The Fighter's Fierce Temptation (5 page)

Bryant entered the training gym, his eyes immediately seeking out Alice. He shook his head. He needed to be one hundred percent on his training.
Get it together, Bry! Three months. Less than that now.

He saw Alice standing on the open mat surrounded by three teenage boys, all pushing six feet in height. They already had well-defined muscles speaking of many hours training in a gym. The two young ladies with them her appeared much younger, and as their high-pitched voices reached his ears, he confirmed his suspicion.
Definitely much younger.

Some young girls also stood around. He decided immediately that he’d need to steer clear of them. They were watching him as if he was the very last piece of richly buttercream-iced devil’s food cake on the buffet table, and the boys were looking at him as if they couldn’t wait for a chance to prove themselves.
This is not what I need right now!

Bryant crossed the training mats and made his way over to the group, listening in to their conversation. The boys had seen Bryant yesterday and after telling them his name, they had been full of questions.

“Is that him?” Chelsea whispered loudly as Bryant joined them.

Alice nodded and turned to look at Bryant. “Guys, this is Bryant Burton. Bryant, this is Steve, Jimmy, Mark, Chelsea, and Sara.” Alice headed for the back door of the gym. “Alright, guys. We’re doing the lake run this morning. Toss your water bottles in the Gator and Tavvy’ll meet us down there.”

Bryant stepped around the teens, coming to stand at Alice’s side. He turned to ask a question and got bushwhacked by the way the sun was shining on her hair. It was a mixture of browns and reds and golds …

“Did you have a question?” Alice asked, with a puzzled look on her face.

“Uh…sorry. Um, what is the lake run?” Bryant asked, blushing at having been caught staring at her.
Way to go, Bry!

Alice laughed at the wary look on his face. “I heard you ran yesterday. You kept up okay, right?”

That’s one way of saying I chased your father the entire way!
“I held my own.”

Alice smothered a laugh. “I’m sure you did fine. This morning just take it easy and if you need to take a rest, don’t be afraid to flag Tavvy down and ride with him part of the way. These kids have all been doing this route with me and my dad for years.”

Bryant raised his eyebrows, somewhat surprised by her inference. “Are you suggesting I can’t keep up with a bunch of teenagers and you?”

Alice cocked her hip and tossed her ponytail over her shoulder, stepping out into the morning sunlight. “I’m not suggesting anything.” She saw the kids were already standing next to the Gator, looking back at her expectantly. “Ready?”

When they nodded, she turned to look at Bryant and motioned with her hands for him to follow along. “Let’s go,” she called out, already in motion.

Alice started out at a nice easy pace, wanting to give anyone who hadn’t warmed up properly a chance to do so during the first few miles of their run. The route they took to the lake and back the long way was a twelve-mile jaunt, twice what she normally ran every day, but at least once a week she tried to push herself, just to prove she could.

Bryant found himself behind the other runners and pushed himself to pick up his pace until he was running shoulder-to-shoulder with Alice. If the teenagers hadn’t been along, he would have no problem following behind her, but the sight of her tight ass was causing his body to respond—a definite deterrent to his ability to maintain his running pace. He had a feeling he was going to need every ounce of wits and energy he could muster, if the gleam in her eye was anything to go by.

“So, how long of a run is this?” he asked, trying to steady his breathing.

Alice glanced at him. “Do you really want to know?”

“Sure.”

“Twelve.”

“Minutes?”

“Miles.”

Shit!
“What! I mean, that’s quite a distance for those kids. Isn’t it?”

Alice laughed. “Hey Steve, care to tell Bryant what you and Sara did over spring break last year?”

“We ran our first marathon. It was great!”

Bryant looked over his shoulder at the beaming youth. “A marathon. Impressive. How old are these kids?”

“The boys are nineteen. They graduated high school last year and they’re all taking classes at the community college in the next town over. I should probably warn you that they all aspire to fight in the MMA. The girls are still in high school. Chelsea’s a freshman, and Sara’s a junior.”

“Traditional martial arts?” Bryant asked, having lots of experience in that venue himself.

“Yeah. You did pretty well in that realm as well.”

“Been checking up on me?” Bryant asked, not sure what to think about that. Should he be flattered? He hoped so, actually—but he didn’t know.

“I check up on every fighter who comes up here. There are some real egos in the MMA world, lots of fighters seem to have a talent for being world-class jerks. I.. We try to avoid them.”

“You sound like you’re talking from experience.” Bryant saw Alice’s chin drop out of the corner of his eye.

“Well, we try and keep them away from the camp. For the kids.”

“I can see where that would be problematic. You helped train these kids?”

“Partly. I just finished up at university, so I’ve only been around on breaks and such. But I enjoy working with them whenever I get the chance, you know? They help me keep my own skills up.”

Bryant was starting to hit his stride, and as they headed down the first hill, he found it easy to match her faster speed. “Did you ever compete?” he asked, liking their conversation so far. He was enjoying the distraction of talking Alice. That helped keep his mind off the muscles in his legs that were starting to protest a second day of such torture.

“For a while.” Alice took a deep breath. “I decided it wasn’t for me after a pretty nasty match at nationals.”

“We’re not all assholes, you know?”

“Yeah. I’m starting to see that.” Alice glanced at him. Had Bryant sensed that it wasn’t the issue of fighting that made her cautious? She’d been burned more by fighters, not by her own fights. And Scott had been the worst of them. She’d once thought he was everything—and then she’d learned better. But she had to thank him. Scott had taught her to keep remember a fighter might have a great body but that didn’t make him a great person. She was off fighters. Forever. Forcing a smile she changed her course slightly to avoid a large rock that was jutting up in the middle of the trail.

She could feel Bryant’s eyes on her. Up ahead she could also see the hint of a lake appearing through the trees, and it wasn’t any too soon. Her legs were feeling like they were made of jelly and she could hear Bryant’s breathing, ragged and shallow.

He sucked in a few deep breaths and asked, “Is…that...the lake?”

Alice glanced over at Bryant and smiled. “Take a few deep breaths and hold them for a five-count. We’re about half a mile from the lake and when we get there we’ll take a small break.”

Bryant didn’t acknowledge her praise. He was too busy concentrating on taking enough oxygen into his lungs so he didn’t embarrass himself by collapsing on the trailhead! “God, I hate running! Maybe I should mention that to her father next time I see him. There’s got to be a better way than this torture to increase my endurance!”

Alice burst out laughing. “You just spoke those thoughts out loud.”

“Shit! I mean… oh, hell!” Bryant stopped talking, the extra effort stealing what little oxygen he was able to capture and making him slightly light-headed.

Alice laughed again and then patted him on the shoulder as she slowed to a jog in place. She turned to the rest of the group. “The tree’s coming up. Be careful racing the last quarter mile so that you don’t twist an ankle or worse.”

The boys and girls behind them gave whoops of joy and raced around them, steadily increasing their pace until they came level with a tall pine tree that was burned on one side from a previous lightning strike. As if an invisible starting gun had gone off, they reached the tree and the teens took off running like the hounds of hell were on their heels.

Bryant stopped running altogether, grabbing his side as he watched in amazement. “Where on earth did they get that extra burst of energy?” He glanced at Alice who was watching the kids with a soft smile on her face. It lit her up and his eyes were drawn to her lips. He watched as she licked her bottom lip before turning her gorgeous green eyes his direction.

“Got enough reserve left to beat me?” she challenged.

Bryant glanced at the tree and then at her, giving her a smile. “Care to place a wager on the win?”

Alice turned toward him. “What kind of wager?”

“A date. If I beat you, you go out with me tonight.”

“A date? And just where would we be going on this date?” Alice said, playing with a strand of her hair.

“You let me worry about that. Are you game?”

Alice thought about declining, but the smirk on his face wasn’t to be allowed. “Fine. But when I beat you, you have to promise to give me something in the future.”

“What?” Bryan asked.

“I’ll tell you when I figure it out.”

Don’t do it! She could ask for anything, and you’d give it to her.
Despite the voice of reason yelling in his head, Bryant slowly nodded. “You’re on.”

“Fine. We go when we reach the tree.” Alice turned and started jogging to the tree in question.

Bryant caught up with her, and even though he was mentally prepared, physically, his body just didn’t have enough left in it to keep up with her when she shot like a bullet down the last few hundred yards.
Damn it! I just got my ass handed to me by a girl! I’m glad Beck and Mason weren’t here to see this!

As he bent over to catch his breath, behind him he heard the roar of an engine and an unmistakable masculine voice.

Turning swiftly, he almost lost his footing. There in the Gator stood Tavvy and Zac, both sporting huge grins at his humiliating loss.

“I thought you weren’t coming for a few more days,” Bryant said. He was struggling to gain his breath control back without letting those around him know how hard it was.

“Change in plans. A forest service chopper was headed up this way and I managed to hitch a ride. I’m afraid that means you’re my chauffeur back to Utah, but I didn’t figure you’d mind.”

Bryant shared a quick fist bump with his sparring partner and then turned to introduce him to Alice. “This is my sparring partner, and a guy that really enjoys beating me up on a regular basis—Zac Matthews. Zac, Alice.”

Alice smiled warmly at the newcomer and shook his hand. “I’m glad to meet you. We were just wondering who was going to have the privilege of pounding on him this afternoon, weren’t we, Tavvy?”

“Yes, ma’am. I can tell you from yesterday, I just don’t have it in me anymore. The kid’s too fast for me.”

Zac laughed and bowed slightly. “Glad I can be of service. So, where is Mr. Anders?”

Alice smiled and shook her head. “Sorry, but Dad’s not feeling very well today. You all are stuck with me.”
Today and the days after this if I can convince fight-boy here I can teach him a thing or two.

The teens had gathered round by this time and Sara piped up. “Alice, you know that isn’t really a problem. Besides, I want you to show me that throw you used on Steve last week.”

Alice grinned. “The one I turned into an armbar at the end?’

Steve rubbed his shoulder with a grimace. “That would be the one.”

“If you want to play with the big boys, you’ve got to toughen up.” Tavvy crossed his arms over his chest. His voice held not a trace of sympathy.

“And if you want to play with Alice, you have to become the man of steel,” Mark said. Everyone laughed except Bryant. The instant surge of jealousy he felt hearing the words
Alice
and
play
in the same sentence was as puzzling as it was alarming.
I don’t want to even think about one of these kids playing around with her.
Bryant turned away and made a production of re-tying his shoelace to hide his discomfort.

Zac wasn’t fooled as easily and squatted down to meet Bryant’s eyes. “Something you want to share with me, buddy?”

Bryant finished tying his shoe and stood back up. Zac shared a look with him and asked, “A throw that ends in an armbar? You make it sound so easy.”

Alice grinned broadly at both men. “It is. If you know how to do it correctly.” She found herself staring into Bryant’s stormy gaze and it took several breaths before she could tear her eyes away from his.
Get a grip, Alice. You need to convince this guy you can train him so he’ll stick around at least one more week. Forget how tingly he makes you feel and focus on the hospital bill. Focus!

Giving her head a small shake, she turned back to address the teens. “Okay guys, hydrate and then we’re heading back.”

Already? I’d much rather stay here and stare into her eyes. What are the chances we could just find a nice place to settle in by this lake and just call this training? I can’t believe that my legs can barely support me right now!
Bryant wanted to groan just thinking about running another six miles. He looked at Zac and then grinned nastily. “I’m really glad you’re here Zac. You can join us on the run back.”

Zac lifted an eyebrow and then murmured to Bryant, “You do know that I run six or seven miles a day as part of my firefighter training?”

Wonderful, now everyone except Tavvy will be able to outrun me.
“Naw, I figured you’ve been cooped up in that chopper and a run might feel invigorating.”

“Sure enough.” Zac gave a wink.

Taking the water bottle Tavvy held out to him, Bryant drained it in three large gulps. “Thanks.”

Alice watched the two men’s banter, noticing that Bryant couldn’t seem to keep his eyes off of her. He was carrying on a conversation with Zac and Tavvy, but his eyes were firmly fixed on her own. And she found she didn’t mind in the least.

Several minutes later, she announced it was time to toss their water bottles back in the Gator and head back to the gym. She let the kids lead the way, and found herself slightly disappointed that this time she wouldn’t have Bryant as her constant companion.

She could hear him and his friend talking behind her, but it wasn’t their words that captured her attention. It was the certain feel of Bryant’s eyes watching her ass that had her quickening her pace beyond one that the kids could maintain.

Surging ahead, Alice left the kids in her dust as she pushed herself to complete the second half of their run in record time. When she arrived back at the compound, she skirted around the gym and headed straight for the house. She needed a chance to cool down, away from the dreamy grey-blue eyes that were causing her to think all sorts of crazy things!

***

Bryant arrived back at the gym with Zac by his side and Tavvy right behind them. He immediately began looking around for Alice. Several miles back, she had taken off. Where she’d found the energy to do so, he still didn’t know, but even Zac had been impressed by the speed with which she had finished their run.

Now they were back though, he was curious as to what precipitated her quick departure. She’d been content to let the kids lead the way back, initially.
What lit that fire under her?

He didn’t have much time to worry about that because the kids immediately went into a complicated stretching routine that seemed to include elements of tai chi and yoga. He and Zac took their places at the back of the open mat and did their best to follow along as Steve called out the techniques and poses and everyone began the cool-down.

A few minutes later, Zac said, “You should incorporate some of these moves into your training back home.”

Bryant nodded. “Not a bad idea. Hey Steve, did Anders come up with this set of moves? I’ve never done a set like it before—it’s a great workout.”

Steve lifted his head, and then lowered his body from the downward dog position he was holding, instructing everyone else to do the same. “You mean Mr. Anders?”

“Yeah. That’s who I meant,” Bryant said.

“No. This is all his daughter. A lot of the training routines we use around here are ones she put together. She took the traditional training techniques her dad used for his MMA fighters and she fine-tuned them to work for not only the kids, but for females too.” Sara beamed as if she was one of Alice’s proud parents herself.

Bryant looked around at the kids and it was easy to see the admiration they had for the beautiful young woman he was still looking for. “So, anyone know where she is?”