Taking one last look in the mirror, she decided at that moment that she would just enjoy her evening and whatever attention she got tonight from Noah or anyone else. But any thoughts of her and Noah would be snuffed from here on out before they even started. She seriously needed to get a grip and face the facts. Anything between her and Noah would simply not end well. She’d finally pulled herself out of one major depression. Getting involved with a young guy as wonderful and sexy as Noah would just be asking for the inevitable—more heartache than she could ever handle.

CHAPTER 18

As hard as Noah tried to push away the anxiety about tonight he couldn’t help but tense up the moment he saw Roni walk into the front room. Seeing her had nearly sucked the air out of him.

Her makeup was a little heavier than the norm, her curls seemed even curlier and what she wore was enough to have every guy there staring at her now, threat or no threat. Noah glanced at Hector who was the most blatant and nudged him. “Take this outside,” Noah said roughly and shoved the two six packs of beer he’d been holding at him when Roni made her entrance.

Gio and Abel were more discreet but Noah hadn’t missed the way they took Roni in from top to bottom. Noah stifled a growl.

“Is anyone else here yet?” Roni asked stretching her neck out to look through the kitchen window as she passed by Noah shocking his senses. Unbelievably she smelled better than she looked. It was completely intoxicating and Noah had to close his eyes for a moment in reaction.

“The sound guy and his crew are here,” Abel said, “and I saw a few cars drive slowly past. I think they were looking for parking.”

Gio suddenly smiled and opened the back door. “Girls are here.” He stepped out before Noah or Abel could even respond to that. Abel went after him and walked out leaving Noah alone with Roni.

He was done holding in his feelings for her. She turned to him and he smiled. “You look amazing.”

She smiled lifting her delectably exposed shoulder. “Thanks to you I was able to go shopping.”

He took a few steps toward her, inhaling the smell of her citrusy perfume with a touch of her fruity breath—watermelon maybe? “It’s not just the clothes, Roni. It’s you. You’re beautiful.”

She stared at him for a moment, the smile she wore just a second earlier withered down to a somewhat staggered expression. Then her eyes were on his lips. “Thank you, Noah. You look good, too.”

Even though the smile was gone, Noah noticed her breathing picked up a notch. She wanted his lips on her as much as he wanted her. He leaned into her and she didn’t move, instead she stared at him. Her eyes spoke a thousand words. He wasn’t alone in this struggle. She was struggling just as much as he was to hold back.

The kitchen door swung open and Hector walked in with a guy Noah didn’t recognize. Holding in the primal growl that nearly escaped him this time, Noah turned and glared at them. Just then Abel walked in behind them. “Hector, who the f**k are all these people coming in? Didn’t I tell you not say anything about this at your school?”

“High school kids?” Roni asked.

Knowing what she was probably thinking, that this was turning out to be a backyard party full of kids, Noah hated to but he walked away from Roni and toward the kitchen window. The backyard was half-full but filling up fast.

“They’re not from my school. Someone at the gym heard about the party and since you and Noah are going to be fighting in the coming weeks there’s a dance crew that was hoping maybe they can get some time in the ring to show off their moves before or even after the fights. So they decided to come here tonight. Sort of audition for you guys and I guess they spread the word but I didn’t say shit.” He tapped the guy next to him. “This is Little Robo. His older brother is head of the dance crew. He wanted to come in here and ask for permission to do a three minute show a little later.”

Noah turned back to look at the guy in all black except for his red beanie and matching shoes. “Little Robo?”

The guy’s arms fell flat against his side then came up slowly and stopped sharply as his entire body went into a robotic motion then he froze pointing at Noah. “My brother is Robo.” His hand snaked back toward him again in a vibrating motion. “He taught me everything I know.”

Before Noah could respond, Roni’s voice practically chirped. “That is so cool. And you guys are gonna do a show here tonight?”

The guy smiled big and satisfied. “Yeah, if that’s okay with you. Are you Roni?”

“Who wants to know?” Noah barked.

The guy looked at Hector then back at Noah cautiously. “Well, he said the owner of the house was Roni and we’d have to double check with her.”

“Yeah, I’m fine with it.” Her eyes met Noah’s. “That shouldn’t be a problem right?”

Noah frowned and exchanged glances with Abel. “How many people are out there?”

“A lot,” was Abel’s only response, but he seemed as unsure about this as Noah did.

“I don’t want things getting out of hand.” Noah walked to the back door and opened it. “A crowd this big can get rowdy, Roni.”

“We’ve danced for bigger crowds and we’ve never had issues,” Little Robo said. “And once we’re done we have a couple other places to dance at so anyone that came with us will leave with us.”

“What about the guys that look like thugs? Abel asked. “With the bandanas and shit?”