Contemporary Romance
Date Published: January 19, 2015
As an offensive linewoman for the Cleveland Clash, Tanya Martin is tough inside and out. The 5'9" beauty can take a hit and keep on going. But when the man she was best friends with - and secretly in love with - in high school comes home the same day she learns her father's gym is in financial trouble, she's unexpectedly blindsided.
Super Bowl MVP Cam Simmons is only back in town to convince his mom to move out of her failing neighborhood and live in luxury with him in Boston. But running into Tanya stirs up plenty of old feelings he never resolved. He was happy to leave his old life behind him when he hit the NFL, but walking away from their friendship was a mistake he wants to rectify.
As they work together to help save her dad's gym, Cam and Tanya's easy camaraderie and undeniable chemistry resurface. But can she open up enough to trust him with her heart a second time around?
Excerpt
“I was
thinking, what about a celebrity boxing match?” Tanya asked.
“Uh, no.”
Hell, he couldn’t even keep up with her
in the ring.
“Back her
into the corner!” some guy yelled.
What? Cam took his
eyes off her for only a split second.
She popped
him again and smiled. “Yeah, that’s probably a terrible idea. I mean who wants
to pay to see you get your ass kicked?”
She danced
around him, eyes blazing. Focus, man.
He managed a
jab to her gut before she moved away.
“Thatta
way!” the guy cheered.
She
approached again. Cam swung. At the last minute, she
spun, and his fist hung in midair. More dancing. Little hops. And a rush of
laughter. He loved when she had fun. There was nothing more beautiful in the
whole world.
She popped
him again. Right in the flank.
The guy
booed. Cam may have, too, because this didn’t
seem fair.
“You know,
it’s okay to hit a girl in here,” she said. “I don’t want you getting hung up
on political correctness and looking like a fool in front of your … ” she
glanced at the guy who was watching them, “fan. Singular.”
Smart ass.
He lunged, and she dodged.
“Come on,”
she said. “Show me what you’ve got, superstar.”
Oh, he’d
show her all right. Just not in here. Later, they were going to finish what
they started. He would find someplace where they wouldn’t be interrupted by
roommates or family members, someplace where they could …
She bounced
to the left and clobbered him. His brain rattled.
The guy gave
a disgusted sound, and then walked away.
His one fan had
bailed.
Time to stop
the insanity. “Okay!” His louder than normal voice halted Tanya in her tracks,
but a second later, she was bouncing again.
“What was
that?” she asked.
“Just me
announcing that the match can finally begin. I think you’re good and warmed
up.” He grinned. “In fact,” he bobbed his brows, “you’re looking super-hot to
me.”
Her feet
slowed, and her eyes narrowed. “How ‘bout from now on you keep your thoughts to
yourself? This is a boxing ring, not group therapy.”
Yep, he’d
unnerved her, and he was just getting started.
“I’m being
courteous,” he said, shuffling closer and lowering his voice. “I like to let my
opponents get a feel for my size before we really get down and dirty.” He bit
into his cheek to keep from laughing.
“You wish,”
she said, but she was smiling too.
He advanced.
She backpedaled, and then she hit the rope.
“Trapped,”
he mouthed.
“Never,” she
whispered.
Elley Arden is a born and bred Pennsylvanian who has lived as far west as Utah and as far north as Wisconsin. She drinks wine like it’s water (a slight exaggeration), prefers a night at the ballpark to a night on the town, and believes almond English toffee is the key to happiness.
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