Dare to Dance: The Maxwell Series (12 page)

“Why does Tommy hate you?” Nerves sometimes caused me to stick my foot in my mouth or babble.

“Ruby,” Norma said. “Sorry. My friend says weird shit when she gets nervous.”

“It’s still true. Tommy is also afraid of you,” I said.

Dillon chuckled. “We have a long history.”

It had to be quite a history. Then again, it really wasn’t any of my business.

Dillon handed me the gym bag. “Kross would like you to change into workout gear while he finishes up.”

I stood dumbfounded as I fixated on the gym bag.

“It’s okay. It’s just clothes,” Dillon said. “You’ll have more flexibility in the workout gear than your jeans.”

Norma grabbed the bag. “Thanks.”

Oh my God. No one had bought me anything in years, not since Raven was born. The money my mom had made had gone to purchase diapers, formula, and clothes for Raven.

“Locker room is behind the boxing ring,” Dillon said.

Norma dragged me with her as we headed in that direction. As we passed the boxing ring, Kross grinned at me, his lone dimple popping out. I blew out a breath. I couldn’t get in the ring with him. The minute he touched me was the minute I would cave. That wouldn’t be so bad, would it? Or I could look at this another way.
I get to take out my anger on him.
Suddenly, I couldn’t wait to get in that ring.

K
ade
, Dillon, and I were huddled outside the ring. I was waiting on Ruby to emerge from the ladies’ locker room. Kade had been working out with Kelton earlier and wanted to meet Ruby. My sparring partner, Liam, had cut out early to study for an exam he had the next day at the academy. Jay had retreated to his office to finalize a date and time for my upcoming fight with Reggie Stockman. But my fight, which was my vie to impress Gail Freeman, wasn’t in the forefront of my mind even though it should have been. For the last year, Jay and I had worked tirelessly, entering every fight we could so I could get exposure. But the last two promoters weren’t interested. They’d said I wasn’t ready, and that I still had much to learn before I faced the champions on the circuit. Hence, Jay was down my throat constantly. I didn’t blame him. I wanted a boxing contract as badly as he did. He’d worked just as hard and lost sleep at night, trying to get me ready.

But Ruby was on my mind twenty-four, seven. How could I build trust with her? Would she show? Would we argue again? Would she open up to me? So between Jay’s yelling and my mind wandering, my footwork sucked. My jabs were weak at best, and Liam was in a better position than me to fight Reggie Stockman.

Kade snapped his fingers. “Bro, are you with us?”

I tore my gaze away from the locker room door, blowing out a breath. “Maybe you should meet her another time.” I was afraid Kade might scare her. Sometimes, he could be quite imposing to a stranger.

Kade wiped his face with the towel he was holding then threw on a T-shirt. “I’ll say ‘hi’ then leave.”

“And you?” I asked Dillon.

“I’m curious if she’ll change into the clothes you bought her. When I gave her the bag, I got the impression she thought there was a bomb in the bag.”

“A little dramatic, don’t you think?” Even though his comment didn’t surprise me, I had to try. Ruby had said she didn’t want a handout. If she was sticking to her guns and fighting at Tommy’s trashy dive, then I wanted her to be able to move freely. It was easier to throw a punch or a kick without the weight of heavy boots or tight jeans. At least in my mind, wearing street clothes to fight was like trying to swim in wet clothes. The fabric just got heavier with each stroke.

“In all seriousness,” Dillon said, “I wanted to tell you one of my rooms at the house just opened up. I’d like to offer it to Ruby and her friend if you’re okay with that. It will be months before the building I bought is transformed into a place for runaways.”

Man, Dillon had to be an angel in disguise. At first sight, he came off as a scary dude. He normally kept the scruff off his face, his hair was tied back into a ponytail, his body was tatted up, and he had piercings in his nose and ears, as well as a new one in his lip.

“Thanks, dude. I’ll ask, but I highly doubt it.” Ruby wanted to be her own person. “She’s staying with that waitress Alex at Firefly.”

Dillon winced when I said Alex’s name. Kade and I exchanged a confused look. The words “care to elaborate on Alex” started to fall from my lips when a door creaked open, drawing my attention away from Dillon.

Ruby glided out of the locker room with Norma holding her arm. Ruby’s auburn hair was tied up in a ponytail, and she was wearing the clothes I’d bought for her. I grinned like an ass. I had to thank Lizzie for knocking the clothes size out of the park. I’d enlisted her help, giving her a description of Ruby, which was similar to Lizzie, except Ruby was shorter than she was.

Clothes sizes aside, I drank in every curve on Ruby. Each one was accentuated in the tight-fitting sports bra and yoga pants that hugged her body. I shut down a growl that clamored in my throat. Her breasts were bigger than I remembered.

I couldn’t wait to get her in the ring. If she was still as nimble as she’d been in high school, I was in for a treat. Back at the academy, I couldn’t take my eyes off her when she’d practiced ballet. She’d moved to the music with grace and beauty.
But nimrod, you’re not here to salivate like a guy who can’t keep his dick in his pants.
I tensed every muscle in my body. I was in for a tough hour. Control would be the key as I trained her.

Hot air brushed over my ear as Dillon spoke. “Close your mouth, dude. It’s rude to drool like a starved man.”

I
was
a starved man. Starved for her touch, her kiss, or whatever she would give me, especially the truth of what had happened to her in the last four years. I waved her over. Norma stopped her and whispered something to her. Ruby shied away from Norma, biting her lip.

Motherfucker
. Blood rushed to my dick.

“Don’t forget to ask her about my place,” Dillon said. “You should also talk her out of the fight. That shit is dangerous.”

“Bro.” Kade blocked my view of Ruby. “Are you listening to Dillon?”

“I got it. Place. Fight. Dangerous.” I scrubbed a palm over my mouth. “I’ll do my best, but I can guarantee you she won’t listen to me.”
She has no reason to trust me. She thinks I boss her around as it is.

Dillon slapped me on the back. “I’m sure you will.” Then he leaned into Kade and whispered, “Your brother has it bad for her. He recited some Star Light shit to her the first night he found her. He could’ve gotten me to drop my pants after that romantic spiel. Maybe I should get in the ring with her, Kross. You’re not in any shape to train her.”

“Get out of here.” My tone sounded a little lethal. “No one is touching her except me.”

Kade grinned. “I believe Dillon is right. You’re smitten.”

“Call the love police,” I bit out. “Now, do you want to meet her before I kick everyone out of here?” The gym was thinning out, and I would be locking the doors soon. I’d planned our meeting time so that Ruby and I could be alone.

“Remember what we talked about,” Kade said. “Make her feel comfortable. Let her open up to you. Don’t go all commando on her, or you’ll never get answers.”

The girls slowly sashayed over. Norma’s mouth moved the entire time, and my stomach knotted the entire time.

“Did you decide if you’re going to invite her to Thanksgiving dinner at our house?” Kade asked.

I’d thought long and hard about it. Mom and Dad would have questions: How did we meet? What did Ruby do? Was she in college? Where did she live? All those questions that parents usually asked. I wasn’t sure they were ready to learn that Ruby had been homeless. I also wasn’t ready to put Ruby or myself in an awkward situation. “I don’t think she’s ready. Nor are Mom and Dad.”

Kade opened his mouth but quickly shut it when Ruby and Norma joined us. Norma waved at Dillon as if she was trying to get him to notice her. I wanted to check on Dillon’s expression, but as Kade had said, I was smitten with the beauty next to me. Her light-blue sports bra brought out more of the blue in her blue-green eyes. Kelton had said Lizzie’s eyes changed with the color of her clothes, and it drove him wild. I was learning from Kelton that we had several matching tastes when it came to women.

“Ruby and Norma, this is my older brother, Kade,” I said.

Ruby flashed one of her ball-tightening smiles. My dick jerked inside my cup.

“Nice to finally meet you,” Kade said. “Treat him with kid gloves in the ring, or else I’ll have to live with his bruised ego.”

Ruby kept her smile, and my dick kept growing. I was glad my cup was in place, although the fucker was beginning to pinch the side of my groin as I held back a groan.

“Hi, I’m Norma.” She tucked a short strand of her blond hair behind her ear.

Kade smiled at her.

“All right, let’s get to work.” I grabbed the ropes as I eyed Ruby.

We either work or make out.
One of the first times we’d made out had been in the academy’s gym. I almost laughed out loud at the parallelism from the setting to the uneasiness between us. I wasn’t an amateur when it came to a woman’s body, but Ruby wasn’t any woman. She was one who was breaking down my walls, igniting emotions that I’d kept dormant and hidden.

She blew out a breath then said good-bye to Norma. I did the same with Dillon and Kade.

After they left, Ruby and I didn’t move until the sound of someone dropping a weight shattered the trance we were both in. My gaze darted to the weight area. Detective Rayburn was lifting. He’d returned from his assignment two days ago, but I didn’t need his help anymore now that I’d found Ruby.

I pulled apart the ropes. “After you.”

She hopped in the ring like an expert boxer. I followed, my limbs a tad unsteady.

“Why don’t you get your muscles loose?”
I’ll just stand here and drool.

She gnawed her bottom lip.

“Okay, ground rules.” She couldn’t keep acting all shy or else I really would have her splayed out on the floor of the ring.

Penelope’s voice filled the sparse gym. “I’m sorry I’m late.” She giggled as she staggered toward us from the reception desk.

A chill slid down my spine because she was drunk or high on something. Detective Rayburn lowered the weight bar and whipped his blond head around.

“I thought you said you didn’t have a girlfriend.” Disappointment or jealousy or both rode Ruby’s tone.

“She’s only a client. I teach self-defense.” But Penelope’s appointment wasn’t until tomorrow.

Mark ran to her side. “Whoa! Penelope. Are you okay?” He knew Penelope since he spotted for her whenever they were in the gym at the same time.

She waved him off. “Fine. Fine.” She giggled again as she smoothed a hand down her miniskirt and kicked off her high heels. “Kross, you’re supposed to teach me self-defense tonight.”

“She’s drunk,” Ruby said.

She was on something. That was for sure.

“Stretch. I’ll be back.” My voice came out rougher than I’d intended.

As soon as I jumped out of the ring, Penelope threw her arms around me before I could get my feet on the floor. “I missed you,” she cooed as she mashed her breasts into me.

What the fuck?
I gently grabbed her arms and removed them from me. “Our appointment is tomorrow, and you’re wasted.” I didn’t smell alcohol on her. “What are you on?” Her eyes appeared to be dilated. I hadn’t known her to do drugs, but then again, I didn’t know every detail about her.

She let go of me and wobbled.

“Easy,” Mark said as he steadied her, his hazel eyes going wide.

Penelope peered up at Ruby with droopy eyelids. “Is that the drabby girl from Fireants? Raby, is it?” She snorted. “I heard him talk about you. Ooh, I feel dizzy.”

“You heard who?” Ruby asked from above me.

“He…” She licked her lips. “The big guy.” Her gaze drifted back to me.

She was probably talking about my interaction with Ruby at Firefly last week since Penelope had been there when I’d threatened Ruby.

Penelope swatted at air as she tilted her head back. “Kross, what’s Raby have that I don’t have?”

“It’s Ruby,” Ruby said with a sneer.

“I think she’s tripping on something strong,” Mark said. “I can take her home.”

“Are you sure?” I hated to dump my problems on Mark.

A heavily accented voice drew our attention toward the entrance. “She owes me money.” A thin older man with dark skin stood at the check-in desk.

Penelope hiccupped then swatted at air again. “Oh, yeah. Cabby. Oooh, that rhymes with Raby.”

“I’ll pay the cabby,” I said.

“No, I got the cab.” Mark hooked Penelope’s arm through his as they made their way toward the check-in desk. “I jogged over here earlier, so I don’t have my truck.”

“Let me jot down her address.” I trailed behind them. After I gave Mark Penelope’s address, I ushered them to the door.

Before Penelope walked out, she gave me a chaste kiss on the lips. “We had fun.” She swayed.

“We did,” I said as I steadied her. “I’ll see you tomorrow for training.”

Mark gently took hold of her arm. “Let’s go.”

Once they were gone, I locked the door. I was thinking about what in the world Penelope could have been on when I banked left toward the ring. When I did, I wobbled to a stop, losing the air in my lungs.

Ruby was stretching in one of her ballet poses, standing on one foot with the other leg lifted toward the ceiling, holding the back of her thigh. After a long second or two, she lowered her leg then her entire body to the mat in one of those splits that gymnasts did. Another second passed. She bent over her leg, extending her arms out toward her foot. Man, those moves got the blood pumping through my veins.

Slowly pushing upright, she set her gaze on me. “What’s wrong?” Immediately, she wrapped her arms around her midsection as though I had caught her naked. “You told me to stretch.”

I shook my head. Naked. Stretches. That bare skin around her midriff only helped spur the fantasies going through my head. It was my fault she was dressed in that tight, revealing outfit. Women dressed like that all the time in a gym. But Ruby wasn’t every woman. “Nothing. I was just thinking about Penelope.”
Big, fat lie.
“I haven’t known her to wig out on drugs.”

She shrugged. “People do it all the time. I see a lot of homeless people who are junkies.”

Reality roared back, quick and cold. I padded across the gym floor and hopped in the ring.

“What big guy do you think she was talking about?” Ruby asked.

“She was probably remembering when you and I were arguing in the hall at Firefly. Afterward, I called it quits with her. Let’s forget about Penelope. So where were we?”

“You were about to go over ground rules,” she said, letting go of her stomach.

Fuck ground rules.
Whatever happened tonight happened, and I wasn’t going to stress over anything else, including my dick, which wasn’t cooperating. “Footwork. Let’s start there. Keep moving around your opponent. The goal is to tire her out as you deliver each blow. The minute you stop is the minute she takes control and the minute you get knocked out. Like you did.”

“That was your fault,” she said in a not-so-nice tone. “You distracted me.”

“No. You let your guard down,” I said dryly.

“Because of you. You should practice what you preach. You let your guard down earlier when I was rooting for Liam.”