Any Time, Any Place(97)

Raven launched herself at the bag. Her foot connected with a satisfying thump, and she spun into a round of tight jabs with a solid left hook. Sweat pooled in her eyes, and her heart galloped in her chest. She waited for Xavier's signal to stop, but his voice was a whiplash.

"Did I tell you to stop? Give me another round!" he demanded. Motherfucker.

She gathered up her last shreds of energy, pumping out all that pent-up anger from inside, and threw herself back at the bag. Over and over she punched, until her fists were sore and her legs were shaking and she didn't think she could stand for another moment.

"Time."

She stumbled toward her water bottle, drinking half of it in one gulp and pouring the rest over her head. His white teeth flashed at her in smug satisfaction. "I don't think this relationship between us is working for me anymore."

He chuckled. "Tough shit. You're my best student and I won't let you walk. That was intense. Got yourself some demons there, girl?"

She kept her silence and drank some more.

Xavier didn't seem to respect her space or her silence. "It's Dalton, right? Brady's friend? Unless you were picturing another cracked-up burglar? What happened with that guy, anyway? Is he locked up?"

"He got two years because of the gun."

"Good. Bastards don't seem to do time anymore unless they hurt or kill someone. You still spooked?"

She shook her head and wiped her mouth. "Not anymore. I have a brand-spanking-new alarm system, cameras, and two hot buttons that go to a central station. I feel much more secure."

"Excellent. You and Dalton broke up for good?"

This time she barely winced. Practice really did make perfect. "Yeah."

"I'm sorry, Raven." His face reflected a seriousness he rarely showed her unless he was training. "Want me to kick his ass? Take away his gym membership? Anything?"

She laughed. "No, I'm good. After a session with you, I'm so damn tired I pass out with barely a nightmare."

"We're opening up a new training team. Sure you're not interested? You have more talent than I've ever seen."

"For American Ninja Warrior? God, no. But thanks for the compliment."

"Last one you're gonna get for a while. I gotta keep you hungry. And a bit mean."

She grabbed her workout bag and shook her head. "And that is exactly why I can't handle the Ninja thing. It's too hard-core for me."

"See ya later, chickie."

She blew air kisses at him, ignoring the scattering of jealous looks she got from the girls watching her trainer. He reminded her of Dalton. The moment he walked in the room, he oozed charm and muscles, spinning a web no woman could resist.

She jumped in her Jeep and headed back toward her house. It was poker night, so she'd get to hang out with Morgan and Sydney. They were getting so good, Raven suggested they open it up to mixed groups, since a crapload of men were dying to get into a game. She couldn't wait to see how much money Morgan swiped from them with her incredible poker face and sweet Southern charm. She swung into her driveway, cut the engine, and froze.

God, please, no.

Dalton stood on her front porch.

Panic reared. She sat in the Jeep, not wanting to get out. Her heart wept. Why was he torturing her? Drained from the energy of the workout and plain old sadness, she forced herself out of the car and walked toward him.




 

 

"I don't want you here," she said.

He held his hands out, palms up in a gesture of surrender. "I know. I don't blame you. I thought about coming to the bar, but I wanted to talk to you in private."

Fragments of white-hot anger whipped through her. "You didn't seem to care when you brought that girl into My Place," she tore out. "You wanted to make a point? Fine. You did. But it's still my damn bar, and I don't want you there any longer. Stay away from me."

His face looked ravaged. A mixture of misery and grief shone from his ocean-blue eyes. "I'm so sorry about that, Raven. You have no idea how sorry I am. I've been in a bad place these past few weeks. There's no excuse for what I did, except that I was a fucking asshole, and really mixed up. I convinced myself you manipulated and lied like your father. I've been stuck in the past, just like you accused me of, and all I wanted to do was strike out and hurt you like I was hurt."

"You did well," she said softly. "When you walked away from me that night, saying all we had was sex, I lost a piece of myself. Why? Do you hate me so much?"

His eyes shone with wetness. A muscle worked in his jaw. "No. I don't hate you. I love you. When you told me this whole thing was a setup, I panicked. I figured out a lot about myself these past weeks. I've been carrying around a bunch of crap that has no place in the present or my future. And that girl? She's a casual friend who means nothing. I was using her to convince myself I didn't love you."