A Change of Plans (5 page)

When we returned to the tables, the Armstrongs were rising to leave.

“We need to get Kate to bed, or she’ll be a bear in the morning.” Aislinn twisted so her husband could help her with her wrap.

When D’Arcy looked at Braedon, he nodded. “I’ll come with you.” Braedon finished the last of his drink. Turning to the rest of us, he said, “I have to get up early. Good night.” The three of them left together.

I looked at my watch. “I should probably go too.”

Elle tapped the seat beside her. “I don’t think so.”

“But I have to get up early too.”

She tilted her head and pinned me with her eyes. It always struck me how so much strength of will could be housed in such a little person.

Laughing, I sat down. “Fine. I’ll stay a little longer.”

CHAPTER 5

B
RAEDON HAD
already begun his workout on the treadmill when I arrived the next morning. Before I had fallen asleep the night before, I had reminded myself of my reasons to stay aloof. As soon as I saw him, I had to go through them again.

I went through my stretches, and by the time I took my break, Braedon had moved to the weights, giving Jimmy and Maria tips. They joined me when I had completed my forms. I took a few minutes to teach Jimmy and Maria some kicks and punches, sending them off to practice before the gym got too full.

I was pleased to be collected and businesslike as I turned to Braedon. “You ready for this?”

“Of course.”

I pulled a pair of mats from the corner. “We need to use these because in my escapes I’m required to take you down.”

“Okay,” he said slowly. “What kind of escapes?”

“Holds, mostly. Let’s start out with you behind me.” I turned my back to him. “Pin my arms to my sides.”

He grasped my arms, his skin warm and surprisingly soft, and held them in place, though without much strength.

I shook my head. “You need to bring your arms around me and
pin
my arms to my sides.”

He did as instructed, but I could tell he still wasn’t using his full strength. I would have to get his attention. Before he could react, I pulled one of his fingers free and bent it into a joint lock, careful to not apply too much pressure, just enough so he released my arms. Still in control of his finger, I twisted around so he was forced to drop to his knees. He tapped out to let me know he’d had enough, and I let him go.

As he rose, I said, “Braedon, you need to hold me like you mean it.”

A funny expression crossed his face.

Curse my traitorous hot cheeks. Okay, maybe not so under control. I sighed. “I mean hold me tight like you’re a bad guy trying to keep me from getting away.”

He pinched his lips. Stepping behind me, he wrapped his arms around me and pinned my arms to my sides. His skin didn’t feel so soft now.

I simulated a stomp on his right instep and swiveled my hips out of the way for a right ridge hand strike—sometimes called a karate chop—toward his crotch. In a flash, he released me, leaping out of the way.

Having arrived in time to see Braedon’s leap, Jori grinned.

“You
grab her from behind and let her take a shot at you,” Braedon growled.

I held up my hands in surrender. “I won’t
really
hit you. It’s an escape move.” I leaned down to pick up the mat. “It’s okay. I’ll just work on my self-defense stuff when I get back home.”

“No, I’m good.” He stepped onto the mat so I couldn’t lift
it. “Just tell me if there’s anything else I should know about first.”

I let go of the mat. “Are you sure?”

He lowered his voice, a mock-grim expression on his face. “I have to save face now. We’ve got an audience.”

I did a quick scan of the gym. He was right. We had become the center of attention. All right. I would play along. “Save face, huh?” I gave him a ‘come on’ gesture.

This time when he moved, he moved
fast
and held my arms tight, my back pressed against his chest, his right hand clasping his left wrist in front of me.

I quickly considered my options. Since he would be expecting a foot stomp and the groin strike, I went for his fingers again. As soon as I tried to pull on one, he tightened his grip, turning his fingers in. I made a fist and ground my knuckles into the bones on the top of his hand.

Braedon hissed but kept his arms rigid around me, bringing them down to keep me from bending my elbows. I threw my head back fast and connected with his lower face. I cringed, hoping I hadn’t made him cut his lip, but I still followed up with a foot stomp and the hip twist.

Distracted by an anticipated groin strike, he moved up his grip on my arms when he shifted his hips out of the way. Just what I needed to grab a finger again. The little one is the weakest and therefore the easiest to get loose. I bent it back, locked the joint, and gave it a slight twist.

He released me, and I spun, swinging my right leg behind his and sweeping his legs out from under him. I caught him as he went down, breaking his fall. Twisting around, I put my right knee on his chest and threw a throat strike, stopping just before it connected.

“Dead.” Grinning, I straightened.

Everyone broke into applause, and I jumped to my feet, reaching down to give Braedon a hand up. He took it and stood, brushing his lip with his tongue, his eyes narrowed. I reached to touch his lip to see if it was bleeding. To his credit, he didn’t flinch.

“Sorry about that. I didn’t think you’d keep your head in such a vulnerable place. Your lip’s not bleeding.”

He touched his lip and then brushed his chin again.

Jimmy rushed over, dragging Maria with him. “You have to show me how to do that!”

“We’ll see.” I glanced at Braedon.

His face remained expressionless. “Do you want to practice some more?”

I looked at the group of people watching us. “Not with this crowd.”

He bowed to me, keeping his eyes to the ground as he would to his sensei, turned, and left. I stared after him.

Maria shot me a sympathetic glance before Jimmy took her hand and they left. So it wasn’t just me thinking Braedon was unhappy about something.

Jori came over and helped me put away the mats. “I’m impressed.” He sized me up as though he had never seen me before. “Remind me never to make you angry.”

Already disappointed at Braedon’s attitude, I glared at Jori.

“Wait. I can sympathize with Braedon. I wouldn’t be happy to be shown up by a girl.”

I tossed my water bottle in my bag. “Shown up by a girl. Really?”

“No offense ... Hey, Lyn, don’t get angry. It’s a guy thing.”
Jori moved closer. “We all suffer from it, some more than others.”

Then he struck—so fast I never had time to think of throwing up a defense. He swept me like I had swept Braedon, and Jori had me in a full mount with my hands pinned over my head. It was a sweet move.

“Nice.” I tried not to smile. “Sneaky, but nice. Now let me back up.”

His face broke out in a wicked grin. “I don’t think so.” He leaned forward, his face only inches from mine. I gave him a crusty look, but he continued. “I find this an interesting predicament.”

When I realized his intent, my body went still. How had I not seen this coming? He must have taken my shock as permission because he moved his lips toward mine.

Angry heat flooded my body. I jerked my face away while bending my knees, twisting my foot around one of his. Locking it in place, I pushed all my weight up and to the side, throwing him off balance. He didn’t resist and had to release my hands to catch himself, but I reached up and yanked his hair as he flew over me, forcing his head to the side.

Where the hair goes, the head follows. Using my feet to finish the movement, I was now on top of Jori, pinning his hands. He had the advantage of size and strength, so I didn’t stay there long enough for him to reverse us again. I leapt up and out of his reach.

He lay on the floor smirking, not the least bit repentant.

I grabbed my bag. “Don’t
ever
try to kiss me again.”

Jori sat up. “Don’t be fussed about it.”

I stared daggers at him and snarled through my teeth,
“Never
again.”

Realizing I wasn’t feigning my anger, he jumped to his feet. I stepped out of his reach. “I’m sorry about the kiss. I promise I won’t try it again.” He held out both hands in supplication. “Friends still?”

I glowered at him for a moment but decided he was sincere. I wasn’t going to let him off that easy, though. I turned my back on him and left the gym without a word. He didn’t follow.

I
MUTTERED UNDER
my breath as I waited for the elevator. It wasn’t like Jori hadn’t given me any clues. He had even mentioned looking for me at dinner that first night. I should have made it clearer I wasn’t interested in him like that, but I had been too busy thinking about Braedon.

Braedon. His attitude had surprised me. Even as I assured myself it would be better if he were mad at me, I wondered if he would be willing to practice with me again. Stupid.

Elle had gone to breakfast without me but left a note reminding me of our hula class and telling me where to meet for lunch. After showering, I called room service and had some breakfast brought to my room.

When my food arrived, I took it out onto the balcony to eat. The gloomy sky matched my mood. I stood glumly at the rail for a while, staring at the dark gray water.

At the noise of Braedon’s balcony door opening, I considered making a quick retreat back inside but found I wanted—no, needed—to make things right with him. I turned slowly toward the sound.

Braedon stood in the doorway and watched me. He had showered, and his hair glistened with moisture. After
a moment’s hesitation, he strode to the rail separating our balconies. “I hoped you might be out here.”

I joined him at the railing. “I owe you an apology. I assumed you knew what you were getting yourself into when you offered to be my self-defense dummy. I promise I would never really hurt you.”

“It’s been a long time since I studied Taekwondo, and I’ve forgotten more than I realized.” Braedon touched his lip with his tongue and chuckled. “It’s me who owes you an apology. I was pretty abrupt when I left.”

I opened my mouth to reply, but he caught my eye, and I stopped. “However, I’ve swallowed my pride about how fast you put me on the floor, and I’m willing to risk being put there again.”

“Really?” I hated how relieved that made me feel.

“I wouldn’t miss it now, but you’ll need to give me a training session before we have another go. I’m not much into public humiliation.”

I squeezed my hands together, surprised at the moisture on my palms. “Then please understand the whole point of this practice is for me to refine my defense skills ... you
have
to go down.”

“I can do that.” He checked his watch. “I’m supposed to meet Aislinn and D’Arcy again for the Hawaiian geography class. Do you want to walk together?”

“Sure. I’ll meet you outside.”

I
DIDN’T EVEN
remember the incident with Jori until after I entered the dining room, when he slipped in a few minutes late. I was glad the closest chair was at the other end of the table.
While I might not have been clear enough before, I would be now. During the meal, he kept trying to get my attention; I ignored him.

“Wait, Lyn,” Jori called later as I hurried Elle out of the restaurant.

He had to know I was serious. “I’m not talking to you, Jori.” I continued to walk away.

Elle glanced back at him. “What’s this about?”

“I swept her this morning, and now she’s mad at me.” Jori caught up, but I kept Elle between us.

She frowned, knowing that shouldn’t have bothered me. “You’re mad at him because of
that
?”

I continued to walk, staring straight ahead. “I’m not talking about this.”

“No,” Jori corrected. “She’s mad because I tried to kiss her.”

Elle’s teasing expression disappeared. Her eyes widened. She looked uncomfortable in her position between us.

Jori took Elle’s arm and traded places with her, so I stopped and faced him, folding my arms across my chest. “Lyn,” he brushed back a wisp of his pale blond hair, all contriteness. “I said I was sorry for offending you, and I meant it.” He did his little bow.