AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Considering Ophelia’s hardwood floor, the mats were probably a good idea. He wasn’t sure how far they would get in their first training session, but it never hurt to be prepared.
Nodding over at Grace, he asked, “Ready?”
“Whenever you are. By the way, thanks.”
Rick cocked his head.
“You know. For doing this. You didn’t have to. I appreciate it.”
Rick didn’t know what to say. He’d never been all that good at accepting compliments or gratitude. To have this woman give him thanks for something any decent guy should do, it made him uncomfortable. And an uncomfortable Rick was a gruff Rick.
He blew off her thanks by totally ignoring the fact that she offered it.
Instead, he drew closer to the edge of the mat. “What exactly do you want to learn? Sly wasn’t all that clear. Something about trouble—”
“Trouble’s a good word for it.” At his expectant look, she shrugged. “Stubborn ex. I’m sure you know how it goes. We broke up, and he… let’s just say he didn’t take it all that great when I said I’d rather be single.”
/> He stayed silent because, well, Rick didn’t know how it goes. The closest he got to a stubborn ex was Natalie, and he wasn’t about to give her a chance to even become an ex. Not that he was about to admit that to the outsider. He was still reeling from the fact that she was available.
She was so lovely, she took his breath away. It never occurred to Rick to even wonder if she was involved with someone else because, of course, she was. Now, with as simply as she let that slip, it was all he could think about—that, and the ex who wouldn’t let her go.
Sly asked him to spare an hour or two to show an outsider some self-defense techniques. Rick was all for it now. No one deserved to have their past follow behind them when they wanted to start over.
He knew that better than anyone.
Oblivious to the thoughts running through his head, Grace kept on talking.
“Anyway, I want to be able to protect myself. I used to live in the city so I know that there are even bigger threats out there than a spoiled man who won’t accept no for an answer. Maria said she knew someone who would be willing to teach me. Former Marine and he worked for the sheriff’s department.”
Maria. That little minx. He liked to think that she really did intend for Sly to have this gig. But she’d been real careful not to say that. Former Marine who worked for the HSD? Could be Sly—or she could’ve planned on throwing the outsider right at him. Sly would go along with it, too, if it made Maria happy.
Didn’t matter. Either way, he was there. He’d given his word that he’d help the outsider. Now that he’d met her, Rick found he was kind of looking forward to it.
But he was still a deputy. His first priority was to make sure that Hamlet was safe.
“This trouble of yours… is there anything I can do to help you? I’d hate to see it follow you into town.”
“Thanks, but it’s okay.” Grace gave her head a royal shake, her long dark hair rippling as it fell over her shoulder, settling against her back. “I’ve got that part under control, Deputy.”
It was on the tip of his tongue to ask her to call him Rick. He stopped himself in time. He was a deputy, and now he’d be her teacher. He needed to remember that.
“Okay. In that case, let’s start with the first lesson. The best kind of self-defense? Prevention.” Lifting his big, meaty hand up high, he started ticking things off on his fingers. “Don’t make yourself a target. Always be aware of your surroundings. Avoid dangerous places, dangerous people, and especially the dark.”
She nodded in agreement. “That makes sense.”
“Right? Okay. Now, forget I said all of that. The outside world’s a shitty place. I know. You can be the best at prevention, and you can still be attacked. I’m going to show you how to take care of yourself in case the worst happens. Step onto the mat for me.”
Once she did, Rick told her to turn around. The second she had her back to him, he swooped her up in his arms, bent his knees so that he was low to the ground, and tossed her right onto the mat.
He gentled his toss so, when she landed flat on her back, he knew there was no way it hurt her. Her soft exhale had more to do with surprise at being caught off guard than because of any pain. She didn’t stay down for long, either. Within seconds, she popped up, rising to her knees as she glared at him. With her teeth clenched and her hands curled into fists, Grace let out an angry hiss.
It was the cutest damn thing he’d ever seen.
He tried to bite back his smile. Shame, though. It had been so long since he found anything to smile at. “Did you… did you just hiss at me?”
“That shot was dirty. I wasn’t expecting it and you know it.”
“No one’s going to warn you before they attack, Kitten. If you want to be able to defend yourself, you’ve got to be prepared for shots like that. Second lesson.”
