Free Fight (MMA Romance Club Book 1) by Nicolette Pine Page A

really.
    “Maybe we could box together sometime.”
    My jaw almost fell open. Was he flirting with me? “For sure, yes. I…” I decided to just shut up before I said anything stupid.
    He stepped towards the bag I’d just been using. I could see his muscles flex as he held the bag. “Here, let me hold it for you.”
    “Thanks.” I felt myself blush, wished I hadn’t, and tried to focus on the bag. I went as fast and hard as I could. My knuckles pounded against the bag. Again, harder, faster. My arms burned, but I refused to give up. I wasn’t about to let Mr. Green Eyes think that I was a poser. Finally I couldn’t bring myself to hit the bag one more time. My arms flopped to my side. My lower back was coated in a thin layer of sweat, and I could feel it running down my forehead. I faced the man in front of me. “Thanks,” I said, still trying to regain my breath.
    “Any time.” His eyes seemed to sparkle.
    “You want to have a go?” I wasn’t 100 percent sure I could keep the bag still. A man his size could probably hit like a freight train.
    “No thanks.” He looked me up and down as he came towards me, and then passed me on the way to the lockers. “I’m Jacob, by the way.”
    “Anna.”
    “Do you fight, Anna?”
    “No. I’m too much of a wuss for that.” I gave a soft laugh. “You?”
    “Yes.”
    “Really? You fight? Like professionally?”
    He chuckled. “Yes, professionally.”
    As we came to a stop in front of the lockers, he turned to face me. I looked him over. It shouldn’t surprise me that he fought. He looked like he was nothing but muscle. He didn’t walk, he swaggered.  “That’s so cool, so like MMA? Wrestling?”
    “MMA.” He pulled his locker open. “You know, I’m fighting tonight. Would you like to come and watch?”
    “Yes!” My heart skipped a beat. I had plans with Carly, but I was going to have to cancel.
     

Chapter Two
     
    I wasn’t sure what to wear, so I settled on my favorite little black dress. I tied my hair up into a high bun, applied some red lipstick, a pair of fake lashes and my favorite black lace flats. I scooped up my red clutch and headed for the door as I pulled out my cell phone. It was 6:28. He said he would pick me up at 6:30. My heart skipped a beat when I heard the knock on the door.
    I took a deep breath and pulled the door open. “Hey.”
    He wore a black suit with a bright blue shirt underneath. His green eyes sparkled. “Hey yourself.” His eyes went up and down my body. “You look amazing.”
    I felt a blush creep up my face. “Thanks.”
    He held his arm out for me. I stepped out of my house, turned around and locked the door behind us. Once the door was locked I turned my attention back to him and wrapped my arm around his.
    “Are you hungry?”
    “I could go for a bite.”
    “I know a great little pizza place near where the fight will be.”
    I raised an eyebrow, but he ignored it as he guided me down the driveway towards a blue Jaguar. My mouth fell open. The paint practically sparkled. 
    “Is this your car?”
    “Yup.” He nodded as he came to a stop in front of the passenger side door and pulled it open for me.
    “Thanks.” I slid into the seat slightly in shock. If it hadn’t been for the cat hood ornament I wouldn’t have known what this was. I watched as he circled around the front of the car and slid into the driver’s side.
     
    ***
    “You have got to be shitting me.” I tried to process what I was seeing in front of me. I closed my eyes and opened them again, but it was still there.
    “No.” Jacob chuckled. “I chartered a plane.”
    “We’re taking a plane? Where the fuck is the fight?”
    “New York City. MMA just got legalized there, so there should be a pretty good crowd.”
    I took a deep breath. He was taking me to New York? This wasn’t like any other first date I’d had. He came to a stop in the parking lot, turned the car off and popped he truck.
    “So, are we going to be spending the