preparation will take more than one lesson. You’ll need to rehearse the moves I show you a few times a week. Muscle memory is everything. You need to know them so well you perform automatically in a threatening situation. I checked with Jim’s Gym, and they have protective padding. So once you have the moves down we should go there and practice a full-on assault.”
“Yeow. That sounds painful.”
“It’s the only way to prepare you for a real threat. I wouldn’t be doing you any favors by treating you like you’re made of glass—an attacker sure won’t.”
Her playful expression fell away. She was probably remembering how she’d felt when that idiot had assaulted her.
“There’s no reason to be afraid. I won’t hurt you, and by the time I’m finished, you’ll be a lot more prepared. A lot more confident.”
“All right. Where do we start?”
“This is a pretty basic move. Let’s do it in slow motion. An attacker grabs your wrist—”
“That’s what that guy did to me. I tried to pull away, but he was too strong.”
“A natural reaction. Try this instead.” He took her wrist in a firm hold. “Here’s what you’re going to do. Make a fist with that hand, then grab it with your opposite hand. Good. Now with the arm he grabbed, point your elbow up. Higher. That’s right. Now slice down as you twist away from him, using the strength of both arms.”
Grace did as he directed.
“That’s it. When you make that twist in real time, use your core—that’s where the real strength comes from. Your purpose is to get loose and run. Let’s do it again. When you complete the move, take a few steps to get into the habit of making a break for it.”
They went through the move again. And again and again. Grace’s motions became more natural and confident each time. “Wow, that seems so easy.”
“Let’s try it in real time. I won’t grab you hard—we’ll wait for the padding for that. Ready?”
She nodded.
He took her wrist.
Grace went through the motions, but her feet got a little tripped up as she turned to run.
“Let’s talk about feet. Whichever side he grabs, put that foot forward. When you twist, you’ll pivot on that foot. Once you have this down, we’ll practice with the other hand.”
While they went through the motions again, Levi and Mia exited the house and stepped onto the patio.
Grace finished the move perfectly this time.
“Good job,” Wyatt said.
“I’m afraid to ask.” Levi’s gaze slid down to the mat. “And you’re flattening the grass.”
“I’m taking him down—that’s what I’m doing—and you’re next.”
“What’d I do?”
“You’re a Groomzilla.”
“Not since Mia arrived.”
“I’ll give you that.”
“Aw.” Mia snuggled into Levi’s side, clipboard and all. “Have I tamed you, honey?”
His face softened as he looked down at his fiancée and whispered something in her ear.
Mia smiled, a pretty blush blooming on her cheeks.
While the lovebirds talked over the details of the backyard wedding, Grace and Wyatt went through the moves he’d just shown her, practicing them with the other hand in slow motion until she had the hang of it.
A few minutes later Levi led Mia away. As he opened the door, he looked back at Wyatt. “Try not to break her. She has to walk down the aisle in six days.”
“Your concern is overwhelming,” Grace said.
She and Wyatt took a quick breather as the couple disappeared inside.
Grace appraised the yard. “Hard to believe there’s going to be a wedding here this weekend.”
“Will it be very big?”
Grace shook her head. “It’s only family and a few close friends. Mia’s best friend is flying in Friday and her dad, stepmom, and their kids are coming Saturday—Mia only reunited with her dad a couple years ago.”
“And her mom?”
“She passed away.”
“That’s too bad.”
“Everyone who’s flying in is being picked up at the airport by Skeeter—our resident floatplane guy—and flown straight to our dock. Hopefully we can keep this under wraps through the wedding. We’d like to avoid hovering helicopters.”
“They’d do that?”
“You have no idea. They could turn this place into a media circus.”
After they regrouped Wyatt squared up with Grace.
“This one’s a grab from behind. You’re going to incapacitate the attacker this time before you run. Turn around and face the other direction.” After she did as he asked, he stepped close and wrapped his arms around her waist, bringing him flush against her.
She softened in his arms, and it took every bit of his discipline to block out the feel of her body against his, the delicious scent of