Chapter Three

AVA

" W e'll talk more some other time." Ryder gave me a lingering smile before he moved his face away from mine. He grabbed his gallon-size coffee cup, leaving the cafe and me sitting there at the table in the back. Dirty thoughts swirled in my mind while I watched him walk away in his well-fitting jeans.

My phone buzzed in my pocket. I almost spilled coffee on my laptop as I reached to grab it. The incoming call was from Emily, my old friend from high school. We kept in touch through social media for years. She was the first to know when I headed back to Sunridge for this assignment. She insisted I stay at her apartment while I was in town, but I politely declined. She didn't need to know how messy a roommate I could be while I was on deadline.

"Hey, Em."

"What are you doing right now?" In typical Emily fashion, she cut right to the chase. Maybe that was why we stayed friends for so long.

"Um, trying to figure out if a hot guy is flirting with me."

"Well, don't let me interrupt."

"He already left. I think he found my jokes a little too on the nose."

"I don't get your corny jokes sometimes. Anyway, you have plans tonight."

"I do?" I switched the phone to my other ear. "Since when?"

"I know it's a bit out of the blue, but a friend of mine who works in City Hall had a spare ticket for the mayor's ball tonight. I thought of you immediately."

"I always wanted to go to one of those when I was younger."

"You're all grown up so here's your chance."

Once a small-town girl, always a small-town girl. My heart raced with a mixture of gratitude and curiosity. "Are you coming, too?"

"I can't. My five-year-old came down with the sniffles and the sitter's pulling a night shift at the hospital."

"Are you saying I'm going solo?"

"You'll be fine. The only thing that's changed about boring Sunridge is the new MMA scene."

I thought about Ryder, and the word boring disappeared from my mind. "Who knows, this may help me get another angle for my story."

"I knew you'd say that."

"I could use the extra angles. This Ryder McKenzie guy I'm interviewing is more closed off than a caged ring sometimes."

"Is he the one flirting with you?"

My stomach somersaulted as I closed my laptop. "You're a lifesaver, Em."

"Fine, don't answer my question. Anyway, consider this as me returning the favor after you saved my butt on that 9 th grade algebra test."

I laughed, remembering the countless hours we used to spend trying to make sense of those dreaded equations. "Fair enough. Do I need to dress like a royal for the ball or something?"

Emily chuckled. "My mom still has her boutique downtown. I already let her know you'd be coming."

I grinned, feeling the excitement and nerves. "You've really outdone yourself."

"I know you've been through a lot since leaving LA behind." Her voice softened. "You deserve a night of glitz and glamour, Ava. Enjoy yourself."

As I hung up the phone, emotions rushed at me. The mayor's ball was something I'd only read about in newspapers or seen on TV. And now, thanks to Emily's thoughtfulness, I had a chance to experience it firsthand. Anticipation fluttered in my chest as I packed up to head to the dress boutique.

WALKING INTO THE BOUTIQUE , I was hit with a sensory whirlwind of colors, fabrics, and the soft scent of perfumes. It was the kind of place where magic happened with the right dress. As the bell above the door tinkled, I couldn't help but feel a little out of my depth. Formal dresses weren't exactly my area of expertise.

"Ava Martinez?" The familiar voice of Mrs. Daniels, Em's mom, called out from behind a rack of elegantly draped gowns. "Look at you, all grown up."

Her kindness made me grin. I walked toward her, feeling a warmth of nostalgia. "Mrs. Daniels, you haven't changed a bit."

"Call me Carol. You look like you've grown another foot and a half." She gave me a once-over, her eyes twinkling. "You need a dress to wear to the ball tonight."

"You make it sound like I'm Cinderella."

"I'm going to give you the fairy tale treatment. Emily told me your size. Come see the options I picked out for you." She chattered as we moved past the front racks of dresses. "We get a lot of business since the MMA leagues moved here. People need nice clothes for nice parties."

As I browsed through the racks, Carol offered her expert advice on various dresses, guiding me toward options to suit my style. I held up a deep forest green gown, and she nodded approvingly. "Ah, that one highlights your eyes."

As I was about to take the dress to the fitting room, her next comment caught me off guard. "I'm glad you're back home. Sorry about some of the circumstances that made you leave LA."

Slight embarrassment made heat rise to my cheeks as I imagined her and Em discussing my divorce from my struggling actor ex. "Guess I just couldn't cut it with the show business types," I replied with a sheepish grin. "But the divorce was a couple years ago. I'm in a much better place these days."

Carol patted my hand in reassurance. "Your old life is all water under the bridge."

As she bustled around, I wondered about Ryder and his brand of show business. He had a certain arrogance to him, but I couldn't deny the attraction simmering beneath the surface. His muscled frame and playful charisma were a lethal combination, drawing me in even as I tried to maintain my professional distance.

But I'd been involved with someone in the entertainment business before. It was all fun and games until stardom went to his head.

Ryder seemed like the complete opposite of my ex. He had his head on straight when it came to his work ethic and dog shelter. However, I could tell he had secrets from the way he acted whenever I asked questions. I thought of him when I should've been getting ready for the mayor's ball. How would he act when I saw him next time?

RYDER

AS I STOOD OFF TO THE side in the ballroom for the mayor's fancy little shindig, I couldn't help but feel out of place. The suits and gowns, the shiny chandeliers, it was all a different world from the gritty ring I was used to. My fingers itched to be wrapped around the worn fabric of my training gloves instead of my arms confined in a tux.

I went through the motions, making polite chit chat and flashing a smile for the cameras. It was all part of the game, the image I had to uphold as a public figure. But my mind was in another place, drifting from the endless small talk.

I found myself thinking about Ava's pretty face and her long legs in a sleek dress. Shaking my head, I looked towards the ballroom entrance, trying to think about anything else.

And then, there she was. The woman who somehow managed to break through my carefully constructed walls.

Her long green dress clung to her in all the right places. The way she carried herself, the confidence in her stride...she was impossible to ignore.

My heart thudded with each step she made in her heels. Damn, I couldn't look away. I stuffed my hands in my pockets. My cock jerked. No, not here, in the middle of this party. The world didn't need to know how much I wanted Ava.

I watched as she interacted with others, her laughter ringing through the air, drawing my attention like a magnet. As my eyes followed her movements, I couldn't help but notice the way other men looked at her.

Jealousy surged. My possessive side wanted to be the only one who could make her laugh like that and hold her attention. Yeah, my attitude was problematic, or whatever the term was these days. It was also new to me, shaking the core of the control I spent a lifetime maintaining.

The mayor's ball was supposed to be just another event on my schedule, another obligation to fulfill. Yet as I continued to steal glances in her direction, I realized this night might hold more. I took a deep breath before I put one foot in front of the other to get to her.

AVA

I NAVIGATED THROUGH the elegant crowd at the mayor's ball. I had to gather information for my write-up, and this was the perfect opportunity to learn more about MMA's influence on the town beyond the gym. Conversations flowed around me, snippets of laughter and light discussions mingling in the air.

I made my way to different groups, both locals and people from the MMA world, introducing myself and trying to subtly slip in questions. Most people were more than willing to share their opinions about their favorite fighters. More than a few mentioned Ryder, praising his ringcraft. The more I listened, the more I realized what I really needed was to talk to the man himself.

Just as I was about to put away my reporter hat and enjoy the rest of the night, I felt a light touch on the small of my back. In an instant, my body recognized Ryder's touch from the brief time we were on the gym floor together. My heart leaped at the tap of his fingertips on my bare skin where the dress had a draped opening.

I turned to find him standing behind me, his eyes fixed on me with an intensity that sent excitement and desire down my spine. He stood confident in a tux. The fabric clung to his broad shoulders, accentuating the strong frame I'd seen countless times in the gym. His dark hair was combed back, with the waves still breaking free to frame his face. He wore a faint smile, his eyes alight with the familiar charm and a new glint of mischief.

He leaned in close, his voice a low murmur. "You could talk to the source, you know."

My pussy tingled both from the sound of his voice and the leathery notes of his cologne. I arched an eyebrow, a smile tugging at the corners of my mouth. "I tried. The source won't let me in."

Ryder's lips formed into a grin, while amusement danced in his eyes. He gestured toward a quiet hallway outside of the ballroom. "How about we fix the situation?"

I followed his lead as we slipped away from the crowd. His tux, a deep charcoal gray, complemented his olive skin tone, and the crisp white shirt beneath it hinted at the strength beneath the elegant facade. A black tie completed the ensemble, adding a touch of sophistication to his rugged frame. Every move he made was confident, his presence commanding attention in the room.

We got out into the hall and moved around to a darkened corner. As we stood there, staring at each other, I felt the sexual tension between us wash over my skin. Hot, thick enough to hang in the air. Or maybe I had enough of it for the two of us.

On second thought, it wasn't just me. Ryder's eyes darkened. His pupils were dilated as he focused only on me. The tension between us was a strong cocktail of playfulness and unspoken desire.

"I know it works with cage fighting, but you're dodgy out of the ring, too." I kept my remark lighthearted as I leaned against the wall.

My work involved analyzing more than just words. I observed his body language. It looked like he was simply propping his arm against the wall next to my head. Yet it also sent a message to anyone who might come by to interrupt us: Stay away.

This was our time together. No one else allowed.

And I didn't mind.

Ryder's head was close to mine as he leaned in. "Dodgy? Is that what you think of me?"

I tilted my head to give a direct gaze. "Let's just say you go the distance when I'm trying to get the scoop on you at the gym."

He gave an innocent shrug before he touched the green velvet shoulder strap of my dress. He pushed a finger beneath the strap, caressing my skin with the lightest of touches. "I'm not dodging you now, am I?"

The way he looked at me and touched me made me feel hot all over, even though goosebumps formed along my arms. "I don't know. If I ask you a question, are you going to say something like how you never kiss and tell?"

There was a charged pause between us. And then, almost as if it was the most natural thing in the world, I found myself raising my head as Ryder leaned in. Our lips met in a secret kiss, a rush of heat and desire surging between us.

Time slowed to a halt. My heart clamored in my chest as Ryder admitted his attraction to me without saying a word. I became bolder. I reached out to him, running my fingers through his hair as he pulled me in closer, deepening the kiss. His lips were both firm and soft against mine. I was glad we were in this secret corner of the hall. No one could hear the small moan escape from me as his hands explored my body.

Ryder stepped forward holding me, pressing me against the wall. His hands roamed over my dress. The soft velvet scraped against my flesh as he traced the curves of my hips and behind. My nipples peaked against the tight bodice of my dress. Caught up in the heat of the moment, I almost forgot where we were.

Almost.

"Ryder." I pressed my hands against his chest, separating the magnetic pull of our bodies. "This is the mayor's ball. Someone might see us."

He played with the front of my dress. My pussy clenched and a deep ache of desire formed between my legs. He traced lines where my hard nipples made the dress fabric stand out. "You want to go back in there?"

I shook my head.

"I don't want to go back in there, either. Besides, I can't hide what you do to me." He shifted and I felt the hard ridge of his cock against my thigh.

I started to realize that I was getting deep into this with him.

"Let's take this somewhere more private," he whispered in my ear, his voice low and husky.

I nodded, feeling the hedonistic lure of exiting with him. I hid my attraction to him for weeks. We came this far now. We couldn't simply put it back in a box and close the lid on our desire.

My emotions and libido did a dangerous, sexy dance of will. Ryder might be worth the risk. After years of doing everything the right way, always working my tail off and still coming up short, I was allowed to let loose and let my hair down every once in a while.

Tomorrow I could return to my normal buttoned up professionalism. Ryder wanted me. I wanted him. This was only one night. We could make it one to remember.