Going For It (Texas Titans #7)
Going for It
Book Seven in the Texas Titans Series
Cheryl Douglas
Copyright © by Cheryl Douglas
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Going for It © 2015 Cheryl Douglas
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Going for It—Book Seven
When his professional boxing career ended Blaise Thomas knew he had to re-group and build a new life for himself. Buying a gym where he could train amateur fighters seemed like a perfect fit for him, but when a sexy sports agent walked in looking for a personal trainer, his plans changed.
Kiara Wagner loves her job as a sports agent, but she’s been burned by professional athletes one too many times. Now she’s just looking for a nice guy who’s ready to settle down. She knows Blaise doesn’t fit the bill, but that doesn’t dull her attraction to the former athlete. She falls for him. Hard.
But when Blaise’s past comes back to haunt them, will Kiara run for cover or tough it out with her prized fighter?
Chapter One
Being back in the ring felt damn good, even though Blaise knew his doctor wouldn’t approve. Three concussions may have taken him out of the pros, but they hadn’t dulled his love of the sport. Training elite boxers made him feel alive again, even if he was living vicariously.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Kiara demanded.
Her voice distracted Blaise, and his sparring partner took advantage, following a bolo punch with a solid blow that set Blaise back against the ropes.
“Gimme me a minute, Riley,” he said to the other fighter. He shook off the blow before taking off his gloves so he could remove his mouth guard.
When he climbed down to meet Kiara, he could tell she was pissed, though he couldn’t say what he’d done to warrant her anger. “Hey, beautiful.” He reached for his water bottle, but he wanted to kiss her. She looked so beautiful in her cream silk blouse with matching skirt and stilettos that he didn’t want to risk messing her up though.
“Don’t ‘hey, beautiful’ me,” she said, fisting one hand on her hip as she gestured to the ring with the other. “You retired from boxing because the doctor said you couldn’t fight anymore.”
“So?” He led her through the gym to his private office in back, trying to ignore the dozens of guys who’d stopped working out to gape at her. They’d been dating for a couple of months. He should be used to the attention she garnered wherever she went, but he didn’t know if he would ever get used to the gnawing question in the back of his mind whenever they were together: What’s a goddess like this doing with a chump like me?
“So?” she asked, slamming the door. “Are you stupid?”
He tried to ignore the tightness in his chest. It wasn’t the first time he’d been asked that question. Parents, teachers, even girls he’d dated had questioned his intelligence, but when he heard the question from an Ivy League graduate, it hurt even more.
She sighed when he didn’t respond. “I’m sorry, but seriously, Blaise, you could’ve gotten hurt.”
He sat behind his desk, reminding himself that she wouldn’t be getting so worked up if she didn’t care about him. That was progress. “That kid couldn’t take me on his best day. No need to worry.” He’d earned the right to be cocky. A couple hundred wins over the course of his career meant few guys could claim they were stronger or tougher than he’d been in his prime.
“But I do worry.” Her voice softened as she rounded the desk. Gripping the arms of his chair, she turned him to face her and leaned over just enough to give him a peek of the lacy flesh-toned bra beneath the fine silk. “I don’t want to see you get hurt.”
Seeing her bra drove him crazier than it normally would. She’d been keeping him at arm’s length, which meant out of her bed, because she claimed she wasn’t into casual sex. Her indifference was driving him out of his mind. He had to have her soon.
“I’m not gonna get hurt.” He closed his eyes briefly when her soft hand rested against his cheek. At least not physically. Emotionally, she already had him over the ropes.
“You’re important to me, Blaise.”
He let those words seep in. Coupled with the genuine fear in her eyes, he wondered whether her message might have a deeper meaning. Was she as crazy about him as he was about her?
“I came here for two reasons,” she said, standing. “One, I set up a dozen sessions with that new trainer you hired, Max. I want to be in top shape for our vacation next month.”
Blaise had talked her into going to the Caribbean with him for a week. All-inclusive resorts with quiet beaches normally weren’t his thing—he preferred gambling on the Vegas strip—but since Kiara’s best friend, Sabrina, claimed Kiara was looking for a romantic guy, he was determined to make her thirtieth birthday memorable. “Why the hell did you choose Max? We have half a dozen personal trainers, including several women.”
Kiara laughed. “Because you said he was the best, and that you lured him away from the gym across town because he has a great reputation.”
She was right, but that didn’t mean he wanted Kiara to train with him. Max was so good at what he did that he didn’t think the rules applied to him. Blaise had already reprimanded him numerous times for coming on to their female clients. He feared Max would have to pick his jaw up off the floor when he caught sight of Kiara in a tight tank and running shorts.
“Have you met the guy yet?” Blaise asked.
“No, why?”
“He’s gonna have a coronary when he sees you,” he mumbled, hating that he sounded so jealous and insecure. “Why don’t I see if Shelley’s here? She’s just as good, and you won’t have to worry about her hitting on you.”
“I’m not worried about him hitting on me,” she said, looking amused.
“Maybe you’re not, but I am.”
“You’re so cute.” Kiara sat in the chair opposite his desk, setting her purse and gym bag next to her. “There’s another thing I wanted to talk to you about.”
He could tell by her tone that she was apprehensive, making him wonder if she was about to tell him she thought their relationship had run its course. That would kill him. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d been so into a girl. “Sure.” He tried to sound calm. “What is it?”
“Um, I got a call today. A boxer who wants me to be his agent.”
“Who?” Blaise asked, unable to quash his uneasiness. He could tell by the fact that she wasn’t making eye contact with him that he wouldn’t like her answer. “Kiara, who called you?”
“Morin.” She took a deep breath. “I know he was your nemesis and that final b
low gave you the concussion that put you out of boxing for good, but—”
“But nothing,” he said, slamming his palm on the desk as he leaned forward. “If you know all that, you’re not even considering his request. End of story.” Except it wasn’t. She wouldn’t have brought up the call unless she was considering representing him. He tried to see it from her perspective. Morin was the current heavyweight champion, a title he’d taken from Blaise the year before, so representing him would be a coup for her and her agency, but he couldn’t help feeling the knife in his back.
She sat back as she crossed her arms. “You know it’s not as cut-and-dried as that. This is my career we’re talking about.”
“Right, and I’m just one of many guys you’re stringing along.” As soon as the words were out of his mouth, he regretted them—more so when she shot out of her chair. “Jesus, wait, Kiara, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that.”
She paused with her hand on the doorknob, glancing over her shoulder. “Then why did you? Is that really what you think of me?”
He crossed the room and flattened his palm on the door to prevent her from opening it. Leaning in, his chest brushed her back as he whispered, “I don’t know what the hell to think. You won’t let me make love to you. I have to wonder if that’s because you’re seeing someone else.”
She shook her head slowly. “I’m not. I told you, I’m not into casual sex. I’ve been burned too many times.”
“I know.” He lowered his head to rest his forehead on her shoulder. “I’m not gonna hurt you. Let me prove to you that I’m different.”
“You don’t think I want to believe that?” she asked softly. “I do. Believe me, I do.”
“Then take a chance.” He curled his hand over her hip. “We could be incredible together.” Brushing his lips across her neck, his arm wrapped around her mid-section.
She leaned into him. “This thing with Morin, I don’t want it to come between us.”
“That’s his goal, you know.” Blaise knew Kiara was a sought-after sports agent and he didn’t want to belittle her, but Morin’s call had everything to do with his hatred for Blaise. “He’s getting close to you to get to me. He probably saw our pic on some blog and saw you as the perfect way to get to me.”
“Gee, thanks.” She pulled away from him, curling her hand around the door handle again.
“I know this guy, Kiara. It wasn’t enough for him to take me out of boxing. He wants…” He couldn’t say revenge, though Blaise knew that was exactly what Morin was looking for.
“What?” Kiara turned to face him. “What does he want?”
“He wants to come between us.” He decided that was the safest response. It was the truth, just not the whole truth.
“Why would he want to do that?”
“I told you, he hates me. We were rivals. Boxing is a competitive, violent sport. I was his biggest competition. We talked smack about each other all the time. Things got ugly.” You have no idea how ugly.
“Regardless of what went down between the two of you, representing him is a business decision. I can’t turn him down without at least talking to him.”
Blaise knew first-hand how persuasive Morin could be, and he didn’t want him to use those powers of persuasion on Kiara. He knew he was being irrational, asking her to reject Morin simply because he asked her to, but he couldn’t tell her the whole story. It would make him look bad, and Blaise was trying so hard to impress her, to make her believe he was worthy of her, even if he wasn’t entirely convinced himself. “Why not?”
“Sabrina would demand to know why I’d turned him down. Allowing personal feelings to affect business relationships is frowned upon. I shouldn’t have to tell you that.”
“Fine, but Mitchell’s has plenty of other agents. Why does it have to be you?”
“Morin didn’t call the agency. He called me directly. He made it clear he wants me to represent him.”
Morin could tell Kiara things about him that would end their relationship, and Blaise couldn’t let that happen. “Please, do this for me. Just tell him no.”
She wrapped her arms around his neck. “If this is because you think he’ll make a play for me, you have nothing to worry about. We have a strict policy against agents fraternizing with their clients. Not that I’d be interested in him even if we didn’t have that policy.” She leaned into him, running her hands over his shirt, heedless of the fact he was dampening her expensive blouse in the process. “I’m not interested in anyone else.”
His mouth went dry when she leaned back against the door, her eyes hooded as she unbuttoned her blouse.
“I’m running late for my appointment with Max. You don’t mind if I change here, do you?”
He couldn’t speak, so he shook his head, inviting her to continue.
“I know you think I’m putting you off because I’m not that into you.” She stepped out of her high heels, giving him at least eight inches on her. “But you couldn’t be more wrong.” Her breasts brushed his chest when she reached back to unzip her skirt. “I’m taking my time because I’m so into you. I don’t want to screw this up. I want you. I know you want me too.”
“I do.” He licked his dry lips when she slid the zipper down and shimmied the skirt over her hips, making her full breasts bounce inside her lacy bra. “God, you have no idea how much I want you.” His palms were itching to feel every soft and supple inch of her gorgeous body.
“Tonight,” she whispered, standing before him in a flesh-toned lace demi bra and matching thong. “After my session, let’s go back to your place.”
“Yeah, let’s.” He thought she’d never ask. He turned the lock on the door. “In fact, why don’t we reschedule that appointment?”
Her face fell, giving away her disappointment. Blaise cursed himself for being so stupid. Sabrina had told him Kiara was a hopeless romantic, and he was trying to impress her by suggesting their first time be bent over the desk in his office? Classy, Thomas, real classy.
“I’m sorry.” He reached for her gym bag and handed it to her. “That was dumb. Of course we’ll go back to my place. I’m not looking for a quickie.”
“Hmm, good to know.”
***
Blaise had been right to warn her about Max. Her new trainer hadn’t taken his eyes off her chest since she’d started running on the treadmill between sets on the weight bench. He kept increasing the intensity as he stood behind her, no doubt so he could watch her from both angles.
“Keep your goddamn eyes on her speed, not her form, Max,” Blaise said, smacking his trainer upside the head as he walked past.
Kiara’s lips twitched as Max rubbed the back of his head.
“What the hell’s his problem?” Max asked, still massaging his head as he moved to the front of the treadmill.
Kiara took advantage of his preoccupation to slow the machine, hoping he wouldn’t notice. “I think he’s jealous.”
Max quirked an eyebrow as he followed Blaise’s back into the office. “Why would he be jealous?”
“Uh, he’s kind of my boyfriend.” While they hadn’t labeled their relationship yet, Kiara knew she wasn’t interested in seeing anyone else. She hoped that, after tonight, Blaise would feel the same way.
“Thomas is your boyfriend?” Max rolled his eyes. “You could’ve told me that before I hit on you. Seriously, this is the former heavyweight champ we’re talkin’ about. He could’ve really busted me up.” He ran a hand over his smooth jaw, sneaking a peek in the mirrored wall. “You wouldn’t want to see anything happen to this pretty face, would you?”
Kiara laughed in spite of herself. Now that Max knew he had no chance with her, he was pretty entertaining. “Definitely not.”
“Good, then let’s get back to work.” He pointed at the ropes. “Think of it as punishment for not telling me earlier that you’re Thomas’s girl.”
Kiara groaned. She hated the ropes. “Couldn’t we do something else instead?” She batted her eyelashes at him.
He smirked. “Honey, that might’ve worked a few minutes ago, but you’re just like one of the guys to me now that I know you’re off-limits.”
“Off-limits, huh?” Blaise asked, refilling his water bottle at the nearby cooler. “I think I like the sound of that.”
“You could’ve told me she was your girlfriend,” Max muttered. “I wouldn’t have been stupid enough to hit on her.”
Kiara’s cheeks flamed when Blaise shot her a questioning look. She hadn’t intended for him to hear that.
“Well, now you know.” Blaise winked at Kiara. “So back off before I bust you up.”
Max glared at him, crossing his arms over his massive chest. “Only you would have the balls to threaten me like that.”
“Yeah, and you know I’d make good on it.” Blaise leaned against the wall facing them. He tipped his water bottle back, taking a long swig.
Kiara was getting tired of their pissing contest. She only had twenty minutes left with Max and intended to make the most of it. “You’ve made your point, Blaise. You can leave now. I’ll catch up with you when I get out of the shower.” Speaking of showers, he’d clearly had one and changed his clothes. His black hair was still damp and slicked back, but he hadn’t bothered to shave. So sexy.
“I think I’ll watch for a while.” He propped the heel of his boot up on the wall. Setting his water bottle on a bench, he rolled the sleeves of his denim shirt up to reveal the warrior tattoo on the back of his left forearm. “Nothing hotter than a sexy woman pumping iron.”
Kiara was self-conscious about letting him watch. He made his living in a gym, so he’d probably find her strength and endurance seriously lacking. “Don’t you have something better to do?”
“Nope.” He grinned. “My concentration’s shot to hell. All I can think about is gettin’ you home.”