In Her Corner. Vicki Essex

on. If he’d seen Ryan within ten feet of Bella, he would’ve...

      You’d have what? His father’s voice mocked. Told him to get away from your girl?

      He pressed his palm onto the top of his desk. “I’ll be honest with you. Ryan’s scooped some of our clients before. I think he gets commission or something for bringing new clients to Star Gyms.”

      A look of understanding dawned on Bella’s face. “He did try to sell me on switching gyms, but I made it clear that I won’t leave Payette’s.”

      The knot inside him eased a touch.

      “Why do you even let him in here if he’s stealing clients?” Bella asked.

      “Our more serious fighters like that agents poke around here. I can’t really ban the guy for searching out new talent.” Of course, that wasn’t the only reason he didn’t ban Ryan from the gym. Bella had every right to look skeptical about his answer.

      The truth was, Kyle didn’t like Ryan, and it wasn’t only because of his slimy business practices. The man was friends with Karla. And while he’d never said anything to suggest he knew about what had happened, he leered at Kyle whenever they saw each other.

      If he banned the agent, who knew what the guy would say?

      His irritation ratcheted up. “Tell me something.” Kyle leaned forward. “What did he do to convince you? Fancy dinner? Promises of fame and fortune?”

      “You say it as if I’m gullible. I didn’t agree to it right away. I went home, did some research and talked to a few people. The guy has some serious fighters on his roster who’ve all moved on to the UFF.”

      “What you probably haven’t heard is that he’s had more burnouts than superstar successes. Ryan pushes hard, Bella. He’s only interested in making money, even if it means making his clients do things they don’t want to.”

      “You mean steroids?”

      “I mean anything.”

      Bella shook her head. “I won’t do anything I don’t want to. I’m not that desperate. I know what’s best for me.”

      Kyle had seen her kind of cocky conviction before. Usually in overconfident guys who thought they’d be the next Dominic Payette. She might be a Fiore, but he wondered if she knew how far she’d have to go to become a star.

      “Look, it’s done. Ryan will help me do some marketing and PR stuff. But you’re the one who’ll make me a good fighter.”

      But why Ryan? he wanted to whine. Not that it was his business. It was her career, after all. But that didn’t mean he couldn’t warn her.

      Bella leaned forward suddenly, her eyes softening. “Look, I know things have been tense between us. I know you don’t like Ryan, but he believes in me. I really need that.” She glanced down. “I need someone to believe...” She trailed off.

      His eyes widened. Suddenly, he got it. She’d signed with Ryan because he supported her in ways Kyle hadn’t. Ways her family hadn’t. Why else was she here and not at a Fiore gym? Marco Fiore had mentioned something to him about a falling-out. Kyle understood that feeling of desolation when no one had faith in you. The ache spread as he realized his cold attitude hadn’t helped. He’d practically pushed her toward Ryan.

      “I believe in you,” he blurted. Too little...but maybe not too late. Wry cynicism lurked in her eyes, but there was a spark of hope there, too. He swallowed thickly and leaned closer, trying desperately to infuse his words with sincerity. “I’m here for you, Bella.”

      “I really need to believe that, Kyle. You’re the one I came here for. I want to bring something new to the cage. Betty Heimer has some major takedown skills, and I don’t want to be unprepared. Will you help me? Please?”

      He bit down on the inside of his cheek. As wildly infuriating as Bella could be, right now, she was vulnerable and she needed him.

      He couldn’t say no.

      * * *

      AFTER BELLA HAD finished with one of the fitness classes she taught, a young guy named Joe who’d been training at Payette’s for over a year joined them on the mats at Kyle’s request. At eighteen, he was a gangly kid who weighed a few pounds more than Bella did. As before, Kyle started from the beginning with basic wrestling stances. It never hurt to check a fighter’s habits. It seemed Bella had taken his advice and adjusted her staggered stance. Joe was more sloppy, but he was still new to MMA.

      They went through the basic takedowns, and Kyle found Bella’s techniques a bit rough. Brazilian jujitsu and wrestling were separate disciplines with different rules and goals, but in MMA, the two were more fluid. He stopped the pair as she pinned Joe to the mats.

      “Bella, you’re still not cutting the corner fast enough,” he said. “Betty’s going to be fighting you off, so you’ll have to do this in a snap. Don’t give her time to readjust.”

      She shot him a look as if to say duh.

      He raised an eyebrow and subbed in for Joe, getting into position.

      Bella’s lips curved. “Do you want me to fight you off?” she asked wryly.

      “You can try.”

      Joe took another step back. Kyle said, “Go,” and lunged forward. He snagged her wrist and hooked one hand behind her head, controlling her so she couldn’t strike him.

      But Bella was strong, and she’d had years of training with the first family of BJJ. She reversed their positions, dropping to her knees with one arm hooked under his thigh.

      “That’s good,” Kyle said, grappling with her, keeping her close. “Using your height difference as an advantage definitely throws off a bigger opponent. But—” He shot his legs back and dropped his hips. He landed on her, then went for the full mount, straddling her chest. “I’m still bigger and stronger. From here I can get you into a lot of different submission holds.”

      “If you can hold on,” she gritted. She lifted her hips and rolled and twisted beneath him. He lost his grip and slammed a hand down to stabilize himself. His nose ended up buried in the crook of her neck. The smell of hot-cross buns assailed him.

      Before he could regain himself, she’d wrapped her muscular legs around his waist, ankles hooked into the small of his back. She pulled him down on top of her, gaining control despite still being pinned beneath him.

      Her face was flushed, and strands of dark, curly hair stuck to her sweaty face. The combination of her piercing green eyes and the way she squeezed him between her thighs sent electricity across his skin. Blood pounded through his temples and made its way south.

      “Nice guard,” Joe said.

      Kyle startled. He’d practically forgotten about Joe. He tapped out hastily, discreetly adjusting himself as he got up. “In wrestling, your opponent will be fighting against you all the way. The name of the game is domination.”

      “Well, I guess it’s a good thing the name of this game is MMA.” Bella rolled into a sitting position. “That would’ve been a perfectly legal move.”

      He couldn’t fault her for that. And he had to admit he was impressed. “Let’s refocus on your takedown. Do the double-leg again. Joe, stand in for me.”

      The hour slipped by quickly as they ran through the exercise several times. He realized too late, though, that having the amateur spar with Bella had been a bad decision. The kid’s technique was sloppy, and didn’t provide a real challenge for Bella. Kyle itched to replace Joe, but getting that close to her again was a bad idea. He was still shaking off the tingles running figure eights through his groin. He’d felt her, and whatever went through him made him wholly aware that she was an attractive woman.

      Apparently, he wasn’t the consummate professional he thought he was.

      CHAPTER