Page 101 of Noel Secrets

“Don’t count on it,” Easton bragged. “I was trained by Papa Jared and could take down the likes of Aiden Porter.”

Price’s brows shot up and he looked to Rhett and Walker. “Does he have any idea how Aiden Porter fights?”

“Not in person, but we’ve watched videos. Easton’s full of a lot of hot air, but he has been well trained and has held his own with some special ops guys,” Rhett said. “We’ll stop the match if you thump him too bad.” He winked. “We don’t want Mama or Cassie coming after us.”

Walker nodded his agreement.

Price would stop before it got out of hand. He walked over to Addie. “I know you’ve experienced violence,” he said for only her to hear. “Will it trigger anything if I spar with him?”

“Has to get the lady’s approval,” Easton crowed, already taking his shirt off, grabbing the wrap, and shoving it at Walker. “Can you wrap my hands, bro?”

Price ignored him. He was focused on Addie.

“Will it be brutal? Like an MMA fight?” She worried her lip.

“No.” Price shook his head. “I’ll go easy on him.”

“Ha!” Easton interjected. “You’ll have to comfort your man tonight with lots of kisses, Addie. I’m going to destroy him.”

Addie didn’t protest that Price wasn’t ‘her man’. She smiled at Easton and then said in an undertone to Price, “Let’s see if you can hit him hard enough to stop his mouth.”

Walker and Rhett both busted up at that. Easton feigned injury. “Ah, that’s low, Addie. Everybody loves my mouth, especially Cassie.”

They all laughed.

“All right then.” Price’s excitement grew. Addie wanted to watch him fight. Would it soften her? A guy could hope, but using a mouthy bull rider for a punching bag might have the opposite effect.

Either way, he couldn’t wait to throw down and work out some pent-up frustration. Pulling his shirt off, he set it on a nearby bench. He straightened and looked to Addie. Her mouth was slightly open as her gaze trailed over his chest.

Easton strode up and chuckled at Addie. “Sheesh, Addie, have you never seen your specimen without his shirt on?”

“No,” she admitted in a quiet whisper.

“You can get your fill of checking him out while I use his body for a punching bag,” Easton told her, grinning widely. He clapped Price on the shoulder. “Do you have any other hobbies besides weightlifting, my friend?”

Price smiled at that. “One or two.”

“Pretty muscle doesn’t win fights,” Easton declared, winking at Addie.

“He gets my vote,” Addie said.

Easton hooted.

Price’s pulse took off. Forget sparring. If he’d known all he had to do to impress Addie was take his shirt off, he would’ve done it in the freezing cold.

Leading him away, Easton continued to taunt as he wrapped his hands.

“Don’t worry,” Easton said in an undertone. “I’ll give you a chance to look good before I finish you. Who knows? Maybe getting thumped will make her want to nurse you back to health.”

Price laughed. This wouldn’t be a fair fight, but it would be a lot of fun.

Even with the distraction of getting ready to spar and the hope of Addie being interested in him, that ticking clock in his head remained.

Chapter Twenty-One

Addie stood next to Rhett and Walker outside the ring as Price and Easton sparred. They were both incredibly strong, their upper bodies well-muscled with some significant scars. She wanted to ask Price about each scar as she had last night with the scars on his face. Truth be told, she wanted to touch and kiss each one.

Price stepped into his element and performed. He effortlessly dodged Easton’s blows and the hits he delivered to Easton were smooth and perfectly timed. It was obvious he was an elite fighter. A soldier. A hero.