Page 12 of Champion

Waylon nods. “You know the door is always open for you. But you need to actually come up to visit and take the offer,” Waylon says, making it sound like this is a longstanding exchange between them.

“Yeah, I know. I’ll work on it. This is Opal.” Champ gestures toward me. “She’s one of the ladies helping me run the office side of things at the gyms.”

“That’s right. I heard you were opening a second location.”

“Yeah, I am. The Jefferson location will be open soon. A woman came in for a self-defense class with one of my guys. She knocked out her ex, and someone caught it on video and posted it online. Damn video went viral, so now I have a waitlist for both gyms, and women want self-defense classes.”

Champ makes it sound like it’s a burden, but he can’t help smiling a little at the demand for the new gym, not to mention helping more women with self-defense classes.

“That’s good work, Champ. You should be proud.”

“I am. But I couldn’t do it without help,” he says, turning to me. “I need Opal and Shelly to help me with the books and keep it all straight. It’s a small wonder I kept the first gym running as long as I did on my own.”

Champ and Waylon look at me, and my cheeks flush with pride.

“Oh, I don’t do that much,” I say.

“The hell you don’t. I know everyone thinks I’m a mean bastard, but don’t ever doubt how much I value and appreciate you, Opal. I’m serious.” Champ looks at me with anintensity that takes my breath away and makes my core twist with raw desire.

“Thank you.” So many emotions roll through me, but I don’t know what to say without making a fool of myself.

“I heard we had visitors. Champ, it’s good to see you!” I have to make sure my mouth doesn’t hang open as I watch a woman with dark brown hair pulled back in a ponytail go up to Champ and hug him. Jealousy flares until I see a ring on her left hand.

“Opal, come and meet Claudia. She and Glen live here on the mountain, running a dog shelter. They work with Warrior Cares.”

As I shake the woman’s hand, it clicks into place. “Oh! Do you mean Sweet Redemption Refuge? I’ve heard about that!”

“Yeah, that’s us. I’m Glen.” A man with haunted eyes smiles and extends his hand to me. “That’s how we met. I adopted a rescue dog…”

“Mutt.” Claudia smiles, wrapping her arms around his torso.

“Yeah. That little SOB—pardon my language—wasn’t behaving. The shelter I adopted him from recommended training classes with this woman, and now we’re out here. Much quieter than back in the city,” he says, his eyes creasing with stress.

“It sounds like you have your hands full.” I watch as Champ talks to a man who’s just walked into the cabin. “Is this place…like an office?”

“Something like that. Waylon lives here, but it’s where everyone comes to meet, and this is the official-unofficial,” Claudia makes air quotes, “office for this side of themountain. There are some cabins rented out and…other business. This serves as the office for everything. Everyone reports to Waylon.”

“Champ told me about the women being helped,” I say. It’s obvious she’s intentionally being vague, which makes sense given what Champ described to me on the way here.

Claudia nods and relaxes a little. “I’m impressed that Champ told you. It was shocking to see that he brought someone up here, to be honest. He’s never done that before.”

“Well, his truck is in the shop. He asked, and it sounded urgent, so I couldn’t say no.”

“Hm. He could have rented or borrowed a car.” Claudia gives me a long look like she’s sizing me up. “Is there anything else? Are you two dating?”

I glance away, my cheeks burning with a blush. It doesn’t seem like it should be so obvious, but Claudia’s right – he could have asked someone else or rented a truck. I’m realizing that Champ allowing me to join him on this trip is a really big deal.

“No. I mean, it’s not that I don’t want it, but he always keeps me at arm’s distance. I asked him out, but then my brother showed up – and they hate each other. That went as well as you’d expect,” I sigh. “I’m not sure if anything is going to happen.” As I say the words, I begin to question them. Why would Champ ask me to drive him today if he wanted to keep me at a distance? Maybe he likes me more than he lets on?

Claudia smiles. “By the way he keeps glancing at you, I’d say you have a chance. He’s not letting you out of his sight.”

I look over my shoulder and smile when Champ meets my gaze. A shiver of desire dances over my skin.

“You two should stay for dinner. There’s always room up here,” Claudia offers.

“It is getting late,” I say, looking out the window at the darkening sky, then glancing over to where Champ’s standing and talking to Waylon.

“Nonsense. There are empty cabins up here, too.” Claudia winks at me, and it feels like another person is trying to set me up with Champ.

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