From the wrong side of the tracks... Alyson Blake had learned early on that the only one she could depend on was herself. The only light in her life was a boy whom everyone agreed was destined for prison; but with his first kiss, he had set her soul on fire. Since the day the police dragged him away in handcuffs, she had managed to lead a quiet life, but when she attends an event fraught with mayhem, trouble resurfaces. The one person she can’t forget... Jamison Weston is the kind of guy dads load their shotguns for; endowed with a hot temper and a rap sheet as long as both tattooed arms. Known as “The Judge,” Jami’s hot temper, lethal fists, and cocky attitude have earned him respect and admiration both in and out of the ring. But just when he thinks he’s pummeled his past to death, Alyson Blake reenters his life. Two paths collide… After years of separation, Alyson is eager to reexplore the man who’s never left her thoughts, but for Jamison, she’s both the distraction he wants, but doesn’t need. As the two embark on a relationship that neither of them expected or bargained for, an outside threat closes in. When Alyson crosses the line of professionalism and takes her work home with her, her life is put in danger, leaving Jamison with no choice but to once again step in and become her protector.
 

When the arena was filled once again, Alyson settled in for the—blessedly—final fight of the night. She was kind of disappointed that the evening hadn’t turned out as she’d expected, but she had to admit, it was a nice change of pace. Different for sure. Not that she’d ever come back. Fighting just wasn’t her thing.

The room was plunged into darkness and “Bodies” by Drowning Pool poured out of the speakers. A chorus of booing and cheers charged the air, and Alyson’s interest piqued. She stood up with the rest of the crowd, her gaze riveted on the corner where spotlights had been trained. Out of the darkness a figure emerged surrounded by a group of equally tall and burly men actively pushing grasping hands away from the man in the middle.

Her blood raced a little faster in her veins, the frenetic energy surrounding her making her insides come alive. This had to be what was referred to as pack mentality, she mused. She craned her neck to glimpse another peek as the audience gave way to the fighter and his entourage.

Glancing at Olivia, she grinned at her friend, who was jumping up and down. Her hands were cupped around her mouth as she shouted words that were immediately eaten up by the blaring music and hundreds of ravenous women clamoring for attention. Turning her attention back to the fighter, Alyson saw that he was coming around to her side of the ring where a group of men stood waiting for him.

As he approached, his head lowered, she felt her excitement ratchet higher, and her gaze turned piercing as she waited for his face to be revealed. His bodyguards circled around him, creating a barrier between the fighter and an unknown number of grasping hands, forcing Alyson to stand on her toes and lean precariously to see what was happening. A few short steps away from her, the fighter finally looked up, only to turn swiftly and hug each of the men on his crew. She caught only a glimpse of him, but it was all that she needed. Alyson’s breath froze in her chest, and she felt her eyes bug out.

Holy crap, it couldn’t be.

Considering the brevity of the moment, she couldn’t say with absolute conviction that she knew the man, but something about him struck a chord inside of her, telling her she did even though she knew it was impossible. When he turned back around, he stripped his shirt off, revealing broad shoulders and the most defined set of pecks and abs she’d ever laid eyes on. Mouthwatering didn’t even begin to describe the man before her, and whether or not she knew a single thing about him didn’t matter, because she was in love.
 
 J.C. Valentine is the alter-ego of Brandi Salazar, whose enjoyment of erotic tales of romance spurred her to branch out and create her own. Brandi Salazar lives in the Northwest with her husband, their wild children, and far too many pets. As a university student, she studies literature, which goes well with her dream of becoming an editor. Brandi entertains a number of hobbies including reading and photography, but her first love is writing fiction-in all its forms.

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