Page 61 of A Fighter’s Love

“Yes, thank you. Sorry about that.”

“No problem.” He nodded, set the vase down, then backed away.

Tristan came around the table. He squatted down on his haunches and gripped the arm of her chair.

His dark eyes were full of concern, and his mouth a thin line. “Jenny, are you okay?”

“I’m so sorry, Tristan. That will never happen again. I’ll make sure it doesn’t.”

“That’s not what I’m worried about. We have security downstairs. If he’d refused to leave he’d have been forced to.”

“Yes, yes of course. But he’s gone now.”

“I take it he’s an ex.”

“Yes.” As she’d said it she was embarrassed she’d allowed Billy to be in her life for so long with the label boyfriend. What had she been thinking?

Tristan was quiet for a moment. “Forgive me for overhearing, but it sounds like you’re seeing him again later.”

“He needs my help with something.”

He shook his head. “I’m not happy with that.”

“You’re not?”

“No, he’s what I’d call a loose cannon. Unpredictable.” He paused. “And I bet he likes a fight.”

“He owns a boxing club.”

“Ah, that explains the muscles.” He studied her. “Muscles that are considerably bigger than yours.”

“Oh, he’d never hurt me.”

Tristan nodded slowly. “What I’m trying to say is, I don’t think you should be alone with that man.”

Jenny said nothing.

“I know I’m always rushing about, same as Andre, but we care about you, Jenny. You’re one of the team, one of the Bramon and Wainwright family. I don’t want to see anything happen to you.” He rested his fingertips on her arm. “We’re here if you need us.”

His sudden and unexpectedly kind words created a lump in Jenny’s throat. “Thank you,” she managed.

He cared. And yes, they were all like a family.

He smiled, just a little. “So you won’t go tonight, wherever it is he wants you to be.”

“I have to.”

His smile dropped and the frown came back.

“But it’s okay, really,” she said quickly.

“Do you want me to come with you?”

She laughed, not out of humor but shock. Tristan Wainwright accompany her to the gym? Act as her bodyguard? Surely he had better things to do.

“I’m serious.”

“I know, and it’s so kind of you. But really I’ll be fine. I’m just going to the club.”

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