Chapter Six

Zoey

I strolled into the large hotel, following the overhead signs as I moved through the crowds of people. The Montford restaurant was technically in the hotel next door, but the entrance was not. I made it to the front, gave the lady my name, and she told me that our table wasn’t quite ready and that my dining partner had not yet arrived.

To kill some time, I walked around the front of the restaurant located within the back lobby and read the show posters of the acts and events that would be coming up. The fight poster from the night before caught my attention, so I wandered over to it, thinking I’d at least read the names and jar my memory. That’s when I saw his face—a face I couldn’t mistake. After all, I’d spent nearly an hour staring at it the evening before and a glorious minute kissing those lips.

I looked down at the name again. Ryder Rollins. He was the fighter that had beaten Tate last night. I stepped back and placed my hand over my heart. I immediately felt a twinge of anger. Like I’d been lied to. Maybe by omission, but lied to all the same. I turned to leave, and almost ran right into his brick wall of a chest.

“Hey there, you ready?” he asked, smiling.

I just looked at him for a few seconds, then started pointing at the poster behind me, still a little in shock. “You—you're—you're him.” I struggled to get the words out.

“Yes,” he said matter-of-factly. When he recognized my confusion, he looked concerned.

“Why didn't you tell me?” I questioned him.

“I don't know,” he said with a shrug. “When you said you weren't a fan of fighting, I didn’t want to scare you away, so I figured I’d let you meet me first and then we could talk about the fighting.”

I moved to the left and tried to get around him.

“Zoey, wait.”

“No, I can't start this with a lie.”

“There wasn't a lie. You didn't ask me what I did, exactly.”

“You said you were here for the fight, not fighting.”

“Technically, I was here for the fight.”

“Seriously? Ugh.” I pulled away again.

“Just have lunch with me and let's talk about this. I wanted to see you again, and I was afraid that if I said ‘hey that was me in the ring tonight,’ you would have run for the hills. Which is exactly what you’re doing.”

“I'm not running.” I stopped, turned on my heel and at looked at him. He was pleading with his eyes and I softened a little.

“Please, just lunch. Scout’s honor,” he said.

“You were not a boy scout.”

“Eagle, actually.” He smiled, and looked rather adorable, like a kid proud of getting an answer right in math class.

I was immediately mad at myself for thinking this man was simple when he appeared to be far from it. Could I learn more about him, but protect my heart at the same time?

“Fine.” I moved around him toward the restaurant. I saw the smile spread over his face as I passed him. He fell in behind me.

“Good afternoon, Mr. Rollins,” the hostess said. “We have your table ready.”

“Thank you.” He had his hand on my lower back in an intimate gesture as we followed the hostess through the restaurant. When we reached our table, he pulled my chair out and waited for me to sit. Once more, he was proving he was a gentleman.

Looking around, I felt a tad underdressed in my sundress. He, on the other hand, was once again wearing suit pants and a crisp white shirt rolled up to his elbows. I studied his arms as he spoke to a waiter who had magically appeared at our table the moment we did. He ordered wine, and I did my best to maintain the heat racing through me. I couldn't help it. He was moving his hands as he talked. The movement of his smooth skin over his muscles was fascinating. I had never seen someone with arms so muscular, especially not up close.

When he stopped talking to the waiter, he also stopped moving his hands and arms. I altered my attention to meet his eyes. His sea-blue eyes were smiling at me.

“Is everything okay?” he asked with a smirk.

“I've just never seen anyone as…large as you are.” I fumbled with my words, not wanting to come across too weird.

He chuckled. “Trust me, I’m not that big. More medium when it comes to fighter standards.”

“I don't understand how someone as big as you are can move as fast as you do.”

“I thought you missed my fight last night.” He smiled.

“I did, but I heard all about it. And if you are this big and you can move that fast, it's a little intimidating.”

“I don't fight people outside of the ring…anymore.” He grinned playfully. “When I was younger and a bouncer, I didn’t always have a choice,” he explained. “But, that isn’t an issue these days. I have an unfair advantage, and that wouldn’t be right. Besides, I’m usually at home or at the gym.”

“Right,” I said with a nod.

Once again, I was going out with some guy that I couldn’t really trust. He’d lied to me about being in the fight last night. What else would he lie about?