Holy crap.
He was.
She moved quickly around him, trying to get a better look at the curious expression on his face. It was as if, for the first time, he was letting her see past the professional shield he maintained at all times. And what she saw almost had her floored.
Embarrassment, sure, but also desire. Heat. Longing. And, most noticeably, a determination that things were going to stay the same no matter how much either one might wish otherwise.
Stunned, she fell back, giving him some space. Rick immediately took a knee, reaching for the mats so that he could fold them up and tuck them away until their Tuesday class.
Okay, then. It seemed like this one was over.
Too bad that finding out her hair was a major handicap wasn’t the only thing she learned.
She never would have guessed it, and maybe wishful thinking made her read too much into their exchange, but that look—that look. Years on the stage, plus months with Tommy, made Grace an expert at knowing when a man was imagining her in bed with him.
To her absolute astonishment, Rick was one of those men.
She shouldn’t do it. It wasn’t as if she was free enough to give another man her all, and the relationship she already had with Rick was special in its own way. She shouldn’t risk it by chasing after something she shouldn’t want or need.
Grace was going to do it anyway. Because, she wondered, what was the purpose behind learning these techniques that might save her life if she didn’t actually live one?
As soon as he finished with the mats, Grace moved in front of him, blocking the door so that he couldn’t escape until she spoke to him.
He raised his eyebrows at her.
“So, uh… since training is over and it’s still early, I was wondering if you were doing anything tonight.”
When he didn’t say anything right away, Grace gulped, but soldiered on. Just because her last date ended up causing a disaster, it didn’t mean they all would. Besides, this was Rick. Even if he tried anything funny—and she doubted he ever would—he was the man who taught her how to defend herself. She could take him if she had to. She’d proven that in her lessons.
“I thought maybe we can go get a drink or something. I mean, you could. I would only get a soda, but it might be nice. Or food. The coffeehouse is pretty damn good. What do you think?”
Rick stayed silent for a moment.
She settled her long hair over one shoulder, nibbling on her bottom lip in such an innocent way, he was willing to bet she had no idea how arousing the gesture was. Grace looked up at him through the fringe of her long lashes, hope dashed across her gorgeous face, a cautious worry in her hazel eyes.
Part of him was still stunned at how fiercely he reacted at the thought of her cutting her hair. She was one of the most gorgeous women he’d ever seen. Cutting her hair wouldn’t change that. Still, he secretly liked it long—and, okay, it sure as hell wasn’t a secret any longer.
And now she had asked him out for a drink.
&
nbsp; Shit.
What was he supposed to do?
When he offered to teach her how to protect herself, he promised himself he wouldn’t let it go any further than that. He wouldn’t take advantage of a vulnerable woman in need. Then, when he got to know her, her spirit and her fire and her strength, he knew that she was way out of his league.
To have her ask him out was like a wet dream come true. He’d kill to spend some time alone with Grace in a way where he wasn’t accidentally getting carried away and hurting her.
If only she actually meant it.
Rick knew what this was. It was just like how he convinced himself Caitlin De Angelis was the one for him. How Natalie Newton spent the last few months trying to entice him, even going so far as joining the HSD. When the options were limited, it was easy to settle for what was available. So maybe Grace was lonely, maybe she wanted to thank him for his time, but there was no fucking way she could be attracted to him the way that he ached for her.
There was only one thing he could do.
“That’s… uh, that’s nice of you to offer. I’d love to—only I can’t. Sorry. I’ve got other plans.”
His mumble wiped the hope right from her face. Her eyes shuttered, and when she opened them again, the interest that had been there vanished. It was like the fire had gone out, the spark extinguished.