Got A Hold On You (Ringside Romance) (11 page)

“What?” She struggled to breathe, her gaze locked on
to his swollen lips. Lips she wanted to taste again.

“You can let go now.”

She didn’t want to let go. She belonged right here in
his arms, enjoying another blast of passion from his lips.

“It’s over,” he said.

“I don’t understand.” She didn’t hear a choir of
angels or see the pearly gates open in greeting. She glanced at the catwalk
above her. Then she peered over his shoulder. The fans waved signs, screamed,
and practically jumped from their seats.

“We’re down?” she said, still dazed. “I don’t believe
it.”

“It’s for real. We’re fine.”

“We’re fine,” she repeated.

But she wasn’t fine. Her heart pounded an erratic
beat, her brain buzzed with adrenaline or passion, or both.

He gently untangled her legs and kissed her on the
forehead.

“You’re okay,” he murmured, peeling her off him.

“You kissed me,” she said, still in shock.

“I had to get you down somehow.” He winked and
unhooked himself from the harness.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” the announcer boomed, walking
up beside Jack. “WHAK’s favorite couple, Black Jack Hudson and Tatianna the
Tigress!”

The roar echoed off the ceiling, ricocheted off the
seats and vibrated against her eardrums. She watched Jack strut to the corner,
straddle the bottom and middle ropes and raise his hat to salute the fans.

He kissed her. With a kind of passion and heat she
didn’t think possible.

Because he’d needed her to make the jump—a jump
that could have killed them both.

Anger simmered in her belly, eating away the passion
of a moment ago. She stormed a wobbly path across the ring, ripped off her
right glove and tapped him on the shoulder. He stepped down from the ropes and
turned to her, a grin lighting his eyes. A grin she planned to wipe right off
that handsome face. She wound up and let him have it with an open palm to his
cheek.

“What the hell?” He put up his hand as if expecting
her to strike him again.

“You kissed me!”

“Yeah? So?”

“To distract me?”

“It worked didn’t it?”

She wound up for another swing. He grabbed her wrist
before she could make contact.

“We don’t want fans getting the wrong idea about our
relationship, babe.”

“You stupid, ignorant, jerk! We could have been
killed!”

“We would have been killed with you shaking like that.
You would have slipped right out of my arms.”

He had a point. He managed to get her down in one
piece, basically saving her life.

No, this wasn’t her life. Her life was back in Boston
analyzing financial proposals and investing company funds. Her life revolved
around her career, Friday night dinners with Bradley and monthly lunches at the
Urban Professional Women’s Club. Her life included checking the financial
section of the paper every morning and planning her vacations for the next ten
years. Door County this year, Mexico the next. Maybe she’d even fit Hawaii into
her schedule for 2018.

Her life.

And she’d almost lost it helping her uncle with his
ridiculous, unreal business.

She spun on her heel and headed for the opposite end
of the ring.

“Where the hell are you going?” he called after her.

“Home!”

“But you can’t leave now,” the referee said, chasing
her down and gripping her elbow. “We’re about to start. The cameras are
rolling.”

“News flash. I’m done.”

“No, that’s not in the script!” He dragged her to
center ring. She stumbled alongside him.

“Get your hands off her!” Jack yanked the ref’s hand
off her arm and she fell backward, landing on her fanny.

“But she can’t leave. He’s here!” the ref protested.

“Who’s here?” Jack said.

Organ pipes blared a traditional march across the
sound system. A man dressed in black carrying an open Bible paced slowly toward
the ring. The referee helped him through the ropes. Frankie stared,
dumbfounded.

“Come on. Let’s get this over with,” Jack muttered,
offering his hand.

“I should be dead. Instead I’m marrying a complete
stranger.”

“I wouldn’t call us complete strangers.” He shot her
that charming smile and her tummy did a backflip. This man was dangerous, and
about to become her husband, or her pretend husband.

“I can’t do this,” she said.

“You also said you couldn’t jump from the catwalk.”

“You tricked me.”

“I kissed you.”

“Same difference.”

“Actually, it’s not a bad story line if you ask me,”
he said.

“I didn’t.”

“On your feet, Tiger Lady.”

Jack grabbed her by the arms and lifted her to her
feet. Damn. The girl really looked nervous, as if the thought of marrying Black
Jack Hudson terrified her beyond words.

It wasn’t like this was a real marriage. Not that the
marriage to Sandra was real. His brain had been too pickled with lust to spot
the train wreck around the corner. After three long years he’d finally figured
out that Sandra loved the fame, not the man, and that’s when Jack had realized
he would never find love or have a normal life as long as he was a celebrity
pro wrestler.

“I don’t like this,” Tiger Lady said as the minister
stepped toward them.

“There could be worse things.”

“Like?”

“Like jumping from a catwalk?”

She swung and he stepped out of the way, enjoying the
sight of her tumbling past him in a puff of black and gold feathers. He had to
give her credit. She recovered well. Only five minutes ago she was shivering
like a victim of frostbite. He couldn’t help but comfort her, and not because
he thought she’d vibrate right out of his arms. No, there was something
delicate about this one. Something that made him want to hold her, protect her.

He rubbed his cheek. Yeah, and who was going to protect
him?

“Dearly beloved,” the minister began.

Jack wrapped his arms around her from behind. She went
completely still and he wondered what was going on in that mind of hers. He
prepared himself for a kick to the shin from deadly four-inch spikes.

“This man and this…” the minister eyed Tiger Lady.
“Woman.” She plucked a feather from the corner of her mouth. Boy, when Max
beefed up the costume she’d added a lot to cover up the woman’s finer points.

“…in holy matrimony…”

“It’s all pretend,” he whispered in her ear.

It was for the most part, the drama, the hype.
Everything but the physical punishment he sustained match after match, and the
burning in his gut every time Sully snapped the cage door shut.

Would Jack ever be free to start a normal life away
from the madness? He’d give anything to be anonymous and walk into a grocery
store without people staring at him. Impossible thanks to his size, the result
of rigorous workouts necessary to maintain his body.

“…to love and honor the rest of your lives…” the minister
continued.

Jack needed his freedom to travel, work on the cabin,
and maybe even help Butch with the youth fitness centers. Jack was proud that
his money was going to something good, helping kids who were at that vulnerable
age. He didn’t care that he might never see a penny from the business. Some
things meant more than the all-mighty dollar.

Like living a normal life. That’s all Jack wanted. It
didn’t seem like a lot to ask. He’d been a devoted WHAK employee for nearly
twenty years. But it was never enough, with Dad, with WHAK. Was Jack destined
to live by another man’s script for the rest of his life?

Tiger Lady wobbled and he steadied her against his
chest. She was to blame for his self-analysis. She read the pain in his eyes on
the catwalk and called him out. He couldn’t believe he was that transparent, a
definite disadvantage if he planned to outwit Sully and jump ship ASAP.

“…if anyone knows of any reason why this man and this
woman should not be married, speak now or forever hold your peace…”

The crowd hushed.

“Now that you mention it…” Tiger Lady started.

Jack grabbed her by the shoulders, turned her around
and kissed her before she could finish her protest. It wouldn’t look good to
his fans to have his wife-to-be object to marrying their hero.

“Excuse me,” the minister said.

Jack broke the kiss and blinked twice to get his
bearings. The adrenaline from the jump must not have worn off.

“You don’t kiss the bride yet,” the minister scolded.

“Right. Sorry.” He couldn’t tear his gaze from her
clear blue eyes and ruby red lips. Not real. None of this was real. He tamped
down the burning in his gut, the burn of regret? Of having done this once
before only to find out it wasn’t real either?

“The ring?” The minister poked Jack in the arm.

“Huh? Yeah, we’re in the ring. What?”

“For her finger,” the minister said.

“I’ve got it,” Prince Priceless said into a microphone
as he climbed through the ropes. “Although it will probably turn her finger
green!”

The crowd booed and hissed the Prince on cue.

“I can’t help it if Black Jack is a cheap, no good,
dimwitted idiot.”

Jack snatched the minister’s microphone. “Hand over
the ring, Priceless.”

“Come and get it.”

“My pleasure.” He handed the minister the mic and took
a step toward his adversary. Was this in the script? Jack had no idea.

“Wait,” Tatianna said, gripping Jack’s arm. “Let me
handle this.”

He narrowed his eyes.

“Trust me.”

He stepped aside. He must be crazy.

Tiger Lady sauntered across the ring to the Prince.

“What’s this? Change your mind about marrying Black
Jack?” Prince flirted. “Hey, kitty cat, I’m all yours.”

Jack clenched his fists by his sides. Not real. None
of this was real.

Wrapping her arms around Prince’s neck, she gave the
arrogant moron a squeeze. His eyelashes fluttered as he glanced up at the
heavens.

Jack was going to be sick. Was this her way of getting
back at Jack for tricking her into jumping from the catwalk?

“See, Black Jack, I not only beat you in the ring, but
I beat you in love. Come on, kitty. Let’s go back to my place,” Prince cooed.

She shot Prince a charming smile, stepped away from
him and stuck out her hand.

“What? You want this?” Prince pinched the ring between
his forefinger and thumb. “Okay, but don’t get any ideas. I’m not the marrying
type, not until I get to know you better.” He raised his eyebrows twice and
dropped the gold band in her hand.

“Shall we?” Prince scanned the crowd wearing that smug
look on his face. Tiger Lady smiled up at him.

Damn, she was going to humiliate Jack in front of
fifteen thousand fans. On the other hand, this could be his ticket out. If she
paired up with Prince Priceless that left Jack out in the cold.

“Once again, the best man wins,” Prince taunted Jack
and extended his hand to escort Tiger Lady out of the ring. “I’m so glad you
all got to see that I’m the better man. I’m the true hero.”

With a lunge and a cry, Tiger Lady attacked Prince,
nipping at his hand. He shrieked and the audience shrieked back. She nailed his
foot with her spiked heel, and he cried out like a gutted animal.

“She’s crazy! Get her away from me.” He fumbled for
the ropes with Tiger Lady in hot pursuit. She lunged. He screamed and tumbled
out of the ring.

Jack burst out laughing. He couldn’t help himself.

“You can have her,” Prince cried from the bordering
blue mat. He hopped on one foot and clutched his injured hand against his
stomach. “You deserve each other!”

The fans roared as Prince limped up the ramp and out
of sight, obviously in search of first aid. Tiger Lady sauntered to Jack,
tripping on the high heels only once.

“Nice,” Jack said.

“Who needs to throw a punch when you’ve got these?”
She stuck out her heel and grinned, a twinkle in her eye.

“Yeah, but I don’t look so good in gold.”

“You’d probably fall over in them anyway. It takes a
certain talent to keep your balance.” She shifted to the other foot and lost
her balance.

He steadied her with a hand on her elbow. “A talent
you’ve obviously mastered.”

“I’ve mastered the stabbing part,” she warned.

“Excuse me,” the minister said. “But I have a marriage
to finish.”

“Right, sorry,” Jack said.

“The ring?” the minister said.

Tiger Lady handed it to the minister.

“Not me, him.”

She dropped the ring in Jack’s palm, not making eye
contact.

“Put it on,” the ministered ordered.

Jack eased it over her gloved finger. “I don’t suppose
you want to take these off?”

“No, thanks.”

He adjusted the ring to the second knuckle. “That’s as
far as it goes.”

“Good enough.” The minister cleared his throat. “I now
pronounce you…” The crowd hushed.
 
“Cowboy and Tiger Wife. You may kiss your cat.” He snapped the Bible
shut.

Jack glanced at Tatianna who fiddled with the gold
band on her finger. He cradled her chin between his thumb and forefinger and
guided her eyes to meet his. The minister shoved the microphone between them.
Jack snatched it from him and the fans roared, thinking they were going to hear
personal, intimate words spoken between Black Jack Hudson and his new bride.

Jack tossed the microphone to the corner of the ring
and looked into Tatianna’s eyes.

“May I? Kiss you?”

She nodded. At least he thought she nodded. If not,
he’d know real quick when she drilled him with those spikes of hers.

Leaning forward he brushed his lips against her mouth
and closed his eyes, savoring the minty taste of this strange woman. He didn’t
mind kissing her, not really. She felt warm and soft in his arms. When she
leaned into him, a slight moan purring against his lips, he wished the
thousands of fans away, wished for a real moment alone with the woman he held
in his arms.