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“It’s self-preservation. Point to a man who willingly wants to be hit in the balls.”
He had a point. Kirsty grinned at him. Against her better judgment, she was having fun.
When Lake saw Kirsty smile at him, he wanted to clear the room and have her all to himself. He couldn’t. Instead he settled for more practice.
“Right,” Lake said. “That’s it. Now it’s time to practice. Pair up and keep practising until you can do this without thinking. Because when you’re in the sort of situation where you need these moves, you’ll be too scared to think and your actions have to be second nature.”
Kirsty walked over to get her coat.
“Where do you think you’re going?” Lake said.
“The demonstration is over. I’m leaving.”
“Oh no you’re not, not until you’ve practised.”
She smiled.
“The deal was for one demonstration, Lake,” she said. “I hope you aren’t thinking about backing out on an agreement?”
“I wouldn’t dream of it.”
“In that case, I’m going home.”
She picked up her coat.
“Don’t.” Lake put a hand on her arm. She was wearing a black ribbed polo neck that made his mouth water. “Stay,” he said. “Practice the moves.”
Kirsty turned to him, holding the coat in front of her like a barrier.
“Why should I stay?”
“I want you to learn these moves properly.”
Her green eyes darkened as she studied him.
“Why?” she asked again.
Lake ran a hand over his hair.
“Because I want you to fight back,” Lake told her. “A war is no fun if you don’t fight back.”
She stared at him for a while, obviously thinking things through. Lake held his breath while he waited.
“Fine,” she said at last.
To Lake’s surprise, he felt relief that she’d agreed. He took her by the hand to a space large enough to practice in. As he wrapped his arm around her shoulders, he inhaled her scent. Delicious.
“Seriously, Lake,” Kirsty said. “Why are you doing this?”
“I told you,” he said. “I want you to fight.”
There was a pause.
“I don’t know how,” she said softly.
Lake hated the way she sounded—defeated even before they started. It was a far cry from the hellion in the newspaper photo.
“That’s why I’m showing you,” he told her. “Trust me, Kirsty, this is going to be a blast.”
