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In the mirror she spotted someone come through the door behind her.
Peter Olson strode in with an iPad and headed right for her, skirting around the edge of the crash pads so he didn’t walk on them in his boots. The twenty-one-year-old wore cargos and a black polo with the Vanguard logo on it, and he’d filled out in the last few months while his twin brother, Simon, who worked more in the office on his computer, remained more slender.
Selena still hadn’t removed the ropes securing her to the chair.
Clare turned as he approached. The day she’d begun hiring employees old enough to be her children was the day she’d felt old for the first time. Too many pangs of her past resonated pain in her chest—whether she liked it or not.
Long time ago.
She’d experienced plenty of pain since then. Like losing Selena’s mother, Kara, which meant she took the girl in and now did everything she could to protect Kara’s daughter.
There were plenty more recent things she could worry about. Like making sure Selena could take care of herself—no matter what. Clare had a ledger of things to make up for.
“Got a minute?” Peter’s gaze skated through Selena, who basically ignored him. “Having fun?”
She blew out a breath that ruffled the hair on her forehead. “Don’t distract me.”
Clare figured Selena and Peter might be a good match in how competitive they were. Then again, they would make an explosive combination. Good thing neither of them had realized the other one seemed interested. And Selena insisted on sticking it out with her boyfriend.
Clare asked him, “What do you have?”
He flicked the hair off his face. “That cold case you assigned us last week.”
“Already?”
He nodded. “I figured you’d want to know. Davis and I got back late last night. We have everything ready for—”
Clare heard a note in his tone. Spotted the slight flinch—a warning of what was coming. For her.
“—you.”
Selena slammed into Clare, knocking her off her feet. Clare twisted in the air so she landed flat on her back and kept her chin tucked, Selena’s head out of the way so they didn’t crack skulls. Her back hit the floor. Clare didn’t even let Selena take a breath.
She wrapped her legs in the young woman’s, only hearing her skirt rip a little as she flipped Selena onto her back.
Selena yelped.
Clare reached for the young woman’s hands. Selena pulled one out of Clare’s grasp, just like she’d taught her. “Good.”
“Note I’m not head-butting you, but I could.”
Clare grinned. “I’m not choking you out.”
“Much obliged.” Selena kicked with her legs in a move that should’ve flipped Clare over her head. But Clare taught her that as well. “Dang it.”
Clare chuckled. “Do you yield?”
“Doyou?”
The sparring partners had quit their game and come over to see what was happening. Selena got a leg wrapped around Clare’s. They started to go, but Clare planted a hand and refused to let Selena topple her. She wound her arm around Selena’s back, grabbed the pocket on her hip, and flipped the younger woman onto her face, one-handed.
Someone whooped.
Selena expelled a breath against the crash mat. “That was good. I wanna learn that move.”
Clare pulled one of her hands up between her shoulder blades. “Do you concede now?”
“Fine.” Selena grunted as Clare let go and helped her stand. “I’ll get you one day.”
