Wrestling Desire (9 page)

“Well I have plenty to say to you and you
’
r
e
damn well gonna listen.”  Holt shot back. 

Derek rolled his eyes skyward and leaned a shoulder against the wall.  “Whatever.  Just say what’s on your mind and get out.”

“Emma is what’s on my mind.”  Holt began to pace.  He always seemed to think better when he was moving.  “And she should be on your mind too.”

“Emma knows how I feel-”

“Everyone from the janitors to the CEO of this company knows how you feel about me and Emma being together,” Holt cut him off.  “It doesn’t change what’s happened or how Emma and I feel about each other.”

“All right.” Derek shoved off the wall.  “If we’re going to talk about this, then let’s talk.  Just how do you really feel about my sister?”

Holt met Derek’s stare and didn’t blink.  “I’m in love with her.”

Derek smirked and shook his head.  “Really?  Well forgive me for my skepticism but I seriously doubt that.”

“Why?”

“Because you’re incapable of loving anyone other than yourself.  So why don’t you stop playing games with her heart?”

“You don’t know anything about what I am or am not capable of and this isn’t some game,” Holt nearly growled.  “Yes. I know I have a reputation and yes, that reputation is somewhat justified, but that’s all behind me.”  He shook his head.  “Damn it, Derek.  I’ve never met anyone like her.  She’s sweet, and caring and understanding and…amazing.”

“Wow, we actually agree on something.  Emma is amazing,” Derek agreed.  “And I don’t want you ruining that.”

“Me.” Holt angled a thumb against his chest.  “I’m not going to ruin anything.  If anything you’re working on ruining that with your nasty attitude.”

“I watched that little girl suffer after our mother disappeared,” Derek raged, his voice boomed off the concrete walls.  “I helped her pick up the shattered pieces of her life and was by her side when she needed me most.  I would die to protect her.  Can you say the same?”

“Yes.” Holt deadpanned without hesitation.

Derek’s brow winged up in surprise and he lowered his voice.  “Really?  You’d die to protect Emma?”

“In a heartbeat.” Holt didn’t blink.

Derek narrowed his gaze then cocked his head to the side and appeared to study Holt.  “You really mean that,” his said, his tone half statement and half questioning.

“I do.”

“Okay.” Derek nodded and appeared to calm a little.  “Let’s say I actually believe you.  You already have Emma which means you’re obviously not here to get my blessing.  So why are you here?”

“I’m here because the woman you say you love is heartbroken that you’re angry with her. You heard Doctor Andrew’s the other day. We’re the reason she’s sick.  She’s carrying the weight of our war on her shoulders and it’s slowly sucking the life out of her.”  He began to pace again. 

“It’s killing me to see her like this knowing that we have to power to stop it.”  He stopped and looked directly at Derek. “I know you and I have our differences and I know you loath
e
me because of the way I do business here, but if you love her as much as you say, then do what’s right by her.”

“I don’t need you telling me what’s right.” Derek pointed a finger at him. 

“No you don’t,” Holt agreed.  “Look, I’m not asking for you to like me.  Nor am I asking for your blessing. Hell, I’m not even asking for you to accept us.  All I’m asking is for you to separate your personal life from business.  Be there for her when she needs you and tolerate me when she’s around and I’ll do the same. The rest of the time you can hate me as much as you want.”  He shrugged.  “Hell, you can beat the shit out of me in the ring as much as you like.  Just don’t take our differences and place them on Emma’s shoulders anymore.”

For
s
everal long seconds silence filled the air before Derek dropped do the bench and looked up at Holt.  “Okay.” He gave a nod of acceptance.  “You’re right. We need to find a way to get along for Emma’s health.”  He raked a hand through is long dark hair.  “Hell, maybe I have blurred the lines of reality and fantasy a little. For Emma’s sake I’ll try and separate the two.  But-” He lifted a hand and pointed a finger at Holt. “I’m telling you right now, if you hurt her I will hunt you down and make you wish you were dead.  Understand?”

Holt gave a nod.  “Understood.”

* * *

Emma
checked her clip board.  As soon as this match ended, they’d cut to commercial and then come back with a one night only DEVIOUS tag match. 

“Jill,” she turned to her assistant.  “Let Garrett and Holt know they need to get ready.”

Strong arms slid around her waist and warm breath drifted across her cheek as Holt’s low tenor registered in her ears.  “We’re ready.  Are you ready?”

Unable to stop herself she sank into his embrace and turned her face toward him.  “I’m always ready,” she whispered as he lowered his mouth to hers. 

“Don’t I know it,” he murmured before claiming her lips.

“Would you two get a room?” Garrett groaned.  “Oh wait…you already have a room and this isn’t it.” Emma felt the impact of Garrett’s smack against Holt’s shoulder.  “Stop sucking face and get yourself together.  You can get your nookie later.”

Holt was grinning as he pulled away then glanced over his shoulder at Garrett.  “You’re just upset because Gene sent Marissa home.”

“I am not,” he nearly folded his arms over his chest like a petulant child.  “Why did he have to come up with that stupid storyline about her getting hurt?”

Emma did her best to hide her grin as she stepped out of Holt’s embrace and proceeded to give Garrett a hug.  “She misses you too.”

“Yeah?”  Garrett glanced down at her as she pulled back.  “How do you know that?”

“I talked to her earlier tonight.  Gene is pissed about you two becoming a real couple and he’s trying to put some distance between you with the hopes it will blow over and you’ll both move on.”

Garrett frowned.  “Really?  So he really thinks I’m some kind of a bad influence?”

Emma could hear the hurt in his voice.  “It’s not that.  It’ just that he didn’t want Marissa getting involved with any of the wrestlers for real.  She also has a bit of a reputation for using men and tossing them aside.  Personally, I think he’s testing you guys to see if you’re both serious about your relationship.”

“Oh I’m serious all right.” He grinned.  “I promise you that if I have anything to say about it one day I’ll be Gene’s son-in-law.  Won’t that just piss everyone in the locker room off?”

Holt laughed and slapped Garrett on the back.  “Well until you’re invested in the company, I think maybe it’s time we get to work.”

Emma nodded and remembering she was also supposed to be working glanced down at her paperwork.  “We’re coming back from commercial in thirty seconds so get yourselves ready.”

Holt snuck one last quick kiss.  The beginning of DEVIOUS’ music began and the two men disappeared through the curtain.  Emma turned back to watch the monitor and nearly ran directly into Derek.  “Uh…hi.”

“Hi.”  He glanced down at the floor.  “So, how are you feeling?”

She gave his question a shrug.  “I kept lunch down today and according to Doctor Andrews I’ve gained back two pounds.  It’s not much but considering how I’ve been feeling it’s a good step.”

“I’m glad to hear you’re feeling a little better.”

“Thanks,” she cocked her head to the side and eyed him with some concern. “How about you? How are you doing?”  After their argument over two weeks ago he’d all but shut her out of his life.  While it hurt to have him turn his back on her, she wasn’t about to let him know that. 

“I’m doing okay.”  He motioned to the monitor where DEVIOUS was working some sort of angle against The Tully Brothers.  “They’re gonna be a few minutes right?”

Emma nodded. “They’ve got twenty minutes slated for this match.”

“Then you have a couple of minutes to talk?”

“Sure.”  She motioned to Jill that she was stepping away then followed Derek to a secluded spot.  “What’s on your mind?”

“I’ve been thinking about my behavior,” he began.  “And I owe you an apology. I’m sorry about how I’ve been acting the last couple of weeks.”

That certainly wasn’t what she expected to hear.  Barely managing to hide her shock she shifted from one foot to the other.  “Then why did you act that way?”

“I hate-”

Emma held up a hand.  “Yes I know.  Why Derek?”

He let out a sigh.  “There are lots of reasons, the biggest having nothing really to do with you.”  He hooked his thumbs in front pocket of his jeans.  “I’ve been here a long time Em and I only have a finite amount of time left.”

“What are you talking about, Derek?  You have at least another ten years here.”

He shook his head.  “No I don’t.  The scene I came up in…the one where a definitive line between good and evil existed is gone.  Holt represents the new generation and I hate him for that.

“And?” she prompted knowing there was more.

“And you don’t need me anymore.”

Her body jerked as if he’d slapped her. “What?  That is so not true.”

“It is true,” Derek argued.  “You have Holt to take care of you now.  I don’t have a place in your life anymore.”

Tears pooled in her eyes as she looked up at him.  How could he possibly think that she didn’t need him?  “Just because I’m with Holt does not mean that there isn’t room in my heart for
you. She
wrapped her arms around him, clinging to him like she’d done so many times over the years.  “You’re my big brother.  You’re my rock, my pillar of strength and I’ll always need you Derek.”

His arms came down around her and he squeezed.  “Maybe it was wrong, but I felt as if you were replacing me and it hurt.  You’re my baby sister.  Hell Emma you and Bryan are my life.  I don’t know what I’d do without you guys.”

“Me either,” she murmured against him.  “Don’t look at me being with Holt as taking away from our family, Derek, because it doesn’t.  It’ adds to it. We’ve grown by one.”

“Maybe,” he replied, but didn’t let go of her.  “Still, I have to admit that finding out about you two through a promo hurt me.  Then if you add in our rivalry and the fact that I still see you as a little girl and well…I acted like an ass and I’m sorry.”

“Apology accepted.”  She squeezed then pulled back and smiled up at him.  “So are we good now?”

He returned her smile. “You and I are good.  I’m still not entirely convinced about Holt.” Her smile fell and he immediately raised his hand holding up a finger. “But-I am willing to try and give him a chance, okay?”

She gave a nod and for the first time in weeks her stomach seemed to settle just a little.  “That’s all I can ask.”

He angled a thumb toward the locker room.  “I’m gonna go get ready for my match.”

She nodded.  “Okay.  I’ll talk to you later.”

Derek dropped a quick kiss on her forehead then turned and walked away
.  As she watched him go the crowd roared and she glanced back at the monitor in time to see Holt take the take from Garrett and climb into the ring.  He glanced in the direction of the camera and gave a wink and a smile that had her grinning.  Life was far from being perfect or normal, but if Derek’s admission as any indication it looks as if thing were about to get a whole lot better.

Wrestling Desire 2

Excerpt

This can’t be happening.
 

Emma Cruise placed a hand over her suddenly queasy stomach, closed her eyes and took a deep breath.  “How can I possibly do what you’re asking?”  She opened her eyes and stared directly into the face of her boss Gene France.

“You can do it because I’m not asking, I’m ordering,” Gene argued.  “And because your storyline with Holt is a ratings hit.”  His thin lips tipped up into a mischievous grin.  “We’ll bury the competition with our All Hallo’s Eve bash and the championship match is the clincher.”

“But you want me to pick sides.” Emma pushed up from her chair and began to pace.  “How could I possibly choose between my boyfriend and my brother?  Even if I could, which I can’t, people will hate me no matter my choice.”

She glanced from where her boyfriend Holt sat in the chair across from Gene’s desk, to Gene then over to the couch were her brother Derek rested with his arms stretched across the back and his leg across one knee.  “I can’t believe you guys are all right with this.”

Derek let out a sigh, shifted and leaned forward to rest his elbows on his knees.  “Why are you getting so twisted about this, Em?  It’s not like he’s wants you to do it for real.”

“It’s real enough to me,” she shot back.  “I’ve never wanted to be in front of the camera and now not only am I, but you’re placing me in a position where I’m going to be hated by fans.”

Gen leaned back and folded his arms across his chest.  “If you didn’t want to be in the spotlight then you shouldn’t have gone to the ring last month to save Holt from William.  That action gave fodder to the fans and they’re eating it up, especially when you throw in Holt and Derek’s hatred for each other.”