“That’s right.” He winked, turning up the sleaze factor. “Just remember how much you need me, love.”
Carlie knew what came next when he called her ‘love.’ It was always about sex with him. She spoke before he could make yet another innuendo about sleeping with her. “That new guy is a fifth-degree black belt.” She tried to affect indifference in her voice as she nodded toward the man who joined their class a month earlier. “Isn’t that two levels higher than you? If my training is too much for you, I could ask him to help.”
Stephen’s mouth opened, but closed again before he said anything. He took a step nearer and placed his lips against her ear. “Nick Kendall is a poser, love,” he said softly. “Who knows if he even has real skill? He might be lying about where he earned those stripes for his belt. I mean, look how easy he’s going on Shelley. He’s not even actually hitting her.”
She watched as the handsome newcomer sparred with Shelley. Although Carlie had yet to work up enough courage to talk to Nick, her friend had no such problem approaching members of the opposite sex. While Carlie watched, Shelley laughed at something Nick said when she missed a block against his attack. Easy for Shelley to laugh, since Nick pulled the power from his kick, gently tapping her leg instead of hitting her full force.
Why the heck doesn’t Stephen do that when I miss a block? Maybe he’s punishing me for the way our date ended Saturday.
“See?” Stephen scoffed and ran his hand along Carlie’s shoulder and midway down her back. “They aren’t even sparring, they’re flirting. You don’t need a man like that around.”
Carlie stepped away, taking herself out of reach of Stephen’s hands before they roved any farther. Deciding not to point out that he constantly flirted with her, she returned to a fighting stance. “Shall we continue then? I’m not going to learn anything by gossiping about Nick and Shelley.”
“Why don’t you come at me?” A small smirk played around his lips. “If you take your opponent to the ground and keep your feet, you’ll have a better chance of smashing his balls and running away.”
With a powerful enough kick, she’d take a man to his knees without having to get close enough to flip him. Still, Stephen had a good point. An opponent on the ground was always at a disadvantage.
She feigned a punch to the left, but knew Stephen would read that easily so made a second feint to the other side. She then punched his left kidney, finding the mark when he put all his effort into blocking the right side. She pulled her power so it only hit him about fifty percent, but Stephen sucked in a loud breath, letting her know she scored a good hit.
Grappling his arm in her hands, Carlie spun her hip to his side, preparing to toss him over her head. Stephen turned it on her, managing to twist from her grasp and get his arms around her, gripping her head and forcing her to the ground when he pushed against her neck with enough power to cause pain.
He stepped back once her knee hit the mat, shaking his head. “Not good, love. Someone without any training could have defended against that.”
Bouncing back to her feet, Carlie gritted her teeth. “If you can’t remember my name,” she glared at him, “don’t call me anything at all.”
The incessant, condescending way he used love had been the last straw ending their date the weekend before. He’d casually said, ‘Let’s go to your place and get cozy, love,’ and Carlie nearly decked him. She held onto her fraying patience today only because she needed his help, but if he didn’t stop calling her love, she might make good on her threat to attack his crotch—and not the way he hoped.
Stephen flashed a bright smile, obviously not taking her seriously. The problem with Stephen’s attractive, all-American looks was most girls swooned when he looked at them, tripping over themselves to do whatever he wanted. Carlie had seen it with other women in the karate class. Stephen was extremely handsome, but he knew it, and that was a problem.
“Don’t pretend to be angry with me.” He winked. “I can tell you want me, love.”
An involuntary growl erupted in Carlie’s throat. She launched herself at him, spinning in a round kick and striking his thigh full force.
Her second kick angled for his chin, but Stephen ducked out of the way, catching her foot and twisting it. Using his greater weight, Stephen pushed her off balance and slammed her back into the mat. He drove his foot into her abdomen, forcing the air from her lungs.
“Tut, tut. Sloppy, love.”
“Stop calling me that,” she wheezed, ramming her fist in the back of his knee and causing his leg to buckle. Unfortunately, that only resulted in him falling on top of her.
His blue eyes met hers and he jiggled his eyebrows. “If you wanted me on top, all you had to do was ask.”
Still gasping for air, Carlie didn’t waste time talking. She struggled to free herself, trying to wiggle from beneath him. It had been a mistake to take him down. With them both on the ground, Stephen had an even greater advantage.
“Oh, yeah, love. I like the way you move.” Stephen planted his knees on either side of Carlie’s waist and ground his groin against her stomach.
She immediately stopped moving, worrying she might vomit as bile rose. “Get off, now.”
“I’m trying.” He laughed, infuriating her more.
No longer concerned with technique or training, all she wanted was away from the creep. She’d had it. Carlie beat her fists against his chest, not doing any real damage because she couldn’t get any leverage against him. “Move, you filthy jerk. I don’t need this kind of help!”
Suddenly, Stephen’s weight lifted off her, and Carlie watched in amazement as he hit the mat a short distance away.
“I believe the lady asked you to get away from her,” a rich baritone voice boomed.
Carlie looked up. Nick Kendall stood next to her. He crossed his arms over his chest, flexing his biceps in a way that strained the fabric of his karate uniform while he stared Stephen down.
Stephen might be a creep, but he was a smart creep. No one wanted to mess with a fifth-degree black belt. He jumped to his feet and spread his hands wide. “There’s no trouble between us, man. I was just helping Carlie with her training.”
Before Carlie could protest, Nick let out a snort. “I saw the kind of help you give,” he said in a low, dangerous-sounding voice. “I also saw she didn’t want it. Now, get away from her before I talk to Sensei Hideaki about the quality of people he allows in his dojo.”
Stephen puffed out his chest. “Are you threatening me?”
“Yes.”
Carlie tried not to laugh at the shock on Stephen’s face or the way he shrank back. He was used to being the golden child of the karate class, having been the highest-ranked trainee before Nick showed up. Threats didn’t come his way often.
When he recovered from his surprise, he glared at Carlie with contempt before looking at Nick. “If you want the ice queen so bad, you’re welcome to her.” He rolled his eyes. “Lots of women want me. You’re wasting your time with Carlie though, friend. Frigid little prick tease, that’s what she—”
Nick’s foot rammed into Stephen’s stomach, and he doubled over and fell to the ground. Carlie gasped and looked back at Nick. He appeared completely calm. She hadn’t even been aware he was about to move.
“I’m sure a certain class of girls like you, friend,” Nick said while Stephen twisted on the ground, writhing in pain, “but some women have taste.” He turned to Carlie and held his hand out to her. “Sorry about that unpleasantness. Let me help you up.”
Carlie looked into Nick’s deep brown eyes and heat filled her stomach. She never expected to talk to the hunky man, and here he was, helping her. Placing her hand in his large, firm one, she hoped he couldn’t sense how flustered she felt. “Thank you,” she said softly, finding her tongue as he pulled her to her feet.
He let go of her hand and flashed a smile. “It’s always nice to help a damsel in distress.”
“Is this where you expect me to say ‘my hero?’”
Carlie took a shallow breath, wondering what came over her. She didn’t flirt, and she didn’t tease with strange men she’d just met.
“I’ve been called worse,” he replied.
A light dusting of stubble covered his chin and the strong muscles of his neck suggested that beneath the white Gi, he was solid throughout. He was handsome, in a rugged sort of way with black hair and olive skin, but that didn’t really matter. After all, Stephen had been right to call her the ice queen. Carlie didn’t have time to check out a handsome man like Nick Kendall or date any more creeps like Stephen Chance. She needed to get her mind back on training and running her shop. Those were the important things in her life.
She met Nick’s eyes again, hoping he hadn’t noticed her studying him. “I really do appreciate it. I thought Stephen could help me, but he’s after something for payment I don’t intend to give.”
He glanced at Stephen, who hadn’t yet regained his feet, likely afraid of drawing attention to himself. “Don’t judge all men by the bad apples.”
“It’s hard not to when I keep finding worms.”
“We’ll work on that later,” he said, and Carlie tried to cover her surprise. Why would a man like him even look twice at her?
“For now,” he continued, “why don’t you spar with me? Sensei Hideaki told me you’re serious about improving your techniques. The men around here don’t want to train with me, and the women are all more interested in what I’m doing Saturday night.” He grinned, inviting her to share in his humor.
“You talked to Sensei about me?” she asked instead of laughing, focusing on the important part. “Why?”
“I told him I wanted a serious training partner, and he recommended you.” He nodded to the front of the room where Sensei Hideaki worked with another pair of students. “I need you, if you’ll have me.”
It was hard not to feel embarrassed. For just a tiny second, Carlie dared hope Nick looked at her as an available woman. Of course he just needed a sparring partner. If he wanted a date, he could chose from any number of gorgeous ladies, including her friend, Shelley.
“Are you interested?” he prompted when she didn’t respond.
She thought about how kind and patient Nick had been training Shelley. Add in the fact she wouldn’t go near Stephen again, she needed someone to prepare her for the black belt test. “Sounds great.”
***
Nick waited outside the hallway to the women’s dressing room. He changed clothes as quickly as possible, beating Stephen out to the main part of the training facility. Beating him...hell, he’d like to beat him. To a bloody pulp. The man was slime. Nick didn’t understand how someone so disrespectful of others had been allowed to move so high in the ranks of karate.
Sensei Hideaki said Stephen was already a third-degree black belt when he started coming here. Apparently his prior master lacked brains.
Glancing at his watch, Nick realized it had been nearly twenty minutes since class ended. Though many women had passed by him, Carlie had yet to appear. The next person to step out was Shelley who, as far as Nick could tell, was Carlie’s best friend.
“Hey.” He jerked his chin to the doorway behind her. “Do you know if Carlie’s almost ready back there?”
Shelley shook her head. “She left a long time ago. Seemed to be in a hurry, since she barely said two words to me.”
“She’s already gone? Damn.”
She laughed. “I didn’t think it possible, but you actually have a thing for Carlie, don’t you?”
Nick looked at the floor, wondering if that knowledge upset Shelley. She’d persistently thrown herself at him ever since his first class. When he told Carlie the women here just wanted to know what he had planned for Saturday night, Shelley was who he meant.
“She’s different.” He met Shelley’s eyes again. “I do need a training partner, and I don’t want Stephen around her anymore. You said they were dating, but she doesn’t seem to like him much.”
“Saying they were dating might have been a bit misleading.” She batted long eyelashes and sighed. “I can see you aren’t going to ask me out, so I’ll tell you the truth.”
“I’d prefer the truth.” Nick clenched his jaw tightly. Women like Shelley got under his skin. Even though he never expressed interest in her, she assumed her good looks would charm him into a date. So much so, that she’d lied to him when he expressed an interest in Carlie.
Shelley laughed, not seeming to notice his irritation. “Well, Carlie wasn’t interested in dating Stephen, but needed a sparring partner and that's the only way he'd agree to train her. She’s desperate to get her black belt as soon as possible.”
That got his attention. “Desperate? Why?”
She shrugged and flipped curly, black hair over her shoulder. “How should I know? She’s not one to share much of her past. We are friends, and I love working for her at the sandwich shop, but Carlie is one mysterious lady.”
Chapter Two
Carlie eyed the display of cupcakes the next afternoon, wondering if she had enough to last. A glance at the clock verified the day had flown by. It was already less than an hour until closing time. Next weekend, she’d make an extra batch. Although it was still slow during the week, Saturday business was picking up for Carlie’s Creations.
Shelley approached the counter with a notepad in hand. “Do we have any more bread bowls in the kitchen? I just got an order for three turkey noodle soups.” She nodded to the corner table where a group of men sat. “I warned them they might have to have it in a normal bowl. Busy today.”
“Yes, it has been.” Carlie was unable to stop the smile that spread across her face.
“Which means,” Shelley said, flashing a return grin, “I get paid on time this week, right?”
She nodded. “We’re in the black as of today. I don’t even have much food left to donate to the soup kitchen.”
“Which is a plus, if you ask me,” Shelley replied. “You’re never going to make any money if you keep giving your profits away.”
Carlie shrugged. “I like helping others. Besides, it’s tax deductible.” She stepped from behind the counter and walked to the short hallway leading to the kitchen. “I have five bowls left, so I’ll grab that food for your table.”
Without waiting for her friend to reply, Carlie crossed the black and white checkered tiles and made her way to the back. The little shop might not be much, but it was what she’d always wanted. Constantly moving around the country to lose her pursuers had put Carlie’s dreams on hold. It had been six years since her husband’s murder, and it was time to put down some roots.
Even if Ryan’s enemies still searched for her, they’d never expect her to be back in Washington, only a short drive from Seattle. After suspecting someone found her in Florida seven months ago, Carlie changed identities once again and decided her best bet was to hide in plain sight.
After re-warming three bread bowls in the microwave, Carlie set them on plates and filled them with hot soup.
Shelley’s head poked around the corner of the doorway. “Everything okay? They said they’re hungry.”
“Everything’s fine.” Carlie grabbed a serving tray from the stack beneath the counter and shifted the plates to it. “It’s ready.”
“Great. Those guys smell like money, and I see a big tip coming my way. Well, maybe.” She laughed and her eyes sparkled with mischief. “If I flirt enough, that is. They’re from out of town and looking for a little fun.”
“In Sayle?” Carlie wrinkled her nose. “Not much excitement here.”
“They’re on their way to Canada, but decided to stop for dinner. Luckily, they found us.”
Because Shelley was the type of woman guys took notice of, Carlie always let her wait on tables with only men. Blue-eyed, black-haired, buxom Shelley kept them happier than blond-haired, hazel-eyed, altogether boring Carlie.
On second thought, being overlooked wasn’t a bad thing. Boring kept her hidden. She needed that.
She
smiled at Shelley. “That is lucky for them to find our great restaurant.” She grabbed a clean rag to wipe up some soup that dripped onto the counter. “And I’m lucky I found you. Thanks for sticking with me through this start up. I know it’s been a rough couple of months.”
Shelley grinned and picked up the tray. “I’m glad I answered your ad for a waitress. Not only did I get a great boss, but a good friend, too.”
The warmth of those words struck Carlie as Shelley sashayed from the kitchen, and she blinked back happy tears. Avoiding her husband’s enemies since his death had made it hard to find friends. It was nice to have one again. Carlie was tired of running, tired of not having a life. If they found her in Sayle, she wouldn’t run any more. She’d fight.
After stirring the soup one last time and turning off the unit to allow it to cool, Carlie returned to the dining area. She glanced around the small space, pride filling her as it always did when she thought about how she’d finally accomplished her dreams.
Six booths with red benches and black tabletops surrounded the outer perimeter of the shop and three more tables sat in the center of the floor. Not a huge place, but big enough to satisfy her lifelong dream of running a restaurant.
Several times today, all the tables were full. People actually waited for a seat or ordered something to go. Word about her shop and the quality of food was getting around. She even received an order for thirty cupcakes for a birthday party next week.
Although her busiest time was during lunch when customers wanted sandwiches made on fresh bread or homemade soup in a warm bread bowl, Carlie knew cupcakes were the latest rage. She hoped they would tip the balance in her favor of having a successful business versus just an ordinary sandwich shop, indistinguishable from the others.
Since Shelley spent extra time with the men headed to Canada, Carlie made the rounds to the remaining customers, refilling drinks and making sure everyone was happy. When the buzzer on the door heralded a new arrival, Carlie didn’t turn around right away, busy refilling an elderly couple’s water glasses.
Killer Romances Page 165
