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Aside from being a Top 10 Barnes & Noble and Amazon bestseller, SARAH ROBINSON is a native of the Washington, D.C., area and has both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in criminal psychology. She is newly married to a local police officer, Justin, who is just as much of an animal-rescue enthusiast as she is. Together, they own a zoo of rescues, including everything from mammals to reptiles to marsupials, and they volunteer and foster for multiple animal shelters.
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The Editor’s Corner
Looking for your next book boyfriend? I think I can help you out—check out these wonderful stories from Loveswept:
Something brand-new from Loveswept debut author Lynda Aicher, The Harder He Falls. Author Ellie Cahill releases a sexy, witty new adult story called Just a Girl. The first in the Bayard Hockey series comes from Kelly Jamieson, with Shut Out. New York Times bestselling author Missy Johnson steams it up with The Proposition. The third story in Cassie Mae’s LOL All About Love romantic comedy series holds true to its name, Crazy About Love. Readers will fall fast and hard and clamor for the next in Tina Wainscott’s Florida-set Falling Fast series with Falling Free. Sharon Cullen’s Highland Pride series continues with MacLean’s Passion, as Scotland’s most reckless smuggler meets his match in a beautiful spitfire who arouses a renewed sense of duty, camaraderie, and passion in him. New York Times bestselling author L. P. Dover sets hearts on fire in Defending Hayden, where a damaged football star teams up with the only woman who can take away the pain. More from Lavinia Kent’s Bound and Determined series comes in the form of Angel in Scarlet. And I hope you’ll agree that there are never too many men in kilts: Ladies, meet the Wild Highland Guardians, new from Violetta Rand in Her Highland Rogue.
Be in the know—friend us and like us on Facebook and Twitter.
Until next month ~Happy Romance!
Gina Wachtel
Associate Publisher
Read on for an excerpt from
Becoming a Legend
Kavanagh Legends
by Sarah Robinson
Available from Loveswept
Prologue
“I think you broke his nose,” Rory, his oldest brother, told Kane as he handed him a bottle of water in the corner of the Vegas octagon. The crowd buzzed with excitement, voices hoarse from screaming during the last few rounds. It was all Kane could hear, and it made the blood pound through his veins faster and faster as they cried for more.
Kane glanced across to his opponent in the opposite corner, similarly surrounded by coaches and trainers helping him prepare for the next round. Xavier’s nose was clearly crooked and gushing blood into a towel, but he didn’t seem concerned or in pain. Meaty, but short, Kane’s enemy was built like a tree stump, low to the ground and impossible to budge. Kane had quickly discovered that he wasn’t fast, or all that powerful, and he wasn’t going to be easy to take down.
Not that it really mattered. He was following someone else’s orders now. End it in the third round, not a minute sooner. Make it look believable; break his nose or something.
Everything Kane had trained for since the moment he’d first stepped into an octagon was staring him in the face. The fight of a lifetime, his dream of fame and fortune.
It was all happening right here, right now.
And he was going to lose it all. You can’t win, Kane.
His father’s hand landed on his shoulder. “Ready for round three? He’s trying to tire you out; don’t let him.”
“Got it.” Kane stood and shook out his limbs, then handed his brother the water bottle back and pushed his mouthpiece into place. All four of his brothers and his father clapped him on the back and shouted words of encouragement over the roar of the rowdy Las Vegas crowd before climbing out of the cage and continuing to cheer him on from the sidelines.
Xavier’s team cleared out as well, and the announcer divided them as he introduced the audience to the third round. Kane tuned him out, just focusing on his fists clenched in front of him. In less than three seconds, he’d have to make the biggest choice of his life.
The warning echoed in his mind as he stared at his opponent. You’ll do it, or everyone you love will pay your debt for you.
The words echoed and rolled in his gut, sickening him. He could win this fight; he wanted to win this fight. He’d spent his whole life preparing to win this fight. But now he had to choose between two of the most important things in the world to him—the fight or his family.
Seconds away, and he had no idea what he was going to do.
Those beady, black eyes entered his mind again and the threat rang loud and clear.
Take a dive…or else.
Chapter 1
“I don’t have time to go to a fucking party, Rory,” Kane said with a loud exhale as his fist crunched into the heavy bag his older brother was braced behind.
“Straighten your arm, hit it straight on,” Rory instructed as Kane continued punching the bag. “You’ve got to go. Ma would kill you.”
“You got engaged last spring, bro. Don’t you think when the leaves start changing you gotta stop milking the celebrations?” In fact, it had been at the state championship Kane had been competing in where Rory had popped the question to his then girlfriend, Clare. Everyone had gone all googly-eyed over the whole thing, and while Kane was happy that his brother was happy, he didn’t really care about romance, weddings, or “girly” things like that. Kane’s twin brother, Kieran, had fallen under the same ridiculous spell a few months later, proposing to his girlfriend, Fiona.
Now that the oldest two brothers of the five Kavanagh men were settling down, their mother was putting pressure on the rest to do the same. Her desire for grandbabies was getting out of hand.
Rory leaned into the bag harder as Kane continued to punch it. “It’s not an engagement party, it’s a joint bridal shower for Clare and Fiona.”
“Aren’t those things just for chicks? I’m not going to some pink-glitter party.”
Rory shrugged. “Apparently men are invited, too. They’re being all progressive or some shit—I don’t know. Ma said we gotta all show tonight.”
Kane rolled his eyes. “Fine, but there better be beer.”
“You can’t drink even if there is. You’re in training.”
“I’m getting drunk or I’m not going.” Kane slammed his fist on the bag a little closer to Rory’s head.
“Nationals is two months away, Kane. If you’re going to beat Xavier, then you’ve got to be at the top of your game, and I’m saying that as your trainer. You need to be in the best shape possible.”
Kane straightened up and pulled the wraps off his hands before turning to the young woman in a neon-green sports bra walking past them toward the treadmills that Legends Mixed Martial Arts gym had off to one side of the main room. “Excuse me, beautiful. Can I ask you a question?”
She paused her step and looked at him, fluttering her eyelids and giving him a flirtatious smile. “As long as it ends with you taking my phone number.”
Kane grinned at how easily women threw themselves at him. He loved every minute of it. “My brother here says I’m not in shape. What do you think?”
She stepped back slightly and looked up and down his body. A slow smile crept over her face as she paused at his abs and touched her tongue to her lips. He flexed his eight-pack, and when she caught her breath, he shot her a knowing grin.
“Oh, I think you’re doing just fine,” she said with an exaggerated wink as she p
icked up the phone sitting on the shelf next to where he was standing and programmed in a number. “And I’d be more than willing to test out your stamina tonight.” She set the phone back in place.
“Thanks, doll.” He winked back at her as she walked off with a purposeful sway in her hips, and he knew she was hoping he’d check out her ass. He did. She disappeared around a corner, and he turned back to Rory. “See? I’m having that beer.”
“Next time you hit on a random chick, how about you stop her before she puts her number in my phone,” Rory said, grabbing the phone off the shelf and scrolling through his contact list. “If Clare saw something like that in here, I’d be dead.”
“That’s why I leave my phone in my locker.” Kane shrugged. “I come here to train, and, unlike you, I don’t shit where I eat.”
While Kane avoided any romances or trysts at the gym his family owned, he had to admit that it was hard to refrain. There were some gorgeous women who came here, mainly because it was so well known for sponsoring some of the top mixed martial artists of the last decade. Rory’s romance with Clare had mostly flourished inside the walls of this gym, or at least the part Kane had seen when he walked in on them one morning having a naked sleepover in the middle of an octagon. Despite their breaking Kane’s cardinal rule, he had to admit it had turned out pretty well for his brother, and for Kane’s twin, Kieran. His future sisters-in-law were each one-of-a-kind women, and he not only respected them, he’d grown to love them both.
“Holy shit!” Rory’s eyebrows shot upward as he stared at his phone. “That girl put her number in my phone as Tonight’s Fuck.”
“Seriously?” Kane leaned over and read the new contact over Rory’s shoulder. “On second thought, maybe forward me that.”
“Fuck you.” A smirk lifted one corner of Rory’s mouth as he tapped the delete icon on his screen.
Kane just laughed and headed toward the locker room to shower. He wasn’t looking forward to the bridal shower tonight, but if there were a lot of hot women there, he might be able to get through it.
—
The blare of music could easily be heard in the night air outside of O’Leary’s Pub as Kane pulled open one of the heavy doors and walked inside. Only a few minutes late, probably not even enough to be noticed, he was pumped up and in the mood to meet a nice woman…for one night.
The moment his eyes had adjusted to the bar’s interior, his hopeful mood crashed around him. Glimmering fairy lights hung from the ceiling, obscuring the old bar lanterns. Soft white fabric covered walls that were usually forest green with dark wood paneling, giving the place more of a gauzy boudoir appearance than that of a bar. The high tables surrounded by tall barstools had been draped in shiny gold tablecloths adorned with elaborate centerpieces.
His lip curled. What the fuck…?
His brothers must have rented out the entire place for the night. Thick red velvet rope strung between heavy brass posts created a barrier beyond which lay a dance floor that looked like it had been laid down just for the occasion.
Well, that was something. He did love dancing. Nothing better in the world than grinding against a beautiful babe in public. And if he was lucky—
“ ’Bout time, Killer.” Kieran, his twin brother, smirked at Kane from a few feet away, using the name he used when fighting.
Technically, it had been Kieran’s name first, but Kane had stolen it from him when Kieran was incarcerated. It was a good name, and he had wanted it. He wasn’t sorry. He always went after what he wanted. Kieran had initially been angry, but later forgave him, joking that Kane had more of a killer instinct anyway. Damn straight.
“Hey, bro.” Kane clasped his brother’s hand as they bumped their shoulders together and gave each other a pat on the back. “Nice party.”
“That’s all thanks to this lady over here.” Kieran pulled away and wrapped an arm around the blue-eyed brunette sporting a large diamond on her ring finger.
Having spent a couple years in prison and now engaged to the beautiful Fiona and helping raise a sweet special-needs little girl, Kane had never seen his twin brother busier and happier. Kane was just glad to have him back, because those years apart were the worst. Kieran wasn’t just his brother, he was his best friend, and yet prison had changed all of that. Now Kieran was still a huge part of his life, but it was different. He’d been gone, and then jumped right into a serious relationship with an instant family. These days Kane saw Rory more often than he saw his own twin.
“And thanks to Clare,” Fiona added, smiling up at her fiancé. Kane gave Clare a hug next, wrapping her in his big arms like she’d been his sister his whole life.
“Where’s Shea tonight?” Kane asked, inquiring after Fiona’s younger sister as he gave her a hug. Shea had special needs and Fiona had become her legal guardian after their mother had been murdered. Both girls had completely stolen his heart over the last few months, and he’d do anything for them. It might not be official yet, but in his mind, they were both Kavanaghs.
“Kiera’s babysitting her at your parents’ house,” Fiona answered, referring to the young teacher who always babysat for her.
“What? Kiera’s not coming?” A broad-shouldered man standing nearby turned and stepped into the conversation uninvited. Fiona confirmed with a nod before Kieran whisked her away to greet other partygoers across the room. Frowning, Quinn crossed his heavily inked arms over his chest, flexing his muscles and making his many tattoos seem to come alive. “Couldn’t Fi have found someone else? Kiera should be here.”
Kane acknowledged his younger brother with a roll of his eyes. “For fuck’s sake, Quinn, make a move on the girl or move the fuck on.”
“Like you’re one to talk,” Quinn tossed back. “You and Nora have been flirting for as long as we’ve known her.”
Kane laughed and shook his head. “Correction, I’ve been flirting. She’s stonewalling me.”
“Whatever. It’s not like that with Kiera and me,” Quinn continued. “We’re just friends.”
“Friends that want to bang,” Kane continued.
“Ah, the first crass line of the evening, and you only just got here.” Nora Hannigan, Fiona’s best friend and now a frequent guest at every Kavanagh function, walked up next to him, one hand on her hip as she looked at him with disgust before turning to his inked-up brother with a warm smile. “Hi, Q, how are you?”
“I’m great, but I’m not the one you need to worry about.” Quinn gestured between her and Kane. “Ma told me to make sure you two don’t ruin the party with your bickering.”
“We don’t bicker,” the hazel-eyed beauty protested as she pushed her tight blond curls over her shoulders, letting them fall down her back.
“Bickering is for kids,” Kane agreed, sidling up beside Nora’s tall frame and wrapping an arm around her waist. “See? We can play nice and be adults.”
Quinn rolled his eyes at them both before leaving them alone. “Whatever, but you’ve got Ma to deal with if you keep hating each other.”
Kane grinned and squeezed Nora’s side slightly with his hand. “I think he bought that we don’t hate each other.”
“You mean you hope he bought it,” she said through a tight smile and gritted teeth. “Since you’re petrified of your mother.”
Kane chuckled, but she was partly right, because the last thing he ever wanted to do was upset his mother. He tightened his grip, pulling her in to his side. “Nothing wrong with a man respecting his mother.”
Nora didn’t answer, but she stiffened under his hand, which only made him want to provoke her further. Toeing the line, he slid his hand over the fabric of her dress to rest right above her bottom. It was there for only a second before she grabbed his arm and pinched—hard.
He winced, surprised how much it hurt even after she’d let go. “Fucking hell!”
“You just said you’d play nice.”
“Oh, I was,” he said, his voice husky and low as he stepped toward her.
She stepped
back only slightly before she found herself against the bar. He dropped one arm down on either side of her, gripping the bar’s edge with both hands as he trapped her between them. “Believe me, kitty, I can play very nice if you would retract your claws.”
She visibly gulped, her chest rising and falling faster than it had been a moment before. They were in a sea of friends and family, and yet it felt to him as if they were alone, trapped in the same bubble they always found themselves in when around each other.
The blood rushed through his ears, drowning out the noise of the party. It was just him and her; for a second, she looked like she was thinking the same thing.
Just as quickly, the flash of lust on her face was gone and she cleared her throat, standing up taller. “Kane, stop it. I don’t know what you’re trying to do, but nothing is going to happen between us. Never.”
He dropped one of his arms, making it easy for her to walk away if she wanted to. “Whatever you say, kitty.”
She slipped away quickly and he didn’t hide the fact that he enjoyed watching her walk away. When she glanced back at him, she caught his eyes on her bottom and rolled them, but he could tell she liked it. And he liked it even more.
Not one to waste time, especially when the music was so good, Kane headed for the dance floor to enjoy the party. It took only seconds before a not-so-sober brunette slipped her arm through his, batting long eyelashes at him as she pressed against him.
No words were exchanged, because none were needed. He wanted to dance, and she wanted to dance with him. He grabbed her hips and let the beat move them around the crowded dance floor. The song was fast and everyone was working up a sweat in the tight quarters, but he was enjoying every second of it.
Several songs went by and the brunette kept moving closer and closer. Normally, he wouldn’t mind, but for some reason, he wasn’t interested in taking things further with her. Strange.
The brunette turned around, shaking her backside as she pushed against him. His arms were at her sides and she pulled his hands to her waist, sliding his fingers down along the silky fabric of her short dress. He let go and pulled away, wanting to dance but not in the mood to feel up a stranger on the dance floor when his mind was on someone else.