Page 36 of The Doctor's Twins

Peyton was so unlike her fellow residents. She was streets ahead when it came to maturity, an attribute I found very attractive in a woman. I could tell that she was intelligent from the questions she asked and the way she held a conversation. I knew that she would be bolder in her personal life as her confidence returned. In my experience, browbeaten women, however intelligent they may be, were weary of coming out of their shells for fear of being rammed back inside by an abusive man.

I wondered who the bastard was that had pushed Peyton around. I had no time for men like that. I could only hope that someday his and my paths would cross so I could give him a taste of his own medicine.

I was invited to compete in an out-of-state, premier martial arts tournament. The event was coming up soon and I thought it would be nice if Peyton could experience what the discipline was all about—seeing as she’d shown such interest in it at the barbeque. So, I decided to invite her along.

I had to be careful how I did it though. The last thing she needed was a man looking to take advantage of her. That was not my intention. The truth was that I enjoyed her company. Sure, I’d be lying to myself if I didn’t at least admit that the attraction was ridiculously strong, but I'd take it slow—give her time to get to know me better.

“Good morning, team,” I greeted the eager residents when I arrived at the hospital. “Let’s do our rounds, shall we?”

About half an hour later, after we’d seen all the patients and gone through the medical details of their recuperation, pain management, and such, I asked Peyton if I could have a quick word with her before I left to see my private patients at my private practice.

“Sure, Ben. What’s up?”

“I’m attending a big martial arts tournament in two weeks, and I wondered if you’d like to come along. I thought you might enjoy it as you seemed quite interested when I showed you my dojo.”

I couldn’t read Peyton’s expression, so I added a bit of reassurance.

“No funny business, I promise. We’ll stay in separate accommodations.”

She chewed on her bottom lip before she answered.

“Uh, yeah. That sounds like fun, actually. I’d love to go.”

“Great. I know you’re going to enjoy it. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Thanks, Ben.”

Was my smile too bright? I was sure it was like that of a teenager who’d scraped together the courage to ask the prettiest girl to the prom, and she said yes.

Leave before you say something stupid, Ben.

What the hell had gotten into me?

* * *

“That was absolutely brutal!”

Peyton’s face was lit up and her smile was genuinely infectious.

“You are brilliant. I thought for sure that guy was going to run away and cower in the corner of the room.”

“Stop, I’m blushing,” I laughed.

“No, seriously. Well done.”

“Thank you, but that was only the first fight. Plenty more to come. I may still need a stretcher.”

“Oh, I don’t believe that for a second.”

Peyton and I were having a drink between my scheduled fights. We’d arrived a day before the tournament so that I could have a few sessions with my trainer, Dylan, before the event.

Dylan was a very accomplished martial arts instructor, who’d lived and trained with the best in Japan. He was exceptionally knowledgeable when it came to technique, but I enjoyed his spiritual take on life even more than his skill as a trainer. He was a deep thinker, and in all the years that he’d been my mentor, I’d never once seen him lose his cool. Not that he was a pushover, mind you.

“How many more?” Peyton asked.

“What? Sport fights?”

“Is that what it’s called?”

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