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“I thought I’d save us both the time by presenting all my arguments up front. Besides, the camera loves you. Unless,” she blinked and her expression went from all business to concern. “You have other objections?”
I had to hand it to Kat, she was good. Damn good. Better than Sadie at times because she could find a way to get exactly what she wanted without threats, thinly veiled or otherwise. She managed to bring up Emmett’s PTSD without actually saying the words or the letters. He sighed and shook his head.
“No objections right off the top of my head,” he said in defeat, or maybe it was disappointment.
“Perfect. Don’t worry, Em, you’ll do great.”
From anyone else that would have sounded like gloating or maybe an empty compliment, but Kat didn’t give out compliments undeservedly. She didn’t get over-talkative or flowery about it, either. It was just a fact as far as she was concerned and that was what sold my brother in the end.
“Fine, but nothing that interferes with the training schedule. I got half a dozen fighters gearing up for this weekend, starting with the early prelims.”
“I’m aware,” she said with a satisfied smile. “Trust me. I’ll email you the dates and times and you tell me which ones don’t work with your schedule. If you cut out more than five, I’ll just send you five more. Got it?”
Emmett nodded. “Yeah, I’m aware Kat.”
Her shoulders relaxed now that business matters were over and her smile came easier. Friendlier.
“Good. Things look great around here. I saw Rachel Cruz when I came in, and her fitness level has definitely increased.”
“Glad you noticed,” he said, acting a little surprised that Kat had noticed. Me too, if I was being honest.
“I did and I don’t want to keep you. Thanks for making my job easy today. I won’t forget it.”
And just like that, Kat turned on her heels and walked away, giving me an eyeful of long, shapely legs, slim waist and a nice, round ass. She was slender but toned, much stronger than she looked at first glance.
“I guess that answers that,” Emmett said, a knowing smile in his voice.
“What?”
“You’re still hung up on the Ashby Princess.”
I frowned. “I was never hung up on the Princess.” I lied straight through my teeth because that was my secret, and I’d take it to the grave.
“Bullshit,” he growled with a grin. “But we all have our secrets, don’t we?”
I knew what he was getting at and it gave me pause. Emmett needed to deal with his shit before it exploded at the most unfortunate time and with irreversible consequences. But I wasn’t ready to share my feelings for Kat with anyone. “For now, we do. But that could change at any moment little brother.”
“Yeah, yeah. Go chase the princess. I saw how she looked at you. There might actually be a chance this time.”
Dammit, I’d been hoping that flare of attraction had been a trick of the light or wishful thinking on my part, but if Emmett saw it too, well that changed things. Or did it? “Is that your way of telling me to get lost?”
“Nah, but I do need to get back to it. Make sure Ravager is on top form.”
He held up a fist and I bumped it with a smile, glad that the shit our folks put us through had turned us into real brothers, not just half-brothers, instead of enemies. Really, it could have gone either way.
“See ya around, bro.”
“Later,” he called to my back as I made my way to the door, not following Kat, just heading in the same direction.
She was oblivious to the attention she drew as her heels clacked against the cement of the visitor’s lot. Women looked on in awe of her sense of style, the confident way she carried herself even when she was preoccupied with more important matters. And then men, well they drooled as she walked by, probably disappointed they couldn’t muster the courage to approach her before she reached her car.
But one guy stared in a way that wasn’t filled with lust or envy. He had intent in everything from the hunched over set of his shoulders, the way he shoved his fists into the pockets of his jeans, hoodie pulled up to obscure his features and his race.
He didn’t look like he wanted her body or her money, and instantly, I was on high alert. My thoughts went to Brendan Rhymer and Jas’ insistence that the asshole was still alive. If that motherfucker had risen from the dead to target Kat, I’d be happy to send him straight back to hell.
It wasn’t Brendan though, the guy was taller and thinner than that sick fuck, but that didn’t mean this guy wasn’t sent by Brendan. Or his father or his missing sister.
