Maze (The Ballerina Series #2) (7 page)

“Okay
but it’s going to take more than one trip. I’ll probably need a couple of
days.”

“That’s
fine. I travel light, not much to move. I’ve got about two suitcases to fill, a
couple boxes, and I’ll be done.” Soon as I spoke, my phone chimed that I had a
text. I checked it. “Feel like going to a party tonight?” I asked Ivy.

“Party?
Whose?”

“Vin.
A good friend of mine. He and I fought once in Japan when I first got there and
we keep in touch.” By nature fighters were competitors so it was difficult to
make friends with someone you might have to kick the shit out of. But Vin was
different. “He’s pretty cool. He returned to the U.S. a couple of years ago and
stops by the gym to keep in shape. He no longer fights but he follows the
fighting circuit. And if I know him he bet on my fight.”

“Did
he bet on you?”

I
grinned. “Damn straight.”

“I’d
love to meet your friend. Do you want to go?”

I
nodded. “It might be fun.”

“Okay
then.”

Grinning,
I texted Vin back.

Chapter Seven

Ivy

I
wasn’t exactly sure what to expect at this party, given a former fighter hosted
it. I was shocked when Terry dropped us off at the 230 Fifth bar. The roof top
club on Fifth Avenue was really nice. His friend had rented out the place for
the night.

“What
does this Vin do now?” I asked.

“Some
kind of stock broker.”

I
glanced at Maze. “I thought the market was bad?”

Maze
looked around at the opulence and crowd. “Apparently not for everyone.”

“Maze!
Man!”

I
turned around at the voice booming over the music, only to stare at the dark
shirt-covered chest of the person calling Maze’s name. I leaned against my crutch
as my eyes traveled upward. I had to tilt my head back to see his face. Holy
Shit! This dude was huge. He made linemen look short and skinny. And Maze
fought him and beat him.

My
gaze returned to Maze who grinned back at the guy and had already taken a
sideways step toward him in greeting. He had his arm raised, bent at the elbow,
and held in front while he leaned in close and sorta kinda hugged the other
person. I hid a smile. Such a guy.

“Vin.
Hey, man. How’s it hanging?” Maze said.

Vin
smiled and his gaze shifted to me. Maze still held my hand and I knew it wasn’t
lost on Vin. “Pretty damn fine from where I’m standing,” Vin said.

“And
if you want to stay standing don’t touch.” Maze smirked, then introduced us.
“Ivy this is our host, Vin. Vin, my girl, Ivy.”

Vin’s
eyebrows rose to almost touch his hairline. “No, shit. It’s nice to meet you,
Ivy. So this is the one?”

“The
only,” Maze beamed.

I
glanced back and forth between them missing something. “What?”

“I
saw a poster of you once in his room,” Vin volunteered.

“What?”
I repeated confused. I’d been to Maze’s room. There was no poster of me. But
when I looked at Maze, damned even in the dull lighting I could see his blush.

“Ah,
yeah. I had posters of some of your performances in my place back in Japan.”

I
was intrigued. “Oh. Where are they now?”

Maze
rubbed the back of his neck. “Ah, still in my room here. I just put them in the
closet.”

I
grinned. He was so cute when he blushed, and Vin cracked up, patting him on the
back.

Vin
glanced at my crutch then down at my cast enclosed foot. “What happened to
you?”

I
could get around on only one crutch now. “I pulled a tendon.”

He
winced. “Ouch.”

“She’ll
be fine.” Maze held me tighter against his side. I loved his optimism.

Vin
placed his hand on Maze’s shoulder. “Hey, man, that was one wicked ass fight.
I’ve never seen you move better. And I just want to thank you for the money I
made off that fight.” He waved his other hand around. “It helped pay for this
little party here,” Vin laughed.

Someone
called his name and he turned in that direction then nodded. “I gotta make my
rounds but I’ll come back. Have fun.” He shook Maze’s hand. “Ivy, real nice
meeting you.”

“You,
too,” I replied.

Vin
gave me a quick hug then got swallowed up amongst the bodies.

“Come
on,” Maze said, moving farther toward the center of the roof.

Good
thing the place wasn’t too packed. Not like the only other time I’d been there.
If it were I’d have had a hard time maneuvering through a crowd on a crutch.

It
was a little chilly up there, but the heaters placed throughout took the edge
off. The view of the Empire State Building and the skyline of the city was
stunning and worth a little shiver. We found a low sofa for two and Maze took
my crutch and placed it against the arm. Before we sat down, he pushed the
table away a little more so I could stretch my leg out. His thoughtfulness
warmed me to my soul.

“This
is a great view,” he said, twisting to look at the vista over his shoulder then
he looked back at me. I shivered.

Maze
wrapped his arm around me. “Cold?”

“No,
a little warm actually.” And I was. My reaction had nothing to do with the
external temperature but the way he made me feel. Excited.

Maze
found us a spot right near a heater and I took off my jacket. A waitress came
over to us and asked if we needed anything from the bar. She also left us a
little platter of appetizers.

“Nice,”
I said when she walked away. “Your friend certainly knows how to throw a party.

Maze
chuckled. “Yeah, he does.” He picked up a little puff creation off the plate
and held it in front of my mouth. “Open.”

He
placed it on my tongue but I clamped my lips around his finger so he had to
pull it out. He did, real slow. “Damn girl.”

I
grinned, chewed, and then leaned forward to kiss him. The waitress came back
with our drinks and she placed a large red reserved sign on the table in front
of our seats. “If you wish to move around this should ensure your place is
saved.”

“Thanks,”
Maze said.

After
she moved off, he picked up his shot of Cuervo Gold and I grabbed my beer. “To
us.” He raised his glass toward me and I clinked my bottle against it.

“To
us,” he repeated.

We
drank and I swayed in my seat to the rhythm of the music. It had been too long
since I danced. And I hated it.

“Do
you want to dance?” Maze asked.

“I
want to, just not sure with this stupid cast.”

“Come
on.” He insisted as he grabbed the crutch near him and handed it to me. He
stood up and moved aside, pushing the table out so it was easier for me to
hobble past it. Then he led us to the dance floor. We stayed toward the edge of
it and danced. I’d never enjoyed dancing more. Maze took my crutch, but placed my
arms around his neck. Hanging onto my crutch, he wrapped his arms around my
waist, holding me up and we gently moved from side to side.

After
we danced a few songs he asked, “Ready to sit down?”

“Yeah,
I’m getting a little tired.”

He
led the way back to our table, but as I glanced past him I saw a couple of guys
sitting there, and a third standing behind the seat. I’d left my jacket draped
over the back of it yet people still sat there, ignoring the red reserved sign.
Where was our waitress?

I
rested my hand on Maze’s shoulder, and I felt the muscles in his shoulder
tense. Despite that, he didn’t stop walking until we reached the table.

“I
believe those seats are reserved for us,” he stated. His voice low and cold.
I’d never heard him speak that way. Not even the last couple of times I’d been
with him when he fought. I prayed this wasn’t going to revert into one of
those. I couldn’t take it.

Please no.

“Maze,
right?”

What? The guy knew him?

 
The one who’d spoken had Asian features
but his hair was dyed white blond and he had black roots. The other person
seated next to him also had Asian features but his hair was black. Both men
appeared slender and perhaps Maze’s height.

Maze
didn’t reply, but the freeze radiating off his body, if such a thing were
possible, sent a chill down my spine. I kept a grip on Maze’s shoulder, trying
to hold him back but knowing if he decided to fight I would not be able to stop
him.

His
silence didn’t prevent the man from continuing to talk like Maze had replied.
“Yeah. Saw you fight the other night. I lost a shit load of money. But you
already knew that.”

Still
Maze said nothing.

The
guy smirked. Clearly, he planned to bait Maze. “Since you are Maze and I don’t
see that name here, as far as I’m concerned this table was reserved for me.”

“I
don’t see your name on it either,” Maze countered.

“Yes,
you do. It’s reserved,” Maze’s tormentor said. The other guy sitting beside him
and the one hovering in the back of the couch laughed their asses off. Just
then the waitress showed up.

“Excuse
me,” she said. “That seat’s already taken.”

“Yeah,
by me,” Asshole answered, snickering.

“It’s
okay,” Maze said, “We’re checking out.”

I
slipped my hand off Maze’s shoulder and entwined our fingers. He squeezed them.

“Oh…okay,”
the waitress replied. “There’s no charge, Vin took care of it. Excuse me,” she
said. She leaned near asshole to grab the jacket I’d left on the sofa. She had
to tug it because the dude leaned back against it and didn’t seem to want to
budge. Maze squeezed my hand even harder, but the waitress managed to yank the
jacket and handed it to Maze.

“Thanks,”
he said and he turned around. I didn’t have to be told twice to get the hell
outta there. I almost stumbled when I heard the last taunt.

“Pity
you turned out to be such a pussy and quit the arena before I could cut your
ass down.”

I
didn’t dare slacken my hold on Maze’s hand. I kept moving and he remained
walking alongside me. We took the elevator to the exit level. Maze pulled his
phone out and texted Terry. We made it out of the club and the car was there to
greet us. I wasn’t sure Terry even moved from the spot. It wasn’t until Maze
and I sat safely in the car that I was able to exhale. I turned and stared at
Maze. His gaze remained straight ahead, his profile rigid with anger. That was
okay. I was fine with that, and it was understandable. But I was proud he
hadn’t given into it. He’d told me the truth; he wasn’t fighting any more. I
leaned against him and he turned his head looking right at me.

He
sighed. “I’m sorry about that. Sorry our night out got ruined.”

Raising
his arm, he placed it over my shoulder and pulled me closer to him. I lifted my
leg and placed it over his. He leaned into me in response, kissing my neck.

The
rigidness of his body relaxed more as he leaned against mine. I put my palm on
his face, and his warmth rushed into me. “No. There’s nothing for you to be
sorry about. I had a great evening with you. Love you.”

“Love
you, too.” He shifted and pulled out his phone. “I’m just texting Vin to let
him know we bounced and I’ll catch him later.”

“I
liked him.”

“Yeah,
he’s one of the good ones.”

“Did
you…did you know those other guys?”

He
raked his fingers through his soft silky hair. “Only the one doing the talking
and only by reputation.”

“Is
he a fighter?”

“Yes.
But I never fought him. And won’t now.”

I
smiled at the grim expression on his face. “I’m glad you didn’t let them get to
you.”

“It
wasn’t easy, but it’s time for me to learn to walk away.” He combed his fingers
through my wavy curls. The man had a hair fetish. “I have you to thank for
that. I know you don’t like me fighting and I promised you I won’t outside of
training.”

“Yes,
you did, and I see you’re a man of your word.”

“I
promised you something else, too. Someday I want to give you everything. Don’t
give up on me, okay?”

I
smiled and nodded. I glanced out the window to see where we were and realized
Terry was taking us back to Chinatown. “Are we headed to Chinatown tonight?”

“Yes.”
He nuzzled my neck. “I got text confirmation earlier and forgot to tell you.
The mattress got delivered this evening. I had one of the managers at the gym
let them in. So we have a mattress to break in.”

“I
do like the way you think.”

My
phone rang. It was a call from my mom. I glanced at Maze and mouthed, “My mom.”
He kissed the side of my neck as I accepted the call and sat quietly next to me
rubbing my thigh. Mom just wanted me to know she’d arrived home safely. They
all did.

I
hung up and smiled at Maze. “Mom said to tell you hi and that she enjoyed
meeting you again.”

“Me,
too. I noticed you didn’t mention your new living arrangements.”