As I wiggle to the beat, I decline offers of drugs, sex, blow jobs, and “titty squeezes.” I gently break the news to several guys that, in fact, I am not hot for them. And no, I do not wish to get a “visual” on what they are “packing” or host a “face party” between my “tits.”

I dance. I drink. I dance some more. So much fun. So much time wasted. How did I forget how much I liked to dance? And why isn’t Jake here with me?

Someone pinches Penny’s ass. His face makes five new friends, and she doesn’t even miss a beat.

After dancing through a few more songs, Penny suddenly squeals and waves at someone coming in the door. I watch her bounce her way through the crowd to a knot of people near the bar, all clustered around Vetch and the band. Vetch smiles when he sees her and pulls her in for a long, wet, tongue-down-the-throat, don’t-care-who’s-looking kiss.

And…I’m outta here.

Although Penny hadn’t expected Vetch and the band to show up after she sent him a text from the office, she’s okay with me leaving her alone with the band, especially when she catches the bassist giving me an evil look. A few moments later, I’m in the quiet comfort of a cab, my ears still ringing from the noise.

“Where to?” The cab driver looks over his shoulder after I close the door. With his blue eyes and soft face, he reminds me of Fuzzy’s dad. Fuzzy’s dad reminds me of Fuzzy, who reminds me of Redemption, where Jake is fighting tonight. I check my watch. Even if traffic is bad, I still have time.

Should I go?

My heart skips a beat. Somewhere deep inside, I know he wants me to be there. And I want to be there too. At the very least to be in his corner, but more than that, I don’t want to throw away our second chance. Not yet.

***

Over an hour later, I stand in front of the side door to Redemption. The parking lot is empty and only a faint glow shines through the windows. Underground fights are unsanctioned fights and have to be kept on the QT.

The cab driver patiently waits for me to go inside. Even though everyone knows Redemption is a respectable club, at this time of night in Ghost Town, there are not many respectable people around. Last chance to change my mind.

After a few deep breaths, I open the door and cross the threshold. The gym is dimly lit by emergency lights on the perimeter walls and the spotlights hanging over the cage. As I inhale the fresh scent of disinfectant and stale sweat, I spot Blade Saw, Obsidian, and Rampage talking in the corner.

My steps slow as I near the group. Why am I here? How can I even contemplate getting close to yet another person I am sure to disappoint? And yet, in the brief time we’ve been together again, Jake has been kind, attentive, and caring. I can’t stop myself from believing he feels something for me. That his waiting game is not a game at all. That I’m not just a bit of fun. So I close my eyes and let myself believe. And I keep walking.

Rampage sees me first and jogs across the floor to greet me. “’Manda! Haven’t seen you at one of these fights for…well forever. Renegade’s in the changing room. Does he know you’re here?”

His eyebrow lifts when I shake my head, but he doesn’t pry. Instead he introduces me to Fists of Fury, the small, wiry Irishman with thick, black hair who took over Jake’s class while he fondled me on the mats, and the Minotaur, a massive hunk of muscle with a neck so short and thick he can’t fully turn his head.

Blade Saw is first in the cage. He is pitted against a huge boulder of a fighter from the competing club. He wins his fight in thirty seconds. Then he does a crazy dance around the ring. I can’t help but laugh.

“Finally, a smile,” Rampage says. “Renegade is up next, so that’ll give you something to keep smiling about. He’s fighting Axe Man. Same weight class but a more experienced fighter and a submission expert.”

Jake crosses the mats to the cage. His orange fight shorts hug his perfect ass like a second skin. His pecs ripple as he opens the door to the cage and I breathe out a sigh. I’ll never tire of looking at his perfect body.

“Let him know you’re here,” Rampage says, pushing me forward.

“Maybe I’ll wait until after the fight.”

“Oh fer…RENEGADE! ’MANDA’S HERE.” He shoves me and I stumble toward the cage. My heart thuds wildly in my chest and I force a smile, but Jake’s face remains an expressionless mask. When he turns away to talk to the referee, my stomach clenches.

“I should go.”

Rampage’s gaze flicks from me to Jake and back to me. “I don’t think you wanna do that.”

“I don’t know what I want.”

Rampage chuckles and throws an arm around my shoulder. “If you didn’t know what you wanted, you wouldn’t have come here.”

The ref blows the whistle. Jake is quick to start, moving Axe Man back with a flurry of punches. He lands a solid jab and a leg kick that throws Axe Man against the cage, but Axe Man isn’t even winded. He comes raging back with a combination of powerful kicks and punches that have Jake staggering across the mat until the fence is at his back. With Jake trapped, Axe Man hooks Jake’s head and unloads with some devastating uppercuts. Jake reels back against the fence, but Axe Man continues his assault, firing away with some brutal lefts.

“Oh God.” My hand flies to my mouth and Rampage frowns. Quickly swallowing my fear, I shout and cheer instead. My enthusiasm draws Jake’s attention. His eyes focus like laser beams on my shoulders and Rampage snatches his arm away with a muttered string of curses.