Page 23 of Never Quiet

“What happened?”

“Rookies. I’m training a new batch and one didn’t pull the spinning back kick we were just supposed to be demonstrating. I didn’t even brace for it because I wasn’t looking at him.”

“Wow. What did you do?”

“Walked them through it and Shawn bound my ribs.” He kissed her forehead. “Eat. I’m okay.”

That night, it was just the adult couples, Sterling, and Mandy. Shawn planned to make a trip to the mainland in two days and promised to bring Davis back.

“How’s Erick liking college?”

“We talk to him once a week. He’s busy with his prototype and decided to spend the summer using the lab when the posers weren’t taking up his workspace.” Dakota shrugged. “With the college credits he had before graduation, you know he went in as a sophomore. His course load is insane as a junior. With the extra years required for what the two of you want to study, a head start should help you graduate before you’re forty.”

Gunner added, “He wanted a jump start through the bullshit stuff he said did not apply.”

“Good for him.” She did the math. “Bachelors, masters, PhD, and he’ll probably need one in engineering as well as oceanography.” Nodding, Mandy told them, “I get it. It’s a lot of years and the faster we can knock it out, the better.” She rubbed Sterling’s back. He was spread out on the couch beside her, snoring. “I can’t believe how big he got in a year.”

“Eats everything in sight. I’m not sure what you said to him, Mandy. Whatever it was, it worked.” Gunner grinned. “Fewer injuries is awesome. We don’t know what to do with ourselves.”

“I asked him to think a little before he jumped off something. Told him it hurts everyone when he gets hurt. That’s it.”

“He listened,” Dakota told her.

“Let’s hope it holds.”

* * *

The following morning, Shawn moved quickly through the house and Mandy called, “Everything alright?”

He said through gritted teeth, “Chaz got hurt again.”

Mandy approached him in the foyer. “Was it the same guy as yesterday?” Shawn nodded. “Give me three minutes to change and take me with you? I’ll hurry.”

“Sure, but…”

She ran to their guest room and changed into clothes she wore when she trained with Noel and Dakota. Grabbing her backpack, she returned to the foyer and Shawn’s eyes went wide but he didn’t say anything.

Fifteen minutes later, they pulled into the small warehouse they’d converted into a training facility so the Hardings could stay closer to home.

“Shawn?” she asked as he put the vehicle in park. “Do you trust me?” He nodded. “Good. I need you to trust me and pretend like you don’t know me when we get inside. Can you do that?”

He frowned. “What is it?”

“I want to be sure before I say anything.” She took a deep breath. “Okay?”

“You got it.”

Inside, she separated from him and went around to the other entrance into the main training room.

Instantly, as she knew they would, the gazes of the male recruits locked on Mandy as she crossed the mat and took her time coiling her long hair to the base of her neck.

A couple of the cockier ones approached and she saw Chaz, Shawn, and Noel leave the office. They didn’t move any closer and acted like they were deep in conversation.

“Hey there, honey. You lost?”

The men were fit and decently attractive. One was blonde. The other had reddish brown hair. They looked like they wanted to touch her. She didn’t like the way they approached but pretended to be flattered.

She laughed the way girls at her school laughed and put her hand on her hip. “No! How silly! I’m going to get some pointers from one of the instructors. You guys aren’t the only ones who train here.” She could tell Noel was reading her lips and murmuring to the couple.

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