by Diane Bator
Yes, she was. "What was I thinking?"
Kane chuckled. "You were probably thinking about putting those cuffs on me yourself."
Gilda's face burned. She forced her gaze toward the lake, away from Kane's bare, broad chest and damp hair.
"Hand me your sword." Fabio cleared his throat and broke into the conversation. He set aside the stick and took the katana. "I'll give it a try."
Kane picked up the stick and blocked Fabio's swing without much obvious effort. "So, how are things? Last I heard, you got shot, mate. Mick said you made a solid recovery though."
"Mick's lousy at keeping secrets." Fabio took another swing.
Kane blocked again, glancing at Gilda with a sly grin. "Especially about women."
Gilda gritted her teeth and glared. Suddenly she itched to take a swipe at him with the training sword, dull or not.
Marion leaped to her feet and pushed her way between Kane and Gilda. "You leave her alone. She's Mick's girlfriend, and you don't stand a chance." She tossed her hair. "On the other hand, I'm single."
While Marion seemed smitten, Gilda's gut churned. She already had mixed emotions about Kane. Handsome and built like a bodybuilder, he seemed to make himself a little too comfortable—particularly as he draped his arm across her tanned shoulders to lead them all to Phoenix Martial Arts.
Before they'd walked up the beach five feet, a lean woman dressed in black yoga pants and a short purple tank top stormed toward them. Her long chestnut hair glistened with golden stripes and fluttered around her face in the breeze coming off Lake Erie.
"Uh-oh." Kane sidled over until Gilda was in front of him.
The woman stopped in front of them and folded her arms, enhancing the already impressive cleavage that threatened to spill out of her low-cut top. Her dark pink lips jutted out in a dramatic pout. "Kane, what on earth did you do this time?"
Thayer came to an abrupt halt. His mouth dropped open as he stared and stammered. "I…we…this guy…"
Kane leaned down until his face was near Gilda's and he peered over her shoulder. "Aww, crap. Protect me from this one, will ya, mates? This is the rare Tasmanian She-devil."
The woman huffed. "Is that what you're calling me these days?"
Gilda tried to shrug Kane off. "Are you crazy?"
"Well, I don't have the market cornered on crazy," Kane said. "I'm just an innocent by-product, although I am doing everything I can to perpetuate the myth. If you can get me away from her, I'll be indebted to you forever, love."
Gilda inched away. "You are crazy."
Kane sighed. "You would be too if you'd lived my life, love, especially with that she-devil."
"Police?" A smile bloomed on the tall woman's face like a summer rose and her sky blue eyes lit up. She toyed with her hair and batted her fake lashes. "Did you get in trouble again, Kane? I can't leave you alone for a moment, can I?"
Kane's face reddened as he scowled. "No, but it would be nice if you would."
"I should let them lock you up." She laughed.
"That would get me away from you for sure then." Kane held out his wrist to Fabio. "Take me. I'm yours. I'll even invent a charge for you to slap on me."
"Excuse me. How do you know this man?" Thayer puffed out his chest and brushed back his short, blond hair, assuming what Gilda not so affectionately called his peacock pose. "He was caught wielding a dangerous weapon on a public beach. I could charge him with several misdemeanor offences related to the sword alone."
The woman seemed amused. "Trust me, his weapon isn't lethal. Neither is the sword."
Gilda raised one eyebrow. Fabio had already proven the sword wasn't lethal. She didn't want to know about any other "weapons" Kane could be armed with, but Marion tilted her head to study him from head-to-toe with keen interest.
"You are such a liar." Kane grunted as he retrieved the sword from Fabio. "It seriously couldn't hurt anyone, mate. Well, not the way I was using it, anyway."
"More to the point, he couldn't hurt anyone." The woman latched onto Kane's other arm. "For a flashy MMA fighter, he's a total pussycat. Even his trainer couldn't turn him into a real man."
Marion snorted and shot the woman an evil glance.
"And who are you?" Fabio asked.
"I'm his girlfriend, Mena Trava. Am I under arrest too?" She didn't bother to stick out a hand, just her chest and lower lip. "Do you need to search me, Officer?"
"No." Thayer blushed.
Gilda rolled her eyes.
Mena held her hands out from her sides and gave him a long, lingering look. "Pity."
Kane shrugged out of her grip and dragged Gilda up the beach. "Ex-girlfriend who stalks me everywhere I go. Could you arrest her for me, please?"
"Ex-girlfriend with numerous flexible benefits," Mena called after them.
"Whatever." Kane reddened. He stopped and turned around to face the others. "Can I press charges, mate? There's a long list of lines she's crossed today alone."
Thayer and Fabio exchanged awkward glances but said nothing.
Gilda frowned as Marion tagged after them. Didn't anyone believe in a real relationship anymore? All she'd ever wanted was an old-fashioned, fairy tale romance with a happy ending. What she'd ended up with was Thayer, who cheated on her, and Mick… Well, since her relationship with Mick was still in the infancy stage, she'd have to wait and see. His track record with women wasn't great, and Thayer seemed determined not to let her forget that point.
"Kane and I are here to teach classes at the new martial arts school for Mick Williams. I'm the new yoga instructor." Mena smiled as she caught up to Thayer. "We plan to open a New Age store in town as well."
Kane's face tightened. "What do you mean 'we'? I told you, I don't want anything to do with your wacko voodoo shop."
"We'll talk later, sweetie. I'll convince you to invest in it yet." She stumbled and toppled into Thayer with a squeal then grabbed his arm to keep from falling. "Are you really a cop?"
Thayer reached into his jacket then flashed his badge. "Yup."
"I do like a man in uniform." Mena leaned into him.
Kane tightened his arm around Gilda's waist as Marion caught up to them and lowered his voice. "Actually, she prefers her men out of uniform, if you know what I mean."
"You are so jealous." Mena turned to Gilda. "Are you a cop too, sweetheart? You don't look like you can meet the entrance requirements."
Gilda shook her head, shoving away from Kane. "No, I'm—"
Marion jumped in. "Gilda is Mick's girlfriend and the receptionist at the karate school."
"Mick has a girlfriend now, huh?" Mena arched her waxed eyebrows. "That's interesting. So I guess that means he finally got over his ex-wife and is playing the field again. I've been waiting to hear that news for a long time."
Marion growled. "Back off, sister. He's taken."
"For now." Mena smiled.
Gilda wasn't sure how interesting her romance with Mick actually was, but she certainly didn't like Mena's tone of voice. It seemed Marion had unwittingly issued a challenge.
"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 martial arts 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 sa
id. "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.
CHAPTER TWO
The night before the MMA Extravaganza, Mick hosted a meet and greet for all the fighters and coaches at Razi's. Henry, one of their students who waited tables at The Cove Restaurant, joined Gilda and Marion as they arrived around four in order to fill platters with sandwiches and vegetables and make sure there was more than enough food and drinks.
"I can't stay long." Henry smoothed the white dress shirt he wore for work. "I have the six 'til close shift tonight. Lucky me, I get to walk right into the start of the dinner rush."
"That is no problem. I really only need you for one big job." Razi sent Henry out for several bags of ice and a few other last minute things from Happy Harvey's.
Happy Harvey's Hangover Hut wasn't the place to go if you had a hangover, more like if you were in desperate search of the means of one. A glorified, tiki-infested liquor and convenience store, Happy Harvey's was owned by Happy—no one had ever called him Harve
y—a seventy-year-old man who'd become disillusioned with retirement. He was also one of Gilda's good friends.
While Gilda had visited Razi's backyard earlier in the summer, she'd never set foot in his house until that afternoon. She stood in the doorway and gazed around the fully outfitted kitchen in awe. "You must love to cook. I've never seen such a fancy kitchen anywhere but in a nice restaurant like The Cove."
"A man who trains hard, looks good, and loves to cook?" Marion sighed. "Razi, you're a dream come true for any woman."
Razi's face reddened as he waved the two women inside and started giving them instructions before they'd even found their way to the kitchen. "Could one of you please take the watermelon out of the refrigerator?"
"Anything you say." Marion flashed a smile and opened the refrigerator door. "Should I take out the other fruit too?"
"No, those are for my breakfast in the morning," he said.
Gilda caught a glimpse of several packages of strawberries and blueberries and gave a low whistle. "That's a lot of fruit for one guy."
"Not really. They will only last me a day or two." Razi took out a large knife for the watermelon. "I use them for protein shakes."
Marion gave a low whistle as her eyebrows rose. "I'm guessing you don't suffer from irregularity."
Razi shook his head. "No, I am a very normal person."
Her jaw dropped. "I'm sure you are."
Gilda snickered then covered her mouth. "Razi, who taught you how to cook?"
"My mother, back in Israel. The meals were a little different from what I am used to now. It is too bad I do not have an open fire on which to cook a goat. Someday, I would like to build one in my backyard."
"Cook a goat?" Marion blanched. "Over an open fire?"
Razi glanced at Gilda and shrugged. "Yes. Roasted goat with fava beans and couscous. It is delicious when cooked over an open fire."
Marion winced and held up a finger. "On that note, could I use your washroom?"
He pointed her to the nearest washroom. Once she'd gone, he turned to Gilda. "Your friend seems not to have a very strong stomach."