Nerdy Girl Nation (Nerdy Girl #1) by Lindsey Gray

recipient of the Emma MacLean death stare. Harry promptly laughed the expression off and took Emma's glasses from her face.
    Emma gathered every ounce of courage in her at the moment and took Aaron's hand to help her into the ring.
    “Cherry, I'd like you to meet a friend of mine, Emma MacLean.”
    “Wow,” Cherry exclaimed. “Honored to meet you. I am a big fan.”
    Emma accepted Cherry's outstretched hand to shake. Cherry had a similar build to Emma and the same dark hair. The two women differed only in skin tone and eye color. Where Emma’s skin shimmered with only a slight golden hue from her occasional trips to the beach, Cherry glowed with a natural caramel tone due to her Cuban ancestry. Emma always thought light brown eyes like Cherry’s would’ve suited her better, but her entire family sported the ice blue color of the MacLean clan.
    “I'm a fan of yours as well. I loved the submission hold you put on Steffi in your last match,” Emma said with an edge of excitement.
    “I can show you if you'd like. Peaches?”
    Emma was formally introduced to Peaches and the three ladies got down to business.

    Chance practiced a new move with Rob. At the last second, the ring next to him with female trio caught his eye. Rob laid Chance out flat.
    “What the hell?” Rob exclaimed while he extended his hand to help Chance to his feet.
    “Look who is in the next fucking ring.”
    The sight before him would make any straight man strain in his shorts.
    Cherry sat on the back of Peaches to show a submission hold to none other than Emma MacLean.
    Rob swallowed a few times to rid the dryness in his throat. He hadn’t set eyes on the raven-haired beauty in person since he was a teenager. After her email response to his condolence and offer of friendship, he’d prepared for this moment. Being in the same room with her again was exhilarating, yet a little overwhelming.
    “What do you think she's doing here?” Rob's voice trembled at the thought of coming face to face with her. He’d readied himself for Monday since Aaron told him she would be there. Nothing ever seemed to work out the way he’d hoped concerning Emma.
    “She's tight with Russell. Seems like she still has the camera crew with her. You should probably put a shirt on.”
    Rob glanced down at the sweat trailing down his chest. The world admired his shirtless chest on national TV weekly, but he wasn't sure he wanted the next impression he made on Emma to be of a sweat-drenched mess. He grabbed a towel and his shirt while Chance hopped out of the ring and walked over to the other one.

    “Perfect!” Cherry instructed. “You're a natural.” Cherry turned her head to Aaron. “You think we can convince her to fight in a real match?”
    Emma laughed as she got off Peaches and helped her up.
    “Never say never, Emma.” Harry cocked his eyebrow at her.
    Sometimes she hated how well her brother got her. He would pick this moment to remember her childhood daydream of becoming a women's champion. Harry would use this as an opportunity to share it with the world if she didn't shut him down.
    “Enough of your mouth.” Her eyes drifted from her brother to the crowd of people who gathered around the ring.
    Emma’s heart leapt into her throat. Rob Breyer stared right at her with a brilliant smirk on his face. Sweat drenched hair, crystal blue eyes, killer smile, and a body currently making her lady parts ache rattled her entire being.
    “Good to see you again, Emma.” Rob offered his hand to help her out of the ring.
    “You too, Rob.” She immediately backtracked. “I mean, Bobby.”
    “Rob is fine.” She realized she held his hand a bit longer than she needed to and reluctantly pulled away. “It's been a while.”
    “Twelve years.” Emma lost herself in his eyes, but the real world intruded when Aaron spoke up.
    “That's right, you two know each other,” Aaron mentioned with a sideways glance at Rob.
    “Emma was part of one of the most important days of