The Deal
Chapter eighteen
Hayes Rosewood
Aurora looks down at the floor, her expression far from happy. I hate seeing her like this, and to leave her so down is unfathomable. I glance at Mac, who is facing away from us with his arms crossed. His presence will keep people from touching, but not looking.
Without a second thought, I grab her upper arms gently and pull her to my chest, wrapping my arms around her. She’s stiff as a metal pole, and it’s hard not to laugh at my own failure. I should have known better than to think I could comfort her like this.
“Sorry, this was a bad idea, I guess.” I go to step back but her hands fist my shirt, stopping me. Her forehead is pressed against my chest, so I can’t see her face.
“I’m going to pretend that no one can see me for a minute,” she mumbles, and I chuckle, wrapping my arms fully around her again. “I know it’s not logical. I don’t care.”
I press my lips to the top of her head—a new habit of mine—as my shoulders shake.
“Whatever makes you happy.” I run a hand up and down her back.
“I’d be happy if we were alone.”
My brows rise. “Alone, huh?”
She smacks my chest and tips her head back to glare at me. Cute. She’s unbelievably cute, and she’d hate it if I said so right now.
“Don’t twist my words, Prince Charming.”
I grin and tuck a strand of hair that escaped from her low ponytail back.
“Apologies, Princess. I couldn’t resist.”
Her blue eyes roll.
“You ruined my method of pretending no one was here,” she grumbles as she glances around at our audience. They avert their gazes in far-from-subtle ways.
“I’m happy to continue being your human shield,” I say, and I mean it. Whatever keeps her in my arms. “But, you should know, they’re staring because they’re jealous.”
She gives me a flat look. “Because I’m with you?”
“Well …” She hits me again and I laugh. “I’m kidding. The women are jealous because you look better in sweats than they do in thousand-dollar dresses,” I say quietly, and enjoy the way her skin blooms pink. “And the guys—as evidenced by Donovan the idiot—all wish you were on their arm.”
Her ponytail sways as she shakes her head.
“You’re just saying that.”
“I’m not,” I argue. “People might talk bad about you—that does come with the spotlight. But they’re also going to look to you. I’d bet all the money from tonight’s fight that a few girls will show up in sweatpants next week.”
Her eyes widen. “Because of me?”
“Everyone wants someone to tell them what’s popular, what will make them popular,” I explain, and her nose wrinkles in distaste.
“Rosewood!” a voice calls out. “Fight in ten, man.”
“That’s my cue,” I say, and press a kiss to her forehead. “After I win, we’ll leave.”
I should probably hold back more, but it feels easy with her. I’ve kissed other women, but I’ve never wanted to be so close to someone before.
“Then win fast,” she says, and I laugh.
“I have to give people a show, or else they won’t come back.”
I give her a parting wink and savor the almost smile on her lips before turning and heading to the area designated for fighters to change and prepare for a fight.
Usually, I like to take some time to block everything out before a fight.
But it was worth sacrificing that to get more time with Aurora.
I slip behind the curtain and head to my bag.
The guy I’m fighting, Jordan, is sitting on a bench with headphones over his ears, staring at the ground.
There’s another guy back here, Martinez, who was supposed to fight Donovan. I rake a hand through my hair. I was too busy resisting the urge to kill Donovan to think about how it would mess up the fight schedule. An idea comes to mind and I grin.
“Martinez, Jordan,” I call out. Their heads snap up in unison. Jordan takes off his headphones. “Change of plans. You two fight first. Whoever wins fights me.”
They share a look of confusion but give their approval.
I push out of the curtain again and motion to Carson, who’s chatting up a girl at the bar top. He throws back his drink, then saunters over.
“What’s up, boss?”
“Need you to announce a new schedule …”
I explain the plan to him, then head back over to Aurora, who looks only marginally better than earlier.
She hates this life. She wouldn’t want to be with me for real, based on this alone.
The thought makes my chest tight, and I can’t figure out why. I’ve never cared about something like this before. I shake off the odd feeling and grin at my fake girlfriend.
“Miss me?”
Her brow furrows. “I thought you were fighting?”
“Ladiessss and gentlemen!” Carter crows as he flops over the ropes into the ring. “I have an announcement! Due to some un—” He struggles with the word. “Un-four-seen”—he sounds it out and Aurora snorts beside me—“circumstances, we are going to have a new fight schedule.”
He claps his hands together, and everyone follows, though they look confused as to why.
“Sheep,” Aurora mutters, and I laugh, dropping an arm over her shoulders again.
“Martinez and Jordan will fight first, and the winner will fight our founder, Mr. Hayes Rosewood!” This gets the audience cheering for real. I smile and wink in response. “He’s said that if the fighter can manage to beat him, he’ll double the payout with his own money.”
Aurora looks up at me. “Really?”
I shrug. “Why not? It’s all for show. Half the time they only hit me because it would be boring if I didn’t let them.”
She shakes her head. “You know, when you say things like that, it makes me want to hit you.”
I bend down to whisper in her ear. “My offer of a first-date match still stands. I think it would be fun.”
She pulls her head away, her skin flushed red. I smirk down at her. But then she surprises me by turning her head back toward mine, a challenge in her gaze.
“Don’t let them hit you, and I’ll do it.”
“What?” I ask with a little laugh.
“If they don’t land a hit on you, I’ll do your little date idea.”
I search her gaze to see if she’s messing with me. Her pink lips are set in a straight line, and there’s no mirth in her blue eyes, just fire.
“You’re serious.”
She gives me a look. “You said you let them hit you. So don’t let them.”
“And if they don’t, you’ll go on a date with me?”
Aurora nods. “That’s what I said.”
Pure excitement floods my veins. A grin spreads across my face.
“All right, Princess, you’ve got a deal.”
Surprise flickers through her eyes briefly, but then she sticks her hand out. I laugh as I wrap my hand around hers to shake it. Before she can pull away, I lift her hand to my lips and press a brief kiss there. Our eyes lock, and I know there’s no way I’m losing this bet.