Vi Keeland - Worth the Chance

“I’ve gotten by.” Vinny lifts his hand to my face and softly pushes a loose wave of hair that escaped my ponytail during our demonstration back behind my ear. “How about you?”

“Good. I’m a writer.”

Vinny smiles. It’s genuine and reminds me of our time together. It seems like a lifetime ago. Before what happened, happened. “I knew you would be. It’s what you always wanted to do.” His comment is sweet, touching that he remembers me telling him my dreams. Another inch falls down off my guard.

I smile back at him and watch as his eyes drop to my mouth. His gaze darkens and the goosebumps that haven’t left me since he first touched me transmit a shiver that runs through me. I feel heat scorch through my veins and everything else in the background fades away. His eyes come back to mine for a quick second and then fall back down to my mouth. He leans in and I think he’s going to kiss me. But a woman’s voice rips me from my temporary moment of insanity.

“Vince, are you almost done? I’m getting bored in the car.”

Vince

Fuck. I completely forgot about Krissy. I was running so late, I didn’t have time to drop her home and there was no way I was leaving her alone in my apartment.

Her nasally voice goes right through me. “Go wait in the car, Krissy.” She huffs, but turns around and heads back outside.

But the damage is already done. Liv’s face is back to a mask, whatever emotion I saw is gone in a flash. “I need to go, I have to get back to work.” Her voice is curt and businesslike. She’s grown up to be a strong woman. A beautiful, strong, incredibly sexy woman. I wouldn’t have expected anything less.

She reaches for the door handle and doesn’t turn around as she speaks. “It was nice seeing you, Vinny. Take care of yourself.”

Something hits me and panic suddenly slices through my bones. “Wait.”

Liv halts, but doesn’t turn around.

“Turn around, Liv.” I watch her reflection in the glass door. Eyes shut, for a moment she looks conflicted. Unsure of whether to flee or not.

“Just tell me, what made you come here today?” The thought of a man putting his hands on Liv to hurt her makes me insane with anger. Why else do women come to the Women’s Center for self-defense lessons? They’ve been attacked and are scared, or they still live with their attacker. Either way, I feel the bile rise up in my throat at the thought of someone hurting my sweet Liv.

“I came to do research for work.” She pauses and looks back at me for just a few seconds, leaving me with a sad smile. “Take care, Vinny.” And then she’s gone

Liv

My morning started out almost as hellish as the night before ended. I tossed and turned half the night feeling emotions I hadn’t felt in years come flooding back. Seeing Vinny again messed with my head. When I finally fell asleep at four this morning, I was so exhausted that I completely missed my alarm going off at six thirty.

Running late, I forgo washing my thick hair and settle for a fast and easy slicked back ponytail. A quick coat of mascara does little to hide the dark circles under my eyes, but I’m hopeful coffee will at least help me wake up. In my haste, I quickly pour almost half the pot into my travel mug, not realizing I didn’t screw the top on correctly. I attempt to take a sip and the entire contents spills all over my favorite cream skirt and chocolate silk blouse. Hot coffee soaks me through and through. I’ll even need to change my bra and panties.

Surprisingly only twenty minutes late to the office after oversleeping and having to change my outfit, I’m relieved that no one seems to notice. There’s not a lot of time left to make a good impression and I’d never forgive myself if I lost the job of my dreams because I was late to work a few times.

I pull out the Stone research file, the one I should have pulled out before walking into the gym to get the surprise of my life, and begin sifting through mounds of photos and clippings. There are dozens of pictures of Vince “The Invincible” Stone in the ring. The ones where his arm is being raised in victory catch my eye each time. He looks so proud and confident. No matter our past, I can’t stop myself from smiling, feeling happy at his victory. He’s waited a long time for his moment, started fighting before I’d even met him in high school.

Then I come to the candid shots and my smile quickly fades. In photo after photo, there’s a different girl under Vinny’s arm. Walking on the street, outside of a bar, in front of the gym. It seems things haven’t changed much over the years. I actually take my time to look at the women because I’m curious to see if any of them are repeats. Apparently, Vinny loses his interest after one night.

There’s no denying the women are attractive. There are brunettes, blondes, redheads, short, tall…it appears Mr. Stone doesn’t have a specific type. Unless you call provocatively dressed a type, that is. The bevy of women clinging to Vinny in the photos begins to get on my nerves, so my careful study of each shot soon turns into a quick flip. Until I get to the last couple of photos. One is of a handsome man who appears to be about Vinny’s age. He looks familiar, only I can’t place why. Startling pale blue eyes and a masculine, cleanly shaved jaw captivate my attention and I find myself staring. Lack of sleep does that to me, makes my gaze linger longer than usual. Flipping the print over to read the back, which normally contains data on the photo, I’m surprised to find it blank. Perhaps it’s an opponent of Vinny’s?

The last photo in the file is of an older man. There’s a resemblance to the younger man in the previous photo and I hold them up, studying them side by side, thinking they may be father and son. The older man is nice looking, distinguished, even more familiar than the younger man in the photo before. Perhaps he’s an actor, someone I’ve seen on television? He’s wearing simple slacks and a sweater, but you can tell by the way he holds himself that he’s confident. Definitely an actor. Maybe the last few were just misfiled.

Closing the photo file, I attempt to forget the gorgeous fighter in the pictures. The one with the rugged jaw that always seems to have the perfect amount of five o’clock shadow. It’s not an easy task. I type up my notes, although there’s not much to write since I didn’t actually get to interview the subject. Three quarters of a page of basics is all I can come up with, most of that from memory.

I hate myself for stealing one last look before I turn back in the research photo file to Sleezeball. But I just can’t keep my eyes off him…which is why I need to keep far, far away from Vince Stone.

Vince

It’s been two days and I still can’t stop thinking about Liv. She’s stuck in my head. I see her every time I close my eyes. And it’s not just the thought of her incredible body that keeps my mind locked in place, although that perfect ass is definitely seared into my brain. Liv’s different, always was. Smart, funny, sees life in a way that’s pure. Gave me prospective. Opened my eyes to see good when bad was all I’d ever known. It took everything I had not to pounce on her back in the day. The way she looked at me with those big round hazel eyes, she made the boy I was feel like a man.

I remember purposely failing a few tests, even when I could have passed, just so I could have an excuse to be with her. Hang out with her...in the god damn library even. She was so young and sweet…and innocent. So unlike anything I had in my life.

Liv was different back then. Is different. I know it from just being around her again the other day. She’s the type of girl you bring home to your mother. If your mother wasn’t a fucking crackhead, that is.

I’m just finishing up my workout when I catch the front desk guy, Sal, pointing a woman in my direction. Not just any woman, a hot piece of ass. Now this is what I need to get my mind over little miss big eyes.

“Mr. Stone?”

I’m done with my workout, but I start one handed pushups as she approaches anyway. Might as well give her the full show. I stand and take off my sweaty shirt, using it to wipe my face. Her eyes go right to my abs. It’s like taking candy from a baby.

“Who wants to know?” I smile at her while I ask.

Her eyes come up to mine, and she flips her hair back a bit before she extends her hand to me.

“My name is Summer Langley. I’m with the Daily Sun Times. I was wondering if I could talk to you for a little while. We’d like to run a story on you and your upcoming title fight.”

“Sure.” I hold the handshake longer than necessary as I speak to make my point. “As long as you don’t mind me getting you all sweaty.” I wait until I get a reaction from her face, and then point my eyes at our sweaty joined hands for her eyes to follow.

“Not at all.” She grins back at me and I know we’re on the same page.

“Come on, we can take this conversation somewhere more private.” I lead her to the small kitchen in the back of the gym and put out my hand, offering her to go first through the doorway. It gives me a good shot of her ass in that tight little skirt of hers. It’s nice, but too skinny. Nothing like Liv’s heart shaped, perfect ass. Fuck, I gotta stop this shit with thinking about Liv. Especially when I have a hot number standing right in front of me, smiling at me like it’s already a done deal.