Page 2 of Stone's Promise

His grip was firm. When he released my hand, I felt the phantom pressure of his calluses imprinting on my palm. “I remember you. Ryder’s wife’s friend.”

“You have a good memory.” I couldn’t remember some people I met yesterday, let alone a whole year. I looked past Cody’s arm and saw for the first time a massive black and tan German Shepherd lying near the training area. Unlike the constant movement around him, the dog stayed perfectly still, watching everything with sharp, intelligent eyes. He didn’t look like a typical pet. He looked like he belonged here, just as much as the fighters did.

The dog saw me shake Cody’s hand. It lifted its head, ears twitching. Its gaze locked onto me. I hesitated, glancing toward Cody, who proceeded to wrap his hands in sports tape like I wasn’t even there.

“That’s Max,” he answered my unspoken question, still not looking up. “He’s with me.”

I blinked. “You bring your dog to the gym? He’s so well-behaved.”

Cody finally met my eyes, his expression indecipherable. “He goes where I go.”

And that was it. No further elaboration. Just a firm statement that made it clear he wasn’t open to talking about the impressive canine companion.

I exhaled, pushing aside the prickle of irritation. I already knew he was the no-nonsense, say-as-little-as-possible type. The stress of getting Family Day together made my patience run a little thinner than usual. As I watched Cody run a steady hand over Max’s head, the frown muscles in his face relaxed.

“You probably are wondering why I’m here.” I smiled at Cody, but he didn’t return it. The dog gave me an encouraging grin instead. “City Hall's got me organizing a charity event forthe town called Family Day. We’d like to feature some of our local fighters, you included."

“Me?” Cody's sandy blond eyebrows knitted together as if I were speaking a foreign language. "Charity event?" His voice was a skeptical rumble.

"Exactly." I maintained my friendly, professional tone. "It's to raise money for the community center. They're planning to open a new kids wing. It’s something positive for the town, you know?"

"MMA fighters aren't babysitters." He draped his towel on his shoulder. "We train to compete, not smile for donations."

Oooh-kay. Wasn’t expecting that level of bluntness. I gathered myself, not letting him see my annoyance at his rude yet athletically toned behind. "You're role models to these kids. They look up to you." My voice remained even, though I could feel the tension coiling between us like a loaded spring. "Your participation would mean a lot."

"Seems like a waste of training time," he countered. “I have to get ready for the Intercontinental Battle Royale coming up next month. He crossed his arms, muscles flexing beneath the thin fabric of his tank.

I had to admit, I didn’t follow these MMA leagues closely like many people in town, so I had little idea about this royale he mentioned. But I wasn’t about to give up just because he was trying to get out of Family Day.

"Look, I get your strong work ethic," I insisted, trying to find common ground. "Training is your priority. It's only one day, and it could change lives."

"Or one day that could set me back."

My, my. Cody was a wall that refused to crumble under the weight of my words.

I forced myself to put on my sweetest smile, the one I reserved for stingy grantmakers and pushy politicians. "This is about giving back, something Warriors Den is known for."

"Emily.” He leaned down as he spoke my name. The gesture was almost intimate, the way he stood close, and I felt the heat from his body washing over the exposed skin of my face and arms. “I'm not the poster boy for your fundraiser." His words sliced through the sliver of space between us.

My frustration simmered just below my pleasant expression. If it wasn’t for him being the mayor’s pick, I would’ve let him get back to his sweaty gym mat. I broadened my smile as I took a big breath. "Clearly, you’re no poster boy.” His raised brows let me know I hit a little too heavy with the sarcasm. I scrambled to patch things up. “You’re a part of Sunridge, too. I'm asking you to help your community, to be part of something that matters."

"Everything I do in that cage matters," he fired back, his eyes appearing more cold steel grey than blue.

I squared my shoulders, bracing myself against the wave of frustration washing over me. "Look, Cody," I began, my voice steady despite the rapid drumming of my heart. "This event is not just about putting on a show or raising money. It's personal for me."

He uncrossed his arms, though a silent challenge remained etched across his face. “You?”

"Yes, because I love my son." The words tumbled out softer than I intended, but they carried the weight of my world. "My little boy is six. He looks up to fighters like you.”

Cody’s hard expression softened around the edges. For a second, I thought he truly heard me. “You let your kid watch MMA?”

My hope deflated like an overstretched balloon.

“I’m joking.” A quick smile lit across his mouth before his stoic expression returned. At least now, his eyes held a glint ofhumor. I found myself looking into them while I tried to hold my laugh back.

“You got me.” I turned my face away, wanting to still hold my ground as a solid professional. When I returned my gaze to Cody, he gave me his full attention. His arms were at his sides now, relaxed. I eased my tense stance, too. “This charity event is showing kids like Oliver that strength is more than just muscle."

There was a shift then, a subtle loosening of the hard lines around his eyes.

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