Page 12 of Too Much In Common
He gripped her wrists as he had in his apartment. His hold was firm, but not painful. “You okay?
“I’m good.” Too good. He smelled of soap and a hint of something that pulled on her memory from last night. A cologne she couldn’t place.
“Now I want you to uncross your arms like I did. Last night, Javier distracted me, so I won’t look at you, and I won’t see it coming.” As he turned, she caught a profile where a tiny bump interrupted the line of his nose.
In her mind, she counted to three, then dropped her arms as fast as she could.
Chris’s arms crossed, and he let go. “See?”
“You didn’t just let me go?”
“Nope. Crossing or uncrossing arms when you can use it can give you an advantage. Um—” Chris stepped back. His mouth closed on whatever else he would have said.
“But?”
“I could have recaptured you.” He put his hands in his pockets.
“Teach me more?”
He shook his head. “That is what classes are for. You should learn from someone else.”
“I’ve taken self-defense classes before.”
“Were they taught by men? Or women?”
“Mostly men. A female police officer taught one.” Most of the courses she’d taken had been focused on keeping a cockpit secure.
“Hastings utilizes our female bodyguards to teach the class since the students are mostly female. I guarantee it will be different from any other class you’ve had.”
“It probably won’t fit my schedule, anyway. I know the ones that came with our apartment lease don’t. At least not this month. I’m working every Saturday. “
“You can talk to Javier about another time. The building classes are here on site, but Hastings conducts mid-week classes you could join. As far as the advanced classes, you should call ZoElle. They are by appointment only.”
Tian stood and gathered her things. “You really want me to take this class, don’t you?”
“I think every woman should be able to defend herself. I mean every person. I’m not trying to say that women are weaker. They are not.” Chris’s face reddened. “I’m getting myself in trouble here, aren’t I?”
“A little. But it’s fun watching you try to talk yourself out of it.” Almost as fun as watching him swim. “If it makes you feel better, I’ll call today.”
“It does.” He held open the door, and they left the gym together.
* * *
Dr. Linn tipped her head, waiting for Chris’s answer to her question. The petite woman scared most of the employees at Hastings more than a sniper threat. The gray-haired psychologist missed nothing. She had the power to end careers. Never had that been a possibility for Chris. He’d never taken down anyone who hadn’t posed a genuine threat before, either.
“Right before she came into the room, I was feeling frustrated.”
“Why?”
Chris leaned forward in his chair. “I was on the phone with customer service, trying to figure out how my earbuds turned into an unidentifiable object.”
“And she lunged at you, yelling?”
“She was trying to grab the object out of my hands. I misjudged her trajectory.”
Dr. Linn looked up from her notepad. “So, what was the object?”
“A menstrual cup?” The words came out as a mumble.
