Fourth Fight

by Mary Abshire

  “I don’t think anything we did in bed will help you during the tryouts today,” she said.

  “Actually, our time under the covers puts me in a better mood. So it does help.”

  “You’ll do well. I know you will.”

  “Well, I do have this idea I want to try with you later. I think you’ll enjoy it.”

  She almost laughed. “Do you ever stop thinking about sex?”

  “Not with you. I’m always thinking about the things I want to do to you.”

  His words sent a heat wave straight to her southern region. The man’s insatiable appetite to please her promoted her own desires.

  “Just make sure to do some stretches and pace yourself,” she said. “If you get hurt during tryouts then it might prevent you from doing whatever brilliant idea you have planned for me later.”

  “Oh, I’ve already considered that.” He gave her a wicked grin that inspired her to climb on his lap and kiss him. A shame she was driving.

  She glanced at the bandage on his arm. “Hopefully the gauze will stay on.”

  Before they’d left the hotel, she’d covered and taped pads across the writing to hide it. Then she’d used a roll of gauze and wrapped it around his forearm to secure the pads more. She’d used medical tape in several places to prevent the bandage from moving.

  “It should be fine,” he said.

  “And you have your story ready to go?”

  “Don’t worry. I’m sure they’ll believe me.”

  “Good, because I think we can get through this just as well as any of those guys.”

  He turned to his side window. “Maybe. I wish I had more time to prepare. You’re better at this stuff.”

  “Stop with doubts. You’re in good shape. You’re smart. You’re competitive. You can get through this.”

  He faced her with a lighthearted smile. “Have I told you how much I love you?”

  The happiness in her heart reflected on her face. “Just remember, break my heart and I’ll break you.”

  “It will never happen.”

  His firm words led her to believe he truly loved her. Life seemed as close to perfect as it could get, which meant something bad had to happen soon. True joy never lasted long.

  Driving to the gym, she spotted several SUVs parked in front of the building. Although they’d arrived early, she hadn’t been surprised to see others had too. She took the spot at the end of the row.

  Andrew gripped her wrist after she withdrew the key from the ignition. “Let me handle any questions about the résumé.”

  She sighed heavily. “Are you sure?”

  He nodded. “I can handle this.”

  Her confidence grew as she stared into his bluish-gray eyes. The angel had the brains and the willpower to do just about anything. His determination was a force to be reckoned with.

  She placed her hand on his cheek. His skin felt silky smooth since he’d shaved earlier. She gave him a gentle kiss. “I believe you.”

  He claimed her lips for a few seconds longer. “Thank you.”

  “We should go.”

  Before her hormones took the reins, she pushed open the door. Andrew met up with her at the tail of the Jeep. Although the hour was approaching eight in the morning, the strong sunrays made it feel as if it were afternoon. She’d dressed in a tank top and shorts, hoping to avoid overheating like Andrew had done the day before.

  Andrew opened the back to the Jeep. After she tugged on her ponytail, tightening the band holding her locks, she reached for her duffle bag. Andrew grabbed his too. While he’d packed clothes to change into for tryouts, she’d brought extra attire in case she needed to change later. He closed the door and it made a thud.

  On their way toward the entrance, another car drove up from the path. The driver decided to park at the other end of the line of cars.

  “I guess everyone decided to show up early,” she said as Andrew opened the door to the gym.

  “They’re probably trying to brown-nose with Don.” She’d noticed several of the larger men chatting and laughing with him yesterday. Getting close to someone like a boss or superior to earn brownie points had never been an interest of hers.

  Inside the building, some of the machines had been moved aside and several cushioned mats had been placed in a square pattern on the floor not far from the mirrors. Two men dressed in shorts and shirts with no sleeves and gaping holes on the sides rode stationary bikes and chatted. Another three guys were lifting free weights. From the men’s locker room, she heard male voices chuckling.

  Emily lifted her bag over her shoulder as she stopped a few feet from the wall with the televisions. “Looks like we may test our self-defense moves inside in the air conditioning.”

  “I hope we cover that part first.” He glanced behind him as two others swung the front doors open.

  “I bet we run first, then come back here or defensive tactics. “

  “Why do you think that?”

  She looked past him and found Brad and Trent walking in. “Because they’ll want to see how good and quick we are after we’re tired from running.”

  “Ah, didn’t think about that.”

  “Yeah.”

  Brent and Brad came to a stop a few feet from Andrew. The tall blond wore Bermuda shorts and a white shirt with writing on the front. Brad had dressed in jeans and a tight green shirt. Both men carried bags with them.

  “Glad to see we’re not the only ones here early,” Trent said.

  “Welcome to the fun,” she said.

  “What do you think they’ll have us doing first?” Trent asked.

  Andrew directed his thumb toward her. “My wife thinks we’ll have to run the course first so they can see how we react when we’re worn out.”

  “Good catch,” Brad said. “I’d bet she’s right.”

  “It makes sense,” Trent said.

  Three more men strolled out of the locker room. They all wore shorts and light-colored shirts except for one. A black tank top covered his upper half.

  “We should get ready,” Brad said.

  Trent agreed with a nod. “See you in a bit.” He followed his friend into the locker room.

  “I should change,” Andrew said.

  “I’ll meet you out here when you’re done.”

  He leaned forward to kiss her, but she stopped him with her hand on his chest. “Save it for later. Let’s keep this professional.” While she would’ve enjoyed a quick smooch, she thought it best to focus on their tasks for the day. The loving could come later.

  He pressed his lips together and grumbled softly. “Right.” He walked away from her without another word.

  Emily headed to the ladies’ side. After curving around a wall, the area was divided into two smaller rooms. The left had light-beige lockers and a bench in the center. The right side had two bathroom stalls and two showers that faced three vanities. In the back of both areas, small glass blocks in the shape of a tall window allowed sunlight into the rooms. She strolled to the side with the lockers and selected one in the center. The metal clinked as she opened the door.

  “Just like in high school,” she said. At least she had the entire room to herself. She closed the locker after she stuffed her bag inside.

  Before heading back out, she stopped at one of the vanities and washed her hands. As she lathered the soap, she noticed the rings on her finger. The diamond on one band was small, but it could easily scratch or get snagged on something. Rinsing her hands under the water, she tugged the two bands off. She set them on the counter while she dried her hands.

  Voices outside grew louder. Curious to see what was going on, she grabbed her rings and hurried to put them in the locker. She shut the door and then headed for the exit.

  Don stood near the men lifting free weights. He’d dressed in beige camouflage pants and a tan shirt. Dark sunglasses rested on top of his bald head. He had a grin on his face while the man in front of him lifted a heavy dumbbell. Two men nearby chatted with him. Others had gathe
red in a group and watched the man flex his muscle. And what a large one it was.

  Emily crossed her arms and strolled toward the back near the windows, away from all the men. They could show off their muscles all they wanted and she cared little to watch. A man needed more than a fit physique to hold her attention. Brains and personality were equally important. And the man who had it all and had won her heart returned to the room.

  Wearing black shorts and a loose-fitting shirt, Andrew scanned the area, starting where the men had gathered and then shifted his gaze until he found her. A smile instantly formed on his face. Her heart swelled upon seeing him. The angel could look so serious, so focused, so concerned, but when his eyes fell upon her, it was as if he changed. He seemed happier and full of love. She could relate.

  “Hey,” she said as he came to stop in front of her.

  “Have I missed anything?”

  “One of the guys is trying to impress Don by lifting heavy weights.”

  “And you’re not watching?”

  “I’m not impressed by guys trying to show off.”

  “Me neither.” He grinned.

  Matt entered the building with his clipboard in hand. He removed his sunglasses and hooked them on the neckline of his shirt.

  “Here we go,” Andrew said with a sigh.

  She placed her hand on his arm. “Relax. You’ll do fine.”

  His gaze lowered from her eyes to her lips while he slipped his arm behind her. He grazed his fingers along her back. Tingles spread through her, excited from his delicate touch. He opened his mouth to say something, but Matt started to speak.

  “Can I have your attention please,” Matt said.

  All chatter stopped and everyone faced him. Don left his groupies to take a stance next to his partner.

  “Welcome back for day two of tryouts,” Matt said. “Today you will be running a ten-mile obstacle course.” He paused upon hearing a few groans. “It’s not any more difficult as the ones you went through during your training in the service. We don’t care who finishes first, so pace yourselves. This isn’t a race. Speed doesn’t matter to us. How you handle yourself in the conditions given is what counts. Once everyone has completed the course, we will return here. We will pair you up so we can review your self-defense skills. Are there any questions?”

  “Why can’t we do the obstacle course last?” one of the men asked.

  “Because we say so,” Don said before he gave a devilish grin. He earned a few grumbles from the group.

  “Any more questions?” Matt asked as he scanned faces. After no one spoke, he said, “Seven go with Don and seven come with me.”

  Andrew leaned close to her.

  “I know, go with Matt,” she said and he nodded. She had no interest of getting near Don since she’d learned about his red aura. He wasn’t a demon, but red had to indicate something bad. And since Andrew wanted her to steer clear of him, she would.

  Emily left the gym and hurried past the parked cars to reach Matt’s SUV. She glanced over her shoulder to find Andrew on her heels. Upon reaching Matt’s vehicle, she didn’t hesitate to sit in the back.

  In a matter of minutes, Matt was driving her, Andrew, and five other men down a dirt road to a wooded area in the back of the property. The path became bumpy and the vehicle rocked slightly.

  “How much land does your client own?” the man with short red hair asked, sitting beside her.

  “A couple of hundred acres. Privacy is very important. There’s an airplane and helicopter in a hanger on the other side. The course will have you running along the runway, so you’ll get to see a different part of the property,” Matt said.

  The drive ended near the outskirt of a line of trees. Don parked his SUV next to Matt’s. At the same time, there was a mass exodus from the two vehicles. Everyone gathered near the dirt road. Matt and Don came to stand near the group.

  Don smacked his hands together and then rubbed them. “All right men, and woman, there’s a path that starts next to the tree with the flag on it.” He pointed. “Stay on the path. There are flags spread out every half mile. When you reach an obstacle, complete it and go on. There are hidden cameras and some that are quite visible, so we will be watching you on our phones. If you finish first, have a seat and wait. Don’t expect a job offer. Any questions?”

  Emily inhaled a deep breath. She’d run through miles before, even some within woods, but she’d never run ten miles. She hoped her legs would be able to keep up.

  “Good luck,” Matt said. “We’ll see you at the end of the path.”

  A few of the men took off jogging toward the marked tree. Others strode to the woods. Since it wasn’t a race, she saw no reason to hurry.

  Andrew walked beside her. “What kind of obstacles do you think we’ll have to face?”

  “No idea, but I’m not running to catch up with the others.” The grass swished against their shoes as they headed for the trees.

  “Let’s keep a somewhat steady pace behind them. If you get tired, let me know.”

  “Still nervous?”

  “Not so much with this part of the tryouts. It’s the one later that I’m not sure about.”

  “Help me make it through this and I’ll help you get through the next one.”

  “Deal. Just follow my lead and yell if you need me to slow down.”

  He took off jogging along the path. After filling her lungs with air, she pushed her legs into action. Her confidence rose with each step. Together, their strength, determination, and love could get them through anything. She just hoped her legs could make it through the day.

  Chapter Six

  Shade from the tall trees helped cool Andrew. Perspiration covered his face and neck. His damp shirt started to irritate him, but he didn’t want to slow down to remove it. The patter of feet behind him belonged to Emily. She’d kept up with his pace, following at a safe distance. By his estimate, they’d run several miles already, maybe even fifty percent of the course. The others were out of sight and at least half a mile ahead of them. He didn’t care and wasn’t trying to keep up with them. His focus was on completing the course with the love of his life before exhaustion claimed either of them.

  Breaths steady, he searched along the trail for another flagged tree. The last one he’d seen had been when they’d entered the woods after they’d run around the airplane runway strip. Since there was only one path, he knew they weren’t lost. Up ahead he spotted a wider clearing. He studied the area, looking for a red marker. As he drew nearer, he found it. He also found the path branching off to another direction. He slowed his pace upon reaching the fork in the road.

  Emily came to a halt beside him. Breathing heavily, she glanced in each direction before she lifted her hand toward the tagged tree in the center of the two paths. “What the fuck? How are supposed to know which way to go?”

  Andrew looked at the ground as he ambled along the trail on the left. Leaves were flat and several footprints remained in the dirt. Lifting his head, he listened for sounds. He hadn’t expected to hear any since they were so far behind, but he tried any way.

  “Are there any footprints in the ground going right?” he asked.

  She searched the area. “I’m not seeing any.” She lifted her gaze to the woods. “And I’m not seeing any cameras either, but they could be hidden.”

  He moved closer to her. “You did good back there.”

  In the first wooded area, they’d run into three obstacles. The first involved several down trees stacked on top of each other. How they managed to stack them into a six-foot wall was a question he longed to ask, but they had and Andrew and Emily had to climb over them. Going around had not been an option since a razor-wire fence had been put up on each end and extended for who knows how far. After they climbed over the wall of dead trees and obtained a few scratches, they went a little further to meet their next challenge. A twenty-foot wide stream had a single tree connecting one side to the other. Hand in hand, they made it across. A mile later th
ey encountered a wider stream. That time, they had to get in the water to cross. His clothes had dried after running two miles up and then down the plane runway. If the flags hadn’t been posted along the strip, he would’ve ran across.

  “I’m doing okay. Thirsty,” she said. “How’s your bandage?”

  He brought his arm up. “It’s holding up.”

  “Is it dry?”

  “It is now.” The water from the stream had drenched the bandage. He’d checked it several times, but the tape had held good.

  “I’m glad I wrapped the gauze over the pads. I bet if I hadn’t the whole thing would’ve come off,” she said, hands on her hips. Her top didn’t cling to her breasts the way it had after their trek in the water.

  Andrew removed his shirt and then wiped his face. “We need to decide which way to go.”

  “Did you see footprints on your side?”

  “Yes.”

  She looked both ways again. “I’m inclined to go in the direction less traveled.”

  “Why?”

  “Because I’m not a follower. And because Matt said this isn’t a race. Even if it puts us further behind, I’m okay with that. The path has to lead to an end or they wouldn’t have put the damn flag in the center.”

  Her theory made sense. One way or the other, they’d eventually get to the end.

  He twisted his shirt before wrapping it around his wrist and hand. “You lead for a bit.”

  “Me?” She dropped her arms. “Why?”

  “So I can stare at your ass.”

  She rolled her eyes as she turned around. “At least you’re honest.”

  She began to jog at a slow pace. About a mile later, the trail descended. Trees thickened the woods, slowing them down. When the decline steepened, they walked and held on to trees to keep from falling. The path became difficult to see, but markers had been placed closer instead a half-mile apart.

  “You realize at some point we will have to climb to get back to the normal level,” he said.