The timing couldn’t have been better. Even though he managed to catch himself every time so far, Hector was beginning to lose control—stumbling off his train of thought time after time. So he couldn’t have been more relieved when everyone’s attention was called to the small podium at the front of the room.
Hector took advantage of the distraction to regroup and gather his thoughts. He had to get a hold of himself. Why couldn’t he have stayed angry like he’d felt the entire time he showered and got ready? Even as he’d been interviewed by the local media and the Spanish radio broadcaster over the phone, he’d been tense. Dealing with that would’ve been easier than what he was dealing with now.
He’d wondered the whole time if she possibly could be here looking to confront him: tell him off about yesterday—a confrontation that couldn’t wait until Monday. Then Miriam and Leticia had walked into the gym just as he was wrapping up his final interview. They’d been a slight diversion from his ongoing speculation about Charlee’s unexpected presence here tonight, but the diversion from those thoughts had been fleeting. The moment he entered the party, he saw her. He’d hoped to be there for a few minutes before having to see her and have a few drinks to calm the irritation he’d begun to feel just thinking about what she might be up to this time.
After his fight when he’d spotted her in the crowd, it was her hair that stood out. His eyes had been drawn like a magnet to the almost-glowing crimson locks in the crowd. It was more than that now. He was sure his eyes weren’t the only ones being drawn to her. She looked spectacular. When he’d walked in and gotten a closer look at just how different she looked tonight, he couldn’t dump Leticia and Miriam off with his brother’s group fast enough. He was getting this over with now—the sooner the better.
He’d walked over to where she and his other chess teammates stood with one purpose only—to face off with her. Then to his surprise, she’d been nice, more than nice. Even when she congratulated him on his incredibly impressive win, it came off genuinely sincere. To make matters worse, she’d been playful. And if he weren’t mistaken, she was having just as hard a time of keeping her eyes off him as he was keeping his off her.
Hector knew he was treading dangerous waters here, and he could already feel it. If he got some time alone with her, even just a moment, he might do or say something he shouldn’t.
Glancing at Walter, who was listening to the exclusive announcement of Abel’s signing as the next contender for the heavyweight title, he was hit with reality again. Walter was making the first real effort in his entire life to get into shape, and he was doing it for Charlee. As hard and as embarrassing as Hector knew it had been for Walter, he bit the bullet and asked Hector for help.
The big guy had nearly collapsed yesterday from the workout Hector gave him. But he said he’d be back today to work out again alone before Hector’s fight, since Hector wouldn’t be able to join him. Surprisingly, Hector had seen him in there before his fight, pushing hard on the treadmill. Being a part-time trainer, Hector knew the enthusiasm a client has when they first start working out is what keeps the momentum going. Nothing would kill Walter’s momentum faster now than to stomp on his motivation.
Who knew? Maybe if Walter did drop a lot of weight, he just might have a chance with Charlee. The two did have a lot in common. Both were brainy and very good at chess. And while Hector couldn’t be sure, because he didn’t know too much about her, Charlee seemed a bit shy like Walter. At the very least, she was far more reserved than any of the girls Hector usually hung out with.
Unable to help himself even after he’d pretty much mentally made a case for why he should put any further thoughts of pursuing anything with Charlee to rest, he casually glanced in her direction. Like everyone else, her attention was focused on the front of the room where Abel was now speaking about next year’s bout for the title. Hector should really be paying attention to his brother. This was huge. But he already knew all about what Abel was letting everyone else in on, and at the moment he couldn’t tear his eyes away from Charlee’s dress.
It was a simple enough dark blue wrap around that came together at her small waist with a thick belt. It was similar to the one Leticia wore so boldly that same night. Only as he’d observed before, Charlee’s was far more reserved. While Leticia’s was shorter and tighter and boasted a plunging neckline, Charlee’s was a bit longer, and though it was snug enough to show off her cute but breathtaking little figure, it wasn’t quite as body hugging as Leticia’s.
The neckline of Charlee’s dress wasn’t nearly as low as Leticia’s, but it was low enough to indulge Hector’s probing eyes with a nice tease of her milky white skin. Visions of the perky bare breasts just under the soft fabric of her dress inundated Hector. They’d be just as white and feel just as soft as he imagined the skin his eyes now traced from the open neckline up her delicate neck to that stubborn but sweet chin would be. His eyes stopped at her lips, the very lips he’d been so close to tasting yesterday, and he gulped. As his eyes traveled upward, they met hers. She was watching him size her up, and surprisingly, the corner of her lips curved ever so slightly.
Hector knew he should look away—at least try to save face. He had no idea how long she’d been watching him, but her tiny smirk was all too telling. She’d seen enough, and as cold as she’d been toward him up until tonight, she seemed amused. Was it possible that what he’d thought he picked up on earlier was actually happening? Was the ice princess actually coming around?
Noticing the tinge of pink that colored her cheeks, he broke their stare. He had to. Abel was done talking and the music was back on.
“I changed my mind,” Walter whispered, leaning into him.
“About what?” Hector asked, turning full circle and away from Charlee.
Walter rubbed the back of his neck nervously. “About asking Charlee to dance tonight.”
Hector had forgotten all about that. When they talked about the party yesterday and Hector mentioned ways of making the most of it, one of the things he mentioned was they’d have a D.J. and a dance floor. Hector had even demonstrated the simple two-step he could do to any tune. Now that the announcement was out of the way, the lights had been dimmed, and people were already making their way onto the dance floor.
Wondering if he should encourage Walter to what more than likely would be a letdown or embarrassment or both, Hector thought for a moment then felt a small but firm hand slip into his. “Did you forget about me?”
Turning to see Leticia’s smiling face looking up at him, he forced a smile. It was a strange and unfamiliar feeling, but he suddenly worried that Miriam was close behind. Typically he had no qualms about being seen with one or more girls. Tonight, however, his take on this was oddly altered. Walter had already made it clear what he thought happened with Hector and the girls Saturday once they all left together. He’d ribbed Hector about it the day he showed up at the gym. Hector hadn’t bothered explaining, letting him think whatever he wanted. What difference did it make?
Now he was glad Charlee hadn’t stuck around to see him leave with them. She already hadn’t been very discreet about her distaste for Leticia Saturday night. Hector was sure she wouldn’t have approved of what almost happened that night, not that he needed her approval. He just preferred her friendly demeanor to the indifferent one, and he didn’t want to go back to that.
“I told you I was going to be busy tonight, sweetheart. He glanced up just in time to see Noah and Gio wave him over.
Nodding, he glanced back at Leticia. “You remember Walter from Saturday, right?” Walter’s alarmed expression made Hector almost laugh. “I gotta go, but he’ll keep you company until I get back.” Walter’s eyes went wide and Leticia’s didn’t even try to hide the disappointed pout. Any other time, Hector might’ve leaned in and kissed her just to make up for having to leave her again, but he didn’t. Instead, he just squeezed her hand before letting go of it. “I won’t be long. I promise.”
He started off toward Noah and Gio purposely not looking in Charlee’s direction. He had to snuff that flame out before it went wild. Charlee was not someone he should be getting involved with, aside from the obvious most ponderous reason: Walter. There were even more reasons now.
For one, she was totally not his type, not that he really had one, but all he knew was she wasn’t it. She was nothing like any of the girls he ever hung with, and besides chess, he doubted they’d have anything else in common. Two, if he thought she’d be like Leticia, willing to have some fun and then just leave it at that, maybe he could consider it. But he could already tell she wasn’t. Walter mentioned she was quiet, shy, studious, and very sweet. Even though she hadn’t been very sweet to Hector so far, he did see the shy. He’d seen it in her eyes yesterday when he’d nearly kissed her. That kind of heavy sexual tension was a first for her. He wasn’t even sure how she would’ve reacted if he had kissed her, but he was certain it wouldn’t have been like most girls he kissed.
Something about Charlee and those thick red lashes she’d fluttered so flustered over those deep blue eyes yesterday said . . . romantic. Hector didn’t do romance. He didn’t have time for it. He learned from past experiences that you don’t get involved in any way with girls looking for the real deal without it getting messy, especially ones you’ll have to be around often. Even considering doing something with Charlee was out of the question. It couldn’t get any more cut and dry than this. But this was the first time he found himself having to build such a case against getting involved with any girl, and it was annoying as hell.
“Congrats,” Roni said as he reached her and Noah. She held up her camera in one hand and hugged his neck with the other. “Umm, you smell good,” she said as she pulled away.
“Yeah, yeah,” Noah frowned, taking her hand. “So he showered.”
Hector laughed. “You’re just saying that because it’s the cologne you two got me last Christmas.”
Roni’s eye’s brightened. “Is it really? No wonder. I gave everyone Armani. I just don’t remember who I gave which to. Gio’s is the only one easy to remember since it’s his own name. I love all his fragrances.”
“Code something or other,” Hector shrugged. “I’ve gotten enough compliments. I’ll probably buy another when it’s gone.”
“Your birthday’s coming up. Isn’t it?” Roni winked. “I got you.”
“Are we gonna do this or what?” Gio asked. “Because I’m ready to get B on the dance floor already.”
Gio pulled his fiancée, Bianca, to him, pressing his body against hers, and swayed to the music playing. Bianca swayed with him, giggling as he kissed her.
Hector rolled his eyes. Those two were insatiable. “What are we gonna do?” Hector asked.
Abel joined them. “All right, I’m here. Let’s get this over with. I still have lots of people I need to schmooze with.”
Suddenly Hector knew what was happening and he nearly groaned. “More photos? Didn’t we already take enough before the fight?”
“Just a few more.” Roni smiled at him sweetly. “You guys all look so handsome in your suits now, and this is for my 5th Street Journey page on my blog.”
Hector’s shoulders slumped in defeat, but he smiled, putting his arm around Roni’s shoulder then kissed her on the head. “You always get me with that. Anything for the journey page.”
She smiled smugly, motioning in the direction she wanted them all to stand. Ever since the original 5th Street gym had burned down last winter, Roni had started up the blog about the gym’s journey. Hector loved looking through all the pictures she posted on it, old and new. So even though he was an impatient model for all the photos she so loved taking, he was a sucker whenever she mentioned it was for the blog.
She lined them up against the back wall of the banquet room. It was a meeting room really and meant for press conferences that were taking place more often lately as more and more of the boxers training here were making their way up the ranks. It was big enough for parties, especially the exclusive ones like tonight’s that were kept on a smaller scale.
Nellie, Roni’s best friend and coordinator of tonight’s events, laughed as Roni adjusted the guys to stand just so. “And you call me the perfectionist,” she teased.
Roni smiled and continued to adjust them, moving Hector slightly to the right. He took the moment she continued to fuss over the other guys to allow himself to do what he’d been wanting to do for a while. Casually, he glanced back in the area where Charlee and the guys from the chess team had been standing. Walter was still there minus Leticia. She must have ditched him the moment she got a chance.
Also noticeably gone were Charlee and Drew. Scanning the room, he spotted them just as Roni’s camera began to flash. They were both on the dance floor, dancing with a couple of guys he didn’t recognize.
“Smile guys,” Roni said as she began to take the photos.
The guy dancing with Charlee pulled her closer, whispering something in her ear.
“Hector, the fight’s over now,” Roni said. “You won, remember? Now can you please smile for me? And I need you to look this way.” She lifted the camera to her face again.
Hector turned to the camera with a quick smile before turning back to Charlee on the dance floor. The guy was obviously taking advantage of the loud music to continue leaning into her neck area and speak closely into her ear. From her body language, Hector could tell she wasn’t digging it. The more he leaned in, the more she pulled back.
“Hector!” Both Noah and Abel said loudly.
Hector snapped out of his murderous thoughts and turned back to them. “What?”
“Turn this way, burro!” Abel said with a frown. “She asked you three times. What’s wrong with you?”
Noah and Gio shook their heads but laughed like they always did when Abel called him that. Roni winced, promising she was almost done. As soon as she was, Hector marched over to Abel’s side and held him by the arm before he could walk away to schmooze. “You know everyone here, right?”
Abel turned to him then glanced around. “Just about, except for your friends.”
“Who’s that?” Hector started to point at the guy with Charlee but dropped his hand when she looked up in his direction and nearly caught him pointing. “Fuck,” he said, turning in another direction.
“What?”
“Nothing, don’t look over there.” He tugged at Abel arms, attempting to turn him in a different direction.
“Over where?”
“Just shut up!” Hector squeezed his brother’s arm before glancing in her direction again. She wasn’t looking his way anymore, but the horny asshole she was dancing with was at it again, pulling her to him even as her hand lay flat on his chest, defensively keeping the distance between them. The song wasn’t even a slow one.
Hector let go of Abel’s arm and started toward them.
“Where you going?” Abel asked.
Ignoring his brother, Hector kept walking, already fisting his hand, slowing only when the song stopped. He stopped abruptly when they separated and watched them walk off the dance floor. Someone bumped into him from behind. Hector turned around ready to push whoever it was off him then frowned when he saw it was Abel. “What the hell?”
“You stopped all of sudden. What’s your problem?” Abel said, frowning right back at him then glanced in Charlee’s direction. “Who is she, and why do you look ready to kill that guy she’s with?”
Hector attempted to tone his adrenaline-pumped mood down. “Not ready to kill him.” He lied. “She’s a friend, and she looked like she might need some help. That’s all.” He took his eyes off Charlee, Drew, and the two guys with them, who were all headed back to where Walter and the other guys were and turned back to Abel. “You know him?”
“Nope,” Abel shook his head. “But I think I saw that other guy with him walk in with the D.J’s crew.”
Great. Hector turned back to Charlee and the guy. That’s all the D.J’s guests ever showed up for at these things. They could care less who or what the parties were for. They were just there for the free booze and to try to get laid. “Figures.”
“What figures?” Abel asked.
Hector turned back to Abel again. His brother had his usual imposing expression going: the one he always wore when he was on to Hector. “Nothing,” Hector tapped Abel on the arm, “I gotta get back to my friends.”
He started to take a step away when Abel caught his arm. The music was so loud Abel had to lean in. “No trouble, right?”
Hector pinched his brows. “No.” Then he smirked. “Did you see me in the ring today? No one’s starting trouble with this guy.”
Abel didn’t even flinch nor return the smile. “I’m not worried about anyone starting trouble with you. You’re the one I’m worried about.”
Hector glanced back at Charlee just as both guys walked away from her and Drew then turned back and smiled at Abel. “Dude, I’m not like that anymore, remember? I’m all grown up now: mature, responsible, and all that shit.” Finally he got a little smirk out of his uptight brother. “Relax, I’ll be cool.”
At last free to walk away, Hector grabbed a beer at the bar before heading back toward Walter, who stood just feet away from Charlee and Drew. The feeling of ease only lasted so long, because as soon as he got there, he spotted the two guys on their way back from the bar on the other side of the room double fisting drinks.
If Hector really wanted to be an asshole, he’d card them, even though he wasn’t twenty-one yet either. This was his party, his damn gym. He could call the shots. But then Charlee and Drew weren’t drinking age either. Walter had mentioned she was about their age—nineteen. It’d be too obvious if he carded the guys but not the girls they’d bought drinks for.
He eyed the guys as they walked by them and stopped where Charlee and Drew stood. Hector didn’t miss it: Charlee’s surprised expression when the guy tried to hand her the drink. “Oh, thank you, but I said I was okay. I’ve had enough.”
The guy held it in front of her. “You’ll be fine with one more. C’mon, you can sip it.”
Charlee glanced at Drew before taking it with a strained smile. Hector turned to Walter, trying not to sound as irritated as he felt. “See what happens?” he whispered. “That should’ve been you out there dancing with her.”
Walter frowned but said nothing. Instead, he glanced in Charlee’s direction before taking a sip of the purple drink he was having. Hector had seen it earlier when the waitress brought it to him with a kiwi slice wedged on the rim and an umbrella. Even Walter’s fruity looking drink was annoying him now. “What is that?”
Walter looked down at his drink and lifted it. “It’s called a Fruit Tingle. You wanna try it? It’s good.”
“No, I don’t wanna try it.” Hector didn’t even try to hide the disgust. “You couldn’t just order a beer?”
“I don’t like beer,” Walter said, looking down at his drink again. “What’s wrong with this?”
Hector lowered his voice, but even then couldn’t hide the annoyance in his words. “Because you’re here to try and impress her, not stand there hiding behind your girlie drink while someone else dances with her.” Hector shook his head. “Fruit Tingle? Seriously? You hold your pinky out when you drink that too?”
Walter started whispering something back, but Hector didn’t hear any of it. He was too busy trying catch what Horny Toad was saying to Charlee. With the music so damn loud, it was hard to catch every word. The good thing was she held her drink in front of her strategically so the guy couldn’t lean in as close as he had on the dance floor, giving him no choice but to speak loudly.
“It’s really cool. I have a sound system in my front room, and since we don’t use the dining room, we have a pool table in there instead. My roommate’s gone tonight. We’d have the place to ourselves. I can show you how to play pool.”
Charlee smiled but shook her head. She was further away and spoke softer than the guy, so Hector couldn’t hear what she said, but based on what he was saying now, she’d obviously turned him down.
“That’s too bad,” the guy said. “Well, you at least have to dance a few more with me.”
Charlee shook her head again, saying something that was inaudible to Hector, but she looked uncomfortable. “Go ask her to dance,” Hector whispered at Walter, reaching for his drink.
“What? No!” Walter pulled back his drink before Hector could take it. “She’s with that guy.”
“Trust me.” Hector whispered a little more urgently. “That guy’s annoying as shit. She’ll thank you.” Walter shook his head again defiantly, the panic already all over his face as if Hector were going to force him.
“C’mon just one more dance,” the guy said, reaching for Charlee, who seemed almost as alarmed as Walter.
No shit she looked alarmed. The guy was a pushy ass. Hector was glad she didn’t seem willing at all to get back on the dance floor and have him pushing himself on her again. To make things worse, the song playing now was a slow one.
“Damn it, Walter,” Hector whispered through his teeth. “If you don’t ask her, I will.”
Just looking at Walter’s annoyingly terrified face, Hector knew Walter wasn’t going to. Glancing back in Charlee’s direction, he saw the guy had repositioned himself on the other side of her so he could now lean in again close to her ear. There was no way Hector could hear what he was saying now, but one thing was clear from the way she kept pulling back away from the guy’s face, Charlee was as uncomfortable as she had been on the dance floor.
“Here,” He handed his beer bottle to Walter roughly. “You’re seriously gonna have to man up. You should be doing this.”
Who was Hector kidding? There was no way Walter would do what he was about to. He took the few steps to reach Charlee and smiled at her, ignoring the guy. “Dance with me?” Without waiting for an answer, he took her drink and handed it to the asshole. “Hold this.”
They both seemed stunned, but neither said a word, and to Hector’s relief, she didn’t say no or protest his taking her hand in his as he walked her onto the dance floor.