The Fighter's Stubborn Lover (The Burton Brothers Series Book 2) (8 page)

Avery fell into bed, exhausted. She hadn’t realized that spending the day watching Dustin train would mean she was going to get pulled into doing some training of her own.

“You can’t just hang out and not look like a ring girl,” Mason had told her. He’d gone on to explain she’d seem like a groupie bimbo if she just sat in the gym, doing nothing. “Girls fight—so you’re going to seem like a fighter looking to train.”

He’d put her to work lifting weights, punching bags and doing push-ups. Running was starting to seem a much easier option. Her legs ached, her shoulders ached, and every time Mason came near her pulse jumped and she started thinking about how he’d felt in bed. But she was trying hard to stick to the line she had drawn. If she started sleeping with him every night, she was going to start caring—a lot more than she did right now.

Mason had at least allowed her some down time in the gym so she could watch Dustin when he was sparing with another fighter. At first she’d shut her eyes every time Dustin was hit. But Mason would start talking, explaining why Dustin hadn’t ducked or moved right, or held up his guard.

She had just as much trouble watching Dustin hit the other fighter, but it helped when she saw Dustin and his sparing partners grinning and joking with each other afterwards. They really weren’t trying to hurt each other. And she was starting to see the skill that Dustin had.

She could also see that Mason was more than just a trainer. He brought an energy into the gym every time he stepped into it—everyone seemed to notice when he walked in. He encouraged all the fighters, giving advice and pointing out mistakes without making them feel bad. She thought he was a natural—a gifted teacher. And if he was only a trainer, maybe…

She pushed the thought away. He—like Dustin—was a guy who took too many risks. She was just trying to learn how to live with a brother who might get himself killed. She wasn’t certain she could handle falling in love with a guy who was just like that.

And there it was. She could fall too easily for Mason. He was funny and fun, and way too sexy. When he stripped down in the gym her mouth watered and she couldn’t help the small skip in her heart rate. She also couldn’t stop watching him. But she had to keep her hands to herself.

That had been more than difficult in a cabin—but tomorrow she was heading to Utah with everyone.

Sitting up, she dug out her computer and tried to lose herself in work.

*****

The next day everyone packed and Avery found herself riding in a van with Dustin, Mason and Tavvy. The guys seemed in a great mood. Dustin and Mason took turns driving, and Avery tried to enjoy the scenery, but she kept watching Mason instead. She loved the strong muscles that corded his neck, and his profile—his nose so straight and his jaw line so strong. She could stare at him all day, from the back or the front.

They drove through and Avery woke only to find Mason lifting her out of the van. She shifted, but he told her, “Got you, angel. Just go back to sleep.”

Fighting eyelids that wanted to close, she felt exhausted when he slipped between cool sheets. He pulled off her shoes, kissed her forehead and said, “Sweet dreams.”

She turned and snuggled into the bed. She woke early and padded into the kitchen of the house. Like the cabin and lodge up in Oregon, this place seemed rustic and masculine, but with touches of color and comfort. The kitchen was bright and open, and Avery walked in on a woman making coffee.

Turning, the woman offered a warm smile. Tall and thin, the woman had the muscles of a fighter. She also had a mane of auburn hair and what seemed like a friendly personality. “I’m Alice Anders. You were dead on your feet last night when Mason brought you in. Coffee or tea?”

Avery sat down on one of the stools at the counter. “I’d love some tea. Is Mason around?”

Sending her a sideways glance, Alice moved to put a kettle on to boil. “Out running with your brother and the guys. You’ll meet Beck and my Bryant later.”

“You’re Bryant?”

Alice smiled. “To make a long story short, we met up when he came to train with my father. Only he started off training with me. And he didn’t know it.”

“Okay, I have to hear the full story,” Avery said, propping her chin on her fist.

Alice talked while she made breakfast. Fresh sliced pears and apples, lean ham and an egg-white omelet. Avery shook her head when she heard that Alice had pretended to be a guy. “And Bryant believed it? You’re lean, but you’re not—”

“Not a guy? Yeah, well I made sure Bryant didn’t get too close and I look a lot like my dad. But it didn’t last long.” She put a plate down in front of Avery. “Now tell me about you and Mason.”

Lips pressed tight, Avery poked at her eggs. She shook her head. “Not much to tell. I’m just here to watch Dustin train.”

Eyes narrowing, Alice nodded. “I heard about your deal. And I also heard Mason’s started you into training, too.”

Avery wrinkled her nose. “Not what I intended. But I don’t want to be a ring girl.”

Alice laughed. “Oh, no danger of that. Now, come on, let me show you around to the gym. And then we’re going to ditch the guys and go shopping. Hey, want to get a manicure, too?”

Right there, Avery decided Alice could be a best friend.

They bonded over nails, shopping, and a side trip to a chocolate shop. Over pecan turtles, Avery finally confessed her attraction to Mason. “But I…Alice, he’s a fighter, too. I can’t—” Her chest started to tighten. Avery pulled out her inhaler and took a hit from it.

“Honey, I heard about your brother. And I asked around. I don’t know if you ever heard this, but your brother—Edward—he took a freak hit. It happens in every sport. Sometimes it’s a guy falling off a horse the wrong way, or someone’s hit in the head with a bat or a ball. It’s like a lightning strike. And I’ll tell you this, the guy who hit your brother—he quit fighting. He didn’t mean to kill your brother. But sometimes, it’s just your time.”

Avery put down the bag of chocolates. They’d found seats outside the mall in a small patio and the warmth of the sun on her back felt good. She shook her head. “And then there’s tempting fate.”

Head tipped to the side, Alice asked, “What is it you do for a living?” Avery talked about her IT work, and Alice nodded. “Makes sense. It’s basically your job to look for trouble—to anticipate it and head it off before it happens. You keep networks secure. And you can do that—to a point—with computers. Why don’t you worry about that more?”

Avery blinked. “Uh…because I’ve set up measures. Firewalls. Secure access. I’ve…I do everything I can to prevent problems.”

“And then you do backups on top of that. I get it. That’s what a fighter’s training is. That’s the security he has.”

Avery gave a laugh. “Well, I don’t get that. I don’t shove my computers into an arena with hackers.”

“Yeah, but you would if you really wanted to test them out, right? If you really want to understand your brother, take your training up a notch. Let me teach you some self-defense and a few moves. If nothing else, you’ll surprise the hell out of your brother and Mason.” She gave Avery a wink. “And we’ll just tell the guys we’re out getting our nails done.”

Mason watched Alice and Avery head out on another of their lunch and shopping trips. He gave a low growl. How many days in Utah now—and the closest he’d been to Avery was when he was taking her to the gym or home again.

He’d snuck in a few kisses—searing, passionate kisses in the locker room when he got Avery alone and he could sneak a hand up under her sweat shirt or down in those awful cartoon pants of hers. She melted for him every single time. Gave in to him, and he seriously considered unzipping his pants and taking her up against the wall.

He could have her shaking and wet in seconds—and he was hard just as fast. But before he could put his plans into action she’d slip away with a smile and a shake of her head.

Dammit, he still hadn’t gotten her back in bed.

He could almost wish for a nightmare, and he’d considered telling her that he was having one just so he could slip into her room. The more she stayed away, the more he wanted her. This was getting to be a serious condition.

He couldn’t eat without thinking about her picky tastes when it came to food. He couldn’t sleep without dreaming of her wrapped around him, so tight and warm and wild. He wanted to plunge his hands into her hair and drag her face to his for kisses that lasted for hours. He wanted to strip her bare and lick her body, starting at her toes and working up to her ears and spending a long time on every spot between. What—was he going to have to tie her down to get what he wanted?

Oh, not a good thought. Now he was hard and aching again with the worst case of blue balls ever. He was going to explode if something didn’t happen soon.

But what?

She seemed to be doing better with watching her brother train, but she still wouldn’t watch fight tapes. And he could always tell when she started to worry—her inhaler came out and her breath shortened. It took everything inside him not to pick her up and hold her close—and not to tell Dustin to just forget it.

Hell, no wonder Dustin had been so worried about facing his sister. It wasn’t her yelling that was the problem. No, it was when she turned those big eyes on you, and her face paled, and the tears glistened—that was enough to tear a guy up.

What he really needed was to blow off some steam. And since he didn’t have a fight, he grabbed Bryant and Dustin and told them they were getting on the bikes and heading out to the salt flats.

*****

Alice raised her glass to take a drink of her iced tea, the ring on her finger captured Avery’s attention. Grabbing Alice’s hand, she asked, “Is that what I think it is?”

Wiggling her finger, Alice nodded. “Bryant asked me last night. He’s telling his brothers this afternoon on their ride. That and also that in approximately seven and a half months we’ll be bringing a new little life into the world!”

Avery squealed with delight. “A baby? How great. Mason’s going to make a great uncle. What ride did the guys go on?”

“Oh, Mason pulled your brother and Bryant out to the salt flats for a ride. But tell me…how are you doing about the fight that’s coming up? I haven’t seen the inhaler out for a couple of days.”

Avery took a deep breath. “I still don’t know if I’m going to be able to sit and watch the fight. I’d like to support Dustin, but I think I might pass out.”

Leaning forward, Alice started to say something, but her cell phone rang. She answered and said, “Hey, sweetie, are you guys finished with your ride already?” Her face drained of color, and Avery’s chest tightened. Voice tight, Alice said, “Bryant, what’s wrong?”

Avery sat very still, her hands cold and her stomach knotting. She knew that tone of voice—the tone that said something bad had happened. Alice listened intently and then said, “Okay, we’re on our way.”

“What’s wrong?” Avery whispered. “It’s Dustin, isn’t it?”

Alice put a hand over Avery’s. “Before you start worrying, the doctors at Zion Memorial are the best. They’re going to take excellent care of him. And it’s not your brother. It’s Mason.”

Avery froze. All this time she’d been trying to hold back—to keep herself safe. She’d been afraid for her brother—or she thought she was. It wasn’t Dustin she had feared for. Well, it was. But even more, she'd been afraid for herself. Afraid she would lose Dustin. Afraid to love Mason for fear he, too, would be taken. Instead, she had cheated herself out of time with him. She’d held back and it did not thing to ease the sharp pain lodged in her chest.

Now she saw how impossible it was to guard against loss—not without putting herself into a bubble. Not without cutting away everyone and she didn’t want that.

Alice was talking and Avery nodded, dumb and unable to talk. Something about ICU. A crash. A cracked helmet. She could only think,
He was trying to be safe. He did the right thing.
And still he’d gotten hurt. Maybe it was just like Alice had said—sometimes your number just came up. Was this Mason’s time to go? Had she missed out on telling him she loved him just because of her stupid, stupid fears?

Somehow, Alice got her to the hospital. Clean walls, hard surfaces, and the terrible smell of disinfectant and death left Avery stumbling. It was too much like when Edward—

She cut off the thought. If she kept letting the past dictate her future, she wasn’t going to have much of a future at all. She had to get past this—for Mason. For herself.

Pushing her shoulders back, she slowed her breathing. She had her inhaler in her purse if she needed it, and she was in a hospital, after all. She could do this.

Mason’s room in the ICU seemed to be all wires and windows, with Mason lying still in a bed, white sheets over him. It looked wrong to see him so very still, his tan skin sallow. Walking to his side, Avery fingered the hospital gown he wore—one with cartoon characters all over it. Was that a good sign?

People were talking in low voices. Something about hitting his head. A bleed inside his skull. Broken bones. Casts wrapped around Mason’s left arm. Avery swallowed the tightness in her throat.

A nurse came in bright pink scrubs, and Avery asked, “Can he hear me?”

The nurse offered an encouraging smile “We believe so. Talk to him as you would normally. Sometimes it’ll bring them around sooner.” She left. Alice stood outside the room with Bryant, talking to a doctor.

Avery turned to Mason. She touched his face. Blackened eyes left him looking like a raccoon. She bit down on the urge to cry. One large scrape crossed his cheekbone. They’d shaved his head and tubes seemed to come out of everywhere, including one for breathing. Avery closed her hand around his wrist.

“Mason, don’t you do this. You’re a fighter. You don’t give up. So you fight, dammit. You better fight and put everything into this! I’m not done with you and…and you’re not done with me. You’re…you’re supposed to seduce me again, you know. You’re supposed to sneak into my bed and make love to me, and make me yours! And if you wake up and come back, I’ll…oh, it doesn’t matter what I’ll do.” She laid her forehead against his hand. Straightening, she kept her face close to his. “I love you, Mason. I think I loved you from the first moment I laid eyes on you. You’re the one who rescued me. You’re my white knight, and now I’m here to tell you I want you to get up out of this bed and be the fighter I know you are. You’re the bravest man I know—you’d have to be to get close to me.”

She heard steps and glanced over to see Dustin and Mason’s brother, Beck. She straightened. Dustin walked up to her and put a hand on her shoulder. “I’m so sorry, Avery. I don’t know what happened. One minute everything was fine and then Mason’s bike flipped. We were—”

“Don’t.” Avery shook her head. “He knew the risks, yet he was willing to take them. He…he was doing what he wanted to do. What he loved.”

Dustin stuffed his hands in his pockets. “I’m going to cancel my fight.”

Avery faced him. “Would Mason tell you to do that?”

“No, but—”

“You do what Mason tells you. That’s the deal. Remember? And wouldn’t he tell you that you’ve been training for this and you need to see it through? You don’t quit. You don’t run. Mason taught both of us that.”

“But Mason—?”

“Is going to be here, watching you fight on TV. He’s going to wake up because I’m going to be here telling him about your fight, and making sure he knows he has to be there for you. He has to be in your corner.” She swiped at the sudden wetness in her eyes. “Now get back to training. That’s what Mason would tell you. And you better bring back a belt or a trophy or whatever it is they give you for winning so you can show Mason how great a trainer he is.”

Dustin gave a nod. He left with Beck, and Avery turned back to Mason. She pulled up a chair and took his hand. “So, what are we going to talk about, Mason? I know—I’m going to tell you just what I’m going to do with that beautiful body of yours as soon as you’re well. And it starts with dragging you into a hot tub with me, and both of us naked.”