“A Ring for Christmas” by Wendy Ely
Blurb: Nautica Pepper learned from an early age that nobody can stop her from following her dreams. She’s one of the few women boxers at One Punch Gym and demands that the women fighters get the same amount of attention as the men. With work on her mind, she doesn’t want to notice the hot guy who wants to join the One Punch family.
He wants nothing but the best! Javier Cruz already landed himself in a match with Trent McGibbon once before and won! Trent’s trainer, Felix Manzi, is the best in the biz, and Javier isn’t too proud to beg for a chance at joining the rest of the crew at the elite gym. If he trains with the best, he’ll be the best, right? He has one chance to prove himself to Felix and to Nautica. Felix gives him a fight on Christmas Eve that Javier can’t miss. But a family emergency sends him racing across the border.
Will Javier make it back in time to fight? Will Nautica decide that loving Javier is worth the risk?
EXCERPT
“Good job, Gibbs,” Nautica yelled over the crowd before turning around to head back to her hotel room, but a man leaning against the doorframe caught her attention and stopped her in her tracks. She took a few steps closer. Wasn’t that the guy who’d been Trent’s opponent when he’d broken his hand? Another few steps. Same dark hair. Same dimpled cheeks. So sexy, broad shoulders. When she’d watched the fight between Gibbs and this guy, he’d been shirtless. Now he wore a suit jacket with a button-down underneath. No tie, but that was fine. This fighter oozed sex appeal that made her heart race and her panties damp. Too close to him now. She snapped her attention back to his face, and grumbled, “Excuse me.”
He stepped to the side to allow her to pass through the door, but said, “Aren’t you from One Punch Boxing?”
“Yeah,” she mumbled. Just because they were gorgeous didn’t mean they were smart, too. Her jacket read the gym’s name.
“Then I’ll be seeing you soon.”
“Huh?” Her eyes narrowed, trying to scan his face for an explanation of his statement. Just two dimples doing their best to twist her insides in a knot. Oh hell, they were doing their job, too.
“See you soon,” he repeated.
She shook her head as she walked away. Did he mean that he’d be joining the One Punch boxing crew? Hell no. He’d won against Trent. The boxers at One Punch were like a family, not quick to invite others into the mix. Besides, Felix didn’t like it when his players lost a fight and certainly when they got injured. Especially not to that guy.
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**About author, Wendy Ely: Wendy Ely is a USA Today bestselling author, who writes some romantic suspense, really hot stories, and the wonderful happily-ever-after. She lives in Phoenix, Arizona with her two teenagers, and two crazy cats. When she isn’t busy writing new stories, she enjoys time outdoors by taking trips to the hot desert or swimming at the lake.