I don't say anything as I skid to a halt in the doorframe of Mrs. Collins's office. My heart pounds and my chest moves rapidly with my breaths. Mrs. Collins has her car keys in one hand and a bundle of folders in the other. She's leaving. I'm too late.

Her forehead furrows. "Did you forget something, Haley?"

I force out the words before I lose my courage. "My ex-boyfriend hit me."

I said it... I said the words. My vision becomes fuzzy as I wait for the world to implode...as I wait for her hate and judgment and then I realize I crave her belief.

"He hit me." Suddenly the words aren't as painful. "He hit me and it wasn't okay."

Mrs. Collins sets her files and keys on the side of her desk. "No, it wasn't okay. Why don't you shut the door behind you and take a seat?"

Before I can do either of those things, I desperately search her eyes to see if she'll tell me the truth. "Am I going to be okay?"

"What do you think?" she asks in a kind, thoughtful way. In a way that makes me think that I may already know the answer.

My mouth pops open and Mrs. Collins moves around me and gently shuts the door. She's quiet as she slides around me again and sits behind her desk. "You look okay. You sound okay. And you're here talking to me. How do you feel?"

I sink into the chair across from her and drop my book bag to the floor. "I'm tired of handling this on my own because-" I wave my hand in front of my heart "-keeping it inside isn't working out for me."

She nods like she understands...like really understands. And the sincerity in her eyes gives me a flash of hope. "How about we start at the beginning? When did you first meet him?"

West Holding on to her elbows, Haley toes a rotted piece of floorboard in the corner of the living room. Isaiah gave Kaden and me a lead on the place. It turns out he lived here for a couple of months.

"What do you think Jax will do?" she asks. I glance away, unable to endure the worry lines on her forehead. Next week, Kaden, Haley and I are graduating. Haley's determined to stay in the camper and save her money for college and Jax...Jax is considering heading home.

"I don't know. He's worried about his mom and brothers."

Haley bites her bottom lip and a.s.sesses the walls.

"It'll look better once we get furniture," I say.

"The floor will fall through when you get furniture."

"Not true." I grab Haley's hand and guide her into the only bedroom. "See." I motion to the mattress and box springs I bought today. "Floorboards are still intact."

Haley claps her hands together and the pride radiating from her eyes causes me to grin. "You bought furniture!"

"Yep." And in one solid motion, I bend over, connect with Haley at her knees and flip her onto the mattress. "And I'm bent on trying it out."

She giggles and I love the sight of her light brown hair sprawled all around her. The strap of Haley's pink tank top slips off her shoulder and my heart freezes at the sight. "You're beautiful."

Haley becomes serious as she raises her fingers to my face and traces an outline of where my eye had been swollen weeks before. "You fought for me."

"Yes." And I'll be fighting again. Not for her so much as for me. I'm staying amateur and will be in the cage again in the fall. Haley's deferred the training to John, but what I like is that she's training along with me, though Haley has yet to decide if she's returning to the tournament ring.

I yank my shirt off and lower my head to taste Haley's lips. Shock registers through my body when she presses a hand against my chest. "I have something to show you."

"What?"

A s.e.xy smile tilts her lips. "Are you impatient or something?"

I prop my hands on either side of her head and kiss a trail from her renegade tank top strap to her neck, keeping my body from touching hers. "We haven't been alone in weeks, Haley, and I'll be living with your brother. How much alone time do you think he'll be giving us?"

We barely find enough alone time to kiss now and I don't foresee our opportunities improving with her brother sharing a room with me. But it's all worked out for the best. Haley's been talking with Mrs. Collins regularly, which means Haley's been dealing with some heavy s.h.i.t. Because of that, we've been taking it slow. Doesn't matter. I've waited this long for the perfect girl. I don't mind waiting a little while longer for her to be ready.

A contented sigh escapes Haley's mouth when I part my lips and kiss her neck deeper and longer. Her hands wander to my biceps and begin a gentle ma.s.sage that causes my head to spin.

"You don't fight fair," she breathes.

I chuckle against her sweet skin. "You're the one that taught me all about offensive attacks."

Before I can react, Haley twists her legs with mine and we roll without my consent, but how can I complain when I have such a beautiful creature lying on top?

She waggles her eyebrows. "Amateur."

"Give me a couple years and I'll be a pro."

Haley doesn't scoff at me like some of my old friends do when I tell them what I'm doing with my life. Instead, a twinkle in her eye says she believes in my dreams. It's a step-by-step process that will take years.

I'm allowing Dad to pay for my education at the University of Louisville. In return, I will work for him thirty hours a week during the summer and twenty during the school year. I work another five to ten for Denny at the bar and the two of us continue our f.u.c.ked-up relationship of never mentioning he's my father.

The rest of the time, I spend at the gym training and helping others train. I'm going to see how far I can take this...how far I can go.

Haley reaches back and produces a letter from her back pocket. "It's my answer on the scholarship. The one we did the videos for."

"What did it say?" I wrap my arms around Haley and I sit up so that she's straddling me.

Haley and I discussed Dad's offer to pay for her education. I even brought her to the house and Dad talked to her as well as my mom. She won't accept our money. She's hardheaded and stubborn and I love her more than my own life.

Haley's enrolled both at the University of Louisville and the community college. This scholarship will answer where she'll spend at least the next year.

"Well?"

She loses her spark. "I don't know. I haven't opened it yet."

Adrenaline pours into my veins. I'm more nervous about this than she is. "Are you going to?"

Haley slides off me and I immediately miss her warmth. She and I are like two separate halves to a whole. Separate in that the two of us could live life apart and be successful, but when we are together-when we are whole-that's when the magic happens.

She tucks the letter into the crevice between the bed and the wall. "I'll tell you what. Kiss me and when we're done, I'll open it."

I know her. Haley doesn't think she won. I slip my hand around her waist and pull her back into me. My lips roam her neck and my fingers lift the soft material of her tank top. "No matter what, you'll be okay."

Haley melts into me. "I know."

She lays a hand over mine and I stop, giving her a moment to collect her thoughts. It's hard for her to not live in her head and the time to process those thoughts is all she really needs.

"I'm scared of the rejection, but more..." She inhales deeply and I urge Haley onto my lap. With her head resting on my collarbone, she traces the spot on my chest where I had been bruised for weeks. "I want to be a sports trainer. Sort of like John, but not. I want to help athletes recovering from injury. Watching your sister learn how to walk again...personally learning how to battle through emotional injury... It's what I want to help people do for life."

I tip Haley's chin so her eyes meet mine. "Okay."

Her head shakes against my fingers. "No. I need someone to know this before I open that letter. When I applied for it, I was looking for money and I would have majored in kinesiology because that's what I had money to go to school for. I need someone to know before I get my answer that I'm choosing this degree...that it's not choosing me."

Of all the people in the world, she knows I understand. I lower my lips to hers and kiss the soft part between. She presses back and her hands move along my chest-a tickle, a caress and it's enough to set me on fire.

We roll and soon her tank joins my shirt on the floor. I explore her curves, enjoy the taste of her skin and memorize each hitch of breathing and soft sigh that escapes from her mouth. My mind reels when her body responds to me and the fierceness of the heat created.

Time loses meaning and the only thing left is her touch and her love. Soon we are gasping and holding and whispering words that will only be said between us. Then everything stills as colors burst into the world.

I edge Haley so that she's lying beside me. Her hair tickles my chest and I rub her spine, half awake, half reliving kissing her in a dream.

A crinkle to my right causes my eyes to shoot open and I s.n.a.t.c.h the letter held prisoner by the bed. I hand it to her and kiss her temple.

With her head resting on my arm, Haley stares at it for a moment before ripping the back seal open with her finger. The envelope falls away as she unfolds the letter. I search her face for any sign of frustration or hope. Every ounce of me tightens as I pray for a miracle.

With a short release of air from her lips, Haley refolds the letter and lets it drop to the floor. My head hits the back of the wall. Just f.u.c.k. How could they deny her?

I tighten my hold on her. "It's okay."

Haley runs a fingertip along my cheek and a smile forms on her lips. "Yeah, actually, it is. I won."

Acknowledgments.

To G.o.d: NIV John 15:1213-My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: that he lay down his life for his friends.

For Dave: with your forever gentle patience, you always let me know that I was worth fighting for.

Thank you to...

Kevan Lyon-I am continually honored to have you in my corner.

Margo Lipschultz-you out of anyone understand how difficult this book was for me. I will never forget your support, the phone calls and the encouragement. You have no idea how grateful I am for you.

Everyone who touched my books at Harlequin TEEN, especially Natashya Wilson and Lisa Wray. Honestly, you are all truly amazing!

Eric Haycraft, Scottie Sawade and the other fantastic people at Real Fighters Gym. I can't thank you enough for welcoming me into your gym. I also especially thank you for your patience with me, the girl who had to always think for a second about which one was her cross and which one was her jab and yet you still let me stay. The talent in your gym is world-cla.s.s and astounding.

Angela Annalaro-Murphy, Kristen Simmons, Colette Ballard, Kelly Creagh, Bethany Griffin, Kurt Hampe, Bill Wolfe and the Louisville Romance Writers: if it weren't for your continued support and love, this book never would have happened. Thank you from the deepest depths of my heart.

A huge thank you to all my readers and especially to Linda Marie Bofenkamp. It still amazes me to see my books for sale and I am forever humbled by my readers' love and support.

As always, to my parents, my sister, my Mount Washington family and my entire in-law family-I love you.

Katie McGarry and Harlequin TEEN are thrilled to announce the next book in the PUSHING THE LIMITS series!

Echo and Noah's story continues in BREAKING THE RULES, coming soon....

NOAH.

Echo shifts, and the cold rush of air against my skin causes my eyes to flash open. The Colorado State Park Ranger for the Great Sand Dunes wasn't kidding when he said temperatures drop overnight. I stretch the muscles in my back, then turn onto my side in order to touch Echo again. My palm melts into the curve of her waist.

She's curled in with her back toward me and she's tugged the blanket tight to her shoulder. Her tank top no longer provides protection against the elements. Last night was hot, in more ways than I can count, and the cover wasn't required for any of our activities-neither for the sleeping nor the kissing. Without a doubt, this has been the best d.a.m.ned summer of my life...

And look for the first book in Katie's brand-new series set in the dangerous and exhilarating world of motorcycle clubs, also coming soon!

Playlist Theme: "Harder to Breathe," by Maroon 5 "Wild Ones," by Flo Rida (feat. Sia) "Love Is a Battlefield," by Pat Benatar West: "Save a Horse (Ride a Cowboy)," by Big & Rich "Come Over," by Kenny Chesney "This Love," by Maroon 5 "Bitter Sweet Symphony," by The Verve Haley: "Fighter," by Christina Aguilera "The House That Built Me," by Miranda Lambert "Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)," by Kelly Clarkson "Roar" by Katy Perry Songs for Specific Scenes:

The night West and Haley meet:

"I Knew You Were Trouble," by Taylor Swift

West and Haley training in the gym: