A Place to Call Home Read online

  “Morning,” he interrupted, and when Kane turned his way he looked concerned, but then smiled.

  “Hey, Culter. How’s it going?”

  “Good,” he said, then looked down toward the brunette and he felt his chest tighten, his breath catch in his throat. Holy Jesus she was gorgeous, and young. Fuck, she was incredible. She gulped, and he realized that he was probably drooling.

  “Hannah, meet my brother, Culter. He’s the one I told you about. The one who owns the dojo here in town.”

  “Nice to meet you, Hannah.” He reached his hand out and she slowly reached out to shake his. When their hands touched, he felt the instant attraction, a spark of interest, and she seemed to have felt it too as she pulled back.

  Her face turned red and she looked away a moment and cleared her throat. “Nice to meet you, Culter. Heard great things about your dojo.” She straightened her shoulders like she was forcing herself to not react to the attraction.

  He absorbed her features. She was feminine, and maybe stood about five feet six tops. Her hair was brown, and very long, but pulled back into some sort of braid. She pulled her waist-length hoodie a little tighter, and he could tell she was in good shape. She had long muscular legs, he could see the material of her leggings stretched across them. She smelled really good, too.

  “Then how come you go out of town to take classes and haven’t checked out my place?” he asked, and winked.

  She chuckled, and glanced toward the bus stop, and then at her watch. “Don’t be insulted. I was just telling the sheriff that I took the job two days a week in Central Valley, and some guys who train there and a few women had recommended the place there. Corey is very good, and he offers so many different classes, and one I was very interested in.”

  “Which one was that?” Culter asked.

  “One that combines self-defense with grappling, kickboxing, and a little hand-to-hand combat. Like defending yourself when someone might have a weapon. Things a woman should know to help keep her safe. Corey has been showing me a bunch of moves, plus it’s a great workout.”

  He squinted at her. Corey was a good guy. Retired Green Beret along with his brothers, and his brother Titus was the sheriff in Central Valley. So why did the idea of her rolling around on the mat with Corey make him feel jealous? He didn’t even know this woman. No wonder Kane was acting funny.

  “Sounds like a great class and definitely useful stuff to learn. However, I still don’t think it’s a good idea to be riding your bike late at night in the dark, flashlight or not, Hannah,” Kane said to her. His brother’s tone wall all sheriff and commanding, and she felt it as she shifted her feet and nibbled her full, lush lips.

  “Sheriff, I told you that I’m fine, plus it’s my only option.”

  “Not the only one,” Kane replied and stared at her lips. His eyes then roamed over her body and she looked from Kane to him.

  “I said I would drive you home, and you didn’t accept it and was going to ride your bike at 3:00 a.m. in the morning. Not smart.”

  “What?” Culter asked, eyes squinted. She looked back toward the bus stop like she would make a run for it if that bus pulled up right now.

  “Hannah, you need to be careful, and despite these classes you take, you could get caught in a situation. I heard those men saying things to you, never mind behind your back, last night. I didn’t like it, and I’m offering you some advice as well as an option to protect you.”

  “I take care of myself, sheriff.” She looked at the bus stop, and other people were standing by the stop waiting.

  “Where is that bus? I’m already going to be late to class.”

  “My dojo is opened right now. You could take the one we offer that’s similar, and I run it, so you know me now,” Culter offered.

  Kane glanced at his brother, their eyes locked, and he didn’t quite know what was exchanged between them. Perhaps an understanding, a mutual ground here about an attraction to this gorgeous woman, he wasn’t sure.

  “I…I already paid for the classes there, and today was the last one before I had to pay for more.”

  “Well, check out my class, and the others I offer. Then you won’t need to worry about the bus not showing up and missing the class.”

  “I could always ride my bike. It’s only ten or so miles,” she replied, and then looked away.

  “Fifteen, between all the farm land and the beginning of town which has developments and housing, that’s why a bus comes through here four times a day,” Kane told her.

  “Give it a try. You might like it and the convenience of being right here in town, too,” Culter said to her.

  She took a deep breath and exhaled. “Well the bus doesn’t seem like it’s coming, and even if it did I would be late to class.” She looked like she was thinking about it.

  “How much do you charge a month?” she asked Culter?

  “A little less then Corey does. He has a bigger place, more overhead than I do. Plus, my classes are smaller so there’s more one-on-one training, so you get more out of the class.”

  She stared at him, kind of seemed to size him up or something, like she was determining if he was bad. It made him feel like he was guilty of something, but the only thing he felt guilty of was trying to get to know Hannah more and seeing what was it besides her good looks and timid personality that had his brother so interested.

  “He’s trustworthy and very good. A retired Marine like me, and he’s patient, hell a lot more patient than I am. He actually teaches a children’s martial arts class, with kids as young as five. Got any idea how crazy that is?” Kane asked her, and she chuckled.

  “Okay, I’ll give it a try but no promises. I like Corey and his classes, and the people who go there. They train so seriously in the hour in a half, and that’s what I like.”

  “You got it. Come on and I’ll walk with you to the dojo, show you around and introduce you to the other five people who take this class. You may recognize a few of them.”

  “Let me know how it goes, Hannah. If you need a ride back to your apartment, I can break away to bring you.”

  “That won’t be necessary. I’ll probably jog back. Usually when I’m done with Corey’s class I go for a run through the back trails and the park there.”

  “By yourself?” Kane asked, squinting his eyes at her.

  She took a deep breath and exhaled. “It was fine.”

  He looked her over. “I hope this works out for you. See you later.” Kane nodded at Culter before he headed to the department across the street.

  “So how do you like working at Spark’s?” Culter asked her as they walked down the street together.

  “It’s not bad. The people are nice and friendly. A lot of new faces every day as people pass through town.”

  “Yeah, that’s a bit different than Cherry Hill. Around here everyone knows one another and it’s like a family. We all watch out for each other.”

  “I sensed that. It’s kind of how I wound up checking out Harper’s on Thursday.”

  “What do you mean?” he asked her.

  “I met Harper in town one day, and then she was in Central Valley and she came in to Spark’s. She sat at the counter and we started talking. Next thing I know, a week or so later she shows up at the Gaynors’ place and is asking me to help her out. That some bartender bailed on her. I wasn’t too sure but then I showed up, knowing that people around here like to help one another out, and she has a great personality.”

  “Harper is awesome and tough as nails, too,” he added, and smiled at Hannah, loving the way she smelled, and how sweet and low her voice was.

  “When I showed up just to check it out and see the bar, another bartender was a no-show and the place was packed. Next thing I know, I’m working all night.” She smiled. “It was pretty fun, actually, and Ade is a riot. He was very helpful.”

  “Ade is a great guy too, and Maya is super friendly and very outgoing.”

  “Oh God, yes she is.” As they entered the dojo she
paused a moment. The place had all men in it right now and he wondered if she felt uncomfortable. All eyes went to her, but then behind her as Genesis and Cheris showed up. They waitressed at Harper’s.

  “Hey, the new girl is here,” Cheris said, and smiled wide. “You did so good bartending. I heard about that special concoction you made the ladies last night. Coconut rum and mango juice or something. I am totally trying that at the end of my shift tonight.”

  “Maybe during the shift,” Genesis added, and smiled.

  It seemed to put Hannah at ease as she smiled.

  “You’re joining the dojo?” Cheris asked her.

  “I’m checking out the class. I usually go to the dojo in Central Valley, but the bus didn’t make it here yet.”

  “Oh yeah, heard it broke down or something and they’ll be thirty minutes behind schedule,” Genesis said as Culter listened, and then looked at the guys all checking out the women and especially Hannah.

  As they made their way to the different rooms for different training, Culter told her about the classes and what they entailed. By her answers she seemed more advanced then Cheris and Genesis, but he wanted her to feel comfortable, and her demeanor changed having the familiar faces.

  “You could take the class they’re taking this morning, Hannah, then try the more advanced one another day if you would feel more comfortable,” he suggested.

  She seemed to think about it a moment.

  “I’d like to do the one you said is similar to Corey’s, that way I know the difference and can decide if I’ll continue with Corey or not.”

  “Hmm, sounds like a challenge,” he replied, and winked.

  “Sounds like Hannah has more experience in training than we do. We only started a couple of months ago and at the sheriff’s suggestion after an incident at Harper’s,” Cheris said to her.

  “What incident?”

  “Some handsy guys. A long story we’ll share with you some time. See you at the end of class,” she said, and Hannah, nodded but then followed Culter to the other room.

  Athena was nervous at the way the events transpired this morning. She was in conflict with herself and doing this. She had a bad night. Didn’t get much sleep and she really needed to exhaust herself, so she could get home and sleep until it was time for work tonight. She had a plan in her head and she wasn’t going to let anything get in her way, or so she thought. Then she met Culter, the sheriff’s brother, and holy crap he was just as hot as the sheriff, and she felt an attraction to him, too. It was crazy, and she needed to ignore that attraction and focus on the training. If this class wasn’t good enough, then she would go back to Corey’s place.

  She was the only woman in the class this morning, and the guys were big men, but friendly. One was a deputy in town, Nash Weathersen, and two others were active duty soldiers in between tours. They questioned her experience and she was fine with that. She would show them soon enough what she could do. As the class began, they started right off into one-on-one moves that she had learned with Corey and the group. It seemed to let the men know that she knew a bit, but then Culter incorporated a two on one scenario and things got a little intense. She could feel that tightness in her chest, and willed it away best she could. Nash got a move in on her, but she recovered and countered the others. All and all it was good. Then they did some grappling and the men all wanted her as a partner, but Culter stepped in.

  “I got Hannah,” he said very seriously, and the men immediately backed down and started to break away into groups.

  “Okay, so how long have you worked on grappling with other instructors?” he asked as they knelt on the mats a good distance away from the others, giving everyone some space to mess around.

  The others had already started and she could hear the grunts and the intensity they were training with. She swallowed hard, looked at Culter and how big he was, filled with muscles. His biceps and tattoos were showing the short sleeve shirt tight against his muscles.

  “Six months or so in Central Valley, and another year about elsewhere.”

  “Hmm, not so experienced then.”

  “I’m pretty good really. Corey trains me hard.”

  He narrowed his eyes at her and looked her over. She was sure to wear a regular T-shirt, it was tight, but a rounded collar and it remained tight against her spandex pants she wore. Her martial arts pants were in her bag, but there was no time to change into them before class started. This was a last minute thing.

  “Let’s see what you got,” he said, and that was her only warning before he came at her. She was able to avoid being taken down immediately, and she knew he was testing her and not going too hard. The man was a beast and then some on the mat. His muscles hard, tight, not an ounce of fat on him, yet he was so thick and solid. She rolled around with him and maneuvered her ankles around his, and they were grunting, and she gasped at a few hard rolls, but then she was so flexible, she slithered around him and wound up putting him into a choke hold around his neck.

  “Hot damn!” Nash yelled out.

  “Good, now squeezed that leg around my ribs hard. Take my breath away, pull tighter on my neck.”

  “I’ll hurt you,” she said. Then heard the chuckles and in a flash the tables were turned and Culter had his body wrapped around hers, his thick hard arm around her neck, and that was it.

  He released her and they both were breathless. She lay flat on the mat and he sat up and looked at her. His eyes gazed over her body. Her nipples hardened, her pussy tightened, and she widened her eyes.

  “You did good. You know a lot, but there’s definitely more to work on.”

  “Corey said the same thing, and the other guys, too.”

  “I’m sure they did,” Nash said, with a bit of attitude.

  Culter nodded, but then he jumped up and offered his hand to her, but instead she jumped up without using her hands and the whistles went through the room. Culter crossed his arms in front of his chest and narrowed his eyes at her, but he seemed to be smirking.

  “Filled with surprises. Get a drink and then we’ll grab some protective gear and work on kickboxing moves now.”

  She exhaled, and definitely needed the drink, realizing very quickly that this class was a hell of a lot harder than the one she did at Corey’s gym. She couldn’t help but think that when she mentioned Corey it bothered Culter. She wondered why as she quickly drank some water, and then met the guys at the corner closet where they grabbed chest pads and headgear. They were going to be physically fighting. This was where she needed the most help.

  “Done this before?” Nash asked her as he looked for a chest pad that would fit her as Culter got his stuff.

  “Several times, but it’s my weakness. I need more training with it.”

  “Most women shy away from this stuff, and don’t find it necessary to learn hand-to-hand combat and sparring,” he said to her.

  “Well, I live on my own. Have been for a while now, and all I got is me to defend myself and to protect me from any dangers. I need this training. There’s no one else who can do it for me,” she said, and he looked at her like he was suddenly suspicious, but she really didn’t care anymore. She was good at this solo thing, being on the run for a long time now, and she had to worry about herself and not what anyone thought or commented.