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  “Oh, yeah, that was really nice how you interrogated her. Made her feel like she didn’t look like she worked out. Did you notice the definition in her thighs and on her arms? She works out and she’s strong, too. Definitely not like some of the skinny weaklings that come in here acting like damsels in distress.”

  Dalton turned and gave Hank a dirty look.

  Then Hank challenged him.

  “You still aren’t over Sylvia, are you? Man, you didn’t even sleep with that bitch and she had your emotions all twisted up in knots. She was a conniving bitch and used you to piss off that dirtbag boyfriend of hers, Larry.”

  “Enough, Hank. I don’t need to talk about that woman. I didn’t see what you and the brothers saw. I truly thought she wanted to break up with Larry.”

  “Whatever. Just don’t be so quick to judge people before you even know them. She seemed sweet.”

  “Sylvia?”

  “No, you idiot! Millie. She seemed really nice and had that New York accent.”

  “Whatever.” Dalton walked out of the room. Hank looked out the window just as Stacy, Anna, and Millie exited the boutique. Millie was smiling as Stacy and Anna seemed to be introducing her to some of the other residents of Pearl. Then Lena and Bryant showed up. That was a young woman who was tough as nails. He was happy for the Jones brothers. They landed them all a fine woman.

  * * * *

  “Lena, Bryant, this is Millie,” Stacy said. Bryant remembered Millie from elementary school.

  Millie kept looking toward the MMA fighting place across the street. Dalton was a fierce-looking man and a mean one to boot. Hank seemed really friendly and was very attractive. She wondered why she kept thinking about them. She needed to give herself a mental kick as a reminder about her track record with men. Not that she had a chance with men as gorgeous as the Lewis brothers she met so far.

  “Hi, Lena, it’s so nice to meet you. Stacy and Anna have told me so much about you.”

  “And they told me lots about you, too. I’m glad you’re here. We could use all the help we can get with the new shelter and community center. I saw you going into the MMA fighting place. Do you know karate?”

  “I do, but I’ve been out of it for a few months. Long story, but I’m motivated to get back into it. I could use the boost of empowerment.”

  “Yeah, I take the beginners’ course there in the morning at nine along with Sage. She loves the kickboxing part.”

  “It’s a great workout.”

  “It sure is. I was thinking about asking Dalton and Hank if they would be willing to run a class once or twice a week at a discounted price over at the new rec center. I’m sure the women would love it and want to feel empowered, too. Plus they might not feel comfortable heading into town.”

  “That sounds like a great idea, Lena,” Stacy chimed in.

  “Millie and you should go ask them about it,” Anna suggested then winked at Millie.

  Why did it seem like Anna and Stacy were pushing her toward one or more of the Lewis brothers? They were out of their minds.

  “I think their next class is going to start up. That’s an intense one, too. My leg is still giving me problems, but Dalton tries to rearrange the program so I can handle it,” Bryant stated.

  “How is the therapy going, Bryant?” Stacy asked.

  “It’s going well.”

  “He’s a pain and gives me hell every day about it,” Lena replied and Bryant snagged her around the waist and hoisted her up against his side.

  They all laughed.

  “Well, we’re headed back to the site now. I think Anthony and Jeremy are working with their crews on finishing the rec center. We’re supposed to have our paint picked out by tomorrow,” Stacy stated.

  “Well, let’s head over to the hardware store now. That way Anthony and Jeremy will be set and on schedule as usual,” Lena added and they headed toward the middle of town.

  Chapter 8

  Clare stood outside of Millie’s apartment after work. She had been so busy the last two days, with Millie being fired for no damn good reason other than that asshole ex of hers, Stewart. She had been holding on to her award from the gala and wanted to see Millie.

  No one answered when she knocked on the door, so she pulled out her cell phone to text her. Maybe Millie would be back soon and Clare thought she could wait for her.

  Just as she finished texting and was about to leave, the door to Millie’s apartment opened.

  Clare was stunned to see the tall, very muscular man answer her door. She swallowed hard and instantly picked up on the man’s sex appeal and bright smile. Looks like Millie is on the rebound and in the right direction. This guy was all muscles.

  “Can I help you?” he asked in a very scratchy, deep voice that made her toes curl.

  Millie, you lucky lady. Good for you.

  “I’m looking for Millie.”

  “And you are?” he asked in a tone that demanded an answer yet was sweet, too. Man, this guy was lethal.

  “I’m Clare, a friend of hers from work. Well, her old job, anyway. I wanted to drop off her award from the ceremony over the weekend.”

  He raised his eyebrows as if he hadn’t a clue about the awards ceremony. She rolled her eyes and shook her head.

  “She didn’t tell you, did she? That’s Millie for you. She never boasts about her success and her caring ways. She helped to get major funding for the new women’s shelter downtown.”

  “No, she didn’t tell me. I’m kind of here to surprise her. We used to date and things didn’t work out because I had to go out of town for business for a while. I was hoping to win her love back.”

  “Oh, how sweet. Well, I’m sure she’ll be home soon. She never goes out, really. Kind of a workaholic. What was your name?”

  He smiled at her then gestured for her to come inside.

  “Why don’t you come in and join me? The name’s Frank,” he told her as she walked into Millie’s apartment, hoping to find out more about the hunk with all the tattoos and big muscles.

  * * * *

  Millie headed into the dojo a few minutes before nine o’clock. She acknowledged Hank and then the other men and women in the class along with Lena and Sage.

  She had met Sage yesterday back on the Triple C when they arrived with paint colors and ideas for the gardening around the building. That was when she met Anthony and Jeremy Lewis again. They were very good-looking men and she could see the resemblances between them and both Hank and Dalton. Jeremy had been a huge flirt and Anthony seemed very businesslike and in command. He liked to be in charge just as it appeared Dalton did. She wondered when she would meet the fifth brother, Marco.

  Millie took position behind Lena and Sage. From her position, she could see Hank clearly and also had a view of the larger room where Dalton worked with a group of six men. They were grappling and working on maneuvers with hand-to-hand combat. It looked intense.

  “Okay, class, let’s begin.”

  “Attention!” Hank declared and half the people lined up straight, bringing their right feet together with their left feet and hands by their sides.

  He began to explain the simple moves and this went on for the first fifteen minutes of class. Finally, he gave up and had them warm up by running around the perimeter of the room. In between, he would instruct them to kick the bag a few times, then punch the bag, and finally work on the beginning of some moves.

  She was bored out of her mind but finally got the chance to show him what she could do. Well, at least a little bit. She didn’t want to show off and she didn’t want him to think that she was messing with him. It was enough that he had three women in the front row drooling over Hank’s every move and nagging him every few minutes about showing them again and again how to place their fists and arms just so he would touch them.

  It had become quite nauseating.

  It was finally her turn toward the last few minutes of class. Hank would show a series of moves, but only a few because the others were beginner
s and they couldn’t memorize the moves as quickly. It took a lot of practice, but Millie had learned a lot in two years.

  “Okay, Millie, nice and easy. I want you to watch what I do then repeat it.”

  She tried to hide her smile as Hank gave just a few moves and she immediately followed them with vigor and perfection. His eyes widened.

  “That was great. Want to try another one?” he asked so sweetly, and she didn’t want to lead him on making him think she was a natural when really she had expert training. So she did his next moves and then a few more until he decided he had been had and got her back.

  “Class, it seems that Millie is a natural. I’d like to spar a little with her and see what she’s got. What do you think?”

  A series of cheers went through the room and Millie looked to see the four women from the front line with their arms crossed in front of their chest and scowls on their faces. They looked pissed off, but Millie didn’t care. Who came to a mixed martial arts class wearing half T-shirts tied in the back and short shorts?

  * * * *

  Hank tried to hide his smile. It appeared that Millie knew a hell of a lot more about martial arts then she let on. He was impressed as she moved around the mat with such grace and quick speed. He threw a few quick strikes and she was more than ready for them as she blocked and then countered. Round and round they sparred on the mat until Hank bowed before her then shook her hand. Lena, Sage, and the others cheered.

  “You and I are talking after class,” he told her with a serious expression and then smiled before he addressed the rest of the class.

  * * * *

  Dalton watched from across the room. He could hear the intakes of breath from the small crowd and then the cheers. It had shocked him to see Millie was sparring a little with his brother, Hank. She had lied about her training and experience. But why?

  “Hey, who is that over there?” his brother, Deputy Marco, asked as he wiped the sweat from his brow then took a slug of water from a water bottle.

  Dalton felt his heart rate increase. Millie caught the attention of Marco, too? What the heck was this woman after, anyway?

  “That’s Millie. She’s a friend of Stacy’s and Anna’s. Apparently, she used to live out here years ago then moved to New York.”

  “Damn, she sure can move across the mat.”

  Dalton looked at his brother and he knew his facial expression said it all.

  “What the hell is wrong with you?” Marco asked.

  Dalton shook his head as the other men in their group began to leave, but not before making comments.

  “Who is she?” Deputy Taylor McGreever asked and Marco filled him in.

  Marco and Dalton made their way over toward the mats.

  * * * *

  “Damn, Millie, you sure know a lot of moves. Did you train long?” Lena asked, and she and Sage joined her by the back of the room where they grabbed water bottles.

  “I trained for two years. Started off with self-defense classes and then the instructor showed me a lot of different techniques from many forms of martial arts. To tell you the truth, I miss it. I love doing it.”

  “So why did you quit?” Lena asked.

  “I didn’t want to. My ex-boyfriend wanted me to,” Millie stated without thinking and then she looked up to see both Sage and Lena shaking their heads. At first, she thought they were thinking she was an idiot.

  “Yeah, sometimes men are such assholes. They think just because they’re interested in you they have a right to control you,” Lena stated.

  Millie chuckled as she recalled the story about Lena’s survival on the streets of Detroit.

  “Well, at least you can get back into it now, right?” Sage offered, and Millie smiled then nodded her head. With a glance up toward where Lena was looking, Millie noticed the four women from their class gathering around Dalton, Hank, and some other man whom she didn’t know. He was very rugged and stern looking. His expression as the women talked to him seemed off. He almost looked annoyed, but how could he be? The four women were very thin, acutely aware of their great bodies, and totally invading the men’s space. My God, those women are really pushy. They sure are interested in Hank, Dalton, and the third guy.

  “Those four women are Stella, Lisa, Paula, and Melody. All four are from Turbank and they come into town for a little action, if you know what I mean,” Lena offered, and Millie tried to act as if she really didn’t care. She picked up her small bag and tossed the empty bottle of water into a nearby recycling container.

  “Well, men sometimes like women like that,” Millie offered.

  “Not the Lewis brothers,” Lena replied and Sage shook her head in disgust.

  “They are so trampy. I mean, look at the way Stella is practically wrapping her legs around Hank.”

  “I think he’s showing her how to do the move from class properly,” Millie replied.

  Lena snorted. “Yeah, right. If he doesn’t pull her off of him then she’ll have him on the mats in just a few more minutes.”

  “Well, then let’s get the heck out of here. I don’t know about you, but I can’t take much more of the scene.” Millie began to exit the room. It was upsetting for some reason, to watch the men accept women hanging over them in such a way. They could at least try to act professional in the dojo and save the personal stuff for outside.

  “By the way, the third guy is Marco Lewis. He’s a deputy with my Kenny,” Lena whispered and Millie looked back to see if she noticed the resemblances and caught all three men staring at her.

  “Millie, could you stick around please?” Hank asked and both Lena and Sage waved good-bye.

  The four women however, stared at her, giving her the once-over. She hated women like that. Millie was feeling pretty good about her body right now after such a great workout. Kickboxing and martial arts wasn’t for the weak or unserious. She took the workout seriously and knew that in just a week’s time she would be in better shape than she was right now. She would feel more energized and healthier.

  “If you ladies could excuse us, we need to discuss a few things with Millie,” Hank stated with his arms crossed in front of his chest.

  Millie watched as Stella and Lisa both touched his arm and ran their hands down his forearms as they winked and swayed away.

  “Talk to you later, Hank. Maybe we’ll see you over at Rocky’s,” Stella stated, and Millie noticed how Paula and Melody licked their lips and tried to gain Marco’s and Dalton’s attention, but the other two men looked aggravated.

  The four women walked by Millie. She, in return, smiled and wished them a good day, which surprised them and apparently ticked them off.

  When she looked back toward the three men, only Hank looked amused.

  “So, care to explain why you didn’t come clean yesterday about your experience with your sensei?” Hank asked, and oh, God, the way he said sensei made her belly quiver. My sensei? Oh Lord, does he sound incredible.

  Millie shrugged her shoulders and thought she’d get away with a nice conversation about quitting but not getting into the details when Sensei Dalton yelled out, “Attention!”

  Immediately, Millie found herself standing up straight at attention and Dalton walked around her.

  “We don’t know one another. Understandable. However, I don’t appreciate being lied to, nor does my brother, Hank. Why did you lie about your experience?”

  “I didn’t lie, Sensei.”

  “No?” Hank chimed in.

  She kept her eyes straight ahead and it was difficult, considering that she was standing in a dojo with three very large, capable men. Although she knew nothing about Marco, the man had a major body on him and she noticed his sparring session during her boring class. He now stood in martial arts pants and a tight black T-shirt that stretched across large pectoral muscles. His tattoos were peeking from the sleeves on both arms. The man was definitely attractive, but his facial expression was so very serious.

  “Explain,” Hank said, interrupting her ogling ove
r the hunk of man in front of her.

  “You asked me my experience and I told you. I started off with self-defense classes and my instructor, my sensei, saw my interest and desire to learn more so he began to introduce different types of martial arts and fighting techniques to me. You never asked me to what intensity.”

  “Did you move up in belts?” Dalton asked and she could feel him a few feet behind her in a stance that she knew would be attack mode. He was going to test her abilities, not Hank.

  “I had to leave before my final test as a black belt.”

  Dalton didn’t just make a move. She knew he wasn’t out to hurt her. She had been around martial artists, MMA fighters, and kickboxers for the past two years. They were always challenging on a moment’s notice, hoping that a student had truly absorbed their trainer’s teachings. Dalton and Hank would be no different, but she wondered how far they would push and whether she could handle it. It had been a few months, after all, and she was a bit rusty.

  “Begin!” Hank stated. That was her only warning before Dalton gave a stomp and growl before his first strike. Millie turned, ducked, and counterstruck with a right punch. Her knuckles grazed Dalton’s gi on his wrist. His expression was surprise, but she knew he hadn’t meant to start off hard with her. Now she had the feeling that he would turn up the heat.

  They sparred around the matted room. He gave a high kick and she would strike and step toward him in challenge. They did this for some time and the adrenaline began to take over. She loved sparring and felt alive and confident as she did it. Dalton got a little tougher, but he still held back. She wasn’t a fool. This was a test in her training and experience.

  “Follow what I do if you can,” he told her and she gave a small, quick nod of her head. He came toward her in one of those wild Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon moves and then jumped into a roll across the mats, pushing up to his feet before standing upright, feet a few inches apart, fists ready to strike. She did the same move with little effort and she thought she saw a small smile on his face. But then he nodded and someone moved in behind her.