Payable On Death: A Jax Rhodes Novel, Book One (The Jax Rhodes Series 1) by Rachel Rawlings Read Free Book Online

spend my free time. I've picked up a thing or two along the way. I know how to file for a restraining order. Why are you still here anyway? Michelle said you found your missing woman."
    "True, that case is closed. Still, I was thinking of sticking around for awhile, maybe take in the sites." Dane took a swig of his water, eyeing me up and down over the clear plastic bottle.
    "I can't imagine what would keep you in the city. You certainly haven't seen the best of it since you've been here."
    "Oh, I don't know about that. I can think of one bright spot."
    I couldn't help laughing out loud. "Seriously, does that work for you? I'm a bartender, remember? I've heard my fair share of pick-up lines and that one was weak." I had no intentions of scratching his—or my—itch. As much as I hated to admit it, a part of me wished he was serious. Part of me wanted what I'd been dreaming about since he found me in the alley.
    Well, right up to the part where he changed into the Devil, anyway.
    "Have dinner with me."
    "I'm working tonight."
    "Lunch."
    "Can't."
    "I'll make you a deal. Go a couple rounds with me." He pointed in the direction of the ring. "If I knock you down, I take you to breakfast."
    "Let me get this straight. You want to fight me? For a date? After knocking me out? Are you going to drag me by my hair to your Neanderthal cave afterward?" His offer had piqued my interest and it was impossible to pretend otherwise. "And if I win?"
    "I promise not to ask you out again."
    "Tempting. I am a sucker for breakfast food."
    Dane made his way over to the ring, holding up the ropes for me to climb through. What a gentleman. I walked around to the next side, stepped up onto the curtain, grabbed hold of the top rope, and swung myself over. That particular move took a lot of practice to master. I'd hooked my foot and face-planted on the mat more than once. Thankfully, this time I'd landed with all the grace of a prima ballerina and stood in the center of the ring, motioning for him to join me.
    I bounced on the balls of my feet, shadow boxing until he slipped through the ropes and joined me in the middle. We touched gloves and began the boxer's dance, feeling each other out with a jab here and a feint there. He circled, I followed. He circled again. I cut him off. I'd spent the last month working on ring generalship, controlling the ring and your opponent. Dane was physically stronger, so I had to be smart. If I could get him in the corner or against the ropes, I'd have a shot of winning.
    Did I really want to win?
    The guys in the gym stopped working and circled the ring, ready to watch the show. I'd sparred with a couple of them so they knew what I was capable of. I had the home court advantage. Or so I thought. Dane made friends easily and the crowd split off into two corners. Based on the whistles and cat calls, I guessed his corner knew about his little wager.
    He got a couple blows in to the body, careful to avoid the side with a broken rib. He was taking it easy on me and that irritated the hell out of me. I swung with a looping right, connecting with the side of his head just below the temple. He stayed on his feet in spite of his buckling knees. If the shot had landed a little higher, Dane would have been looking up at me from the canvas. Keeping my guard up, I shuffled to the right, lining up the jab. I took one step and the next thing I knew, I was flat on my back with Dane on top of me.
    "What the hell was that?" I was pissed he’d cheated but I still appreciated the body pressed against me—just like the dream. I closed my eyes, afraid for a moment he'd morph into the Devil. When I opened them, Dane's beautiful blue eyes stared back at me, mischief sparkling in their icy depths.
    "Brazilian jujitsu." All he did was smile but it rocked me to my core. "So, where would you like to go for breakfast?"
    Thankfully, my brain still worked. "I'm not going to breakfast with you. Cheater."
    "I didn't cheat. I said ‘knock you down’.