Page 14 of Light on Love
She steps on and it takes a few strides to meet him in the middle of it.“First, we’ll start with blocking. You need to keep a wider stance. And one foot planted at all times. Lock your hands together, lacing fingers, and keep your arms up about the height of your collarbone,” he pauses to cup her elbows and bring her arms up to where he wants them. “And not too close to your face, so you have room to absorb the blow without hitting yourself.”
Brett walks her through a hand full of stances, every so often guiding her with small touches to where he needs her to position herself. Each time, Laurel feels a thrill at his touch.Focus, she scolds herself, but can’t help noticing that he smells of citrus and musk, getting a heavenly nose full any time he comes in close.
“Okay, so this last one would be if someone tries to grab you from behind. I’ll, uh, need to get pretty close to you here.”
Laurel feels her heart race as Brett comes up behind her. His chest is like a solid wall against her back, and she wishes he was wrapping his arms around her for a different reason. His first arm comes around and up, cupping her jaw on the far side. Then his other arm comes around and takes her hands, bringing them up and tucking them between her neck and his forearm.
“Laurel,” his voice is soft, his lips in her hair. “I need you to remember this one in particular, it will keep you safest in the worst situation.”
She swallows hard. “Oh, you have my attention,” Laurel whispers, feeling him smile against the top of her head in response.
Brett walks her through the maneuver once, twice, and then a third time. They’d been working on the defense mechanisms for a few hours, and she can feel her energy waning. Apparently, Brett notices as well. After the third walk through, he rests a hand on her arm.
“Okay, call it a day on these?” he suggests.
Laurel nods, looking up at him, and Brett meets her eyes, his own warm and searching. She can’t look away from his gaze, and all too soon, he drops his hand and walks to the edge of the barn. Grabbing his cowboy hat from a hook at the door and placing it atop his head on his way out, Brett sends once last glance at her over his shoulder.She was really starting to like the look of a cowboy hat.
—
It’s the fourth morning that Laurel has started her day on the sparring mat. Still on the defensive skills, Brett has been impersonating an attacker to give her practice at them. To say he’s holding back is an understatement, but he’s putting enough pressure on her that she’s feeling like she’s going through a workout each day.
He’s coming at her again now, and she successfully blocks the advance. In the process though, Laurel trips herself up, bracing for impact. But Brett is fast. He reaches out and catches her, wrapping his arms around her before she can hit the ground. Laurel looks up at him, curling her hands around his arms. “Am I getting any better at this?” she asks.
He gently squeezes her waist before releasing her.“You are, but you’re in your head. I can see the wheels turning in there,” Brett says, gently tapping her temple. “Instead of trying to remember each move perfectly, talk to me about something while we do this.”
“Okay, well I’m through a few more files, almost up to a year ago. And the thing is, there’s still no indication that they are gaining notoriety. Something had to happen, someone had to start helping them. I’m sure of it. And that outside force isstronger than them, it’s the real threat we need to be finding and cutting off.”
“That makes sense, that’s really good work,” he offers genuinely. She’s been here a month and it still catches her off guard at how Brett truly listens to her insights.“What all have they given you? Do you have access to who these guys might be interacting with?” he asks.
“Since the interrogation that landed me here, Captain has given me full access,” she adds as she blocks an advance. “It’s a staggering amount of information, honestly.”
“Are there any names that don’t fit? Anything you question why they’d be associating with a member of this organization?”
“Not yet,” she says, blocking him again. Looking up at Brett, a smile spreads across her face. “I just moved though those all perfectly while we were talking!”
He smiles widely back at her and it’s intoxicating to see him standing there with that smile, his hair messy and eyes glowing warmly at her. Brett reaches out for her, still smiling when they hear a throat cleared at the door. Turning in unison, they see Grey standing at the far entrance of the barn, an embarrassed look on his face.“Sorry man… we need you.”
Brett rakes his fingers through his hair, bringing his attention back to Laurel. He speaks quietly so only she can hear. “Can we have one of those dinners together tonight?”
She reaches out and brushes her fingers down his arm, “I’d love that.”
—
The smell of cooking has already filled the air when Brett enters the kitchen. He moves with such stealth that she isn’t aware he’s there, even after he’s standing behind her. He leansback against the island, his hands bracing on the counter on either side of him.
“What are we having?”
Laurel jumps, spinning to face him. “How long have you been standing there?” she shrieks, waving the wooden spoon at him in one hand, clutching her racing heart with the other.
“I’m sorry, I’m really sorry,” he offers between gruff laughs. She narrows her eyes to glare at him as he takes a step closer. Brett lifts his hand and brings it around to rub her back between her shoulder blades and Laurel leans into him sighing, letting the panic melt away.
“You can’t sneak up on me like that.” She tries to sound annoyed, but it comes out muffled against his chest.
“I am sorry for scaring you. No matter how cute it was that you thought you could take me out with that wooden spoon.”
“I could have done some damage,” she argues pulling back to look up at him.
“I have no doubt, killer.” He releases her and walks around to sit on a counter stool. “So, whatarewe having?”