“A bigger café and spaces for other vendors to lease,” he said, watching me stare at his arm.
“May I touch it? I’ve never seen such detailed art.”
He smiled. “Sure.”
My fingers traced the thorns, vines, leaves, flowers, abstract shapes, and curvy lines that intersected, making everything look complex yet beautiful.
“Looks almost like a maze.”
Something sparked in his eyes. “You’re very perceptive.”
“What inspired it?”
He lifted a shoulder. “The will to survive.”
That one statement did something to my body. I didn’t know if it was his words, the honesty in them, or the flash of pain in his eyes that revealed a different side of Kain. What did he mean by the “will to survive”?
The mystery of Kain Kessler deepened.
“Will I get to find out what you survived?”
He didn’t answer right away. Instead, he looked at me for a long moment, making me think my question was too personal.
“If you’re uncomfortable with it, that’s okay. I’m just curious.”
He stepped up and tipped my chin up so our gazes met. His eyes took on a darker shade, more emerald with orange flecks.
“When the time is right, I’ll tell you.” His gaze intensified on me, awakening ripples of nerves. “But you might not like that version of me, Eva.”
“We all have our flaws.” I swallowed. “No one is perfect.”
“You’re perfect to me.” His voice grew low and hoarse.
I rolled my eyes. Not wanting to blush, I changed the topic. “Can I see the rest of this incredible fitness center?”
The gym was already crowded for the afternoon hours with people of various ages.
“I like your supportive area.” I looked at the older men and women working on ellipticals, treadmills, rowers, and even weights.
“We have trainers on staff in that room helping the older clients with the equipment.”
Fancy equipment and spacious rooms for specialized training and spaces for classes were located throughout the center. Kain took me into an empty room.
“Where’s everybody?” I looked around at the wooden dummies in the far corner of the room, the punching bags, and other complex-looking equipment.
“I reserved this room for you.”
“Oh,” I said, nerves spiraling within me.
I was self-conscious about my first self-defense class, so this one-on-one was perfect. But that also meant I’d be with Kain the whole time. The thought of it brought heat racing through my body.
True to his word, he started out slowly, giving me a summary of what self-defense was about. It required self-awareness and preventative strategies, like walking in well-lit areas. He demonstrated some basic moves, which included the ready stance, palm-heel strike, front kick to the groin, hammer fist punch, and so on.
After some stretching, Kain asked me to watch him, then practice the moves.
“Muscle memory is important. It’ll help you react as though it’s ingrained in you.”
I nodded, understanding that I needed to know every movement like it was second nature.
