Never before published from the New York Times
bestselling author
Gillian is a PR expert hired
to smooth out the rough edges on hot- headed sports club
president Drew Black. He's rough, raw and ready for any
challenge Gillian throws his way. But which one's going to
end up on top?
Excerpt CHAPTER ONE
Back in BlackGillian Noode stood against the back wall of
the popular bar, Rogerβs Rodeo, where many fighters hung
out. She was close enough to observe him, but not close
enough to get noticed. Yet. At least, not by him. Plenty of
other men had already given her the once-over, showing
appreciation for her trim black skirt, her low-scooped white
blouse and strappy sandals. A few had even tried to strike
up a conversation. Though tempted, sheβd politely declined.
Sheβd come here for a reason, and Drew Black was it.
Dressed in well-worn jeans and a comfortable black T-shirt
bearing the logo of the SBC fight organization, the
president of the extreme sport sat at the polished bar.
Currently, he held close conversation with two long-haired
lovelies whose bloated busts defied believability. No woman
that slender had breasts that large.
But Drew showed no signs of disbelief. Like a king of his
own making, he ogled with commitment to the boob ruse.
Appreciating his commitment, the girls played with their
long hair, flirted, and giggled .
Gillian fought a gag.
From the many interviews and television spots sheβd watched,
as well as her current scrutiny, Gillian surmised that Drew
Black had a fighter-type physique, sculpted with honest
muscle rather than the steroid-induced kind. He wasnβt quite
as shredded as the actual fighters, who made workouts and
diet a regular part of their routine, but he looked strong
and capable.
Obviously his ego demanded that he stay in shape. After all,
he was often surrounded by younger men in their prime, elite
fighters with rock-hard bodies and astounding ability.
Drew Black intrigued her beyond the job at hand.
As an entrepreneur he showed great intelligence; no one
could have accomplished what he had without a lot of smarts.
Heβd taken a mostly dead sport, banned in many states, and
turned it into an astounding success.
And motivation? The man had it in spades. He couldnβt
possibly sleep more than six hour a night given his
enthusiastic work load and insane social calendar.
Good looks, great body, intelligence, enthusiasm and
money... Drew Black would be quite the catch if he wasnβt
such a sexist foul-mouthed jerk with the tact of a mountain
goat.
With her external analysis now complete, Gillian moved
closer, just a short way down the bar. She could hear Drewβs
deep voice β not that she expected much enlightenment from
his conversation.
But Drew surprised her.
βWill you call me?β bimbo one asked him with a pout.
Lacking malice, he gave a low and mellow laugh. βNo, I wonβt.β
Look-alike bimbo number two said, βHow about me?β She toyed
with his ear in a way that made Gillian twitch. βI can
promise you a really good time.β
βI just bet you can.β Drew took her wrist and moved her
teasing hand away. βBut I have to pass.β
Gillian raised a brow. Sheβd expected him to suggest a
threesome, and instead heβd rejected both of them.
Interesting.
Back in BlackThe bimbos combined their whining complaints
and attempts at persuasion until Drew appeared to get
annoyed. βGirls, what the fuck? Cβmon, I have shit to do and
it doesnβt include having my ears ring. Go find something β
or someone - else to do, okay?β
βBut Drew, we waited a long time to get to talk to you.β
Bimbo one whined.
Drew leaned around the woman to eye his male companion. βA
little help here?β
Gillian recognized the other man as a fighter. Grinning, he
held up big, capable hands. βSorry, Drew. I have a girl
waiting at home.β
βWe arenβt at your home, damn it.β
He smirked. βYeah, well, Spice doesnβt like to share me.β
Drew pulled back. βSpice? What the fuck kind of name is that
for a female?β
βThe kind that suits her.β Unruffled by the implied insult,
Brett finished his drink. To Gillian, it looked like juice.
She gave Brett points.
βLook,β Drew said to the closest bimbo, βyouβre too fucking
young and frankly, too damned pushy.β
βWe have to be pushy to get near you. Youβre just so popular -β
βHow about I give you a couple of tickets to the next SBC
fight instead? Good seats. Howβs that?β
The girls bounced with enthusiasm. Gillian couldnβt take it.
She asked the bartender for a martini. By the time sheβd
been served and taken a few fortifying sips, Drew was alone
at the bar with Brett.
βYouβre brutal, Drew.β
βDid you see those girls? Not only were they phony from head
to toes, the damn giggles were wearing on my nerves.β He
worked his shoulders, as if releasing tension. βJesus, I do
have some standards you know.β
βYeah? Like what?β
βYou want the whole list, huh? Well, it doesnβt apply here,
but she has to be less than forty. Older broads are too
independent.β
Brett laughed. βThose two together werenβt forty.β
βNo, but young and not-stupid donβt have to be exclusive.β
Brett grinned. βSo what else?β
βShe has to be childless, because letβs face it, the whole
kid thing is a major pain in the ass. No way am I fucking
anybodyβs mother. And before you say it, yeah, I know, those
two are still children themselves.β
Brett saluted him with his juice.
Back in BlackβOn top of being good looking and sexy, she has
to have a modicum of intelligence β at least enough that I
can carry on a conversation with her. And no squealing. God
Almighty, I detest broads who squeal.β
Brett commiserated. βThey were squealers.β
βCan you imagine how loud theyβd be in the sack, riding out
a big O?β Drew laughed. βIβd need fucking earplugs.β
Brett grinned. βBraggart.β
That nasty mouth of his, Gillian thought as she shook her
head. Riding out a big O. Who talked like that? The things
Drew said, the crude language he used, was not befitting the
force behind the fastest growing sport in history. That
mouth had gotten him into trouble, whether he realized it
yet or not.
It was her job to clean up his act, and to make him a more
presentable figurehead for the SBC franchise.
Daunting, but maybe not impossible. She always enjoyed a
challenge.
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