Hard Knocks: An Ultimate Novella by Lori Foster

Author:Lori Foster [Foster, Lori]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2014-08-03T05:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER FOUR

GAGE CAUGHT HER ARMS, steadying them both. “Why does everyone keep sneaking up on me?”

She brushed off his hands. “If you hadn’t been ogling the single ladies, maybe you’d be more aware.”

She absolutely had to know better than to think that, but just in case...”How could I notice any other woman with you around?”

She eyed him. “Do you notice other women when I’m not around?”

Damn, he thought, did she really not know how much he cared? Worse, had she been sad while he was away?

The possibility chewed on his conscience. “No, I don’t.” He drew her up to kiss her sweetly, and then, because this was Harper, not so sweetly.

To give her back a little, he shared his own complaint. “You spend way too much time horsing around with Armie.”

Shrugging, she reached for a few chips. “I was trying not to crowd you.”

“What does that mean?”

While munching, she gestured around the interior of the rec center. “This is a fight night. You’re hanging with your buds. When I see you guys talking, I don’t want to horn in.”

Whoa. Those were some serious misconceptions. To help clear things up, he cupped her face. “You can’t.”

“Can’t what?”

“Horn in. Ever.”

Brows pinching in disgruntlement, she shoved away from him. “I just told you I wouldn’t.”

He hauled her right back. “I’m not saying you shouldn’t, honey, I’m saying you can’t because there’s never a bad time for you to talk to me. Remember that, okay?”

Astonished, she blinked up at him, and he wanted to declare himself right then. Luckily the first fight on the main card started and everyone went back to their seats, saving him from rushing her.

This time, Gage had a hard time concentrating. He saw the fight, he cheered, but more of his attention veered to Harper, to how quiet she was now.

Thinking about him?

The fight ended in the first round with a knockout.

Instead of reacting with everyone else, Harper turned her face up to his. As if no time had passed at all, she said, “That’s not entirely true.”

Damn, but it was getting more difficult by the second to keep his hands off her. He contented himself by opening his hand on her waist, stroking up to her ribs then down to her hip. “What’s that?”

“There are plenty of times when I can’t intrude.”

She was still stewing about that? “No.”

Like a thundercloud, she darkened. Turning to more fully face him, she said low, “Yes.” Before he could correct her, she insisted, “But I want you to know that I understand.”

Apparently she didn’t. “How so?”

Leaning around him, she glanced at one and all to ensure there were no eavesdroppers. As if uncertain, she puckered her brows while trying to find the right words. “I know when you’re in training—”

“I’m pretty much always in training.”

She looked like she wanted to smack him. “There’s training and then there’s training.”

True enough. “You mean when I go away to another camp.”

“That, and when you’re close to a fight.”

Should he tell her how much

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