An hour later, I’m less certain. I’ve fielded more questions about what it’s like to train in Thailand than ever in my life, and Devon has accumulated a circle of adoring fans who are hanging on his every word. The two teenage girls seem particularly fond of him. If not for their youth and the sizzling looks he sends my way every time he has a chance, I might be concerned. They don’t show their budding crushes by giggling and flirting. Rather they try to impress him with their stellar technique and ability to throw a punch that could make a grown man cry. I recognize the show of one-upmanship because I’ve been there. Strange as it sounds, there comes a time when being able to slip under a man’s guard and deliver an uppercut to his jaw is equivalent to preening in a prom dress.
Don laps up the experience, and it makes my spirit light to see how much joy it brings him to have us here. Eventually, we have to leave. I extricate myself from the group and hug him tightly, breathing into his ear that it won’t be so long before I come back again.
“See to it,” he says, ruffling my hair. Then he shakes Devon’s hand. “Don’t let her walk all over you, and good luck to both of you with your fights.”
“Thanks. Bye, Donnie.”
“See you later, kid.”
ChapterTwenty-Four
Devon
I sink into a chair at Sugar, one of the cafés near Crown MMA Gym, opposite my future brother-in-law. Not that he or Harley realize it yet, but now that I have Harley’s love, I’m hoping it’s only a matter of time before I have her hand in marriage too. Oh, not immediately, but not far down the line.
“Hey, man. How are you doing?” I ask, reaching over to shake his hand. He grips mine firmly, then rests his elbow on the table and props his chin on his palm.
“Good. I was glad you called. We haven’t talked for ages.”
I smirk. “Well, you kicked me out of your gym, so…”
He winces. “I really am sorry about that. I was in a difficult position.”
“Yeah, I know.” I wave a hand. That isn’t what I want to talk about today. It’s a battle for another time.
“How was your trip to the fiery pit of hell?”
My lips twitch. “If you mean the sweet little town of Cedar Bend, it was nice.” A server delivers me a savory roll and also places one in front of Seth, whose eyes narrow. I laugh. “Don’t worry, it’s free of sugar, refined starch, and flavor, just the way you like it.”
He huffs as though annoyed, but we both know he loves my teasing.
“Your Mom is great.”
“She is.” His expression softens. “Everything went smoothly?”
“As silk.” I dig into my food. “I also met your old trainer, Don. What a character.”
He shakes his head. “Talk about taking me back. I haven’t seen that guy in years. How’s he doing?”
“Seems to be good.”
Seth drinks from his glass of water and watches me thoughtfully. “Why did you want to meet?”
“Here’s the thing.” I wipe my fingers on a napkin and sit forward. I’m going to need steel balls for this. “I love Harley, and she loves me. I respect you, but I’d want to be with her regardless of your feelings on the matter. Still, I know she cares what you think and I don’t want to damage her relationship with you, so I just want to ask directly: do you have a problem with her and I dating?”
He exhales slowly and rubs his bristly jaw. “No, Dev. I don’t.”
My heart starts beating again.
“Honestly,” he continues, “when she first told me, I did wonder whether it was just a phase for you.” He gives me a look. “You don’t exactly have a rock-solid dating history. But it takes a lot of balls to ask what you just did, and I know you wouldn’t have done that—or gone with her to visit Mom—if you weren’t sure of your relationship. That’s just not the kind of guy you are. You don’t lead people on. So I don’t have anything against you dating her.” His lips twist so slightly at the corners that if he were anyone else, I might not notice, but Seth doesn’t smile often, so it stands out. “I just don’t like the situation it put me in, especially after I asked you both not to go there.”
I shrug. “I’m sorry about that, but the heart wants what he wants.”
He sighs. “That it does.”
Something dark and sorrowful flashes across his face, but he hides it quickly. I wonder what it was about, and whether it has anything to do with his ex, Ashlin. I’m yet to meet her, but I’m curious to know more about the woman he married, and who befriended my Harley.
“You don’t mind that she’s cornering me?”
