Kicker (DS Fight Club Book 1) Read Online Free Page A

before kissing her again.
    Bailey swatted at the big bearded man as he swooped in for another kiss. “I swear, you’re as bad as the fighters, wanting to get some action after a fight,” she said, giggling. “Charlotte, I’d like you to meet Colin Carmichael.”
    “Nice to meet you, Charlotte. I’ve heard a lot about you,” he said, grabbing Charlotte’s hand in his massive paw and shaking it. “I’m sorry if the crew was a little boisterous.”
    “It’s nice to meet you, too, Colin. I didn’t put two and two together when I heard your name, but I should have.” She peered at him. Something about the massive man seemed familiar. “Have I met you before? You look awfully familiar.”
    Bailey snorted a laugh. “Colin is Mick’s half-brother. You know, Em’s Mick?”
    “Oh, that’s it. I should have known: you two have the exact same eyes.” And you’re both friggin’ huge.
    Colin inclined his head and then turned to Bailey. “The boys are all in the private dining room. Do you want your usual?”
    “Sure, C. I’ll be back in a few.”
    “Charlotte, feel free to join us—the more the merrier.”
    “Oh, please do,” Bailey begged. “Most of these guys don’t have girlfriends, so it’s just me and the ring girls.” She rolled her eyes.
    “Ring girls?”
    “Uh-huh. I don’t have much in common with them.”
    “Well . . .”
    “Pretty please? And I won’t tell Em about your birthday?” Bailey grinned and placed her hands in prayer.
    Charlotte rolled her eyes. “Oh, okay. Just because you asked nicely. And I’m afraid of what Em will do when she finds out that I kind of fibbed to you.”
    Bailey squealed, hugged Charlotte, and then dragged her off to the dining room.
     
     

“Oh my Lord, this is the best meal I’ve ever had,” Tig said with a groan.
    Dig chuckled. “Every meal after a fight is the best meal ever. How much did you have to cut, anyway?”
    Tig shook his head. “Not much—seven pounds.”
    Dig whistled. “Damn. That’s good.” Tig nodded and continued eating, just enjoying the meal and his satisfaction about winning the fight and the additional pleasure of getting that bonus.
    Maybe, just maybe, he would actually have a little bit left to spend on himself after he helped his parents out with their farm expenses. Some new tires would be good. He swallowed hard, hoping that no one would notice the sudden flare of emotion.
    “Hey, man. I get it,” Dig murmured. “I so totally get it.”
    Tig nodded. He knew Dig got it.
    When Dig had shown up at the fight club one afternoon three months earlier and essentially begged Colin to let him train with him, Tig wasn’t quite sure what to think. When Tig was at Raptor Pryde, Dig was already on the circuit and had full corporate sponsorship and had actually fought against Colin himself in a fight for the heavyweight title. He was the golden child, receiving lots of preferential treatment and perks, and Tig could not fault him for that. He’d paid his dues and was a damn good fighter. He was also about the only signed fighter that took the time to get to know the other ones—fighters like Tig who were still trying to get a decent fight, hell, any fight at all—and had seemed truly sorry and shocked when Tig was dismissed from Raptor Pryde.
    Hell, it was Dig who told Tig to look up Colin Carmichael’s new club, advising Tig to dismiss anything he knew of Colin’s seemingly nasty public personality.
    “Dessert?”
    “What?”
    Dig grinned at his smaller friend. “I said, ‘I think it’s time for dessert,’” he said with a tip of his head toward a group of women who had just entered the private dining room.
    Dig grinned at the group while Tig inwardly groaned. Those women generally never paid him much attention, which was normally just fine with Tig.
    Tonight, though? He had an itch, and he wasn’t sure whether fighting or fucking would scratch it.
    “Bridget’s trying to make eye contact with you,