Can't Fight It - Kaylee Ryan Page 0,37
to look out the window, getting a closer look.
“Nah, it’ll be fine.”
“Can we get home?”
“This machine,” I pat the dash of my truck, “is four-wheel drive. We’ll make it home,” I assure her.
“Okay, then. I guess we have a class to get to.” She reaches for her handle and climbs out of the truck, and I scurry to catch up with her. Luckily my legs are a hell of a lot longer than hers, and I’m by her side in no time.
“Hey, Colton,” Mary, one of the nightshift receptionists, greets me. “I have a few cancelations for tonight.” She hands me a list.
“How many do we have left?” I ask her.
“Four.” She looks up at Hollis. “Are you taking the class?” she asks her.
“Yes.”
“Then, five.” Mary grins.
“Thanks, Mary. Keep me updated. I’m going to go make sure the room is set up.” With a wave, I settle my hand on the small of Hollis’s back and lead her to the room where the class is going to be held. I guide us into the room, and to the back corner where the storage closet is. Punching in the code on the keyless entry, I open the door wide, turn on the light, and step in. “You can put your coat and purse here. This will stay locked so no one will mess with it.”
“Are you sure? I can get a locker.”
“Positive. Just lay it on the desk over there.” I shrug out of my coat and lay it across the desk. “I’m going to start getting the mats out and organized.”
“Need any help?”
“Nah, just chill until class starts. Unless you want to go hit some of the machines or something?”
“Do I need to?” she asks. My eyes peruse her body. Tight long-sleeve T-shirt and skin-tight work out pants. “I mean, am I in the way?” she adds.
“N-No.” I shake my head. “You’re not in the way.” Needing to get busy, to fight off this attraction I have for her, I start dragging mats out and setting them up so that each person will have their own workspace. From the research I’ve done, most women who sign up for self-defense classes are usually too late. It’s usually as a result of some type of violence, often an ex or current lover they are trying to defend themselves from. This also means that most of them are not comfortable with having their personal space invaded. So, I set up six large mats, giving each person coming to class tonight their very own personal space. I want them to feel safe and confident while they’re here and, eventually, leave here with that same confidence and carry it with them every day.
“Colton.” Mary sticks her head in the door. “Everyone has canceled. It’s really starting to get bad out there.”
“Thanks, Mary. Why don’t you go ahead and go home? I’ll be here to close up.”
“Everyone’s gone, and I don’t think anyone is going to be coming in tonight anyway. I’ll just put a note on the door that due to inclement weather, we’re closed. I’ll update all of our social media sites, and then head home.”
“Thanks, Mary.”
“Should we go?” Hollis asks.
“Nah, we can stay a little longer. Besides, I promised you a self-defense class, and we’re already here. Hell, we have the place to ourselves.” That part worries me just a little. No, it will be just like it is at home. I’m going to keep it completely professional.
She nods. “Let’s do it.”
“Perfect. Okay. Take a mat. You can have your pick,” I say with a chuckle.
“Where are you going to be?”
Wherever you are. “I’ll take the one in front so you can see me.” She chooses a mat in the center of the room, and I take the one directly in front of her. “Okay, the first move we’re going to practice is the hammer strike. Anytime you’re walking alone, you should have your keys in your fist like this.” I rush to the storage closet, grab my keys, then back to the mat. “Since I drove, you’re going to need these.” I show her how to hold the keys in her hand.
“Like this?” she asks, taking my keys and doing as I demonstrated.
“Just like that. Now, should someone approach you aggressively, you swing your arm like this as if it were a hammer.” I demonstrate with my hand to show her. She copies me and nails it. Not that this one is complicated, which is why I started with it.
“Do you feel