Perfect Match (19 page)

“It’s okay. What time is it?”

Jackson looked on her nightstand. “9:45 am.
Want to go to breakfast?”

“That sounds great. Let me get dressed.” She
started to get up but he stopped her by gently tugging on her arm
back down onto the bed.

“Not so fast, baby.” He smiled and she
reached up behind his neck and pulled him down until his lips were
on hers. Her tongue sent ripples of desire through him, and he knew
that they weren’t quite ready for breakfast yet. He could have
spent the whole day in bed with her. He was actually going to
suggest that, and then her phone rang.

“I have to get that,” she whispered.

“I know.”

He reached for the ringing phone and handed
it to her.

She looked at the caller ID and gasped. “It’s
Pop.”

“It’s okay. He doesn’t know I am here.”

She smiled at him and hit the speaker phone
button and said, “Hi Pop.”

“Hey. I didn’t wake you, did I?”

“No. I’ve been up for a few minutes. What’s
up?”

“I wasn’t sure if you would be awake yet. You
seem like you’re not getting ‘nuff sleep. You really should make
sure you sleep more.”

She looked at Jackson and smiled. Jackson
smiled back and thought if Larry only knew the real reason why she
hasn’t been sleeping much. “I’m alright. Is everything cool over
there?”

“Couldn’t be better. I’m having dinner
tonight at the house. Jennifer is coming over with Paul so I
figured I’d make it a family get-together.”

“Sounds good. I’ll be there.”

“I knew you would. I think I’m going to call
Jackson and his old man as well. Paul gets a kick out of hanging
out with the guys.”

She looked at him like she was going to
protest, but Jackson just shook his head. “Okay, that sounds good.
I’ll see you around 4?”

“Yep. Talk to you later.”

“Bye Pop.” Noelle waited until she made sure
that the phone was off before she said, “Well tonight is going to
be swell!”

“What’s the big deal?”

“You are coming over to my father’s house for
dinner.”

He laughed, “I’ve been to Larry’s house
before.”

“Yeah, but how are we going to be able to
hide us there? I know he’ll be able to see how we feel for each
other as soon as we are in the same room. Shit, Jennifer is going
to be there! She is going to know right away! Jackson why did you
agree to this?”

“Noelle, relax. I promise you. Larry and my
dad are going to be trying to impress Paul with some of their
stories. Larry will want me to be Bullet for a bit. It’s going to
be fine. The only person you are going to have to worry about is
your sister. You don’t think she’ll beat me up, do you?” Jackson
teased.

“Be serious. I’ve just accepted my feelings
and this. I haven’t figured out how to handle anyone else in this
relationship,” Noelle said trying to sound calm.

“I am not going to do anything to screw this
up. It will be fine. I’ll hardly speak to you tonight if that will
make you feel better.”

Noelle pretended to pout, “Not at all.”

He kissed her. “Then trust me. Trust us. It
will be okay.”

“You’re what!” Noelle practically spit after
she heard her Pop’s announcement. She heard him loud and clear;
however she wasn’t so sure of his sanity. She didn’t have to worry
about Pop catching on about her relationship with Jackson. No,
there was a much more ridiculous issue to tend to.

“Don’t you go getting all protective on me,
Lady. Howie and I have been doing this for longer than you’ve been
alive. It’s one match.”

“It’s going to be the match of the year!”
Howie agreed and clinked his beer bottle to Larry’s.

“Jackson, can you believe this?” Noelle was
hoping to have an ally with him.

He shrugged, “I don’t see what the big deal
is. This has been a match that the fans have been wanting to see
for years. I think it’s smart to do it at the Holiday in Hell
event. Every main event has a throwback match.”

“Yeah, but not one that involves my Pop.”

“Why are you getting all bent out of shape?
Howie and I can wrestle each other with our eyes closed. It’ll be
okay.”

“I hate to point out the obvious, Pop, but
you aren’t in the same shape you were in twenty years ago.”

“I’m not in bad shape. We all get older.”

“Jennifer, can you help me on this? Why am I
the only one who thinks this a bad idea?”

“Pop, this does seem a little…crazy,”
Jennifer agreed, “Why now?”

“Because I used to be one of the greats. I
run a damn good school. I just want to have one more great moment
in the ring. I don’t expect you girls to understand that, but it’s
something I want to do before the fans don’t care anymore,” Larry
admitted.

Noelle felt as if all eyes were on her. She
could understand where Pop was coming from. It was hard not to get
caught up in the excitement backstage. “Fine. I get it. Besides,
it’s not like you are getting into the ring with one of the newer
guys.”

“I could take them,” Larry said
defensively.

Jackson snorted, “I bet you could.”

“Don’t encourage him.”

“I know what I’m doing, girls. Trust me.”

Noelle stole a glance at Jackson for
reassurance. He nodded that it was going to be okay. He knew better
than her. His assurance helped her feel better about this. She
didn’t think that things could get any better in her life. She was
wrong. She got an interesting text from Jackson right there while
sitting with everyone…

LET’S GET OUT OF HERE SO I CAN HAVE YOU ALL
TO MYSELF.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Larry couldn’t concentrate on anything
tonight. The school was closed up for the night and he wanted to
see the script for the next show, but he couldn’t stop thinking
about his life. It was pretty good. He couldn’t wrap his mind
around the fact that he was going to do one last match and most
likely announce that he would be retiring. It had been a long road,
and he knew that he couldn’t teach the way he used to. He’d be an
advisor still, but he didn’t know how much longer he’d be able to
show the new kids the moves. Yep, retirement seemed imminent. He
chuckled at that thought. What was he going to do with himself in
retirement? At least he had some ideas for the future of his
beloved school. Retirement? He’d go damn crazy.

He thought of Jennifer and Paul and their
announcement. Could he really be the type of man that took care of
his grandchildren? He never thought of himself as such a man, but
in a few months, he’d be a grandfather. That was such an
overwhelming thought to him. He had to sit down. He never expected
to be so excited over the announcement of a grandbaby. A baby?
Ruckus Reid to be a grandfather? He was so happy and at peace
because he knew that Jennifer was going to be alright. Noelle is
who he worried about. She was always so concerned about him and
making sure he was happy, that he worried that she wasn’t out
making a life for herself. She worked too much, this he knew. He
just wished that she’d find someone to go along in this life’s
journey with. He never liked any of the boys she brought home. She
needed to find a guy that would be interested in her job, and had a
sense of humor. The guy would need one, being with Noelle. Maybe
she wouldn’t be so serious then. The guy would also have to be okay
with her friendship with Jackson. Jackson. That is what she needed.
A guy kind of like him. The thought seemed to comfort him. Tony and
Jerry came in and instantly wanted to know what he thought of the
script.

“I thought I heard Pop’s voice,” Noelle said
as she came into the back office. She had just finished up three
massages and was looking for a quick break. “Are you bragging about
you being a grandpop in a few months?”

“Hell yes. I have been telling everyone I
see. I’m going to have a baby Ruckus soon.”

“That is all he’s been talking about,” Jerry
said.

Noelle gave him a smile but didn’t get a
chance to really say something more because the double doors busted
open and Jackson was being helped in by Mike and Kevin.

“What the hell?” Larry asked stepping towards
the guys to help get Jackson in. Tony made a beeline towards them.
“Jackson, are you okay? You can’t be hurt. You have too much coming
up.”

“I’m okay. I took a bump wrong. I’m fine. I
just need to stretch it out.”

“Noelle,” Tony said and everyone looked
towards her. “Can you work your magic on Jackson?”

She hesitated for a moment, and Larry could
tell she seemed nervous about something. “Yeah, I’ll go grab some
ice.”

“I think I need a massage.” Jackson said
stopping her in her tracks. She slowly turned around and looked at
him.

“You think that will help, Son?” Larry
asked.

“I do, sir.” Jackson said.

“Get him a table,” Larry ordered, “Good thing
that we have the best PT that Pittsburgh has right here working for
us.”

“That’s what I hear,” Jackson said as he
accepted help onto the table.

Noelle watched the chaos unfold all around
her. Jackson in need of a massage. Her Pop more than eager to
volunteer her services. Well okay, it was her job, but this was
Jackson. Just the thought of touching him and rubbing her hands all
over his body was enough to drive her insane, and not the kind that
she wanted to be driven at work where her very scary father
worked.

“I think I just need some muscles worked out.
I’ve been feeling a bit stiff lately,” Jackson said, and when he
was able to get her attention he winked at her. “Word is you give
the best massages around,” He said as he lay on the table. Noelle
realized at the moment Jackson winked at her that he faked this
whole thing so she’d get a chance to work on him. The idea excited
and infuriated her at the same time. At least her work would be
done in private. “Okay, give me about twenty minutes and he’ll be
as good as new.” Noelle waited as the other guys began to leave the
room. Mike and Kevin left quietly while Tony and Larry were
discussing something. When that conversation was finished, Larry
walked over to them. “Okay, so we have got to get him fixed up.
He’s got great things coming up.” Larry said as he took a seat,
“You’ll be fine, Son.”

“Pop,” Noelle said, “I’m working here.”

“I know. I’m just going to talk him through
this. He needs to be okay. Also there were some quick changes Tony
asked me to cover with Jackson before the show tonight. Not much
time, so we have to do what we can to get him as good as new.”

Oh my God, she was going to kill Jackson for
getting her into this mess. How was she going to be able to do her
job, on him while her Pop was sitting there the whole time?

Jackson was going to pay dearly for this, she
vowed.

She started on his calves, and spent more
time than was needed on them. She figured they were a safe spot. As
she focused on his calves, she was only half listening to the men.
Her thoughts were focusing on how hot this man was, and how he was
all hers. He was rock hard, even his calves. He really did need to
loosen up his muscles a bit. They were a bit tense. She decided
that she couldn’t just work on his calves, so she moved up to his
thighs and worked that area for a bit. She skipped his butt
altogether, that was just too tempting. She started on his lower
back and began to hear more of their conversation and realized that
somehow they stopped talking about tonight’s show.

“Yeah, I do get asked out quite a bit.” She
heard Jackson say.

“I’m sure you do,” Larry chuckled, “I’m sure
they are beating down your door now that you are the champ.”

“It’s extreme now. Some of them are my type
too.” Jackson laughed. Noelle pressed his muscle with all of her
strength. “Ouch!” He yelped in pain. Her grip on him just got
rougher. The more he talked to Larry about obsessed fans, the
rougher the massage got. “Noelle, you are hurting me.”

“Oh, sorry,” she grumbled, “I must have hit a
nerve.” She smiled to herself. Jackson’s statement was so funny. He
was so big, and here she was hurting him. That will teach him. She
went back to working on him, trying to be more gentle. She was mad
and it was hard to not let him know it.

“Okay, I think you’re straight for tonight,”
Larry said getting up. Noelle noticed that it was a bit slower than
normal, but he slapped Jackson playfully on the shoulder and kissed
Noelle on the cheek. “See you guys later.”

When Larry was out of the room and they were
completely alone Noelle stopped and said, “I can’t believe you did
that!”

Jackson sat up on the table and said, “I
wanted a chance to get another massage from the best. How was I
supposed to know that it would backfire and Larry would be here the
whole time? I wanted to only be wearing a towel.”

“It’s almost like he knew,” Noelle mused.

“Weird, huh? Oh and you suck. You are
painful.”

“I’m very good at what I do, Jackson.”

“So why were you hurting me?”

“Because I didn’t want to hear about all the
crazy ladies that follow you around.”

“What’s the matter? Did I hit a nerve?” He
asked kissing her quickly on the cheek. She smiled in spite of
herself. He was too charming to be angry with for long. “Don’t
worry. I wanted to throw Larry off by making him think I was fan
crazy.” He stood up right in front of her and bent down to her ear.
“Tell you what. I promise to not talk like that again if you
promise to give me a real massage later.” He said softly. She felt
his warm breath on her cheek and neck and instantly got goose
bumps. She was a lost cause when it came to him, and he knew it.
For once she didn’t have a witty comeback. She just looked into his
eyes and knew it was risky, but she didn’t care and placed her lips
on his full perfect lips. She slid her hands up to wrap them around
his neck and he wrapped his arms around her. He crushed her to him
and they shared a very intimate kiss, almost like it was the first
kiss they ever had. She felt his tongue wander into her mouth and
moan a bit. His lips left hers and started to leave a trail of
kisses to her neck. “Jackson, you are so bad,” she whispered and
jumped when she heard the door open. She pushed Jackson away and he
stood back like she was fire. Noelle’s heart sank when she saw who
came in. “Oh, hey,” Kayla said. She stopped and looked at them
funny. There was no way that she saw them kissing, but she could
tell that something was up.