by K. C. Lynn
This is a fucking mess.
“Katelyn, this is Lia. Lia, this is my sister, Katelyn,” I say, making sure to clear up any misunderstandings.
“Your sister?”
I confirm with a nod.
Something that looks a lot like relief flashes in her eyes.
“Are you the Lia working for Cooper?” Katelyn asks.
“Yes, I am.”
“It’s nice to meet you.” Kate extends her hand. “Kayla was mentioning you the other day, nothing but good things of course,” she clarifies.
“Thanks. It’s nice to meet you, too.”
Katelyn’s eyes shift back and forth between us, a knowing smile quirking her lips.
“You had something to say?” I remind her.
“Oh yeah, right. I meant to ask if you’re coming to the Barnyard for the charity event Anna is doing for the Men of Honor Center,” she says, talking about the largest honky-tonk bar in the state.
“Kate, this is me we’re talking about. What do you think?”
She rolls her eyes. “I know you’re not going to dance for god’s sake but none of the guys will be, and it’s for a good cause—one you support. So, I figured you might not be a recluse for one night and come have some fun.”
A giggle escapes Lia before she muffles it with her hand, her cheeks staining pink at the outburst.
“You can come, too,” Kate tells her. “A bunch of us girls are getting ready together. I’m the outfit coordinator.” She eyes Lia from head to toe. “I’m guessing you’re a size six?”
“Oh, thank you, but no,” she quickly declines. “Kayla and Anna actually invited me last week but um, I already have prior commitments.”
It’s obvious she’s lying.
“No problem. I’ll still get you the outfit just in case,” Katelyn pushes. “That way, if your plans change and you can come then you have something, if not then I’ll return it.”
Lia begins to protest again but Katelyn doesn’t give her the chance. She talks over her, moving right back to me. “I expect you to be there. It’s for a good cause. Okay? Good. Bye.” Giving me a brief hug, she disappears back into the salon before anyone can say more.
I bring my attention back to Lia, who looks like a deer caught in headlights. “She means well,” I tell her.
She smiles, her tense body relaxing. “She seems really nice.”
“She can be pushy but she’s usually pretty cool.”
Her eyes drop to her feet as she shuffles nervously. “Sorry about running into you,” she murmurs. “I was looking at the map and should have watched where I was going.”
“It’s fine.” Bending down, I pick up the pamphlet she dropped to see it’s a map of downtown. “Exploring?” I ask, handing it back to her.
She nods, her eyes remaining on the ground until I reach under her chin and tilt her face up to mine. Her lips part, making me want to lick between that small gap. Dropping my hand, I step back.
“Yeah. I didn’t have anything going on so I thought I’d venture out a bit and see what Charleston has to offer,” she explains. “What about you? Just visiting your sister?”
I nod. “This is her salon. Lucky for me, I have a hairdresser at my disposal when I need one.”
A smile lifts those pretty lips of hers. “I’m sure that comes in handy.” Clearing her throat, she looks around. “Well, it was nice running into you…literally.” She laughs nervously. “I guess I’ll see you Monday night.”
Panic strikes my chest when she begins to walk past me. “Lia.” Her name leaves my lips before I can stop it.
She turns around.
“Do you want some company?”
What the fuck am I doing?
If you want to help, gain her trust and keep her from running.
As Cooper’s words whisper in my mind, I try telling myself that’s why I’m offering, but I’m full of shit. I really just want to be around her.
Indecision battles in her timid eyes. I expect her to blow me off like she does everyone else but she ends up surprising me. “Yeah, actually, I would.”
So much sadness bleeds in those words that I’m glad I asked. With a nod, I fall in step next to her.
“Have you always lived here?” she asks as we head closer to the center of town.
“No. I grew up in Montana. I moved my sister and me to Columbia after she graduated. When she decided to open her salon here, I followed, because where she goes I go.”
“Is she your only sibling?”
“Yeah, it’s always just been the two of us.”
Until RoboCop showed up.
“No parents?”
“No.”
My hard tone forces her to drop the subject. “Well, she’s very pretty.”
“Too fucking pretty for her own good,” I grunt, eliciting a giggle from her. “What about you? You mentioned a sister. Any other siblings you get in cat fights with?”
She smiles. “No, just Tess. We got along more often than not though. We were actually very close.” Her voice trails off on a whisper.
“Were?”
She keeps her eyes trained ahead. “Yeah, were.”
I begin to wonder if her family is dead and think about pushing the subject, but the last thing I want to do is cause this sad girl any more pain. So, I drop it…for now.
For the next hour, we keep things light while venturing around. We walk into a few shops for her to look around in and stop for a bite to eat on the harbor. We talk about the gym and the classes I run with the kids and some of the work I do with the vets at the Men of Honor Center. A place dedicated to housing homeless veterans, counseling them, and getting them back on their feet.
“Anna has told me a little about the Center. It sounds like a really great foundation she has started,” she says.
“Yeah, it is.” I have mad respect for any and all military, but Anna’s passion runs much deeper. Something I refrain from saying because I’m not sure if she knows Anna’s story and how she met Jaxson and the others.
Our easy moment is interrupted when I spot a reporter taking pictures of us from the beach. I quickly collect the check, wanting to get the fuck out of here before I’m hounded with inappropriate questions. The last thing I want is for Lia to be subjected to any of my bullshit. However, he ends up keeping his distance, satisfied with just pictures, and Lia is none the wiser.
The sun has started to set by the time we leave the restaurant and we decide to walk back along the beach to check out the row of shops set up. One of the booths she stops at sells jewelry; her attention riveted to a row of bracelets as her fingers stroke the soft stones.
“It’s coral from the ocean,” the lady explains. “Each color and shape holds meaning. Courage, love, kindness…”
“What does this one mean?” she asks, touching the light pink one that has captivated her.
“Strength,” the lady responds.
“How much?” she asks.
“Seventy.”
Disappointment flashes in her eyes but she tries to mask it with a small smile. “Thank you. They’re beautiful.”
When she begins to walk away, I grab her arm and look at the lady. “We’ll take it.”
“No!” Lia objects, but I stand in front of her, blocking her protest as I hand over the cash. “Kolan, I’m serious, stop right now.”
She tries moving around me but it’s too late. The lady hands me back my change and the small bracelet. “Enjoy it, honey. You have a nice man here.”
I don’t bother correcting her and offer my thanks before walking away, a sputtering Lia following close behind me. “I hope you enjoy wearing that,” she snaps, throwing around some sass that I’ve yet to see from her.
It’s amusing and only turns me on more, but everything she does seems to do that. As we approach the end of the beach, I come to a stop and hand her the bracelet.
She shakes her head, arms crossing over her chest. “Forget it. I’m serious. I’m not taking it.”
Reachin
g out, I pull her against me. Her sharp inhale penetrates the humid air, wide eyes locking with mine.
I lift her wrist and slip the bracelet on. “You’re going to wear this because I bought it for you. I don’t want you to pay me back,” I tell her, knowing full well it’s on the tip of her tongue. “I don’t even want a thank you. I just want you to wear it and look at it every time you need strength.”
“Kolan…” she protests softly, shaking her head.
“It’s just a bracelet, Lia.”
“It was expensive,” she argues.
“Not for me,” I tell her. “It’s a gift. Accept it.”
With a defeated sigh, her body relaxes against me. “Anyone ever tell you how bossy you are?”
“My sister does often.”
Her lips twitch with a smile. “Thank you,” she whispers, touching the bracelet. “I’ll treasure it forever.”
“You’re welcome.”
She makes no effort to back away, testing my precious restraint. Reluctantly, I release her before I end up doing something stupid, like steal that lush mouth of hers.
On our way back toward the salon, we pass a small, run-down dance studio where music explodes from, vibrating the sidewalk beneath our feet. The glass windows reveal a group of male teenagers. One kid makes eyes contact with me, recognition dawning in his eyes.
“Holy shit. It’s the Dark Warrior,” he bellows, cutting the music.
Shit!
The door swings open a second later, scaring Lia. She quickly latches onto my arm, her nails digging into my hard flesh. My hand finds the small of her back, hoping to calm her.
“Yo, Slade,” the kid calls out, his friends crowding behind him as they try to look out the door.
“Hey, guys.” I greet them with a lift of my chin.
“Ah man, I knew it was you.” He chuckles, his eyes bright with excitement. “Will you come in and get a picture with us, maybe sign some stuff?”
“Yeah, sure.” I look down at Lia. “Come on, I won’t be long.” My hand remains on her back as we enter the small studio.
All the guys welcome me with a clap on my shoulder or a punch to the arm.
“Holy shit, I can’t believe the Dark Warrior is in our studio,” one says, handing me a group picture of them to sign.
“Man, that fight between you and Ferguson was badass,” another one says. “You knocked that mouthy fucker out.”
I grunt. “He does have a mouth on him, doesn’t he?”
“He does, almost as bad as Cortez.” My muscles coil at the mention of that asshole. “Speaking of him, whatcha think about the way he’s running his mouth to get you back in the ring? You gonna do it?”
“Nah, man. I’m retired,” I tell him, continuing to sign things as people pass them to me.
“Everyone knows you’d knock him out anyway.”
“Everyone but him,” I respond.
A bunch of them laugh, clapping me on the back.
“Hey, lady.” One of them addresses Lia, handing her his phone. “You mind snappin’ our picture?”
She takes it with a smile, looking more relaxed. “Of course.”
All the guys crowd around me, making a mean pose.
“Say cheese,” Lia says, making them all chuckle.
“Uh yeah, how about we just say beat down. Holds double meaning,” one suggests.
She rolls her eyes but a laugh escapes her. “Okay, say ‘beat down.’”
They all holler at once as she snaps a bunch of pictures then hands the kid back his phone.
“So, what do you guys have going on here?” I ask, gesturing around me. “Is this your studio?”
“Yeah, man. It’s not much but it’s ours. We’re pretty awesome, too. Tryin’ to get to nationals if we can raise enough money.”
“What kind of dancing do you do?” Lia asks, her interest piqued.
“Street dancing, hip-hop type stuff,” he explains hastily, before turning back to me. “Anyway, there’s this competition in—”
“LA,” Lia answers, interrupting him. She seems a little miffed by the way the kid just dismissed her, and I don’t blame her. “I used to dance, so I know all about the competition you’re talking about.”
The kid chuckles, grabbing at his pants that are falling off his ass. “Yeah well, we aren’t talking about ballerina stuff here, sweetheart.”
I tense. “Watch how you talk to her.”
“Hey, man, I mean no disrespect. I’m just trying to clarify we ain’t talkin’ about the same kind of dancing. We roll with the big boys,” he adds, winking at Lia.
It only seems to piss her off more. “I can do everything you can, if not better.”
“Ooooh.” A bunch of low calls are made as the kid rears back.
“You challenging me, little girl?”
I decide to let his ‘little girl’ comment slide since Lia is handling herself just fine.
She shrugs. “Not challenging, just stating facts.”
His buddies chuckle, punching him in the shoulder.
Rubbing his jaw, he assesses her. “All right, ballerina, let’s see what you got.”
I’m about to put a stop to this when Lia takes off her purse and shoves it against my chest, looking like she’s about to take someone down. Amused, I hold it while she follows the guy to the middle of the dance floor.
“Here are the rules,” he starts. “I get fifteen seconds then you do what I did. One wrong move and you’re out. Think you can handle that?”
“I think I can manage,” she answers blandly.
He smirks. “Let me help you with that scarf.”
I move as soon as he reaches for it but her reflexes are faster. She grabs his wrist midair. “Don’t touch. It stays on.”
Awkward silence fills the room just before he raises his hands in surrender.
“All right, it’s cool. Keep it on then.”
As he moves to the stereo, she looks back at me with a small smile. “That was some fast reflexes,” she whispers proudly.
“Very fast,” I agree with a smirk, a heavy dose of admiration filling my chest.
His buddies gather around me, chuckling, and I know it’s directed at her. It pisses me off and I start to worry, not wanting her to be embarrassed, especially with this newfound confidence I’m seeing. If that disappears, I’ll kick all their little asses.
“Uptown Funk” suddenly booms from the speakers. The kid walks back to her with a cocky dance in his step, his hands clapping to the intro as he moves side to side. Lia watches him, unimpressed. Once the beat kicks in, he lets loose, his feet moving with an upbeat rhythm as his body twists and contorts with ease, executing move after impressive move.
He’s really fucking good.
When he drops to the ground in one fluid motion, pumping himself up on his arms so his legs and body twist in the air, all of his buddies start cheering.
Once his fifteen seconds are up, he signals Lia to start. My heart begins to pound for her but it lasts only a second, because once she starts my jaw hits the fucking floor. She doesn’t only match his every move, she does it better than him.
All of the guys next to me start hollering and laughing, pointing at their friend who looks as shocked as me while he watches Lia. Even though her steps are quick, her body moves with grace. I figured she was a dancer when I caught her in the gym that first night, but I never imagined she could dance like this.
When she completes her fifteen seconds and the shock wears off her competitor, he nods in approval, his mouth splitting in a huge grin. “All right, ballerina. Let’s dance.”
Laughing, Lia joins him and they move together, thankfully not touching or I would have to kick his ass. This time, he’s the one who follows her steps as she leads. I watch the smile on her face as she loses herself to the beat once again. It’s as if I’m staring back at a girl I’ve never seen before. A girl who has no fear. Only confidence and…strength.
“Dude, where did you find this chick?” the kid next to
me asks.
It takes me a moment to answer, my eyes never leaving Lia. “I didn’t. She found me.”
Once the song ends, the kid bows down to her then the others clap and congratulate her, but I find myself still rooted to my spot. When she looks at me, her vibrant smile punches me in the chest. It’s a smile that I’d make sure she had every second if I could.
Before we leave, I tell the guys to come by the gym and I’ll write them a check to send them to nationals. They flip their shit, cheering with excitement and thanking me, which I don’t need. They also invite Lia to come by anytime to hang out and dance.
Once we walk outside, she stops, pulling in deep breaths of air.
“Jesus, that was fucking amazing,” I tell her. “I figured you danced but—”
“Kolan?” she heaves, interrupting me.
“Yeah?” I suddenly notice how hard her lungs are working.
“Catch me.” My arms come around her just as her legs give out. Concern plagues me until she smiles. “I haven’t done that in a long time,” she says. “But I totally kicked that guy’s ass.”
I chuckle. “Yeah, baby, you definitely did.” Realizing what I just said, I clear my throat. “You good?”
“Not yet. Just give me another second, my legs are jelly.”
With a smirk, I scoop her up in my arms and start walking.
“Or this works, too,” she says.
“Where did you park?” Dread twists in my gut at the thought of saying good-bye already.
“I didn’t. I came on the bus. Just take me to your sister’s salon, the stop isn’t far from there.”
My feet falter, halting in their tracks. “Why did you take the bus?”
“Because I don’t have a car,” she answers slowly.
“What do you mean you don’t have a car?”
She frowns. “It means exactly that.”
“How the hell have you been getting home from the gym every night?”
“Walking.”
I glare at her. “You’ve been fucking walking?”
“Yeah. Why do you keep repeating everything I say?”
“Because you shouldn’t be walking at night by yourself. This is one of those things, Lia, where I told you to make smart decisions so you don’t end up in a bad situation.”
