The Gender Game 5 Bella Forrest (motivational novels for students txt) đ
- Author: Bella Forrest
Book online «The Gender Game 5 Bella Forrest (motivational novels for students txt) đ». Author Bella Forrest
âI did raise you since you were nine,â Ms. Dale said smoothly. âAnd let me tell you,â she added to Cruz, âthis one was a handful.â
Amber flushed prettily while simultaneously pouting. Turning around, she reached out for Cad and drew him forth. âThis is my fiancĂ©,â she gushed. âKurtis. Kurtis MacDougall. Heâs not quite as handsome as you, Mr. Cruz, but heâs the love of my life.â
Cad gave her a mortified look, and then turned to Cruz, shaking his head, almost ruefully. I wondered if Cad was having any doubts about this act now, but it was too late to back out.
âHello, Mr. Cruz.â Cadâs voice was stiff as he accepted Cruzâs hand, gripping it tightly. I could hear Violetâs cousin grunt as Cruz squeezed back, but he didnât back down, instead firmly meeting the taller manâs gaze. Then Cruz slowly withdrew his hand, giving Cad a brilliant smile.
âPleasure to meet you, Mr. MacDougall.â His eyes returned to me, and I stepped forward.
âJacob. Iâm Jeffâs younger brother. Much younger, I know.â I held my breath as he accepted my hand, squeezing it tightly. I didnât bother to play the male posturing game Cad had played with him, just squeezed a polite amount and relaxed my grip, indicating the handshake should be over.
Cruz didnât let go, his fingers tightening slightly. Then the light of recognition flared in his eyes. âYour name isnât Jacob,â he said softly. âYouâre Viggo Croft. Youâre that punk who was supposed to fight me but didnât have the stones to show up.â
I met his gaze head on and scowled, though my heartrate had shot up at the sound of my real name. Now wasnât the time to panic⊠it was just the other shoe. Dropping. A part of me had expected this.
âJacob is my middle name,â I replied, now tightening my own grip. âYouâll excuse me for wanting to be out of the spotlight down here. And there were⊠extenuating circumstances that came into play that night.â It was better to hold back the truthâavoid linking myself to Violet in any way.
âExtenuating circumstances?â he drawled, his voice turned toxic.
âIt was me,â Amber cut in smoothly, fidgeting with embarrassment. Cruzâs mouth made an âoâ of surprise as his gaze was diverted from our staring contest over to her. âKurtis and I were out walking, and⊠wellâŠâ A sob caught in her throat, and she turned away slightly. Cad came forward to take her shoulders.
âActually, it was my fault my nephew lost his chance to best you,â announced Ms. Dale. âJeff here was busy at his job, and I couldnât find Vivian anywhere. I panicked, you see, and I called Viggo. It turned out to be a bit of a misunderstandingâapparently she had written me a note, you see, alerting me that she was going to be out with Kurtis, but it somehow slipped off the counter and under the refrigerator. I was so embarrassed, and by the time Viggo showed up, they were just returning. I feel terrible he missed out.â
âIf something had happened to Vivian and Iâd still gone on with the match⊠well, I wouldnât be able to live with myself,â I said, my voice heated as I realized how close that lie was to truth.
Cruz gazed at me, our hands still locked in a private grappling match. âWhy didnât you ask for a rematch?â he asked, curiosity lining the nooks and crannies of his face. âI was so excited to beat down the upstart from the amateur leagues.â
I jerked my hand from Cruzâs and took a step back, tugging on the edges of my coat. âBecause itâs none of your damn business,â I growled.
âMr. Cruz!â Jeff cut in, rounding on the man with his hands crossed over his chest. âNow, Iâm sorry I didnât tell you my brother was the Viggo Jacob Croftâto be honest, I have never approved of his love for fighting. Not that I donât enjoy a good fight.â He held up his hands in badly formed fists, his shoes slapping loudly on the floor as he did his best to dance and weave. Cruz watched him, a sort of bemused wince coming across his features. Thankfully, after a second, Jeff stilled and resumed his position. âBut Viggo had responsibilities that took priority, and he had shirked them for too long. After that night, we asked him to stop fighting. We couldnât keep worrying like that. With myself gone, and young MacDougall courting Vivian here, well⊠we wanted to make her safety a priority. Since my work took me out of the city, it fell to Viggo to pick up the reins of our familial obligation.â
Cruz gave me a hard look, and I shrugged, grimacing noncommittally. After a pause that seemed to stretch out forever, he nodded. âI understand. Life is constantly complicated by our need to protect our women, eh? Well, it really is a shame, if you donât mind me saying so, Jeff. Jacob was quite the fighter, from what I heard. And I do honestly believe he had a chance. Probably not a good one, but heyâwe underdogs have to stick together, right?â
âI guess so,â I said with another shrug. âI hope you understand the need for my disguise, though. Since my brother asked me to give up the career and focus on family, my fans havenât really taken well to the decision. I just want them to get a nice private tour of the stadium without people interrupting.â
Cruz clapped me on the backâharder than was necessary, but I held back my natural response to shrug him offâand laughed. âWell, itâs no matter, and hey! Youâre here! It would be my pleasure to escort you around the stadium you almost got to fight in.â
It was meant as a
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