Page 11 of Simon Says

He sat up and twisted around in one motion to see a Barbie clone standing inside the gym doorway.

Yep. She was the distraction all right.

Dean followed Simon’s line of vision and grunted. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

With a shoulder propped on the wall, her arms crossed, Blondie stared at Simon.

Dean asked, “Who is that?”

“Hell if I know.” Without looking away from her, Simon pushed to his feet. “But spread the word before any of these bozos get lewd ideas—I’ve got dibs.”

Because Dean had been after him to start dating again—without success—that statement earned him a double take.“Now?”

Simon shrugged.

“You’re training for a fight, or have you forgotten?”

“Bad timing.” Simon studied her negligent pose. “What can I say?”

“You can say that you’re joking.”

Simon flashed Dean a quick glance. “I’m not.” Then he shook his head. “But don’t worry. I’ll take my time, and I won’t let her interfere.”

“You don’t even know if she’s free.”

That made Simon frown. For a woman to show up in Dean’s gym, she’d probably come to meet someone. Was she involved with one of the other fighters? Married to one of them?

Dean made a sound of impatience. “Before you burn holes through her with that dark scowl, want me to find out what she wants?”

Just as Dean spoke, Blondie pushed away from the wall and sauntered toward them.

Simon shook his head. “Don’t bother. I think we’re about to find out.”

Dressed in tattered jeans, black lace-up work boots, and a thick coat, Simon couldn’t really see her body other than to note her height. But she had a loose-limbed gait, long legs, longer blond hair, and an eagerness in her eyes that consumed him.

Hell, yeah.

When the time was right, he’d have her. And then some.

Simon walked over to the ropes and propped his arms on them. Keeping his gaze glued to hers, he waited.

She stopped at the bottom of the ring and looked up. “That was sloppy.”

Inside, Simon grinned. Outwardly, he just looked at her.

“If you’re going to compete in the next event, you need to do better than that.”

Up close, Simon saw that the cold had turned her nose red. Not a dainty little nose, but not an unappealing nose, either. In fact, nothing about her features was dainty. She had a full mouth, thick lashes, strong cheekbones, and a stubborn chin.

Deliberately provoking, Simon studied her body from head to toes and back again. The heavy black work boots amused him. When his gaze returned to hers, he asked, “You’re an expert?”

“More like a fan.”

“Of the sport?”Or of me?

She nodded. “I’ve been watching it since the early days, back when it was no-holds-barred, no weight classes, and a lot more brutal.”

Odd, to be having this conversation with her when he didn’t even know her name. Yet. “So which do you prefer? The current rules or the older unrestricted freestyle?”

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