Beyond Promise (4 page)

“I think that’s very sweet of you, but the
stress of you keeping secrets from me is far worse than any truth
you could hand me. I don’t do well with secrets, big or small.”

Ayden tilted his head as his eyes focused on
mine.

“I know what kind of fighter you are. I know
you will win. You always do.” And I felt that, truly felt that. He
trained like a beast. He was in top physical form, and he
understood the strategy behind the fight, the psychology of it. Yet
fear traced each thought of him stepping into the ring. It always
did before the fights, but this felt different. There was something
at the pit of my stomach making every worry amplified.

“I will. I wouldn’t step in the ring if I
thought differently.”

I nodded. “Hearing you’d keep something like
this from me makes my mind race with what else you could be hiding.
I thought no matter what, we’d tell each other everything. I
thought that was what we had that a lot of others didn’t.”

“It is and it always will be. This is the
only thing I’ve ever kept quiet about. I hated not telling you
about this. Keeping it from you ate me alive. It really did.”

“Well, that at least makes me feel somewhat
better.” I gave him a wry grin. “I like the thought of you
suffering as you held this secret tight.”

“I might as well tell you everything.”

“Wait. There’s more?” I asked, swallowing my
surprise.

He nodded. “Not like what you’re thinking,
but yeah. There’s more.”

The breeze picked up, and I glanced toward
the woods behind Ayden. Now what?

“You know the product Jason and Aaron
originally created and sold to Aaron’s father?” Ayden asked.

My brows furrowed in confusion. What did a
security system have to do with Ayden fighting?

“Yeah, what about it?”

“I was talking to Jason about the fight, and
he was asking me about my strategy.”

“Okay…”

“The security software they developed
included motion sensors that monitored and predicted movement.”

“How can they predict movement?”

“It’s not always a hundred percent accurate,
but they developed a method that uses algorithms as precursors.
Apparently that was one of the many things that set their product
apart. It was especially useful to predict a thief’s movements so
when the silent alarms are going off, the police can track where
they might go next in a building and meet them there.”

“Wow. I had no idea, but what does that have
to do with fighting?”

“All of our fights are recorded. I tracked
down hours of footage of my opponent, and Jason was able to create
a simulation of sorts. Using the data, he was able to show me what
to expect if I were to say land an uppercut or move to the left to
avoid a punch. Of course, it’s not a hundred percent. No one can
predict human nature, but it’s a tool I’m happy to keep in my
arsenal.”

“So that’s what you’ve been studying at
night on the laptop?”

He nodded.

“Wow. I’m impressed, a little relieved and a
little annoyed but mostly impressed.” I briefly glanced over the
water and brought my eyes back to his. “So you’re feeling confident
that you’ll be able to judge his moves as they come.”

“I was confident about that before the
software.” Ayden flashed a dazzling smile, and I couldn’t help but
laugh.

“You’re lucky that you’re so attractive.” I
narrowed my eyes at him.

“Is that so?” he asked, taking a step
closer.

“Very so. Or you wouldn’t be able to get
away with so much.”

“I thought it was my personality that
provided me the much needed wiggle room. I had no idea the mother
of my child was so shallow,” he teased.

“Oh, you knew what you were getting into
with me.”

“Possibly. I have seen things that others
haven’t.”

I smiled. “Who knew the one you’d end up
with was the same one you had to shovel off the floor when she
drank too much with your sister…”

“That was in college and not your
fault.”

“We might be able to get away with saying
that if it only happened once, but you saved me several times.”

“At least we’ll have some good stories to
tell our kid…”

“Yeah, right,” I released a petrified yelp.
“There is no way any college stories are coming from those lips of
yours, especially if they’re about me.”

“But think how responsible I’ll sound?”
Ayden beamed.

“Really? What were you and Mason doing
hanging around those college parties? If I remember, you’re a few
years older than me.”

“Well… I mean that’s just irrelevant.”

“That’s a big word.”

His hands moved around my waist and up my
back, pulling me into him.

“Is all forgiven?” he whispered.

“As long as you win.” My mouth curled up
slightly as his gaze fell to my lips.

“Never lost one yet, baby,” he murmured, and
it felt like the very first time he kissed me as his mouth crashed
down to mine.

The feelings of need rushed through me as
his mouth searched for forgiveness, and my world spun into the
complicated web of Ayden Rhodes. The danger of what he was about to
face created an odd sensation that made me ache with uncertainty
and desire. As if sensing my longing, Ayden’s kisses intensified,
and I stood on my toes as if every inch closer would solidify that
everything was going to be okay. A shiver ran through me, his lips
slowly releasing from mine, and I opened my eyes gradually, not
wanting to let go of this moment. Being on the rocky beach with
Ayden made me feel safe and far away from the troubles of the
world, but it didn’t let me forget about the man who died by the
hands of his opponent.

I truly believed Ayden would win the
match.

I wanted to believe it with all my
heart.

I had to believe it.

Ayden wrenched his gaze from mine and my
stomach fell. Had he caught my trace of doubt? I would never
forgive myself had he detected even a flicker of reservation.

“I won’t let you down,” he whispered,
tracing his finger along my jaw. “I won’t let either of you
down.”

And without warning a lump formed in the
back of my throat. Hearing those words come from Ayden’s lips hurt
my heart. I wanted nothing more than for him to walk away from the
fight.

“You would never let me down. Ever. Never.
Ever. It’s impossible. You mean everything to me, Ayden.
Everything.”

He nodded.

I knew if I asked him if there was a way
out, he’d take that as me doubting his abilities, and I couldn’t
have him thinking I held even the slightest hesitation. But with
every fiber in my being, I wanted him to walk away. I wanted him to
lose the money, give up the money, throw it away. It didn’t matter
to me. But that was the problem. The money didn’t matter to Ayden
either. The money wasn’t what drove him, which was why I knew he
would be stepping in that ring no matter what. It was for the
satisfaction of the win. It wasn’t about ego with Ayden. It never
had been. It was about competence and being the best. He applied
that way of thinking to his business and his personal life.

I had no doubt he would be the best husband
and best father humanly possible. It was his drive to be better and
do better that made him the man he was—the man I fell in love
with—and I certainly wasn’t going to ask him to change. I fell in
love with all the parts of Ayden Rhodes, and we were in this
together, all three of us. One way or another, we would get through
this fight, and then we’d focus on our future together.

I walked by the gym in our house and peeked
into the large space where Ayden had been for the last hour. It
never got old seeing him work out the way he did, his body
glistening as he jumped rope, music cranked and pure determination
running through his eyes. It was beyond sexy, and it explained how
we were now planning for three. He was addicting—every square inch
of him—and he brought out a side in me that threw caution to the
wind.

Needless to say, throwing caution to the
wind only took one gym session, a sinus infection, and two rounds
of antibiotics to create the perfect storm known as baby Rhodes.
Thinking back on the shock of it all made me chuckle. I’ll never
forget the look in his eyes when we watched the stick change our
lives forever.

Fear.

Excitement.

And pure bliss.

Was it unexpected? Absolutely. But it felt
right. Everything about being with Ayden felt right. My career was
excelling. I enjoyed what I did during the day and I enjoyed who I
did at night. Corny to say? Yeah. But I’d been around the Rhodes
men far too long not to allow some of their humor to seep into my
blood. It was inevitable. His jokes I used to roll my eyes at in
college, were now highlights of my day.

“Love ya,” I called into the gym as I passed
by.

“You too, babe,” he yelled back, wiping the
sweat from his brow.

Ever since the weekend at Mason and Tori’s,
I’d been concentrating on the positives. It would be his last
fight. He was undefeated. He had an entire software program on his
side. He would win. He always won. He had a great trainer. And he
had more to lose than his opponent.

The last thought nearly took my breath
away.

He had more to lose than his opponent.

But
what if
he didn’t win? My hand
unexpectedly caressed my stomach as I walked down the stairs and
into the kitchen. I got a glass of water and took a few swallows to
calm my nerves. We would get through this. I glanced at the clock,
noticing Gabby and Brandy were late. Trying to get my mind off the
fight, I trundled over to the crockpot and lifted the lid. The pot
roast smelled delicious, and by the looks of it, we’d have plenty
for leftovers, which was good because in spite of everything I’d
read about not eating for two, I swore I could now eat for ten. I
placed the lid back on the pot and leaned against the counter,
debating whether or not to tell Brandy and Gabby. Or maybe they
already knew about Ayden’s opponent. If Jason developed the
program, there was a high chance Gabby knew why.

So much for not thinking about the
fight.

I turned on the television and watched the
news with depressing event after event flash across the screen.
This wasn’t helping me to get over the fight. I clicked on the
channels determined to stay far away from news today. Landing on a
DIY show, I placed the remote down right when the doorbell
rang.

I’d been looking forward to seeing Gabby and
Brandy all day. Ayden and I weren’t planning to tell anyone other
than Tori and Mason about our pregnancy until the wedding rehearsal
dinner, but I was pretty sure they already knew.

Yeah, they knew.

I yanked on the front door and was surprised
to see Ayden’s trainer staring back at me instead of Brandy and
Gabby.

“Hey,” Derek said, giving a slight wave and
tweaking his duffel bag.

“Come on in.” I motioned him in and took a
step away from the door. Derek was very tall and imposing to most,
but inside he was a big teddy bear. I’d gotten to know him over the
last several months and often enjoyed his company at the dinner
table. He was in his mid-forties, divorced, and his dating stories
always made for a fun night. Not that we got enjoyment from others’
pain but his stories were pretty hilarious.

“He’s upstairs. Staying for dinner?” I
asked.

“Not tonight. I’ve got a date.” He let out a
sigh and sheepishly grinned. “I don’t know why I keep trying.”

“What? What aren’t you telling me?” I
pried.

“Nothing.” He closed the door behind us.

I folded my arms and furrowed my brows. He
was hiding something.

“Is it serious?” I asked. “Have you found
someone?”

Derek’s laughter boomed through the air and
he shook his head. “Not at all. Alright. I’ll tell you, but you
can’t judge.”

“Why would I judge? I don’t judge. No way
sir-ee.”

“It’s my first match.”

“Match? You met her while boxing?”

Derek focused mostly on training others, but
every once in a while, he was known to step back in the ring.

His jaw tensed and he glanced around the
room.

“No. My first online match.” His voice was
almost a whisper.

I clapped my hands together. “Oh. My. Gosh.
I’m so excited for you. Those services are supposed to do
wonders.”

“We’ll see about that. I might have another
great story to add to the dinner conversation next week.” He
grinned.

“Way to stay positive,” Ayden’s voice came
down the stairs. He glided into the entry and fist pumped
Derek.

“Exactly,” I agreed. “You’ve got to stay
positive or there’s no point in showing up. If I was your date and
felt like you didn’t want to be there…”

Derek threw his hands into the air. “I get
it. I get it. Enough about me. It’s you I’m here for.” He pointed
his finger at Ayden.”