Page 161 of Little Sunshine

Ash held the eye contact as he reached down and adjusted his length. Even then, he had to fasten his suit jacket.

Definitely mutual torture.

Once Ash was set, he raised his chin, and I turned and opened the door. I didn’t get into the hall before a hand wrapped around my hip, and my steps were halted. He ran his rough fingertips along the lines and knots of the dress. “I owe Juliet a lifetime supply of Get-Out-Of-A-Snitch cards.”

Releasing my hip to take my hand, Ash started down the hall. The closer we got to the doors at the end, the louder the noise became. People were already taking their seats. And like the resort all week, it was packed.

We continued until we reached the first row, where Juliet and Cole already sat. Ash nudged me into a cushiony seat next to them. “I have to do my bullshit and make sure everything is good. I’ll try to make this quick, but the opening match will probably start before I’m back. Do not get out of this chair. Understood?”

I nodded.

He stared at me expectantly.

I hesitated, but only for half a second. “Yes, Daddy.”

I could’ve called him Behemoth, and he’d have accepted that, but it wasn’t like Juliet would be shocked by the name.

And even if someone else around was, I didn’t care. The proud smile he wore was all that mattered to me.

He pressed his smiling mouth to mine and left to do his bullshit. Whatever that meant.

Juliet leaned closer. “Soooo… I take it he liked the dress.”

“What makes you say that? I mean, you’re right, but what gave it away?”

She hooked a thumb over her shoulder. “Miles told Maximo that Ash barely looked at you before carrying you into a random office.”

My brows shot up. “That wasn’t his office?”

“Nope.”

That made it even better.

She waggled her brows. “Not to mention, Ash’s suit jacket is closed. It’s never closed.”

That made it even better, too.

A charismatic man spoke into a mic as he paced the fighting stage thingy. I knew nothing about boxing, but even I was beginning to get excited with all his hyping. More people streamed in, and every once in a while, Juliet pointed at one while she whispered gossip.

Maximo was back before Ash, and I was about to shift down the row to make room. But he just plucked Juliet from the seat, sat, and then positioned her on his lap.

“It’s a rule,” she said with an eye roll, like she wasn’t grinning about it.

“Ash has the same one.”

I wasn’t sure if it would apply to a crowded public place that was also his work, and I was surprised to realize I hoped it did—even if it would draw attention.

The lights dimmed, and someone else took over hosting duties as loud music thumped through the speakers. Two boxers were introduced and came jogging down the aisle right next to us. Juliet occasionally leaned in to tell me something, but what little I heard above the cacophony of chaos, I didn’t understand.

A bell rang, and the fighting started.

It wasn’t bad. Not at first. It mostly seemed like they were dancing around each other. What few punches were swung looked light. But after a few rounds, things changed. The guy in the yellow shorts punched a certain way that left his face unblocked. Juliet again told me what was happening, but I didn’t absorb any of it. Not when I was watching a murder.

The guy in the blue shorts found his opening and took it. He got the upper hand and was advancing, forcing Yellow to retreat. Yellow was still trying. He was throwing punches.

But he was mostly taking a beating.

I can’t watch this. I have to go.

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