit the guy had the most impressive build he’d seen outside of bodybuilding competitions. But muscle alone didn’t win fights—speed, brains, training, and years of practice did. Aiden had all five, and he was going to enjoy this fight.
