Stacked Up: Worth the Fight Series (3 page)

She opened her eyes wide. “Pardon me?” She might be young, she might be polite, but she wasn’t a doormat. She hadn’t run away from her overbearing family only to put up with an overbearing man here in Tarpon Springs.

He crossed his arms over his chest in a gesture that would send most men running. “You can’t work here.”

“Why not?”

“It’s a strip club.”

“I know.”

“You ain’t no fuckin’ stripper.”

Forgetting about her wet T-shirt, she put her hands on her hips incredulously. “It’s really none of your business, cowboy.
You’re
here. Both of you, actually. Obviously you don’t have issues with strippers.”

“Iggy’s in town,” Travis asserted, as if that was a good enough reason.

Iggy barked out a laugh. “Yeah, okay, buddy. Great save.” He patted Travis on the shoulder. “I’ll be at the bar.”

She rolled her eyes and followed Travis to an empty table.

“You can’t work here, Penny. I’m serious.”

“I see that you’re serious. But I
seriously
don’t understand why you are so concerned about where I work—or why it’s really any of your business.”

“I’ve never seen you quite so sassy, darlin’.” He gave her an irritated glare. “This isn’t a place for someone like you. Trust me, I know.”

“Why? Because the patrons are men like you?” Now she was upset too.

If she expected him to deny it, she was sadly mistaken, because he quickly answered, “Yes!”

“I’m glad I never agreed to go out with you, then.” She sat up straighter, held her head up higher, and cocked an eyebrow. She wasn’t usually so mouthy, but this man was infuriating. He didn’t even really know her! She wasn’t in Tarpon Springs to ruffle feathers, but the man was seriously out of line.

Travis leaned in closer, his mouth inches from her ear. “All that sass will get you fucked on top of the bar in the middle of a strip club, sugar. Don’t tempt me.”

Never in her whole life had anyone said anything so crass to her. She wasn’t sure whether to get up and slap him or take him up on his offer—not that she’d ever really have the nerve to do that. Heat rose up her face, and she had to look away from him. Still inches from her ear, the warmth of his breath reverberated through her body in ways she didn’t even know how to describe. “And the fact that you went from back-talkin’ sass to sweet and innocent in a second…” He nuzzled her neck. “Fuck, darlin’, I’m thinkin’ you actually might want to get fucked on the table.”

He sat back and looked at her.

Once she’d processed the dirty words, she scowled. “You’re disgusting.”

“You’ve got no idea.” He winked.

Annoyed beyond belief, she stood up. “Maybe other women find that kind of talk sexy, but I don’t. I think you’re a pig.”

“Damn fuckin’ straight, darlin’.”

“Stop it!” she said, practically stomping. “Do not talk to me that way!”

“Point fuckin’ made,” he huffed. “If you can’t handle
my
tongue, how you goin’ to handle the men that come in here? They’re worse, you know.”

“Doubtful.”

“Listen, Penny, you’re a beautiful girl. You’re sweet and naive, and in a world where that’s a rare thing, you stand out like a fucking shiny diamond in a barrel full of shit. Men will be groveling at your feet in here. Men will want you more than any of those naked broads over there,” he said, pointing over her shoulder. “You cannot work here.”

“This is not your call, cowboy. I will work wherever I want.” She sat with her arms crossed over her chest, glaring at him.

He pulled off his hat, ran his fingers through his hair, and sighed. “Fine. When do you start?”

“Not sure. Soon, I think. I need to talk to Patsy first.”

“Fine,” he repeated.

“Okay, then,” she said, and he sat there looking at her. They were in a verbal standoff, and she wasn’t sure what else to say.

“Wait here,” he commanded, which upset her again. Who did he think he was? He knew nothing about her other than whatever assumptions he’d made based on chatting casually with her at the Pier or at EE’s. So, they’d kissed a few days ago—so what? He kissed a lot of women and she doubted that he was trying to meddle in their lives. He didn’t know about Sarabelle, and he didn’t know about her past. He had no right to pass judgment or bark orders.

After talking to Iggy, Travis came back and reached for her hand. “Come on.”

“Huh?”

“Taking you home. You ain’t got a car. It’s late.”

“How about Iggy?”

“He’s got some friends coming soon. He’ll be fine.”

“But I don’t need a ride. I’m perfectly capable of taking the bus.”

“Yes, I know. You’re perfectly capable of taking a bus and working at a strip club, pearl necklace and whatever-the-fuck thing you have on your hair and all. And you’re absolutely perfectly capable of kissing me so hard and so damn sweet that I can’t fuckin’ stop thinking about it. It was like you poured molasses in my mouth and I can’t stop imagining how the rest of you tastes. But that’s not the point, right? The point is that I want to drive you home, so let me, okay?”

Her face warmed and her skin erupted in goosebumps. The man certainly had a way with words. Words that deserved a slap across the face, not a thumping heart or shaky knees.

“Well, it
is
late,” she conceded. “And it
is
better than taking the bus.”

“I’m glad the prospect of me driving you home is just a few steps above a shitty public bus,” he said, laughing, and she couldn’t help but laugh too.

If there was one thing Travis knew with absolute certainty, it was that there wasn’t a single female on God’s green earth that could look more out of place in a strip club than Penny Richards. Her curly brown hair was held back with a headband thing that reminded him of a private-school girl, and not the sexy ones he fantasized about. More like the pretty yet awkward and out-of-place ones. She was wearing black straight-legged pants and flats that looked completely practical and not at all sexy.

Even Ruby’s suggestive T-shirt looked unassuming on her. Maybe it was those damn pearls she rubbed when she was nervous. He was used to showy women with tight clothes, high heels, heavy makeup, and poofy hair, women who assessed their self-worth by the reactions they received from men such as himself.

And if any man in the place knew that her mouth was as fucking unexpected as a typhoon in Ohio, they’d be all over her. He hadn’t been exaggerating when he’d said it was the best kiss of his life. That kiss had been slow and sweet, quickly erupting into maddening need and desire.

The problem was that the very first time he’d laid eyes on Penny, something had clicked. He wasn’t sure what it was, but something had shifted inside of him. Something he suspected couldn’t be put back to its original state. Maybe it was those big brown doe-like eyes that said everything but nothing all at the same time. Or maybe it was her naiveté, her awkwardness, or her big easy smile that hid something he couldn’t seem to figure out.

He’d always thought it was strange that his friends had fallen head-over-ass in love with their girlfriends and never again
saw
another woman. The way they wanted to possess and protect their women had been incomprehensible to him.

Until he’d met Penny.

And then that kiss—she’d blown his mind away. But more than that, seeing her cry the other night had broken him. He’d just wanted to wrap her up in his arms and whisk her away to a place where everything was secure. He wanted to keep her in a bubble and stand guard outside it. But she wouldn’t go out with him, nor had she given him any indication she wanted a repeat of that kiss. He wondered if she noticed how much time he spent at the Pier and the diner. And if she did, did she realize it was his way of keeping an eye on her? Not in a creepy way—well, not entirely.

He knew she didn’t have a car and took the bus, and that worried him. He knew she worked at the Pier, where people tended to indulge and get overly handsy, and that worried him too. He knew she didn’t have friends, other than the acquaintances she’d met at work, like JL, and this saddened him. She was also the biggest klutz he’d ever met. That now three people had hired her to work in a restaurant or bar was beyond him. She couldn’t seem to get an order correct, she broke glasses often, and she became frazzled easily. Surely she lost her employers more money than she made for them. Yet people wanted to help her, and even when she screwed up, he’d never seen anyone actually be upset with her.

Now those big brown eyes were focused on him. “Did you hear me?” she demanded.

He had been so deep in thought he hadn’t even realized they were already in his truck. Maybe he just had to show her how good they’d be together. He might not be able to promise her forever, but he could promise her a good time, and she looked like she needed that.

“Sorry, didn’t catch that,” he said as he buckled up, threw his hat on the dashboard, and started up his truck.

“I was giving you my address.” She repeated where she lived.

“Did you already have dinner tonight?”

“What?”

He slung his right arm over the back of the bench seat, his fingers inches from her hair. “I’m starving. Let’s go grab a burger.” For the better part of a year he’d been pursuing her relentlessly and unsuccessfully. He’d tried to date other women a few times but had never been able to get her out of his mind. She was stuck deep inside his head, and he wasn’t sure how to get her out of there. The only reason he’d agreed to come to the strip club with the guys tonight was because Iggy had razzed him about his grumpiness of late. Now that he had her in his truck, this close, he needed to get her to spend more time with him. Maybe she had some sort of weird flaw that would turn him off and then he could move on. Wishful thinking on his part.

“How ’bout the Pier? That way you could talk to Patsy and eat. Two birds and all that.”

“I’m not hungry.”

“Okay, so one bird. You talk to Patsy and I eat.”

“I don’t know, Travis.”

That kiss, the one that he couldn’t stop thinking about—that needed to happen again. He was stopped at a red light, the tips of his fingers casually toying with one of her curls. “Unless you give me a really good,
believable
reason, I don’t see why we can’t go to the Pier. Just two friends hanging out.”

When she didn’t respond, he glanced at her and saw that she was clutching her pearls. Obviously he needed to tread lightly. “Okay, not even that. How about I give you a lift to the Pier so you can tell Patsy you got another job, and while I wait for you I’ll grab a burger? Completely harmless. Consider it me just bein’ friendly and saving you bus fare and you being kind to a starving man.”

She exhaled but still didn’t answer.

“Come on, darlin’. What else do you have to do? I don’t bite. I promise.” When she didn’t say anything he added, “Although I seem to recall that you do.”

She looked over at him and smacked him in the shoulder playfully, her skin pink with a blush. “It’s rude to say things like that.”

“Oh, you’re back to judgy.” There was something about the way she thought carefully before she spoke. The way she observed things quietly from the sidelines. She wasn’t just thinking; she was passing judgment.

“I am not judgy!”

“Then tell me what things you don’t want me to talk about. Things like how you and I kissed? Things like that are the things I shouldn’t talk about?”

“Yes, exactly. I don’t want to talk about it.”

“You’re right. Actions are better than words. I’m more of a doer myself. Why talk about it when we can just do it again?” he teased, pointing to his lips.

She snorted at his silliness. “Oh, please. I have never met anyone who talked as much as you do. You are definitely more of a talker than a doer.”

“That sounds like a challenge, sugar.”

She shook her head and laughed. “It’s really not.”

“Look at that—I got you to laugh. We get along, you and I. Admit it—I’m your favorite non-cowboy,” he said, and she laughed loudly this time. “Let’s go to the Pier. You talk to Patsy, I eat a burger.” He gently jabbed her ribs with his elbow. “I don’t want to take you home yet. I want to spend some time together.”

She looked at him, clearly wary and torn, but he didn’t want to let her off the hook. Just as he was about to beg, she spoke. “Okay. Yes.”

Did I just agree to go on a date with Travis Calhoun?

Penny was friends with JL and her neighbor, Ms. Hannigan, but for the most part, real adult interaction was severely lacking in her life. She needed to have fun, and Travis was all about fun. But he was so way out of her comfort zone, her head spun at her uncharacteristic and irresponsible decision to spend more time with him.

She had to get home to her daughter. Granted, she still had time. JL wasn’t expecting her for another few hours, since she was supposed to be working. And even if she did go pick up Belle now, it wasn’t as if they could spend any quality time together—it was late and Belle would be asleep. And, really, she’d had a crush of epic proportions on the man ever since she’d laid eyes on him her first day at the Pier. He was fighting dirty, using those blue eyes and those dimples on her.

That was what she’d first noticed about him when she’d arrived in town a year ago—his dimpled smile. And for months she’d tried to avoid him as best she could, mostly because he made her nervous. But he always set her at ease, sitting at the bar talking to her about everything and anything. He made her laugh, told her about his day, and asked her about hers, all while she tended to customers; they chatted almost daily.

“Hey, you okay?” Travis asked, tapping her shoulder. She opened her eyes and looked around; she had been so lost in thought she hadn’t even noticed they were already at the Pier.

“Sorry. Dozed off, I guess.” She unbuckled her seatbelt and climbed out of the truck. Travis held the door of the bar open for her and they walked in.

“You got the wrong day again, honey?” Patsy hollered over her shoulder.

Penny looked around and took note that it was mostly empty. “Actually, I wanted to talk to you for a moment, if that’s all right.”

“Sure.” Patsy signaled for her to have a seat at the far end of the bar.

“I’ll give you some space, sugar. I’ll be right over there.” Travis gestured at the pool table and then gave her shoulder a reassuring squeeze before walking away.

Before her butt touched the stool, Patsy began, “So when are you going to start at Ruby’s?”

“What? How could you possibly know already?” Penny asked, slack-jawed.

“Joe just called,” Patsy answered as she wiped down the countertop. “I think this is a great opportunity for you, sweetheart. I’ve been watching you run yourself haggard these last months working two jobs.”

“I was coming in to tell you right now. It just happened. I’d never leave you hanging, Patsy. I am so grateful for this job and to you, and I—”

“Relax, honey. I know. I’m not upset. Not at all. In fact, I’ve been wanting to talk to you. You’ve been doing such a great job helping me with the books. I don’t have the patience for that anymore, and I can’t keep up with all those fancy computer programs. I think you should do that.”

“Do what? I don’t understand.”

“Since you’ve been handling the books and inventory, we’ve actually been saving money. So I’d like for you to keep doing that. You can even do it from home. Honestly, honey, I don’t care how you do it—I just want you to do it. Here, from home—hell, you can do it during your breaks at Ruby’s, for all I care. I’ll pay you double the hourly rate you were making here as a bartender, and you commit to fifteen hours a week for me between shifts at Ruby’s. Finding a bartender is easy. Finding a trustworthy person to do your books…now, that’s hard. And no offense, sweetheart, but you aren’t such a great bartender,” Patsy said with a wink.

“Patsy!” Penny laughed.

“It’s true. At one point I had no shot glasses left—they were all broken.”

“Goodness, Patsy, I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be. I like you. You’re a good kid. Too good, quite frankly. You shouldn’t be working at a bar. Keep doing what you gotta do to get by, but don’t make it your career. Listen to this old bird. I know what I’m saying.” Patsy pushed two shot glasses toward her. “Give these to Travis,” she said, and winked at Penny as she gave the countertop one last swipe, then walked away to tend to a client on the other side of the bar.

Maybe things were finally starting to turn around for her. She could work mostly from home on her days off from Ruby’s. It was a perfect setup, and she’d get to spend more time with Belle. She couldn’t wait to share the news.

Penny was practically floating.

There was a skip in her step Travis hadn’t seen before. He leaned against the wall, his arms crossed over his chest, the heel of one boot propped against the wall, watching her with a big smile on his face. He couldn’t help it. She seemed out of place—still wearing the Ruby’s shirt, the unattractive headband, the formfitting pants, and those flat shoes—yet exactly where she should be. She ran toward him with two shot glasses, liquid spilling out over the rims.

She was so cute at being terrible that no one seemed to care much.

“Oh, Travis!” She set the glasses on the tabletop, pulled him close, and gave him a loud kiss on the cheek, then spun around. “It’s perfect.” She took a step back, as if realizing maybe she’d overstepped by being overly affectionate. But he wasn’t letting her get away so easily; instead, he wrapped an arm around her petite waist and pulled her back toward him, causing her to freeze.

“Keep talking,” he said, enjoying the feel of her pressed against his chest. If only she could relax.

“Uh, so, I’ve been helping Patsy with the books and with inventory since her accountant retired, and just now she gave me a raise and the job permanently! And the best part is that I can work from home. It’s a lot less hours, so I’ll still need to work at Ruby’s, but…” She jumped up and down, still in his arms. “It’s perfect!”

Her happiness was infectious, and he realized how easily this woman could be pleased. She just needed to get some weight off her shoulders and to let loose a little. He moved in closer, unable to resist. She smelled like vanilla and the alcohol she’d spilled on herself.

“Travis—”

“Shh, darlin’.” With one arm around her waist and the other one cupping the back of her neck, he leaned in and kissed the corner of her lips. “Just wanted to show you I’m happy for you.”

Her eyes looked glazed over, and her lips were parted. She definitely wanted more. More than she could handle, by the looks of her flushed face.

“Relax, Penny,” he whispered against her ear. “Breathe, darlin’.”

He set her down slowly. Still keeping eye contact, she inhaled deeply and then exhaled with a whoosh, causing her long bangs to fly away from her face.

He slid the glass toward her. “Have a drink with me. You can’t make any excuses today. You’re not workin’ and you got no other plans.”

Penny eyed the glass, which was full of an ominous-looking liquid, then eyed Travis. “I was bringing them to you. I don’t drink.”

“Never?” Travis asked as he reached up and tucked a wayward brown curl behind her ear.

“Never.”

“Any particular reason?”

“Mostly because I never had the occasion for it,” she admitted.

“You have the occasion for it now.” He winked and lifted his chin toward her shot glass.

She laughed. “You’re
that
guy parents warn girls about, aren’t you? Like the snake, seducing innocent young girls.”

“Abso-fucking-lutely. And you must be the forbidden fruit, sugar.”

She rolled her eyes.

“Come on, darlin’. Don’t stand there being all judgmental.”

“I’m not being judgmental. In fact, since moving to town I’ve done nothing but try to have an open mind. Just because I don’t blurt out the first thing that’s on my mind doesn’t mean I’m judging you. It just means that I’m thinking.”

He pointed to her headband and her shoes, then tipped his chin to her shot glass. “That’s you having an open mind? Your very conservative clothes and your no-drinking policy?”

She raised an eyebrow. “Yes. Jerk. Just because I’m trying to be open-minded doesn’t mean I have to change who I am or how I dress. Plus, you didn’t seem to mind how I dressed or acted before,” she added with a wicked smile.

He hit his knee and barked out a laugh. “That is exactly what I like about you! You dress and talk a certain way, but once in a while a little sass seeps out, and when you get to witness it…” He whistled. “It’s about the sexiest damn thing I’ve ever seen.”

She smiled, then bravely picked up the glass and tossed back its contents. “Ack!” she shrieked, scrunching up her nose.

He followed suit and winced. “That’ll put hair on your balls.”

She snorted out a laugh.

“Why would you order Jägermeister if you don’t drink?”

“I didn’t!” she said, wincing. “Patsy just handed it to me and told me to give it to you. It tastes like medicine.”

“I know. Nasty stuff.” He signaled for Patsy to bring another round.

“What are you doing?” she asked, sounding alarmed.

“Ordering more. We can’t stop now.”

She laughed again. “That’s a terrible idea. How about a beer?” She reached behind the bar and served them both beers, opening a tab for them.

“So, what now?” she asked, turning around on her stool, their knees touching. “I’ve never done this before.”

“Done what?”

“Dated,” she said matter-of-factly, causing Travis to choke on his beer.

She turned beet red, but before she had a chance to say anything, he placed his hand on her knee. “Relax, sugar.” He squeezed gently. “Just caught me off guard. How’s that possible?”

“Very sheltered life,” she responded.

“Hey, it’s Texas!” Jessica, the fiancée of one of the owners of Worth the Fight Academy, yelled from across the bar. Penny and Travis watched a group of his friends walk toward them: Jessica and Slade, Francesca and Tony, the other owners of the Academy, and Violet and Cain.

“Hi, guys,” Travis said as she waved to the group. “Y’all know Penny, right?”

“Of course we do,” Francesca said. “What are you doing on this side of the bar with our television star?” she asked playfully.

“It’s my day off,” Penny replied. “I knew the show was popular, but I didn’t realize he was a star.” A few months back, HBO had contracted with the Academy to film the fighters for a sports docu-series called
Fight Night
while they trained for their biggest bout, which was coming up in the next two months. A few times a week the HBO crew would come in, do quick interviews, and film them training. Travis had somehow become the unofficial star of the show—mostly because he was the only one who was single. Initially only the local media had shown any interest in them, but when
E!
did a piece on him, attention from other media outlets across the country had started to really pick up. Now paparazzi had begun following him around outside of the Academy, and it was both annoying and exciting.

“Yep. Tarpon Springs’ very own playboy is creating a big buzz for the Academy,” Tony said.

“What rock have you been hiding under, honey?” Francesca asked. “Travis is all over the media.”

Violet chimed in. “Don’t listen to Tony. I’ve known Travis since we were in high school—he’s harmless. And he’s definitely no playboy.”

“Harmless? Please, that man’s fucked his way through every chick in Tarpon Springs,” Slade commented.

Jessica slapped the back of Slade’s head.

“Ow! What the fuck, babe?” Slade protested.

“You dummy. Don’t you see they’re on a date?” Jessica said.

“They are?” Tony added.

“God, men are dense.” Francesca rolled her eyes.

“It’s okay,” Penny said. “Travis can date whomever he pleases.” Her cheeks reddened, though, and Travis wanted to kick Tony’s and Slade’s asses.

“Thanks, guys. Really ’preciate you coming by and fuckin’ up my night.” Travis slung an arm around Penny and leaned in to whisper to her, “When’s the last time you saw me with a woman? I’ve mostly been hangin’ round here, asking you out.”

“It’s fine, Travis. Really.”

“No, it’s not. We were having a good time. I finally saw you relaxing. I don’t want you thinking I’m some sort of playboy that just wants one thing.”

She shook her head, but pulled back nonetheless. “I don’t think that. But I don’t want you to get the wrong idea, cowboy. Like I said, I don’t date. This was a one-time deal.”

“This isn’t going to be our last date,” he said confidently. “I want to pick you up, bring you flowers, and take you out to a nice place.”

“Your mama taught you well, huh?”

“Nah, I just know how to treat a woman who’s worth treating well. Got nothin’ to do with my mama.” Which was true. His mama had been a drug-addicted bitch who’d recently passed away from a drug overdose.

Cain, who was quiet, broody, and looked like a Viking, brought over a tray full of shots and handed them out. One by one they took the drinks and tossed them back.

“So…how long has this little thing been going on?” Francesca asked, circling a finger around the two of them.

“There’s nothing—” Penny began to protest.

“You’re interrupting our first date,” Travis said in a mock-harsh voice. These were his friends; the only missing pieces were his sister, JL, and his best friend, Enzo, but JL was very pregnant with twins and obviously couldn’t go out drinking. Any woman who wanted to have a long-standing relationship with him would have to accept his friends and the fact that he was far from a loner—he liked being surrounded by loved ones, having fun.

“Really? How sweet,” Jessica squealed.

“Does your sister know?” Violet said with a smirk. She pulled out her cell and began to type something—undoubtedly to JL, who was her best friend.

“Vi…,” Cain warned her. He looked so serious that it almost seemed threatening, except that his eyes shone with adoration for Violet.

“What? She’s been wanting these two to get together forever. She has a right to know,” Vi said, typing away.

“How’s she doing? Heard she wasn’t feeling well,” Cain asked Travis.

“Who knows?” Travis said with a shrug. “I mean, it’s crazy enough that she got knocked up and that she’s having not one but two babies. Of course she’s going to feel like shit.”

“Babies are gifts from God,” Penny said.

“Yeah. What she said,” Francesca put in, with a smile at Penny. “Not to mention that Enzo and JL are adults and clearly head over heels in love. That’s what adults do. Procreate.”