Down for the Count (19 page)

Lacey tucked her head against his chest and groaned. “I wanted to stop you before you even left but I was mixed up. By that point, I was half convinced you were looking for an easy way to break it off. Then when I got home and you didn’t call…”

He ran a soothing hand over her back. “It’s over now. We’re together, and that’s all that matters.”

“What about your fight and the training? Eight months apart is a long time.”

“We don’t have to be apart. Do a semester out in Chicago. After the fight, we can decide where we want to live. No matter the outcome, I’m retiring after this match. Now that I’m almost thirty, my body takes longer to bounce back, and I want to walk away healthy. I’ve been thinking of opening a gym to train young fighters from the inner city, and I can do that almost anywhere as long as there’s a city nearby.”

A series of clicks caught their attention, and they turned toward the sound at the center of the room. Two reporters who must have escaped Cat’s clutches stood, snapping photos without even a hint of remorse.

Galen dropped a kiss on the corner of her mouth. “I don’t care if they see. I don’t care who knows. I love you.” He turned to the reporters and smiled. “You got that, guys? This is the woman I love.”

Tears rushed to her eyes, and she sniffled. “You’re going to make my mascara run and I’ll look awful for the camera.”

“I don’t care about any of that. Just say you’ll come with me.”

The pain of the past month evaporated like a puddle in the Sahara as happy emotion clogged her throat, but she forced herself to sound stern. “Only if you promise me one thing.”

“What’s that, squirt?”

“Never let me go.”

He tipped her back and bent forward until his mouth was an inch from hers. “I never will.”

Acknowledgments

Thanks to my sister Nicole for teaching me to go for it, balls to the wall, heart first, every time. Even when it’s scary.

Thanks to my cp, Riley Murphy, for being so frigging awesome and coming up with the nickname Whalin’ Galen.

Thanks to Heather Howland for liking me and my little book, and for all of your input. I think you’re the bee’s knees.

And last, but not least, thanks to Team Ninja (AKA, my fabulous editor, the incomparable Kerri-Leigh Grady, and my wonderful publicists, Heather Riccio and Sarah Nicolas). You guys all rock. When they say it takes a village, this is what they mean, and I couldn’t be happier with my crew.

About the Author

Christine Bell is one half of the happiest couple in the world. She and her handsome hubby currently reside in Pennsylvania with a four-pack of teenage boys and their two dogs, Gimli and Pug. If she gets time off from her duties as maid, chef, chauffeur, or therapist, she can be found reading just about anything she can get her hands on, from Young Adult novels to books on poker theory. She doesn’t like root beer, clowns, or bugs (except ladybugs, on account of their cute outfits), but lurrves chocolate, going to the movies, the New York Giants, and playing Texas Hold ’Em. Writing is her passion, but if she had to pick another occupation, she would be a pirate…or, like, a ninja maybe. She loves writing fun and adventure-filled romance stories, but also hopes to one day publish something her dad can read without wanting to dig his eyes out with rusty spoons.

Christine loves to hear from her readers and can be contacted through her website,
www.christine-bell.com
or on Twitter under the handle @_ChristineBell

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