Page 7 of Falling for the Forbidden Fighter
Rather than consult her clipboard, Catherine cocks her head, wearing a confident smirk that drives me wild.
“I think you’ve got potential.”
“Potential?”
“Uh-huh. Good power. Tight body, but nothing I can’t fix.”
I can’t keep the smile off my face.
“Nottightlike that,” she says, blushing. “I’m a PT, Louis. Tight meanstight. Range of motion. Mobility. Stretchy stretch.”
“Sure.” I nod, bouncing on my heels. “You gonna be stretching me out often, then?”
Catherine’s tongue presses against her bottom lip. “Me or my brother.”
In the ring, Ricky growls as he knocks his sparring partner in their headgear.
I clasp my hands together. “Please, don’t let him stretch me.”
“Just be a good boy and do as your coach says. Behave, and maybe you’ll see me around more often.”
She brushes past me, a wake of cinnamon warmth trailing behind her.
If she smiles like that at everyone, I feel bad for the guys in this gym.
I mess around on the speed bag while Catherine talks to her dad. Never had much practice with this thing, so finding the rhythm is awkward. Some old dude next to me smacks his bag to a perfect, high-tempo beat.
He laughs, “Keep practicing, kid.”
My instinct is to snap back, but I fight that down.
“Any tips?” I ask through bared teeth.
“Yeah,” he says, grabbing the swinging bag and nodding behind me. “Don’t fuck with Don’s daughter.”
I turn to find Catherine walking toward me, those long legs flexing with every step. She’s like gold.
“Tomorrow morning,” she says, hiking her gym bag up on her shoulder. “Five-thirty. Get here early to warm up. It’ll impress the old man.”
“Thanks for the tip.”
“Anytime.” She touches me on the arm, fingertips like fire. “Good luck tomorrow, Louis.”
And just like that, she’s walking toward the doors.
My gaze never leaves her body, trailing down her spine, getting lost in that bubble butt as it moves in her tight shorts. She opens the door and steps into the hot afternoon.
I have no idea when I’ll see that angel again.
But she touched my arm. There was no reason for her to do that…
I run out after her.
The heat blasts me, and it takes my eyes a moment to adjust. Damn, the desert takes some getting used to. It’s not even noon, and it’s so hot that I feel like I’m on another planet. Finally, I spot Catherine throwing her bag in the trunk of an all white Civic.
“Hey!” I run over, already building up a sweat again.
She stops with her door open, leaning on it, eying me up and down. “Hey, yourself.”
