by Laura Ann
Andrew raised a taunting eyebrow. “I think we both recognize the draw between us. Chemistry...tension...whatever you want to call it. I’m saying you can choose what we do with it.”
“So, you’re saying I get to be in charge?”
Andrew tilted his chin a fraction. “If that’s what you want.”
“And if I wanted you to leave me alone?”
An emotion Val wasn’t sure of flashed through his eyes, but he nodded slowly. “If that’s what you want.”
“Fine,” she said through clenched teeth. Why does it hurt to think about telling him to get lost? How am I supposed to divide my attention like that? I can’t protect his grandmother and keep getting distracted by him, our different stations in life aside. It just feels like everything is against us.
“Aren’t you going to ask what I get if I win?” Andrew ducked to avoid her fist.
“You aren’t going to win, so it doesn’t matter,” she said with a fierce smile.
Andrew pinched his lips together, obviously holding back a smile. “If I pin you, I get a date. No grandmothers, no bodyguards, no puppies, or little kids. Just you and me.”
Val had to clamp her teeth shut to keep her jaw from falling to the floor. “You want to go on a date with me? Oof!” His suggestion had brought her guard down and Andrew had taken full advantage. Val immediately bucked and scrambled backwards, rolling to her feet. “I think you’re just trying to distract me,” she panted, staying low and keeping an eye on his shoulders.
“Wasn’t my intention,” he said through his own labored breathing. He danced on his toes. “I’m actually aiming for the prize. Do we have an agreement?”
Val’s nostrils flared and her heart pounded. “Agreed.” As soon as the word was out of her mouth, she lunged, bringing the fight to Andrew.
Now if I could just decide if I want to win or lose.
CHAPTER 8
Andrew touched his cheek bone and immediately winced.
“Blue looks good on you,” Luke said as he waltzed into Andrew’s office. “Matches your eyes.”
Andrew glared. “Come here and we’ll add a little green to yours.”
Luke laughed and threw himself on the couch. “Sore loser?”
“I didn’t lose,” Andrew muttered, slamming his laptop shut.
“No, but you didn’t win either.”
“And therein lies the problem.”
Luke laughed again. “Tell me what this bet was that has you all in knots.”
Andrew laid his head back and groaned. “I told you I don’t want to talk about it.”
“And I say you do want to talk about it, but you’re just too embarrassed to.”
Andrew cracked open an eye. “I’m not embarrassed.”
“Then tell me,” Luke pushed. He leaned back and crossed his arms over his chest. “Maybe Luke Love can help.”
Andrew barked out a laugh. “Luke Love. I haven’t heard you called that since we were in college.”
Luke breathed on his fingernails, then buffed them on his shirt. “Doesn’t mean it’s not still true.” He grinned. “Come on. Tell me.”
Andrew sighed and his shoulders drooped. “I said if she could pin me, I’d let her be in charge of our next step.”
“Hmm...so there’s going to be a next step. And if you won?”
“She had to go on a date with me.”
Luke hummed and nodded. “Not bad, but now where are we? No one won. The senseis finally pulled you apart because you were so evenly matched.”
Andrew shrugged. “I have no idea. Same place we were when we started, maybe?”
“Which is nowhere,” Luke pointed out.
“I prefer to think of it more as a ‘there’s chemistry but we haven’t done anything about it’ stage.”
“Which is nowhere,” Luke stated again.
“Which is nowhere,” Andrew agreed.
Luke pursed his lips and squished them to the side. “Maybe we can turn this to our favor.”
Andrew frowned. “What do you mean?”
“I don’t know yet. Let me think.”
“Well, while you think, I’m going to go grab something for my head.” Andrew groaned as he pushed himself up from his desk. His whole body was sore from the sparring match. He and Val had fought for much longer than was normal, since neither was able to bring their opponent down. The senseis had finally had them both step back to allow others a chance to practice.
I am so grateful for a good mattress, he thought as he stretched his back. Walking into the employee lounge, he grabbed a mug and filled it with water from the filter. Opening a cupboard, he poured a couple of pills in his mouth and drank them down.
“Fifteen minutes,” he muttered as he rubbed his temple and worked his way back to his office. “You’re still here?” he asked, surprised at Luke’s presence.
“I told you we were going to figure this out,” Luke said with a scowl.
“Yeah, but I figured you’d get bored and move on.”
Luke snorted, but didn’t respond.
Andrew sat gingerly in his chair and leaned his head back, closing his eyes.
“I’ve got it!” Luke shouted.
“Ow.” Andrew held the side of his head and squeezed his face in pain. “You couldn’t have announced that a little quieter?”
Luke snickered. “Careful, or Margene is going to think you have a hangover.”
“If I drank, I probably would,” Andrew muttered.
Luke folded his arms over his chest. “Did you want my brilliant idea or not?”
“Go ahead.” Andrew waved an arm in invitation. “Shock me with your brilliance.”
“No shock,” Luke ran a hand through his hair. “I’m brilliant all the time.”
Andrew gave him a look and Luke laughed.
“Okay, okay.” He walked forward and leaned his hands on the desk. “You need to challenge her again.”
“What? Why?” Andrew made a face.
“Because it’s obvious she’s driven by competition. Look” —Luke turned sideways and rested his hip on the desk— “think of it this way. She’s a girl, and she went into the military. Obviously she’s had to prove herself just as tough as all the guys, right?”
Andrew slowly nodded.
“She trains in martial arts.” Luke grinned. “Not only does she train, she’s amazing at them. Again, she’s proving herself.”
“Okay. What does this have to do with her and me?”
“You need to pique her competitive nature. Catch her in another bet and get her to go out with you.” Luke held out one hand. “You pull out the ole Andrew charm.” He held out the other hand. “She melts into a puddle at your feet.” He brought his hands together. “And then, BAM! You kiss her until she doesn’t know which way is up.”
“I feel very sorry for any women you actually decide to date,” Andrew said as he shook his head.
Luke looked to heaven and moaned. “You’re not seeing the big picture, man! You have to make her think she wants it!”
“How do you know she doesn’t?” Andrew suddenly felt slightly offended. While it might have been true that he was originally wary of her, it was more about Gram’s protection than anything. Now that he was getting to know her more and seeing how well she handled his grandmother, he saw little need for caution.
Very few women made him light up like a Christmas tree, and he was anxious to see where their chemistry led, but he would never do anything at the expense of her free will.
Luke shrugged. “Maybe she does. The biggest problem is, we just don’t know. She was fighting awfully hard to be the one in control. How do you know that she wasn’t planning to tell you to get lost?”
The same worry that had slithered through Andrew during the match hit him full force now. “I don’t,” he said softly. “But I’m holding onto the fact that she kissed me first. Like you said, Val wouldn’t have done that if she hadn’t wanted to.”
“Eh.” Luke shrugged. “I still say you nee
d to appeal to her competitive side.”
Andrew fingered his bruised cheekbone. “No thanks. I’ve already seen where that gets me.”
VAL PUFFED OUT A BREATH while she pumped up and down during her daily push-ups. “Four more,” she panted, “just four more. You’ll never beat Andrew until you do four more.” Her muscles screamed at her as she finished out her plan. Her whole body was sore, but especially her arms after last night’s sparring match.
Andrew had really pushed her to her limits, and Val had loved every minute of it. The only problem? With no actual winner, she wasn’t sure where they stood on their bet. His comments about their chemistry and them going out had given Val the courage to admit to herself the attraction she was feeling, and she had been looking forward to seeing what came of it. But now, she was back at ground zero.
Just as she was sitting back on her haunches, her phone rang. Grabbing it, Val swiped the answer button when she saw who it was. “Hey, Lola. How’re you this morning?” Hopefully better than your grandson, who’s probably sporting a shiner.
“Good morning, Valentina.” Lola’s cultured tones slid through the phone like silk.
Geez. Do you have to be rich to have a voice like that? I couldn’t sound that sophisticated to save my life.
“I had a thought,” Lola began, and Val held her tongue. She was starting to notice patterns with this woman, and those four words always preceded some random, eccentric plan.
Despite the woman’s odd sense of charity, Val was learning that Lola had a heart of gold, and Val was beginning to grow attached to the elderly woman, weird ideas and all.
“Not enough people know what a good plate of fish and chips tastes like,” Lola stated.
“They don’t, huh?” Val grinned.
“Absolutely not. Now. I don’t think there’s a good way to take real fish and chips to the masses, but I can start by taking them to individuals. Isn’t that right?”
“Of course,” Val said off-handedly. She was only half-listening at this point. Knowing she would have to accompany Lola on whatever errand she had set her mind on, Val began putting together the ingredients for her protein shake in an effort to get done quickly so she would be available whenever Lola wanted her.
“So, I’ve decided we shall go to lunch,” Lola continued. “After enjoying our own plates of real fish and chips, we shall take a couple to-go boxes and deliver them as needed. Are you in?”
“Yep,” Val assured her, dumping peanut butter into the blender.
“Then I shall see you at eleven.” The line went dead before Val could respond.
With a chuckle, she set her phone down and finished with her post-workout drink. “I better get showered,” Val muttered, hurrying down the hall of her apartment. “Pretty sure Lola won’t like it if I show up drenched in sweat.” She groaned. “Not that I haven’t already done that, but I can at least put in an effort now.” And that effort has absolutely nothing to do with her grandson. None. Whatsoever. Not even close. I’m not doing this for him.
Determined not to think about the blue-eyed hunk any longer, Val hopped in a cool shower and hurried to get ready. At eleven on the dot, she rang Lola’s doorbell.
“Hey, Gerald,” Val said with a smile. The stodgy old guy was starting to grow on her. At first, it had been weird to think of there still being butlers in today’s time, but Gerald took such good care of Lola, Val found herself glad to have him around.
“Ms...Valentina,” he said with a small smile. “It’s good to see you here.”
“Lola ready to go?” Val stepped in and put her hands on her hips, looking around the grand foyer.
“She’s—”
“I’m here, I’m here!” Lola came hurrying forward, waving a hand in the air. She wore a bright yellow skirt with a blue and yellow blouse and sensible heels. Pearls were wound around her neck and several rings adorned her fingers. In other words, she looked as classy and put together as always.
“You’re looking fancy for someone about to get a greasy lunch,” Val teased.
Lola grinned and linked her arm through Val’s. “A lady must always look like a lady.”
Val grinned and glanced down at her stretchy slacks and V-neck T-shirt. “I’m not sure what that makes me, then.”
Lola squeezed her arm as they walked out to the SUV. “It makes you a lady who can move. Can you imagine me kicking someone in this outfit?”
Val burst out laughing. “I don’t know. I think you can do more than any of us realize. I’m pretty sure you’re holding out on us.”
“A lady also never shares her secrets.” Lola pretended to zip her lips as she settled into her seat.
“So noted.” Val nodded. After closing the door, she walked around and slipped into the driver’s seat. “Where are we headed?”
“Beecham’s,” Lola said quickly. “Have you ever been there?”
Val shook her head. “Nah. I don’t eat out much.”
“I would guess not. It’s why you have such a nice figure.”
Val chuckled. “That and the fact that I spend my life in the gym.”
“That, too. One must never forget to credit the hard work.” They drove in silence for most of the trip, the quiet only broken by Lola’s soft directions.
“Here we are!” Val sang out, then paused. She hadn’t noticed how much her mood had lightened since she’d been spending time with Lola. Normally she only felt happy when she was ribbing her brothers at the security firm, or when she was taking down a guy whose ego was too large. This, however, was different. It didn’t involve proving herself or striving to stay on top. She was simply happy because she was surrounded by someone she enjoyed, who treated her with respect and love...like family.
“What is it, dear?” Lola asked, breaking into Val’s straying thoughts.
Val smiled. “Nothing. Let’s go get you lunch.”
They walked into the small pub and were quickly seated in a booth. Waving off the menus, Lola folded her hands on the large wooden table and said, “We’ve come for your fish and chips. One for each of us.” She glanced at the semi-busy restaurant. “In fact, anyone in here who would like fish and chips can have them on me.” Lola smiled at the waiter, who gave her a bemused smile in return.
“You want to pay for everyone to have the fish basket?” the waitress asked, confusion clear on her face.
“Yes!” Lola waved her hand. “I have decided you have the best fish and chips in town, and everyone should experience that at least once in their life.” She leaned forward conspiratorially. “In fact, when we are done, we will take two to-go orders, which I plan to share with others who need a lift.”
The waitress chuckled. “All right! I’ll let people know.”
Lola rubbed her hands in glee as the worker left.
“You sure get a kick out of funny things,” Val teased.
“Pshht.” Lola waved her hand. “At my age, it’s the little things that matter. Family, memories,” she winked, “and good food.”
CHAPTER 9
Andrew rubbed the bridge of his nose. The medicine he had taken earlier in the day was doing nothing for the pulsing in his head. He was starting to think the pain was more from stress than the actual injury. “What do I have to be stressed about?” He huffed. “Oh, I don’t know. Maybe the fact that the girl I like beat me up last night, and I can’t seem to work up the courage to actually ask her out?” He ran a hand through his hair. “I’m such a wimp.”
A knock on his door was followed by it swinging wide open.
“What?” Andrew jerked upright, then flushed when he saw Grams and Val standing in the doorway. Please tell me they didn’t hear me talking to myself.
“Hello, my handsome grandson!” Lola called out, waltzing in as if she owned the place.
Andrew shook his head and chuckled. Wimp or not, at least Grams thinks I’m worth something. “Hey, Grams.” He stood and walked around to kiss her cheek in his usual greeting.
Grams smiled and cupped his fa
ce. “Uh, huh.” She studied him. “Just as I suspected.”
“What did you suspect?” Andrew braced himself as he waited for her to comment on his bruised face.
“You haven’t eaten lunch, have you?”
Andrew stepped out of her reach and shook his head. “Not yet.” He waited, feeling sure she would ream him for his ‘athletic activities’, as she called them.
“Perfect!” Grams turned and clapped her hands twice. “Come, my dear, and bring the goods!”
Huh. I didn’t think she had it in her to ignore things like that.
Val rolled her eyes, but grinned good-naturedly and stepped fully into the office. She was carrying two greasy-looking paper bags and offered one to Andrew.
“What’s this?” Andrew asked, taking the bag carefully. His eyes drank up Val in her casual clothes as if she were the meal instead of whatever was in the bag. How is she still walking after our fight last night? I feel like an old man, and she’s moving around like nothing happened.
“The best fish and chips in town!” Lola crowed. She looked around. “Where’s—”
“Hey, man, you hungry?” Luke’s deep voice came from behind Val.
“Perfect timing, darling.” Lola grabbed the last bag from Val, who had moved to the side, and offered it to Luke. “Bon appetit!”
“Sweet! Thanks, Grams!” Luke kissed Lola on the cheek and headed straight for the couch.
Andrew moved back to his desk, where he had a better view of Val. After Grams had taken the bag, Val had stepped further into the corner, her hands clasped in front of her, looking the epitome of a bodyguard...a really, really beautiful bodyguard.
“Wassup?” Luke tilted his head at Val, who acknowledged him with a small smile and a nod.
Frustration built up inside Andrew. Luke makes it all look so easy. So why do I feel so tongue-tied whenever she’s around? “Good to see you, Valentina!” He immediately winced at how loud his voice was. Yeah, that’s it. Making her deaf is a sure way of getting her attention.
Val’s lips twitched and she nodded once again. It was clear she was amused at his greeting.