Vicki Essex - In Her Corner

A hard lump formed in his throat. “That’s not it.”

“You obviously don’t like me.”

“That’s not true.” And it wasn’t. He simply didn’t know how to handle her. Her temperament, her energy, her drive—they were all good things professionally speaking, but they were nothing he was prepared to deal with. And that was what really bothered him.

Bella’s words were as sharp and precise as a scalpel. Her composure was unexpected and it threw him off balance even more. “I came here to train with you, Kyle. Not with your staff, not in your gym. I came for you. But if you can’t work with me, then all you have to do is say so, and I won’t waste any more of my time or yours.”

“That’s not what I want.” He scrubbed his hands over his face and took a deep breath. “I’ve really messed this up.”

She waited expectantly.

His chair creaked as he swung it to the left, tilting back with a long sigh. “I don’t want you to go. I do have a lot to teach you, and I think you have a lot to teach our clients. You’re a talented fighter, and you can bring a lot to this gym. I wouldn’t have agreed to have you here otherwise.”

“Except that I’m a Fiore.”

“I won’t lie to you. Your family name and reputation does have some draw. Since we posted that picture of you up on our website, we’ve had twice as many cold calls from guys who want to train here.”

“And still you think I’m only here to flirt with your employees and steal clients?”

He grimaced. “I didn’t mean for it to sound that way.”

She didn’t look impressed. “Answer me this. Will you or won’t you make time to train me?”

He wiped a damp palm over his mouth. “I can spare you two hours this afternoon.”

She nodded stiffly. “All right. Are we done?”

For now. “Yeah.”

Her chair scraped back loudly, and she marched out of his office. The knot in Kyle’s gut loosened. That had not gone the way he’d hoped. And he’d come off sounding like a complete asshole.

You let a girl push you around, his father’s voice mocked from the back of his mind.

Kyle ground his teeth and pressed his thumbs against his closed eyelids. Whatever his issues, he couldn’t afford to have Bella leaving with a negative impression of what Payette’s had to offer.

He’d work with her. His job depended on it.

His sanity, however, was another matter.

* * *

LIZ’S JAW DROPPED. “He said that?”

“Maybe I’m making it sound like more than what he meant, and for his part, he did apologize, but I’m pretty sure he meant to tell me he didn’t want me talking to, like, anyone.” Bella sipped her iced tea, trying to wash away the bitterness Kyle’s words had left behind. Liz had invited her out for after-work drinks. They were at The Spot, the gastropub she’d visited on Monday night. The other trainers were currently shooting pool, giving the girls a chance to chat. Kyle wasn’t among the group.

“For the record, I don’t have any problem with you talking to clients. I think everyone should take more initiative like you did,” Liz said, and gave a disgruntled sigh. “So Kyle finally worked with you this afternoon?”

“He did, but mostly, he had me doing conditioning exercises. We never got around to any mat work.” He’d been a taskmaster when it came to those endurance drills. They nearly had her puking a couple times, but she’d held it together.

“He does tend to go heavy on the endurance and strength training, but that’s the way he works. I’m sure he’ll get you wrestling soon.”

Bella hoped so. After today’s talk, she wasn’t sure Payette’s—or Kyle—was a good fit for her.

Neal, the bartender, set a plate of onion rings on the table in front of them. “For you ladies, on the house.”

“Careful, Neal, or I’m going to start getting ideas.” Bella winked at him, and Liz laughed as they reached for the plate.

He grinned. “I’ll admit I came with an ulterior motive.” They invited him to sit, and he took a chair. “A friend of mine runs a center for at-risk youth not too far from Payette’s. She’s looking for someone to come in and give her kids self-defense classes. I thought of you and said I’d ask if you’re interested.”

Bella hesitated. “I’d love to...but it’s not my call to make. I’ll have to ask Kyle.” She looked to Liz, who gave her an affirming nod. “There are insurance questions and a whole lot of other issues he’d have to deal with.”

“Here’s my friend’s card. You two can hash it out. I hope you’ll do it, though—I read up on some of the stuff your family’s done. I think you’d be perfect for this.”

No pressure or anything, she thought as she pocketed the business card, and Neal headed back for the bar. She’d never stop being a Fiore, it seemed. But then, she’d never been able to turn down a call for help. If she could improve a few lives even just a little bit through martial arts, then there was no reason to deny this request.

The guys finished their pool game and joined the ladies, then ordered food. Tito and Orville sat on Bella’s right in the semicircular booth, while Wayne perched on a tiny-looking bistro chair on the other side of the table. She liked the old boxer. His upturned smile and the lone furrow on his broad brow bracketed his cheerful countenance. They chatted about the upcoming UFF fights and the busy weekend ahead.

The door opened. Kyle walked in, and Bella’s skin broke out in goose bumps. The guys all looked up and waved. She turned to give him a polite smile. Instead of joining them, though, he went to the bar and sat on his own.

“He doesn’t drink with you guys?”

“Nah, not anymore. He used to, but then...” Orville trailed off.

“Then what?”

“He had one too many and banged our old yoga instructor.”

“Tito!” Liz exclaimed.

“What? She’s gonna hear about it sooner or later.” He bit into his chicken wrap, eyes cast down.

Bella wasn’t sure she wanted to hear more, but Liz explained quickly, “It was a bad scene. Kyle had the no-fraternization policy put into place after that.”

“And turned into the biggest prick I know.”

“Tito...” Liz pleaded.

“Hey, I like the guy. I really do. But he’s nowhere near as fun as he used to be.”

“Because he won’t be your wingman anymore?”

“It’s not that. For one, he doesn’t hang with us. And whenever a girl walks into the gym, he acts like we’re all gonna try to eat her or something.” Orville sighed. “Man, Karla really did a number on him.”

“We shouldn’t be talking about this.” Liz darted a nervous look at Kyle. “He’s sitting right there.”

But the guys had hooked onto the subject. “It wasn’t his fault. Karla was bat-shit crazy,” Wayne defended the boss valiantly.

Bella leaned forward, careful not to look too interested. “So...this Karla used to work at Payette’s?”

“Karla taught yoga and Pilates and some of the other women’s classes,” Orville explained. “She was also a blue belt in krav maga. Really tough lady, like a blonde Xena on steroids.

“Anyhow, she was one of the gym’s first hires—helped Kyle build and open the place. And I have to say, she was a good teacher. So we’re celebrating our first-year anniversary at the gym after hours. Champagne’s flowing, music’s playing. And Kyle, wouldn’t you know, is there without a date—”

“Which is like showing up without a leg for Kyle,” Tito added.

“—so what does he do? He starts hitting on Karla. They went home together, and she came back the next day in his car wearing the same clothes she’d been wearing the night before.”

“Awkwaaaard,” Tito drawled.