Page 99 of Ireland

Smith himself was easy to identify, mainly because Ronan had just seen his photo. He was also the only figure moving from mat to mat, giving instruction and praise as needed. Rangy and sleekly muscular with skin that reminded Ronan of café au lait, Smith was far stronger than his lithe body looked, and he was a highly skilled instructor as well, which he demonstrated by escaping the grasp of someone behind him. It was a move Ronan recognized because it was the one Ireland had used on him when she left his hotel room.

Even with her long hair restrained in a tight bun on top of her head, Ireland was impossible to miss. She was so tall, her legs miles long, her body graceful yet powerful. She was sparring with a man more than double her size and holding her own, which made it easier for Ronan to observe her in action.

He knew she could handle herself, but she was still vulnerable—and infinitely precious to him. She could continue being the fierce, impetuous, reckless, and fearless woman she was with him if things worked out the way he hoped. Her family kept her insulated to protect her, but he wouldn’t have to cage her to keep her safe. Danger would never get through him to her—ever.

It didn’t take Smith long to spot him and walk over. The man examined him from head to toe with keen dark eyes and extended his hand with a welcoming smile. “Parker Smith. Welcome in.”

Smith’s handshake was powerful enough to feel the bite of his wedding ring. Ronan returned the gesture with a nod. “Ronan McCaffrey.”

“What brings you in tonight, Ronan?”

“This day has been kicking my ass.” He watched Ireland grab her opponent from behind so the guy could practice breaking the hold. “Figured I might as well make it literal.”

Smith laughed. “I haven’t had that one before.”

Tearing his gaze away from Ireland, Ronan glanced at Smith, catching the grandmaster giving his physique a thorough, examining study as a potential client.? “I need to get on a mat with Ireland Vidal.”

“Is that so?” Smith’s gaze narrowed on him. “I still haven’t decided whether you’ll get on a mat. Period. Do you have any experience?”

“No.”?

“How much do you think you know about Krav Maga?”?

“Not a damned thing.”?

“Then you’ll start with me,” he declared with a decisive nod of his shaved head.?

“I’m here to spar with Ireland,” Ronan reiterated smoothly, if intractably.?

Rounding on him, Smith’s posture was loose and relaxed, but he was bristling. “I’ll make two things clear to you, man. One: my studio is not a place to hookup. Two: that woman could kill you in under a minute without you laying a single finger on her.”?

Ronan huffed a humorless laugh. “Now that Idoknow.”

“What the fuck are you doing here?”

He smiled inwardly at the sound of Ireland’s voice but knew better than to do so outwardly. Turning, he faced her. “Hello,cher. We have some things to discuss.”

Dieu, but she was absolutely stunning. Taking the opportunity to drink her in, Ronan almost wished she had flaws, even just one. Anything that might offer him some hope of surviving her. But no, she was perfect. In too many ways to count.

Her face was flushed, and there was a fine sheen of sweat on her exposed skin. That he wasn’t responsible for her glow was a shame. Still, she smelled deliciously of hardworking woman and her perfume. He could find her in darkness by those two scents, the one combination on earth capable of overriding his highly evolved self-preservation instincts.

She shot him an incredulous look. “Was blocking your number not a clue that I don’t want to talk to you?”

He remembered standing in the lobby of Vidal Records and taking a last look into her eyes before she found out who he was. He’d known that would be the last time she would ever look at him with untarnished trust and affection.

The way she looked at him now was beyond brutal after what he’d once had with her.

Smith came into Ronan’s view and got in his face. “Are you a fucking problem? You comehere, of all places, to harass one of my students? You got a death wish?”

“You’re the second person to ask me that today,” he drawled. “It must be true. And yes,cher, I got the message, but I havesome things to say, and you’ll hear them. If you need to hit me while I talk, so be it. I did give you carte blanche to use my body for your pleasure.”

Her beautiful eyes narrowed dangerously, then they sparked with a maliciously eager light. Ronan felt a surge of triumph. He’d watched her confront that idiot in Jazzie’s and saw the soul-crushing indifference on her face when she’d looked at the guy. Now, he saw hurt and disappointment, which wounded him but also revealed that she still feltsomething,which was far better than nothing.

“I don’t mind breaking this guy in,” she said to Smith without looking away from Ronan. “In fact, I’d really enjoy it.”

Smith looked between them grimly. “My studio isn’t a therapist’s office. If you two have issues, take them somewhere else.”

“At least half the people in here right now are here to blow off steam,” Ireland countered. “Three minutes max, Parker, and he’ll be out of here.”

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