Caroline

“So, Dad told me the Bennett clan was here yesterday,” Niall says the next morning during breakfast. We’re at the coffee shop, enjoying some of Ailish’s delicious cake and cookie leftovers. The tips of my ears feel hot as I sip from my coffee. I wish Dad would hurry from the back. He went to get a book for Niall, and I have a feeling my brother is about to grill me on the topic of Daniel.

“Yeah, it was great of them to show up here.”

“They’re a friendly bunch. Daniel was here too?” He winks at me, biting into a cookie.

“Of course. Dad invited him. I told you he helped with the business plan.”

He sighs. “Caroline, be careful.”

“I am. Don’t go into overprotective brother mode.”

“It’s in my genes. Can’t help it. I remember how sad you were when you came to Dublin. I just don’t want you to be so sad again. Ever.” 

“It was a long time ago. I’m a big girl now.”

“I know you are. If you need anyone to give him the talk, hit me up. Dad’s too soft.”

I poke his forearm. “Niall! I absolutely don’t need that.”

He smiles sheepishly. “I’ll keep an eye out.”

Once Dad returns, there is no more talk of Daniel, and we focus on the bookstore and Niall’s conference instead.

After he leaves, we start arranging the new merchandise on the shelves. We haven’t even gotten around to unpacking it. I’m in charge of the fiction books since that’s the most straightforward part. All I have to do is arrange them alphabetically according to their genre. Dad’s in charge of everything else, from nonfiction books to miscellaneous items such as puzzles and society games.

By ten o’clock, I’m done with the Action & Adventure, Classics, and Crime fiction sections. Panic shoots through me when I realize I’m not even a third through. I open the first box labeled “Mysteries.” Just as I’m about to unload the first batch, my phone vibrates on the shelf in front of me. A message pops up with a photo of a pelican attached.

Daniel: Morning sighting from Fort Funston. Are pelicans part of those birds that only have one mate for life?

Caroline: Nope, they are faithful to their partner just for the mating season.

Setting the phone back on the shelf, I focus on the box, but I only manage to unload one stack of books when my phone chirps again, this time with an incoming call from Daniel.

“You’re bad for my work ethic,” I inform him the second I pick up. “I’m working on unloading the same box of books since you texted.”

“Bad influence, am I?”

“Absolutely. So, I assume you want to ask which birds have just one mate?” Holding the phone between my ear and my shoulder, I start arranging the stack I unloaded on the shelf.

“Nah, I just wanted to hear your voice.”

Oh, wow.

“Daniel, what are we doing here?”

“Finding our way back to each other?”

I clasp the book tighter, an unnerving energy coursing through me.

“Tell me you haven’t thought about it. Tell me and I’ll hang up.”

My breath catches. “Don’t hang up.”

He laughs softly, and I feel his relief in my bones.

“So, why are you at Fort Funston, anyway?”

“Hang gliding. With Freeda and some of her friends.”

I nearly drop the book. “The famous singer? She’s your client?”

“Yeah.”

“Wow, you sure keep famous company.”

“Dan, come on. I want to be up in the air.” The voice calling him in his background belongs unmistakably to Freeda.

“Did she just call you Dan?”

He chuckles. “Asked her not to, but she does whatever she wants. Jealous?”

Yes, yes I am. But I’m not ready to own up to that. How on earth did I back myself into a corner ten seconds into this conversation?

“No, just surprised. I know you don’t like it when people call you Dan.”

“I love it when you do it. Can’t wait to see you later. It’s been a long day. Woke up at five.”

“Wow, what a hell of a day. Are you sure you’re up for Krav Maga? We can always do it another day.”

“I just got you to admit you’ve thought about us getting back together. I will see you tonight.”

“I didn’t admit anything,” I say with a smile. “I just didn’t deny it. And you’re underestimating Theo if you think we’ll talk much tonight. One round with him and all I’m up for is a glass of cabernet on my couch. You should try it too.”

“It’ll be my pleasure. It’s a date.”

Laughter bubbles out of me, unrestrained and unapologetic. “I can’t believe you just tricked me into inviting you to my place.”

“I’ll make it worth your while, Caroline. That’s a promise.”

***

Daniel

I arrive at the address Caroline texted me at seven o’clock in the evening. Christ, she’s a sight, with her training clothes molding to her every curve. Her hair is up in a messy bun, and I have a vision of pulling the elastic band out of her hair, sinking my hands in it while she wraps her legs around me.

I stand there, watching, not making any sound as she starts exercising, performing a string of kickboxing moves. Her body moves swiftly, the swell of her curves, the tightening of her muscles a goddamn vision. She’s beautiful, strong, fierce.

The sharp determination on her expression shows me a new side of her. Every protective instinct springs to life, making me want to keep her out of harm’s way. It’s great that she can defend herself, but I don’t want her to have to. 

A side door opens and a man comes in, heading straight to Caroline. I can’t hear their exchange from here, but soon enough he starts touching her waist, her arms. Sliding behind her and correcting her pose. I swear, if he touches her ass....

“Daniel, I didn’t see you there,” Caroline exclaims, snapping me out of my murderous thoughts.

“Just arrived.”

I head to them, shake hands with the instructor.

“This is Theo,” Caroline explains.

“Figured as much.”

“Caroline tells me you want to offer Krav Maga at your gym,” Theo says.

“It’s something I’m looking into, yes. And I want to test it out first.”

He nods, assessing me and the bag over my shoulder where I stuffed my gear, and points me to the changing rooms. For the next half hour, he shows me the basics while Caroline performs postworkout stretches, then busies herself around the studio, cleaning up, rearranging the mattresses on the floor.

“Focus!”

I barely block Theo’s next punch. If I keep looking at Caroline, I’ll leave here with a black eye.

“Why are self-defense classes all the rage?” I ask once we’re done.

“It’s a great way of getting the tension out of your system,” Theo explains. “My guess is this is what most are looking for.”

“Makes sense. I figured it wasn’t just everyone fearing they’ll be attacked all of a sudden.” 

“So, what’s the verdict? Is this interesting enough for your clients?”

“It’s definitely one of the more popular wishes. It’ll take a few months to set everything up, but let’s keep in touch. How flexible are you?”

Theo shrugs. “I can work around anything.” 

Caroline walks up to us, beaming. “You boys worked everything out?”

“We’ll keep in touch,” Theo says. “And I saw you clean up. You weren’t supposed to do that.”

“I had time on my hands, and you’re tired. You’ve been here since eight o’clock. You should go upstairs, relax for the night. I can close up here, throw the key in your mailbox.”

The way she talks to him sets me on edge: too personal, too much warmth. I have no right, but I’m jealous as fuck.

“Don’t say that twice or I’ll take you up on it,” Theo replies.

“Well, this is me saying it twice. Come on, go rest.”

Theo doesn’t wait for her to say it a third time. He marches out, leaving Caroline and me alone.

The second he’s gone, she beams widely, clasping her hands together. “He’s great, right?”

“You dated him?”

She blinks, her smile fading. “It’s not your concern, but I don’t want this costing Theo business. He’s just a friend. A dear friend. Nothing more.”

“When I came in, he had his hands all over you, and just now you seemed so... familiar.”

She presses her lips together. Another telltale sign I should back off, but I can’t. Plus, she looks gorgeous all worked up, the skin on her cheeks flushing. 

“As I said, not your concern.”

I step closer to her, smelling her feminine scent—vanilla and something edgy. “In case you can’t tell, it concerns me whether I want it to or not.”

She presses her hands at the sides of her neck, studying me. “You’re not a jackass usually. Something’s up with you. ”

How the hell does she read me so well?

“Sorry, I’m... you’re right. Remember the leaked photos issue?”

“Yes.”

“I have some suspicions about who on my team is behind it, and we have other events tonight.”

I wanted to press pause on the celebrity events until I figure this out, but it was too short notice for the four events tonight. I split the dream team into four, so Honor, Marcel, Justin, and Colbert are each attending one. I don’t expect any leaks tonight unless Colbert is really thick, or greedy. Any leaks would immediately identify the culprit, but it’s worth a try. If greed wins, it will save me more detective work. After I explain all this to Caroline, she huffs out a breath.

“Sounds like you still have a lot of pent-up tension. How about another round of training before we head out to my place for that glass of wine?”

“You do Krav Maga too?”

“Not well, but you’re a beginner.”

“Yeah, but I’ve got about fifty pounds on you.”

“Theo’s bigger than me too, and I can hold my own.”

Yes, but Theo’s an instructor. He probably knows how to go easy when needed. How hard can it be to go easy, though?

Turns out it’s hard as hell. At least, if one wants to do it without the other party catching on.

“Come on, Daniel. Don’t go easy on me just because I’m a woman.”

She aims and I block her, which is all I’ve been doing for the past few minutes. I’m in defensive mode because I suspect that, if I throw a punch, she might hurt herself by blocking it.

“I’m not going easy because you’re a woman. Just because you’re smaller than me.”

“Come on.” She continues her attack, and between her heavy pants and beads of sweat trickling down her chest, I’m falling under her spell. Throw her Lycra-clad thighs into the mix, and my brain conjures up images of her legs wrapped around me, and—

Wham.

Punch straight to my gut. Literally. I buckle, the air knocked out of my lungs. I lose my balance and bump into her, knocking us both off our feet. As we fall, she makes a desperate swing with her arms, which earns me an elbow to the side of my head. Fucking hell, it hurts. I barrel on top of her, no grace, no softening the impact. Then we dissolve into laughter.

“That’s what you get for handling me like a damsel. Next time, go hard on me so we don’t go down like fools.”

Caroline wipes her tears of laughter. I could move off her to the side, but this is too good. Feeling her breasts pressed against my chest, one of her legs cradled between mine, the other bent by my side.

Sustaining myself on one forearm, I run my hand up and down the thigh that’s by my side.

“Oh, love, you know I like going hard on you, but not on the fighting mat. Remember last time? I went so hard on you, your thighs gave out.”

Her hips give a slight jerk under me. Her thigh quivers under my hand. Oh yeah, she remembers. Turning her head to the side, she breaks eye contact, giving me a full view of her sweaty neck, the vein pulsing in it. I barely hold back from leaning in, licking her, tasting her.

“Caroline, I want the right to be jealous back. The right to call you mine.”

She snaps her head right back to me, her eyes wide, a mix of emotions staring back at me. She moves a hand to my cheek and I lean into her touch, wanting more. Needing more. Tension gathers between my shoulders as I wait for her answer.

“Dan...,” she whispers softly. Some of the tension bleeds away because she’s not saying no. She’s not saying yes either, but that twinkle in her eyes? It’s hope. Uncertainty too, but I’ll focus on the hope. “How’s your head? I hit you with my elbow.”

The second she mentions it, I become aware of the thumping in the right side of my head. Pushing myself off her at last and sitting on the mattress, I touch the sore spot.

“Just needs some ice and it’ll be fine. You hurt?”

She shakes her head, and we push ourselves up to our feet. “My ankle’s a bit sore, so walking back will be fun.”

“Walking?”

“My building’s just three blocks away, so I walked.”

“I’m here with my car.”

“Thank God. Let’s go, then. We did enough damage tonight, and I have a bottle of wine in the fridge for us. Do you want to shower here? Or you can use the one in my apartment. If you want.”

“Oh, I want to.”

A strand of hair dislodges from her bun, dangling over her eye and cheek. Leaning in, I blow it away.

She laughs nervously. “Okay, let’s go. I’ll take care of your head, ice it for you.”

“I’ll return the favor and ice your ankle.”

Placing my hand on the small of her back, I guide her out of the room, keeping my hand there while she locks up and leaves the key in Theo’s mailbox.

Tonight, I’m going for broke.