“You mean my house.”

I suck in a sharp breath. “You bought the house? You’re the mysterious new landlord?”

Max laughs. “I couldn’t let you live in a hallway. I also bought your apartment at Sunset View. Why don’t we go there?”

“How about both? The night is still young.”

Frowning, Max grumbles, “The bed in your house is barely big enough for you.”

I give him a wicked grin. “I wasn’t thinking about using the bed.”

***

Are you awake?

No

What are you doing?

I’m watching you sleep

I’m not sleeping

Then I’m watching you awake

How do I look?

Beautiful

Flattery will get you in my pants

You’re not wearing pants

That’s right. You tore them off

Max likes torn off pants

Makayla has no pants left for you to tear off

Good. Easy access

Behave

You’re mine. I don’t have to behave

BAD MAX. Keep your hands to yourself

I’m not using my hands

Chapter 28

I heart Max

Friday night. Fight night. My favorite night of the week.

I arrive early at the club and head straight to the first aid office. Our shiny new MMA club license is posted just outside my door. My days are busier than ever. When I’m not in paramedic training or volunteering on the ambulance crew, I run the first aid office at the club.

Except for the days Max doesn’t let me out of bed. Or the days we go down the coast on his motorcycle, or drive at the racetrack, or have picnics on the beach, or visit Max’s relatives in the South, or barbecue with Amanda and her latest squeeze on the terrace at Max’s house.

By the time I have prepped my office, the line has formed. With twice as many classes and twice as many fighters, I rarely have a moment to myself. The evening passes quickly. When my last patient walks out the door, it is almost closing time and I have only a few minutes to walk the floor and say hello to my friends.

Rampage waves me over to his post by the red line. “Hey, Doc.”

“You got a new smiley face shirt.”

Rampage pats his belly. “The other one disintegrated. Musta been poorly made. I got this one for five bucks at a dime store.”

“Try washing it once a week.”

Rampage frowns. “What’ll that do?”

“Make it clean.”

His eyes narrow. “Are you planning to step over the red line, Doc?”

I grin. “With both feet.”

“You know the rules.”

“One round in the ring with Torment. Looking forward to it. Blade Saw taught me some new moves.” I mock up my new fighting stances.

Rampage chortles and looks me up and down, making a show of checking out my tiny red spandex shorts and fringed bra top. “If you’re planning to fight wearing that, you won’t need new moves.”

“That’s the idea.” My hand slides to my bottom where I am still feeling the aftereffects of my last attempt to wear something tight and sexy in the fight ring.

Rampage shakes his head. “You got balls to take him on like that.”

“He’s got to learn not to be so overprotective.”

“You’re fighting a losing battle. He’s wired that way. I’m surprised he hasn’t just locked you up in the house to keep you safe.”

I snort a laugh. “He tried that. Didn’t go down so well for him.”

A short, stocky man with overly tight shorts pushes past me and almost knocks me over. Rampage growls and grabs him by the collar. He lifts him high in the air and holds him right in his face.

“You almost knocked Doc over. You don’t disrespect Doc. You might need her someday. And she’s Torment’s girl. You don’t want to mess with Torment. You got that?”

The guy nods and Rampage drops him, clamping his hand around the guy’s arm.

“You new?”

He nods again.

“You fight?”

The newbie shakes his head. “I was just taking a look around. I’m on my way out. Name is—”

“Don’t care what your name is,” Rampage snaps. “Don’t know how you slipped in earlier. Maybe cause you’re so tiny. We have rules here. You come in. You fight. It’s simple.” He drags the guy down the aisle and yells, “Last minute newbie. Open the pen.”

“Don’t let him put you in the ring with Torment,” I shout after Rampage’s newest victim. “He’s got no mercy. He’ll tear you to ribbons.”

Dr. Drake looks over and peels himself away from the punching bag. He meets me in the aisle and gives me a peck on the cheek.

“How are you?” I ask. “I was glad to hear you weren’t in the hospital too long.”

He touches his head. “Almost fully healed. The police arrested Doris for the attack. Imagine. Doris attacking me. Apparently, she thought we were meant to be together, and she went crazy when she heard you and me in my office.”

“I heard you signed up to be our new ring doctor.”

Dr. Drake grins. “That’s right. We’ll be working together again. Plus it gives me a chance to do some real training. I finally got in the ring with Torment, and he kicked my ass. He said it was a warning. Apparently, I’m not to look at you or speak to you or breathe the same air as you. If I touch you, he’ll hunt me down and kill me and bring you my head as a trophy. Only reason he took me on as a ring doctor is because someone told him I was good at what I do. Who could that have been?”