Fighting for Keeps

by Grace Brennan

  “No, I didn’t know that. What’s it got to do with anything?”

  “She’s super smart. I’m not—”

  “Don’t put yourself down—”

  “I didn’t even graduate high school, Cam. I’m not putting myself down, I’m just stating facts. And I’m not saying I’m dumb, but how much stimulating conversation can I give a woman who works in a lab, matching people with donor organs?”

  “Plenty, I’m sure. Besides, I told you our animals pick the best person for us. Your leopard wouldn’t have chosen her if you two weren’t right for each other, and that includes on an intellectual level.”

  “Okay, say that’s true. Has it completely slipped your mind that she’s planning on going back to England soon?”

  “She’s going to be here for a while. That leaves you plenty of time to make her want to stay. And I know you. You can do it.”

  “Let’s hope you’re right,” he said, filling a thermos with coffee. “I’m gonna head over there now, bring her some breakfast.”

  “Awww, that’s so sweet. I’ll put the leftovers away for you.”

  “Thanks, Cam. I appreciate it. Not just that, but bringing her along last night,” he said, putting his own share of breakfast in some Tupperware and placing it in the fridge.

  “Any time, Seth. Now go start wooing your woman!”

  Rolling his eyes with a grin, he gave her a wave and grabbed the bowls and coffee, quickly walking to his car. The Anderson ranch was about ten minutes away, and he wanted the food to be hot when he got there. While he drove, he thought about how he was going to approach everything, but he didn’t have any winning ideas. Guess he’d wing it.

  Approaching the front door, his boots loud on the porch in the quiet of the morning, he rang the doorbell, hoping he wasn’t waking her. It was half past nine, but the late night, and the alcohol in her system, might mean she slept in.

  The door opened, and there she was, looking soft and sleep rumpled in plaid pajama bottoms and a tank top, her hair a tangled mess around her head.

  “I didn’t wake you, did I?”

  “Seth! No, no, I was awake. Come on in,” she said, standing back and gesturing him inside, her wide eyes dropping to everything he was carrying.

  He walked inside and turned to face her, watching as she shut the door behind him. “How are you feeling this morning? Did you take my advice last night? Drink a glass of water and take some aspirin?”

  “I did,” she replied with a nod. “I feel okay. I was a little queasy this morning, but it’s passed already. Just have a bit of a headache. Where are my manners? Have a seat.”

  “I can’t stay long,” he said, loving the flash of disappointment in her hazel eyes. “I have to get back to Rocky River soon. I just wanted to make sure you were doing okay, and I realized I don’t know your phone number. And I brought you breakfast, in case you didn’t feel well enough to cook this morning.”

  “You cook?” she asked in surprise, smiling as she accepted the Tupperware.

  “Don’t sound so shocked,” he said with a soft laugh as he set the thermos on the table. “I can cook a few things. And that’s just biscuits and gravy, nothing special or hard to make.”

  “Thank you so much,” she replied, hugging the bowls to her stomach. “Are you working on the barn today?”

  “The other guys will be here a little later, but I’m going to take the day off and train for the fight tomorrow. Don’t worry, they know what they’re doing. We won’t start on the roof until Monday, and they can easily finish replacing the rotted boards without me there.”

  “Oh, right, the fight,” she said, biting her lip and causing him to almost groan out loud as he had a vision of biting that lip himself. “Are you sure you should fight him?”

  The desire left him in a heartbeat, and he frowned. “Do you not think I’m good enough to take him on?”

  “Oh, no, that’s not what I think at all. Of course you are. I’ve seen you fight before. But no matter how good you are, you could still get hurt, and it would be my fault.”

  Reaching out, he took the bowls from her and put them on the table, and stepped close, taking her hands in his and lacing their fingers together. God, he didn’t think he’d ever get enough of touching her, and his blood was practically sizzling in his veins just from this simple contact. Judging by the hazy look in her eyes, and the way her breath caught, she felt his touch with the same intensity.

  “Amelia, honey, how is this your fault? And trust me, the one getting hurt tomorrow night is Zane, not me.”

  She frowned, some of the haze clearing from her eyes. “I don’t want you hurting him so badly you get in trouble, either. And how is this not my fault? The challenge was issued as a direct result of him messing with me.”

  “First of all, that guy’s had it coming to him for a long time. He’s a pompous ass, and he insults me and the other fighters every chance he gets. He was also the cause of some trouble that happened to Cammie a couple months ago, and even though she wiped the floor with his ass in a fight, he still deserves to have it kicked again for that. Second, he wasn’t just messing with you. He had you cornered, and he wasn’t letting you leave, even though you clearly wanted to. And he touched you without your consent, and you made it obvious you weren’t open to it. There are a shitload of reasons why I need to fight him.”

  “Okay, you have a point with a lot of that,” she said, and then squeezed his fingers. “But you’re touching me now, and I didn’t verbally give permission. How do you know I wanted you to?”

  “You also haven’t been trying to get away from me. Besides, you basically said last night you were trying to seduce me. Or do I have this all wrong, and what you said was only because you were drunk?”

  “Heavily tipsy,” she muttered, cheeks turning a gorgeous pink. “No, you didn’t get it wrong.”

  Lifting her hand to his lips, he placed a lingering kiss on her knuckles. “That’s the difference. Now I really need to go train. Eat your breakfast and take something for that headache, if you haven’t already. The coffee will help, too.”

  Her eyes stayed glued on their intertwined hands until he lowered them to their sides. Clearing her throat, she asked softly, “Will I see you before the fight?”

  “I’ll drop by sometime tonight, if that’s okay.”

  “Yes!” she replied, voice louder and a few octaves higher. Blushing again, she lowered her voice. “Yes, I’d like that. Let me give you my number. The landline is turned off now, but I have a temporary cell phone with an American number to use while I’m here.”

  She started to turn away, but he stopped her, letting go of her hands to pull his cell out of his pocket. Unlocking it, he said, “Give me your number, and then I’ll call you so you have mine.”

  She rattled off her number and he quickly saved it before calling her. When her cell started ringing, he hung up and put his phone back in his pocket. Running his eyes over her face, he took in her gorgeous features, fighting his leopard and body’s urging to kiss her plump lips. Resisting because he wanted to take his time when he finally did kiss her, he compromised, leaning in and placed a soft kiss on her cheek. Smiling at the hitch in her breathing, he reached up and trailed his fingers down her other cheek.

  “I’ll see you soon, Amelia,” he said huskily.

  “Soon,” she answered faintly as he opened the door and let himself out.

  Smiling, he walked to his car, rubbing his chest. It felt weirdly full, and his cat’s purr was strong enough that he felt the vibrations against his hand. He couldn’t help feeling hopeful that he wasn’t screwed, and everything would work out, after all.

  Amelia stared at the door, fingers touching the cheek Seth kissed, until the loud growl of his car faded in the distance. Exhaling lightly, she grabbed the food and the coffee and made her way to the kitchen. Getting a plate and a fork, she served herself and sat down at the worn kitchen table.

  The first bite was pure bliss, and she couldn’t help letti
ng out a little moan of pleasure. Honestly, she hadn’t been expecting much, but she realized she underestimated his cooking skills. She hadn’t been all that hungry, but suddenly she was ravenous, and she quickly forked up another bite.

  She hadn’t been expecting him to show up this morning, and she was so glad she changed out of the clothes she wore and slept in last night when she woke up this morning. Answering the door in her pajamas, while not what she’d choose for him to see her in, was so much better than the now hopelessly wrinkled clothing she wore to Cocky Pete’s.

  The fact that he came over to see how she was this morning, and to make sure she ate, made her feel all warm and fuzzy inside. And was just one more way she’d underestimated him. He didn’t come across as self-centered or selfish, but she hadn’t thought it would be something he’d think to do.

  He was proving her wrong in so many ways, and she couldn’t be happier about that. Or happier that all her embarrassing moments, and when it seemed like she didn’t have a clue, weren’t scaring him off.

  The night before was a little fuzzy, and she was running over it in her mind when she froze, slowly lowering her fork to her empty plate. Chewing thoughtfully, she remembered her observation about the fighters seemingly hearing things they shouldn’t have been able to hear. An image of Seth’s eyes as they lightened first to a golden brown, and then later a blazing gold, flashed in her mind. They were beautiful, to be sure, but the fact that they changed at all was significant.

  Getting up, she took her plate to the sink and rinsed it before walking to the living room and grabbing the notebook she bought the other day. She found a pen and sat down, opening it to the first page. She titled it What Are The Fighters, and started listing what she knew.

  Uncle Jerry said they could turn into animals. True, or are they something else?

  When Seth and Jax fought, they moved so fast, they blurred.

  At same fight, cuts formed and then disappeared a heartbeat later.

  Observing them the next day, Seth jumped off the roof of the barn, landing with ease.

  Seth carried a very heavy load of lumber easily, showing no strain or effort

  At Cocky Pete’s, they appeared to hear a conversation that was too far away for a human to hear.

  Seth’s eyes changed color, from chocolate brown to a blazing gold.

  Zane threatened to declaw Seth. Another clue?

  Conclusions so far—superior hearing, speed, and strength, as well as changing eye color. No way to know yet what they are, but clear supernatural elements involved. More research needed. Brush up on seduction skills.

  Tapping the pen to her lips, Amelia quickly reread the list, smiling at the seduction comment. A heartbeat later, the smile faded as guilt welled up inside her. The more she came to know Seth, the less she thought about her research. She genuinely liked him, might even be coming to care for him already, and after last night, she liked the rest of the fighters, as well. The knowledge that she was deceiving them all didn’t sit well with her, causing a lump to form in her stomach and twist her insides.

  They felt like they could be her friends, and what was between her and Seth felt real. So much so it scared her. She was a scientist. She knew lab work, chemistry, physics. She didn’t know people, or romance. Give her a complex equation, the harder the better, and she could solve it in moments. Give her a situation where she had to interact with people socially, and she failed.

  Examples A, B, C, and D, and pretty much every other letter in the alphabet—basically everything that happened last night. Luckily, the fighters were down to earth, and were more amused than put off. But she didn’t know how they’d feel in the long run when she continued to make a fool of herself, which was basically inevitable. They’d either get exasperated or their amusement would turn into laughter—at her, and not with her.

  Exhaling heavily, she closed the notebook and tossed it on the coffee table, getting up to take a shower. Seth didn’t come across as someone who would get aggravated with her continued ineptitude, and he was obviously as attracted to her as she was to him. She should feel relieved, because it made her mission that much easier, and it did relieve her—just not because of the mission. It was because she wanted him, and the attraction being as mutual, and as hot as it was, scared the stuffing out of her.

  Stepping into the shower, Amelia stood under the spray, letting the hot water relax her tensed muscles. She had no plans to stay in Wyoming, and even if she did, what was between her and Seth would never last. She didn’t see the physical attraction between them ever waning, but how could she ever be enough to keep him? She wasn’t like the women here. Wasn’t normal, wasn’t capable of holding a normal conversation. Her idea of small talk was asking if someone read the newest scientific findings, whatever those happened to be at the moment.

  He’d get bored with her quickly, no doubt, and the last thing she wanted was to see his eyes glaze over every time they spoke. And even though she’d sworn her seduction wouldn’t actually lead to them having sex, her body’s reaction and the yearning she felt last night and this morning made it obvious she’d jump at the chance if it were presented. And it was becoming more and more apparent that was where they were headed, and faster than she anticipated.

  And that frightened her for a whole new host of reasons. She would most certainly be awkward, and horrible at it. She had no idea how to do it well. Hell, other than the basics, she didn’t know how to do it at all. And if it got that far, she sensed her heart would be forever lost to him.

  If they reached that point, she would have to scrap her research. There was no way she could be so deceptive, much less offer her body in the name of research. She could still try to figure out what he was, but it wouldn’t be in a clinical way. It would be because she wanted to know more about the man she was sleeping with, the man who owned her heart.

  Her breathing stuttered, and her heart clenched at the thought. Pushing it all from her mind, she quickly finished her shower, then toweled off and dressed in a cute pink blouse and khaki colored capris. Her skin was blindingly white, as any good English woman’s was, and while she balked at shorts, she enjoyed the capris.

  Walking out of the room, she wandered around for a bit, trying to find something to do. She walked over to the stack of books she bought at Ellie’s store, The Next Chapter, but she’d already devoured the romances. All that was left was the dating book, so she grabbed it and curled up on the couch, opened it and began to read.

  Five minutes later, she slammed the book shut with a groan and leaned her head against the back of the couch. This had to be the most ridiculous, and boring, book she ever tried to read. But maybe that was because she read the romances first. Pursing her lips, she glanced at the stack, and then hopped up and put her sandals on while she grabbed her purse.

  She walked outside and headed to her rental car, thinking she needed to return it since she was going to be here longer than she originally thought. Her uncle had an old truck she could use, and while she’d never driven a vehicle that big, she thought she could handle it. At least she was getting used to driving on the opposite side of the road now.

  The drive into Eagle Creek passed quickly as she tried to take in the scenery while still driving safely. Wyoming was a beautiful place, and she loved the mountain range in the distance. Pulling into a parking spot in front of The Next Chapter, she got out and walked into the bookstore, looking around for Ellie. Disappointment filled her when she saw a woman she didn’t know at the counter. She gave a little wave before walking to the romance section, scanning the titles, picking one up, and turning it over so she could read the back.

  “That’s a decent one.”

  Shrieking, she jumped, and the book fell to the ground as she whirled around. A small woman with dark blonde hair was standing in front of her, a chagrined look on her face.

  “Bloody hell, you about scared my knickers off,” Amelia said, hand over her pounding heart.

  “I’m so sorry. I’m tryin
g really hard not to sneak up on people anymore,” the woman said apologetically.

  “It’s quite all right,” she replied as her heartbeat calmed. “I’m easily startled.”

  “Your accent is pretty cool. And I think I just learned a new curse word, which is awesome,” the petite woman said with a grin. “I’m Kelsey, by the way.”

  “I’m Amelia. And anytime you want to learn some more British curses, you just let me know,” she replied, grinning back at Kelsey.

  “She snuck up on you, didn’t she?” came Ellie’s voice from down the aisle. Amelia looked over to find her grinning wryly. “We’ve been trying to work on that.”

  “Oh, it’s fine,” she replied with a wave of her hand. She turned to glance at Kelsey, and started again when she found her gone. “Bollocks, she’s quiet. And fast.”

  Ellie laughed as she waddled down the aisle toward Amelia. “That she is. Come to find more research material? Or are you hooked on romance novels now?”

  Smiling as she bent down to retrieve the book off the floor, she replied, “I thoroughly enjoyed the three I bought last week. But they don’t really work as research material. There’s no way I could use the things the heroines say in real life. I’d blush and stammer my way through them the whole time, and be the very opposite of sexy and seductive.”

  “Did you find anything in the dating book that was useful?” Ellie asked, putting a hand on the small of her back and stretching.

  “I confess, I didn’t get very far. I read the romances first, and the dating book was very uninteresting after that. Besides, well…” she trailed off, blushing.

  “Ah, I see. You didn’t need the book after all, did you?” Ellie asked with a wink.

  “No, I didn’t,” Amelia said with a laugh. She watched as Ellie stretched out her back again, wincing as she did so. “Are you all right? Do you need to call someone?”

  “No, no,” Ellie replied with a wave of her hand. “This is normal lately. It’s uncomfortable, and sometimes unpleasant, but it’s normal.”