Can't Keep a Brunette Down

by Diane Bator

  "Don't let her rattle you, love." Kane took Gilda by the arm. "Mena has an insatiable desire to make a fool of herself everywhere she goes. When it comes to men, she's got pretty low standards."

  "Oh, please." Mena batted her fake eyelashes. "Honey, I've got heels higher than your standards, and you haven't kicked me out of your bed yet."

  "Not that I haven't tried." Kane sighed. "How many times do you have to swat a mosquito before it gets the hint?"

  Gilda glanced at Thayer as she struggled out of Kane's grip. "If you ever find out, let me know."

  The two police officers led Gilda, Marion, Kane, and Mena toward the newly renovated warehouse Mick and Razi had purchased for the new school. Just shy of Ponderer's Point, Mena waved and disappeared into the pharmacy.

  "Good riddance," Kane muttered.

  Marion frowned. "I thought she was your girlfriend."

  "Was being the operative word there, love," he said. "It's hard to know where a guy like me stands with that one."

  Marion leaned closer to Gilda. "A guy like him? He can stand in my bedroom anytime."

  When Kane's breath hitched beside her and he reached for her arm again, Gilda bowed her head to hide a smile. Marion wasn't normally one to be so blunt about men in front of anyone, but Kane's attempts to flirt with Gilda seemed to have brought out the worst in her.

  Fabio opened the front door of the school and waved the others inside.

  Gilda led them all into the once-empty warehouse, now a maze of freshly painted mint green walls, blue tatami mats, and new laminate flooring. She strolled through the front lobby and parent seating area and up the wrought iron stairs to the new yoga studio. "Mick? Razi? You guys up here?"

  "It's about time you showed up." Mick glanced up. His shoulders sagged as he placed the last of the new laminate. "I see you brought an entourage."

  "Yeah." Gilda winced. "Long story."

  "The cops are with you too?" Mick sat back on his heels and wiped his face with one hand. "Oh crap. What did you do now?"

  Her eyes widened. "I didn't do anything."

  Kane leaned closer, placing his hand on her lower back as he whispered loudly, "Actually, I think he means me, love."

  Razi pushed over a bucket of water to wipe away the dust. As water sloshed over the new mats, he cast a wary glance at Gilda that asked a dozen different questions then turned to Mick and frowned. "I told you this would happen, Sensei."

  Although Thayer opened his mouth, Fabio spoke before his partner could get a word out. "We found Kane on the beach swinging a training sword."

  "Of course he was." Mick groaned. "We can't leave him unsupervised for a minute. What do you think, Gilda? The new floors look pretty good, don't they?"

  Gilda pried out of Kane's grasp to join Mick, who hugged her hard, almost possessively, then kissed her forehead.

  She smiled. "They look great. What else do we have left to do before the grand opening?"

  "You mean the big MMA extravaganza?" Kane asked, far closer behind her than she expected. Dangerous and silent. The guy reminded her of a venomous snake. Well, maybe not venomous, but certainly a snake.

  "Our fighters will show up tomorrow ready to roll," Mick said. "I think, for the most part, we're ready. Razi said he'd pick up a few cases of water and a couple fruit trays. The owner of Café Beanz offered to provide muffins and coffee in return for free advertising. All we need is to put the signs up and set out the benches for our spectators."

  "That's it?" Gilda blinked. "No working until midnight to get things finished?"

  "Not tonight, babe." He kissed her. "Actually, except for the scorecards and the logo, we'll finish right on time. We'll have the octagon set up by tomorrow morning. Most of the fighters are coming into town right after lunch tomorrow then we have the meet and greet at Razi's at five. Aside from picking up the food and dealing with an unexpected change in the program, everything's under control."

  She sighed. "Then you don't need me for now. I'm going home for a shower."

  Mick grabbed her arm. "Not just yet, Sherlock. I need you to pick up a couple things."

  "Of course you do." Gilda smiled when he kissed her nose.

  Sherlock became Mick's nickname for her when she snooped around to catch a killer at the old Yoshida school. It seemed the name had stuck.

  "Wait, what unexpected change? We have the posters and everything else done. I won't be able to change anything at this point."

  "Sherlock?" Kane snorted. "Now that's an interesting nickname."

  Her face warmed. "Long story."

  "I'd like to hear it over breakfast in bed sometime, love." He winked.

  Not looking amused in the least, Mick shook his head. "Back off, Kane. She doesn't need your help. She's perfectly capable of getting in trouble all on her own."

  Razi, who'd mopped the floors in silence up to that point, stood back. "It is a very long story. Leave her alone. She has no time for the likes of a jerk like you, so do not harass her." He turned to face her, nodding his head over the chest-high wall toward the open room below. "What do you think of the new training hall, Gilda?"

  She drew even closer to Mick, impressed at how calmly Razi had put Kane in his place. "I think it all looks great. Where are we getting benches from?"

  Razi smiled. "Doc Graham knows someone who builds them. Mick and I need to pick them up in one hour. We will move the new tatami mats out of the way so they are not damaged."

  "Kane," Mick said. "If you have nothing better to do, we could use an extra set of hands for today. Gilda's been running off her feet and could use a break."

  "Aww." Kane stood his ground. "Maybe I'll stick around for a while and rub her feet while you guys do all the work."

  When Razi frowned, Gilda got the impression he didn't want Kane Garrick anywhere near the new school, Mick, or her. He seemed aware of her gaze and glanced at her. "Yes, she could use a break. We all make a very good team. I am grateful she did not go to work at Happy Harvey's Hangover Hut after all."

  Her chest swelled with a dose of pride. After the rocky start she and Razi had gotten off to when he first arrived at the Yoshida school, those words were high praise. "Thanks. Me too."

  "Happy Harvey's Hangover Hut?" Kane smirked. "Sounds like my kind of place. Where is it, love?"

  "I'm sure you'll sniff it out on your own. Let's go get breakfast." Mick wiped his hands on an old towel draped over a sawhorse. "I could go for a huge coffee and an omelet."

  "Perfect," Kane said. "I could eat a goat. What about you, Razi?"

  "If you know somewhere in town where they serve good curry goat, I am in." Razi grunted. "Give me a moment to empty the cleaning bucket."

  "Curry goat for breakfast, huh?" Kane raised his eyebrows then glanced at Gilda and shrugged. "Eh, why not? I've got time to kill before I check out the voodoo shop, anyway."

  "The voodoo shop?" Mick asked.

  "A new store he and his girlfriend Mena are opening here in town," Gilda said.

  "No, no, no." Kane held up both hands. "I'll have nothing to do with her or that place, love. That lunatic's on her own. I don't talk to rocks, and I won't sell magic potions to anyone."

  Mick stared, his mouth open. "Rocks and magic potions, huh? Sounds like a good place to stay away from. Razi, you ready for some breakfast? Let's head over to Beanz. I need a good cup of coffee. The stuff you make is lethal."

  Razi flared his nostrils. "I will meet you there as soon as I put the mop and bucket away."

  Gilda kept one eye on Razi, worried he might dump the bucket of filthy water over Kane's head if they didn't leave soon. Odd. If Razi and Kane were such great friends, why did Razi seem so wary?

  "Come on, love. I'll buy you a coffee." Kane flashed a smile.

  Gilda glanced at Mick, who frowned when his phone buzzed. He tapped the screen then stuck the phone in his pocket. She had a feeling the text had to do with the unexpected change in the grand opening he'd mentioned. Whatever was happening, he didn't seem very happy.
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