Ace of Spades (Underground Affair Series Book 1) (29 page)

“So are you upset because he’s a good fighter or because you’re jealous he is trying to suck up to Buddy?”

“Neither. I’m a better fighter and Buddy is MY trainer.”

“Maybe you need to talk to Buddy about this?”

“No, I’ll just show this kid what I’m made of and not go easy on him. He won’t be able to keep up. He will be crawling out of here within the week. So why do you look so pissed?”

“Kaylee resigned this morning.”

“Shit, why?”

“She said she had been thinking about it but she also eluded to the fact that she was still upset about me kissing her.”

“When did that happen?”

Declan looked down at the floor. He prided himself on being a professional, never mixing business with pleasure, well almost never, well maybe only with Jenna because she felt the same way and it was purely just sex. He was so angry with himself about what happened with Kaylee and the fact that it made her resign.

“I told you.”

Shane grabbed Declan’s arm.

“Umm…no, I don’t recall you telling me.”

“It happened the night of your fight.”

“So you only kissed her and she is this upset or is there more to this story?”

“I picked her up and hugged her when you won your fight. Then, I don’t know what happened but next thing I knew I was kissing her. As soon as she stiffened up, I put her down and apologized. She had been avoiding me but I just figured in time we’d be ok again.”

“Hey, do you have feelings for her?”

“No. I was just excited and she was there.”

Declan thought for a moment, could he have feelings for her and that was why he was so upset with himself? No, he didn’t have feeling for Kaylee. Definitely, not.

“Ok, if you say so.”

“Say so? You don’t think I know so?”

“Fine, you know so. Look, I have a meeting with my publicist about my fight next month. I have to get going.”

“Vegas, can’t wait.”

“Happy you and the guys are going to come with me. We’re going to have a blast.”

“Shane, we haven’t missed a fight yet. Well until your last one and I watched from my office.”

“Yeah, I missed you there.”

“I know. I promise it will never happen again.”

Declan grabbed Shane and hugged him. Shane pulled away and Declan smacked his ass as he headed back towards the door.

T
HE DAY WAS COMING
to an end. The wedding was almost over, the bride had tossed her bouquet and now the groom was about to toss the garter. Lucy was nudging Ace to get out there with the other single men.

“Go on, get up there.”

“But Lucy, you didn’t catch the bouquet. I don’t want to…”

“Get out there, Son.”

Lucy’s father had walked over and given Ace a push. Ace stood amongst the other men and although he didn’t try to catch the garter it landed on his shoulder.

The DJ called out, “Ok, let’s get that lucky man over here to place the garter on this lovely lady’s leg.”

Lucy and her parents stood there chuckling as Ace made his way across the dance floor. He knelt next to the woman who was smiling and looking at him like he was a piece of meat. The DJ keyed up the music and Ace knew that was his cue to slide the garter up the woman’s leg.

“I remember you from the bachelorette party, I know you’re not shy.”

Ace hoped nobody else heard that remark. He decided best he just slide the damn thing on and distance himself from her as quickly as possible. He took the garter and placed it around her ankle. As he began to slide it up the DJ yelled out, “No hands, you have to use your teeth.”

Ace looked at Lucy and she was laughing as she thought the whole thing was funny to watch him squirm.

“Ok, if that’s what you want.”

Ace leaned down, grabbed hold of the garter with his teeth and dragged it up the woman’s leg. She grabbed hold of his hair. Ace pulled away and gave her a snide look as he stood up and walked back over to Lucy.

“You did good, Sweetie.”

“I need to use the bathroom, I’ll be right back, Lucy.”

Ace gave Lucy a quick kiss on the cheek and continued on to the bathroom. Lucy and her parents started to walk back to their table when Lucy’s so-called friend, Janey, tapped her on the shoulder. Lucy turned around and smiled.

“Janey, hi.”

“So tell me Lucy, didn’t you think any of us would recognize your stripper friend or did you think we wouldn’t because he was wearing clothes? Tell me, was a wedding date part of the package when you booked the bachelorette party or did he cost extra?”

Lucy’s stomach knotted. She never imagined a friend of hers would throw Ace’s being a stripper in her face, especially not in front of her parents; who were now standing there staring at Lucy in disbelief.

“Janey, what the hell is wrong with you?”

“Nothing’s wrong. I am clearly stating the facts.”

“You call that stating the facts?”

“Yes, poor boring school teacher Lucy can’t find a hot date, so she pays a low life stripper.”

Lucy smacked Janey across the face. Janey grabbed Lucy by the hair. The music stopped and at that point everyone was rushing over to watch the fight. Lucy’s mother was pulling Lucy up from the floor when Ace came running over.

“Lucy!”

Ace grabbed Lucy and pulled her into his arms. Lucy burst into tears. Janey smiled from the floor.

“Hey, Baby, what happened?”

“Aww, is little loser Lucy crying now.”

The bride, Mary, who was Lucy’s cousin had come over with her husband.

“Lucy, Janey, what the hell?”

“I’m going to take Lucy home now.”

Ace walked Lucy over to the table and grabbed her purse. He made it about two steps before Lucy’s father grabbed him by the shoulder.

“We need to talk.”

“Chief, can it wait? I need to take care of Lucy.”

Ace looked up and Lucy’s father gave him a look of disappointment and anger. Ace immediately knew what transpired while he was in the bathroom. He always enjoyed stripping and entertaining the women and even men sometimes, it made him feel important, he loved the attention. Now though, he felt ashamed. His heart was breaking as Lucy cried in his arms, knowing it was all his doing.

“Lucy, stay with your mother. Ace and I need to talk.”

Lucy looked up at her father with tears in her eyes.

“There isn’t anything to talk about, Daddy. I love Ace.”

“I thought I did too. But I don’t think any paid escort, stripper or whatever filth Ace is involved in, is the person I want my daughter to spend the rest of her life with or even worse raise children with.”

Lucy’s mother reached out her hand to Lucy’s father.

“Todd, don’t you think that you owe it to Ace to explain or at least hear his side of the story?”

Ace kissed Lucy on the forehead and stepped back. He knew how important Lucy’s family was to her and how much she meant to them. He wasn’t willing to come between them.

“I’m quite sure my story won’t differ much from what you’ve heard. I will put in for a transfer out of your house first thing in the morning. Lucy, I love you more than I’d ever thought I was capable of loving anyone and I want so much to be selfish right now and beg you to come with me but I can’t. Not without your parent’s blessing.”

“Ace, no…”

“I’m so sorry Lucy, I knew I was out of your league. I should have stayed away. Now all I’ve done is hurt you. Goodbye, Lucy.”

Ace turned around and with a single tear rolling down his cheek he walked out. Lucy stood there numb. Her father tried to pull her into his arms but Lucy pulled away. Mary grabbed her and held her in her arms while she cried.

Shane was a nervous wreck about his date with Luke. He spent the last hour changing his underwear three times and then he had worked himself into a literal sweat so he undressed, showered and started over again. He zipped up his pants, looked in the mirror and headed outside to wait for Luke to pick him up. No sooner did he walk out the door then did Luke pull into the driveway. Shane headed to the car. Luke opened the door and got out and walked over to Shane.

“Hey, Luke.”

Luke leaned over and gave Shane a kiss on the lips. Then he took his hand and walked him over to the car and opened his door.

“I couldn’t stop thinking about you all day, truthfully since yesterday when I saw you in your swim shorts.”

“Had I known they left such a lasting impression, I would have worn them tonight.” Shane laughed.

“Thank you for giving me another chance.”

“I almost said no.”

“You won’t regret saying yes, I promise.”

“So where are we going?”

“I thought we could go to my place and I’d grill us some steaks. Is that alright?”

“Yeah, sure.”

“Great.”

Luke closed the car door and ran to the other side and slipped into the driver’s seat.

“You know, for the record, I am capable of getting myself into the car. You didn’t have to get out and help me open the door.”

“I was just being polite. I mean, we’re on a date aren’t we?”

“Yes and that is why I am saying this now because if there’s a second date, I don’t want to be treated like a girl. I might be gay but I’m still a man who can take care of himself.”

“I’m sorry. I’m a nervous wreck. It was stupid and I didn’t mean to make you feel…”

“You’re nervous?”

“Yeah.”

“Good, because I’m nervous too.”

Shane reached over and placed his hand down on top of Luke’s.

“Pretty dumb, huh?”

“From where I’m sitting, I just see pretty.” Shane smiled.

“So are you going to tell me where you got the swollen lip?”

“Don’t get me started. Some dick kid that Buddy brought in for me to train with sucker punched me.”

“Maybe he has the hots for you and was trying to get some attention?”

“More like he has a hard on for my trainer and is trying to steal him away from me.”

“Oh boy. Subject change. So tell me about your family?”

“My family, they are all back in Tennessee. I haven’t been home once since I left for college and none of them have ever come to visit me or been to a fight. They will never admit it but they are ashamed of me because I am gay. So as far as family goes, I have Declan, Ace and Chace. We promised one another in college that no matter what, we will always be brothers.”

“I’m sorry about your family.”

“It’s ok. It used to bother me but not anymore.”

“I’m not sure I could ever get over my family turning their backs on me. We have always been close. When I told my parents that I thought I might be bisexual or gay, my mom laughed and asked what took me so long to figure it out. They’ve always made me feel loved and accepted me and anyone I’ve ever brought home.”

“You don’t still live with them do you?”

Luke laughed. “Hell no and if I did, I sure as shit wouldn’t be bringing you there tonight. I want you all to myself.”

“How far away is your house?”

“About five more minutes.”

“Good because I don’t know how much longer I can refrain from touching you.”

Ace was walking through the hotel lobby as Lucy was coming in. He had hoped to be out of there before she got back.

“Ace, please can we talk?”

“I love you too much to come between you and your family.”