Tyler's Undoing (Gloves Off #1)(65)

Stepping away, I turned around and faced him. “A ploy? What are you talking about?”

This time it was Paxton who stepped forward and spoke, “Like we said . . . your brother’s been keeping tabs on him. I’m sure you found that out when you saw the video.”

How could I forget? But was it really just a hoax? “Yes, I saw it,” I snapped, turning my glare to Tyler. “So are you saying it was fake? That you didn’t go out and sleep with the nearest whores you could find?”

When I tried to walk away, Tyler grabbed my arms and held me firm. “Goddammit, Kacey, no. It was a scam . . . all of it. That video was intended for you and Kyle both to see it. I didn’t go out that night and f*ck a bunch of women. Kyle needed to see me fighting like shit and he needed to see you upset. I wanted it to be believable.”

Paxton nodded his head when I looked over at him. “It’s true, Kacey. I’m the one who took the video and sent it to your brother.”

“What? But I thought you weren’t speaking to him anymore?” I asked skeptically.

“I wasn’t, until he called me. When word got back to him that we were seen together in Phoenix, he called and told me about what happened between you and Tyler. I played along and told him I wanted you back and would help him. That’s why I sent him the video and told him to show it to you.”

“So what happens now? Did you tell him I’m here in California?”

Tyler’s jaw clenched and Paxton sighed. “Yes, he knows you’re here. Thankfully, none of his friends saw you go to the gym last night and break down. Your brother thinks you’re here with me . . . and that we’re back together.”

“Oh my God,” I grumbled. Paxton bit his lip and stared at me, his expression troubled. Tyler, on the other hand, was tense and angry. “Why do you both look like that? Is there something else going on I should know about?”

Tyler took my hands and pulled me to him. “Your brother wants Paxton to show you off at the fight in hopes of distracting me.”

That didn’t surprise me. “Yeah, he mentioned something about me sitting in his corner. What’s so bad about that? You know it’s not like that anymore between me and him.”

“That’s not the point, Kacey. To be convincing, you can’t just sit beside each other and everything be good. He’s going to need to touch you and make it look real. I can’t stomach the thought of his hands on you, or worse . . . seeing you enjoy it.”

“Also,” Paxton said, cutting in, “I’m fighting for my own title Saturday night, so I’ll need you with me. I’ll be in Vegas on Friday and I know Kyle expects us to be together. I figured you could either stay with me in a hotel room, or I could stay at your house. Which do you prefer?”

“Neither,” Tyler mumbled.

“You can stay at my house,” I told him. “I have a spare bedroom you can sleep in.”

Tyler’s jaw tensed. “And so help me God, you better stay in that room, Emerson.”

Paxton chuckled and picked up my suitcase and purse. “I’ll think about it,” he taunted wickedly. “Now get out of here. I told Kyle that Kacey would be heading back to Vegas later tonight. So you have the day to yourselves.” He handed Tyler my things.

Before walking into the hallway, I lifted up on my tiptoes and hugged him tightly around the neck. “Thank you, Pax,” I whispered. “I’m sorry you’re getting drug back into my brother’s mess.”

Rubbing his hands down my back I could hear the smile in his voice. “I’m not worried about it, Kace. I’d do anything for you, you know that.”

“I know.”

For once, I actually felt whole again. It almost seemed surreal. Tyler was mine, but it was only for the day. If there was a way to freeze time, this would be the day.





BEFORE LEAVING PAXTON’S house, I washed up in the bathroom, changed into an olive green tank top and jeans, and brushed my teeth. While waiting, Tyler called Matt and told him what happened and that he wouldn’t be at the gym. I didn’t want him to lose valuable training time, but I also wanted to be selfish and have him all to myself.

“Are you sure you don’t need to train today?” I asked, tying my hair up into a ponytail. Tyler reached for my hand and brought it to his lips. “No, I’ll train tonight. All I want to do is spend today with you. I know we have a lot to talk about.” That was an understatement.

“Where have you been staying since you’ve been here?”

“At a hotel. I’m going to take us to another one just in case he has someone watching.” He looked over at me, lifting his brows. “Why?”

“I don’t know,” I mumbled, shrugging my shoulders. I turned my head and looked out the window. “I guess I figured you’d go running back to Gabriella after what happened.”

“Kacey, no,” he thundered. “I haven’t even spoken to her since I’ve been in town. I’ve stayed true to my word and kept my distance because I love you.”

“Then why were you so cold to me last night? Why would you do that to me?”

His expression darkening, he looked weary. “Because, I never know when one of your brother’s friends are watching. I took a gamble coming after you last night, but I couldn’t let you go. My plan was to find you after the fight on Saturday and tell you everything. And then, when you came in and I saw you in pain, it was the worst feeling I’d ever felt in my life. In that moment, I didn’t care about anything other than finding you.”