Bad Professor (An Alpha Male Bad Boy Romance) (117 page)

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

Fenton

As
soon as we stepped out of the elevator, I noticed people looking at my sister.
The looks on their faces said they had the exact same thoughts as Jackson just
had up in the suite.

"You could
have changed clothes up in the suite, Dee," I said. "I didn't mean to
rush you out of there."

"I'm
perfectly comfortable," Dana Maria said. "Plus, it’s gotta be good
for your reputation. Fenton Morris seen in broad daylight with an exotic
dancer. Fits right into the image of the party boy fighter, doesn't it?"

"Except for
the part where you're my sister," I said.

"Since when
do you care what people think?" she asked. "Besides your buttoned-up
roommate."

"Her name is
Kya." I grabbed Dana Maria's arm and steered her through the gathering sea
of interested faces. "Why can't you call her by her name?"

"For the same
reason I'm not going to put on a conservative dress to have lunch with you.
That's not me. This is what I like to wear and I don't call people by their
given names unless they are actually my friends," Dana Maria said.

I yanked open the
door of the waiting cab and tucked my sister inside. "You're telling me
you wouldn't be more comfortable in jeans and a t-shirt? Or a dress with less
lace and tight straps?"

My sister
shrugged. "Maybe, but I've got a gig right after lunch."

My shoulders
tensed. "You need a chaperone?" I asked.

Dana Maria
laughed. "No thanks, baby bro. I've got my own muscle. There's nothing for
you to worry about."

She changed the
subject, and I ended up telling her all about the fight and the after party. I
stopped before I confessed anything about Kya, but somehow my sister guessed
it.

"You know
she'll just drop you as soon as she finds someone better," Dana Maria
said. She twisted the wrapper to her straw around her finger and pretended it
was an engagement ring. "Oh, you shouldn't have gotten such a big diamond!
No, I don't mind that you're a balding lawyer because you are so rich and your
family is so well known. We'll get married on the 13
th
 
green, and our lives will be just like a
cardigan catalog."

I wadded up a
paper napkin and threw it at her. "Very funny. But you don't know the
first thing about Kya. She's different than she looks."

"I'm sure she
is," Dana Maria said. "The only problem is that in the end, she's
going to think she should marry someone that looks just as catalog perfect as
her. And, when she realizes his surface doesn't match what he's really like
underneath, she’ll find out she was dead wrong."

Her dire warning
chilled me for a minute before I dismissed it. Kya was different and my sister
was right, I shouldn't care what other people think. "You're only saying
that because of Mom and Dad."

"What do they
have to do with you and your girl from the good side of town?" Dana Maria
asked.

"Dad was
handsome, charming even, and Mom loved him until she realized all he cared
about was himself," I said. "You think she was stupid for falling for
him in the first place. Like she could have known he would just walk out on us
one day."

"Exactly. Mom
thought she had found someone who liked the same things, came from the same
background, and wanted the same things in the future. He made her think that,
but it was all just a lie. He just wanted to use her for a while, and when he
got bored, he left."

My sister stopped
as the waiter brought our burgers. I took my time adding mustard and just the
right amount of pickle relish, not willing to say anything. No one had been
hurt more by our father leaving or our mother's death than my sister. On top of
the pain, she had me to worry about.

"I'm sorry,
Fen. This is supposed to be a celebration. You kicked ass last night and you're
on your way up. Here's to you, baby brother!" Dana Maria raised her glass
of beer and toasted me.

"Thank
you," I said.

"Can you
believe how far you've come? I remember when your fists were the size of
walnuts. You couldn't knock out anything bigger than a squirrel."

"Until grade
school," I reminded her.

"Flying Fists
Fenton," she laughed. "I wonder what all your grade school teachers
think now that you're on your way to the title fight."

"They'd
probably still lecture me on staying focused."

"That's all
I'm saying. I know you've got your eye on the hot agent, but you've got a title
to win. You can't be getting distracted now," Dana Maria said. She
punctuated her words with a French fry.

I snapped the fry
out of her fingers and popped it in my mouth. "I promise I will stay
focused on the title fight, Ms. Morris."

"Good. Now, I
hate to cut this short, but I've got that private gig to get to." She had
the waitress wrap up her mostly untouched burger so I could take it with me for
a snack.

"Still
starving to feed me?" I asked.

"I'm not
about to dance on a double cheeseburger," Dana Maria said.

"Your last
dance?" I asked. "You could retire and let me take care of you for a
while, you know."

"Come on,
Fen, you know I like my independence. Don't be like everyone else and make the
mistake of thinking I'm only dancing because I can't do anything else. I like
it and it pays very well. I'm not afraid of liking the attention, I'm not
embarrassed at showing off my body, and I'm not about to find something boring
to do just because other people think it’s more respectable."

"Yeah, I
thought you would say that." I kissed my sister on the forehead.
"And, I love you for it."

I was still
chewing over everything my sister said when I got to the gym. Kev seemed to
appear out of nowhere. He was lucky I didn't knock his teeth out. Even crazy
fans knew better than to surprise me by now.

"Whoa, you've
gotta be hungover if I'm able to get the drop on you," Kev said. "I
mean, I know I'm hungover from last night's festivities, but I'm not the one
that has to get back in the ring."

"I'm not hungover,
I'll be fine," I said.

"Yeah, I
wondered if you were just playing it up for the cameras last night," Kev
said. "Gotta say I was jealous of you and that Sienna. God, she is hot,
and she was all over you."

I headed to the
locker room, but Kev followed me. "It was all for the cameras. None of it
was real."

"Real, fake,
I wouldn't care if she was made entirely of plastic," Kev said.
"She's hot, you're hot, and the publicity from her reality show is red
hot. You should invite her to be your date to the fight promotion party. Think
of all the free publicity that would buy you. Plus, her sexy friends."

"I didn't
really think she was that hot," I said.

"Seriously?
But she was still there when I left." Kev waggled his eyebrows at me.

"I sent her
home. Nothing happened."

Kev jumped in
front of me again. "Nothing happened with her, but something did happen,
didn't it? Oh, I knew it! That's great, man, that is so great."

I wiped his hands
off the front of my shirt. "What is great? What are you talking
about?"

"You can't
lie to me, man, I know you. You were with Kya last night. I love it! I love you
two together. I mean, you and Sienna made for a hot reality show couple, but
you and Kya, that's for real. I saw you two looking at each other from across
the party."

"You have no
idea what you're talking about. You were wasted last night," I said.

"Wasted or
not, I recognize a connection when I see it," he said. "And you two
connected that first night in the club."

"You were
wasted then, too," I reminded him.

"Come on, now.
You were matching me drink for drink until you met Kya," he said.

"Can you
please let me get ready? Aldous is not going to let me slack off, even the day
after a win. I've got to stay focused if I want to win the title fight, and the
last thing I need is you thinking you're a better matchmaker than a
manager."

"I
agree," Aldous said. He held open the locker room door. "Especially
about the not letting you slack off part. You've got thirty seconds to change
and get to work."

It was a relief to
work my sore muscles, stretch them out again, and get out of my own head. The
harder I worked out, the more the world retreated and I did not need to worry
about focusing. There was nothing else. Just me doing what I was born to do.

"Looking good
there, Morris," a voice interrupted.

I spun around and
came face to face with Mario Peretti again. He was dressed for the sparring
ring with a towel around his neck and a smirk on his face.

"Congratulations
on last night," my rival said.

"Thanks. I
hear I'll be seeing you in the ring for the title fight."

Mario nodded.
"Speaking of seeing people; I met a woman named Kya Allen the other night.
If you see her would you let her know I'd love to take her out for dinner?
She's just the kind of trophy I'd like to take home on top of the title."

Both Aldous and
Kev had to hold me back. Mario threw his head back and laughed as he left.

"Don't let
him get to you," Kev said. "Remember the part about staying
focused?"

"Sure, yeah,
I'm fine," I said. I blinked back the red haze. I could not wait to face
Peretti in the ring again. I would show him who I was. And, I'd make sure he
knew Kya belonged to me.

After the work out
and the run-in with Peretti, Kya was all I could think about. I headed back to
the Tropicana and punched the elevator button. If she wasn't back from her
dinner with the golfer, it would be hard not to go after her. What was one more
scene in a restaurant besides extra publicity?

"Oooh, there
you are, honey bunny!" a woman shrieked.

I stepped back as
Sienna and her onslaught of bright lights and cameras cornered me at the
elevator bank.

"Just the
man, the sexy, sexy man I was looking for," Sienna said. She kissed my
cheek and tried to plant one on my lips.

I pulled my head
back. "Heading over to the Tropicana's new night club?" I asked.

"Not unless
you're coming," Sienna purred. "I bet you've got killer moves."

I shook my head
and hit the elevator button again.

"No, silly, I
came to find you. I hear the big party promoting your fight is tomorrow
night," Sienna said. She leaned against me and toyed with the collar of my
shirt. "It is tomorrow night, isn't it?"

I knew she was
fishing for an invitation. She was already on the list, but she wanted to be my
date. I just nodded and got into the elevator. "Yeah, maybe I'll see you
there."

"Maybe? He's
so superstitious," Sienna said to her nearest friend. "Can't get
involved before a big fight, otherwise he'll get distracted."

I was glad when
the doors closed and I was alone. Sienna was just trying to explain away my
disinterest. But she was right. It was not necessarily bad luck to get involved
right before a big fight, but it was definitely distraction.

Still, all I could
think about was Kya.

CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

Kya

I
tried not to wait by the fire until Fenton got back to the suite. I left out a
bottle of wine and two clean glasses and made sure the lights were dimmed.
Then, I went into the master bedroom and pretended to work on my laptop. After
the door opened and he came back, I forced myself to wait a full two minutes
before I went out to the living room.

"I thought
maybe you were still out with the golfer," Fenton said. He grabbed a plate
and piled leftovers from a burger joint on it. "One of those glasses for
me?"

"Yes. If you
want it," I said. I sat down on the white sofa and opened the bottle of
red wine.

"Sure, sounds
good. Are you having any, or did your golfer spoil you with the expensive
kind?"

"We drank a
nice bottle," I said. "But this is the expensive stuff."

"So, how did
it go?"

I put the glass of
wine in front of him and then sat back before sipping my own. "Good. I
think I've got him convinced to negotiate with a power tool company. Hopefully,
the contract will be signed tomorrow."

"You're
seeing him again tomorrow?" Fenton asked. He dropped the leftover burger
on his plate and picked up his wine.

"Maybe. I
don't have any other plans," I said. I gave in to the impulse that had
been nagging me ever since I saw him. My hand slipped across the wide expanse of
his back and rubbed up so my fingers could tangle in his black hair. "I
thought I might be tired and want to sleep in after tonight."

He turned and
pinned me with his laser blue eyes. "About that, Kya, I think we might
have to slow down."

I pulled my hand
back and dropped it in my lap. "I understand. You don't need any more
distractions before the title fight."

"Exactly.
Please don't read anything more into it," he said.

"I won't. But
I think I'll take my glass of wine and head for bed." I stood up.

He grabbed my
wrist and stood up. "I don't know how to do this, Kya."

"Say
goodnight?" I asked him.

"No,"
his lips quirked in a smile despite his serious tone. "I don't know how to
balance whatever this is and work. It’s always been nothing but work for me. It
should be nothing but work until the title fight, but–"

The kiss was a
sudden combustion, burning hot and bright, until we finally broke apart. Fenton
was out of breath and I was blushing. He ran a hand through his black hair and
gave me a rueful smile.

"So, after
you made fun of me for balancing work and life, you're having the same
problem," I said.

"We're having
the same problem." He wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me
tight.

I tipped my chin
up so I could see his bright blue eyes. "Then, we need to set a few
rules."

"Rules? Ah,
fuck it," Fenton said. "Will you be my date to the fight promotion
party tomorrow night?"

I laughed.
"Fine, you're not one for rules, I get it. Yes, I'll be your date tomorrow
night."

He kissed me one
long, last time and then said goodnight. I closed the door to the master
bedroom and did a silent dance of joy. Fenton wanted me to be his date! Not
just waiting for him in the suite, not just there at the party, but there with
him for everyone to see.

I fell asleep with
a smile on my face, but woke up early in a fit of terror. A big party with lots
of paparazzi was more pressure than my limited wardrobe could withstand. I had
nothing to wear.

Fenton laughed
when I joined him for breakfast. "Then, you won't mind that Kev had the
same thought. He's bringing over a designer friend of his and she's bringing a
whole rack of dresses for you to try on."

"You told Kev
I was going to be your date?" I wanted to pinch myself. I had not just
dreamt it, it was really happening.

"Maybe 'told'
is too strong a word. Kev was already conniving for us to go together. Either
you or that reality star Sienna," Fenton said.

My heart sank.
Sienna was the leggy blonde Fenton had draped all over him after his last win.
She was the obvious choice for the event.

"You don't
have to take me just to be nice," I told him.

Fenton gave me a
funny look, but before he could say anything there was knock on the door. Kev
burst into the suite followed by a long rack of dresses. A shy woman with stick
straight blonde hair and a sweet smile came in last and waved at me.

"Kya, I want
you to meet Sandi," Kev said. "Not only is she a stylist to the
stars, but she is a dress designer. She assures me she'll find you something
perfect to wear tonight. And, we get to watch."

Sandi shook her
head at Kev. "I said you are not allowed to watch. Nice try, though."

"And, nice
try getting out of going to the gym with me. It’s cardio day, and you owe me a
few miles, at least," Fenton said.

Kev was dragged
from the suite and it took a few minutes before his desperate pleas disappeared
down the elevator.

"Now, let's
have some fun," Sandi said. She grabbed my hand and twirled me around.

"I, I just
woke up. I'm a mess," I said.

"Who cares
about that," Sandi said. "You're perfect. I bet I'll hardly have to
alter the sample sizes." She went to the rack and pulled out a sapphire
blue dress with a fringe skirt. "So, tell me how you and tall, dark, and
tough met."

"Fenton? We
met through work," I said. Sandi handed me the dress and expected me to
try it on right there. I slipped out of my robe and was glad I had at least put
on a matching bra and underwear before leaving the master bedroom.

"Kev says
you've got this opposites attract thing going on, but I don't really see it.
Seems to me you and Fenton Morris are on the same page," she said.

"Then, you're
the only one," I said. I blushed bright red when I realized the only sense
of my style she had was the racy black lace bra and underwear. "I'm more
conservative and he's more infamous."

"Yeah, I'm
not sure I believe his hype. Kev certainly doesn't. Do you know those two have
been friends for 12 years? Fenton has always been there for him even when Kev
was, well, Kev," Sandi said.

"Twelve
years?" I asked. "I don't know why, but I always assumed Fenton was
more of the lone wolf type. He is always surprising me."

Sandi smiled at
me, but then frowned at the dress. "And, I hear you are always surprising
him. Which is why that dress simply won't work. We need something a little more
risqué."

I slipped out of
the sapphire dress and took the pale lavender one she handed me. In the morning
sunshine, it was iridescent. I tried not to love it before I even put it on.

"Wait, how
have you heard so much about me and about Fenton?" I asked.

"Kev is a
talker. I know, I know, he can be quite repulsive, but it’s all an act. We've
gone out a few times since he came to Vegas and he keeps surprising me. I guess
it’s going around," Sandi said.

I smiled at her,
then gasped as I caught sight of myself in the mirrored wall near the suite
door. "Wow. I mean, I can't possibly pull this off, but this dress is
amazing."

"Thanks, and
don't be stupid. You can most definitely pull off that dress. Kev told me you
like button-up shirts and clean-pressed pencil skirts, but I told him that was
all work. This dress is all play, and it is all you," Sandi said.
"Plus, it will fit Fenton's whole dark hair, tattooed, bad boy playboy
vibe. I'm sure he'll be wearing a black on black suit and this will be perfect
against it."

I shifted my weight
so one hip stuck out – the dress demanded sexy poses. Then, I twirled around
and felt the shimmering material dance along my skin. I swept my hair up and
considered myself in the dress from every angle.

"I can't wear
something just because it looks good next to Fenton," I said. "I'm
not going to let myself be one of those girls who changes just to impress a
guy."

"Call me
crazy, but you aren't changing a thing," Sandi said. "A minute ago,
you were all smiles and appreciative glances. It was as if you were seeing
yourself again after a long absence. Face it, you feel good in that dress, you
feel sexy, and that is who you are."

"A good, sexy
girl?" I asked.

"Hell,
yeah," Sandi said. She covered her mouth and giggled.

"So, I'm not
the only one cutting loose in Vegas, huh?" I asked.

"I think
that's the Kev effect," she said. "Being around him is encouraging me
to say all the things I normally only think."

"Like Fenton
is making me do all the things I normally only imagine," I said. I looked
at the dress and struck another pose. "I can't believe how one short trip
to Vegas has been so revealing."

"It’s the
perfect place for it," Sandi said. She checked the iridescent dress for
any tailoring. "I had my revelation in a North Dakota convention center.
Not exactly the perfect backdrop for a life changing memory, but that's the way
it goes."

I smiled at her as
she adjusted the shoulder straps. "What happened in North Dakota?"

"I realized
if I was going to continue being a stylist I didn't want to peddle someone else's
dresses. I knew I would probably lose my base of high society matrons, but I
suddenly didn't care. I was ready to start living my life, instead of thinking
about it. I sewed the dress I had been dreaming about that night and posted it
online. Within seconds, I had all sorts of queries and that was that."
Sandi nodded to herself. "I guess I don't really care where it happened,
only that it did."

"I love that
– what you said about living your life instead of thinking about it," I
said. "That's how I've felt ever since I met Fenton. Instead of choosing
the safe path and then dreaming of all the possibilities I missed out on, I
just go with my gut."

"And, what is
your gut telling you about Fenton Morris?" "That he's trouble, but I
think it might be the good kind of trouble. You know, the kind that could be an
atom bomb, but turns out to be the first blazes of a bonfire," I said.

Sandi laughed.
"Definitely not the safe choice."

"The funny
part is, I've met the safe choice here, too. This professional golfer, Jackson
McRay. He's everything I'm supposed to want– from a good family, well-educated,
cultured, practical, and always thinking about long-term goals."

"Doesn't hurt
that he's handsome and rich," Sandi said. She shrugged, "I saw his
tabloid cover. Hard not for him to catch any woman's eye."

"That's
exactly it," I said. "Jackson McRay is a catch. He's the man I'm
supposed to choose."

She stood back and
put her hands on her hips as I fell silent. "Well, come on then, I know
there's a 'but' in there. What is it? Why aren't you going to choose Mr.
Perfect?"

"Jackson
McRay might be everything I'm supposed to want, but Fenton Morris is everything
I desire." It felt so good to say it out loud that my heart soared.

Now, all I had to
do was figure out how to tell Fenton.