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“Have you always been into that?”
“I started learning when I was twelve. I desperately needed an outlet. My dad left us, no contact, the year before, and Mom had to work two jobs to pay the bills.” I paused and took a sip of my coffee. “Let’s just say I had a lot of unresolved anger to deal with. Anyway, one of my teachers offered judo lessons at a nearby dojo. I didn’t want to go at first because of the expense. But Mom insisted on it, along with therapy. She was right.”
“I’m sorry about your dad.”
“I made peace with it a long time ago.” I shrugged. “But I suppose part of me will always wonder why. When Jaxon was born, my whole world shifted. He’s my everything. And I couldn’t understand, still don’t, how my dad just left us like that. But I’ve done my work on it. I have a wonderful family, and I’m grateful.”
Iain’s big brown eyes surveyed me intently, and then he hesitantly reached over and touched my hand. I wanted so badly to reach over and kiss him, but I was also happy to finally have a real conversation with him. No yelling, no flirting. The real deal.
Then, as quickly as he’d touched me, he pulled his hand back.
“Anyway, my mom’s been a rock,” I continued. “My sisters and I turned out all right and it’s all because of her.”
“What did you do after high school?”
“I started working full time.”
“You didn’t go to college? I’m so glad I’m not the only one.”
“Couldn’t afford to. In my final year of high school, Mom was diagnosed with lymphoma. So, after graduating, I became the sole breadwinner for two years. By that time, I’d gone from being the dojo student to the teacher. Then I started taking on private students on the side.”
“And the bodyguard work?”
“One of my clients was a singer who was relocating to Nashville. He’d just signed a big record deal and mentioned the security company assigned to him was looking for people. The pay was double what I was earning. I applied, did their three-month training program, and have been working in security ever since.”
“Was that Bandit?”
“No, Stellar Recordings. Bandit bought them out four years ago. Thankfully, I retained my job.”
“And you like what you do? Well, except for working with me.”
His left knee began to bounce, and I placed my hand on it, giving him a reassuring squeeze.
“I do. Especially working with you. You might drive me crazy sometimes?—”
Iain snorted.
“—okay, most times. But I wouldn’t trade it for anything. Still, I won’t be in this job forever.”
“Are you thinking of leaving?”
I didn’t miss the tentative way he asked.
“It’s getting harder for me to leave Jaxon behind for weeks at a time. Before, when I had shared custody, it worked out. But now, I’m the only parent he has. And he needs me. I just haven’t had time to figure out what the next step is.”
“I’m sure you’ll work it out,” Iain replied, and suddenly stood up. “Well, thanks for breakfast, but I have to get dressed. We’ve got soundcheck at noon.”
What just happened?
“Iain?”
He walked over to the connecting door and unlocked it. “What?”
“You didn’t finish eating.”
“I’m not hungry anymore.” He paused as he reached for the door handle. “And thank you.”
“For what?”
