Free Got A Hold On You (Ringside Romance) by Pat White Page A

bikini in her lap.
    “And since when did you worry about keeping your
word?” Guilt snagged her conscience. “Sorry, I didn’t mean it like that.”
    “I take it you’ve talked to some of the guys.” He
settled behind his desk in his cracked, maroon leather chair.
    “A few.”
    Leaning back, he tapped a pencil eraser on the tip of
his chin. “Business can get messy. Sometimes I have to make unpopular
decisions.”
    “I’m not here to judge you. Just dig you out of
trouble and be on my way. But that doesn’t include parading around like a
fanatical feline.”
    “Just like your mom. Always worried about
appearances.”
    “What’s that supposed to mean?”
    “Never mind. I’m sorry, but it’s the only way. You’ll
have to work with Black Jack.”
    “For a year?”
    “The story line won’t last that long. Even if you go
back to your real life and fancy job, you can always make guest appearances for
the television specials.”
    “Uncle Joe!”
    “I would find someone else, but I think Jack’s got
something up his sleeve. You’re the smartest woman I know, princess. If anyone
can play hard ball with Jack and figure out what he’s up to, it’s you.” He
leaned forward and massaged his temples with his fingertips.
    This wasn’t a ploy or an act, or anything scripted.
Uncle Joe looked tired, dead tired. His eyelids drooped and his skin was paler
than usual.
    “The mask stays on,” she said.
    “Of course.”
    “Maxine designs a new costume to cover up more of me.”
    “Fair enough.”
    “What about the books?”
    “You got them in pretty good shape. I’d like you to
keep consulting with Bert in accounting, if you have time. But your priority
has to be working with Jack. This is it, Frankie. My last chance to save this
company.”
    The desperation in his voice touched her heart. She
leaned across his desk. “Why is this so important to you?”
    He reached for her hand. This time she gave it
willingly.
    “They said I’d never amount to much,” he started. “And
maybe they’re right. But I can’t give up. Not yet. I have to prove—”
    The door burst open.
    “You can’t go in there!” Cecilia the secretary
shouted.
    Uncle Joe snatched his hands from Frankie’s and stood,
righting his polyester suit jacket. She glanced over her shoulder and her
breath caught at the sight of Jack, naked from the waist up, his body
glistening with sweat. He wore nothing but skin-tight spandex shorts, athletic
shoes, and workout gloves with the tips cut off. Strands of wet hair had come
loose from his ponytail and clung to his shoulders.
    “Jack, what can we do for you?” Uncle Joe asked, his
voice as slick as a salesman’s.
    He planted his hands on his hips, defining his
well-muscled chest. “Where the hell is she?”
    “She, who?”
    “Don’t play games, Sully. I finished my workout twenty
minutes ago. Tiger Lady was supposed to meet me in the ring to go over some
moves.”
    “Well, um, we’ve run into a problem.” Uncle Joe ambled
toward him.
    Frankie couldn’t move if her life depended on it.
Between her uncle’s uncharacteristic and sincere confession a second ago, and
Jack’s magnificent body, her bearings were shot to hell.
    “I’ve got a little over a week to train her. I’m going
back in the ring in ten days, not twenty-one. I need to work off some of this
steam I seem to have built up.” He eyed Frankie.
    She dug her nails into the arms of the chair. Giving
him a tight promotional schedule next week was her way of letting him know who
was in charge. Instead he’d chosen to jump into the ring sooner than he should.
    She thought he would enjoy meeting with fans, signing
autographs and playing hero. Instead he wanted back into the action with
Tatianna by his side. Could she find a replacement in a week? How about thirty
seconds? Because this man looked like he fully expected Tatianna to walk
through that door.
    “Jack, calm down. We’ve had some problems,” Uncle Joe
reiterated,