Spring Secrets - Allie Boniface Page 0,10
minutes later, the four of them stood in the studio at the back of the gym. Sienna had changed into a t-shirt and leggings, clinging just tightly enough to ruin Dash’s vow to behave. She put her hands on her hips. “So what exactly is happening here?”
He took her wrist in his. Small, slender, but strong under the skin. He tried to ignore the heat it generated. “We’re gonna do some real-life practice. You know Mac and Damian?”
She smiled. “Yes, but you all were a few years ahead of me in school. You guys renovated the Thompson house, right?”
Damian nodded.
“It’s beautiful.”
“Thanks.”
“Yeah, yeah, enough with the polite chatter,” Dash said with a grin. “Okay, we’re gonna pretend you’ve never met Damian, and he comes up and grabs you on the sidewalk in the middle of the night.”
“In Whispering Pines?” Mac said. “Where everyone’s in bed in the middle of the night?”
“Shut up. Yes. Or in London. Or, I don’t know, in a thousand other places where it could happen.” He glanced at Sienna, who looked a little pale with worry. “Sorry. I just mean, it’s better to be able to protect yourself if you’re in a situation like that. With no one else around.”
“Gotcha.”
“Believe it or not, in a lot of cases, you can get away or hurt your attacker even if you’re smaller or weaker than he is.” He dropped Sienna’s wrist and stood with his back to Mac. “Grab my wrist.”
“With pleasure.” Mac reached out a thick hand and was on the ground in less than a second. “What the—” He got to one knee and gave Dash a look of admiration. “That’s a pretty good move.”
Dash hoped Sienna would think so too. “Here,” he said, reaching for her hips and positioning her into place. “Take my wrist.”
“You’re not going to throw me on the ground, are you?”
Oh, he’d like to. And then he’d like to do a few things with her while she was down there. He swallowed. “Nope. I’m gonna show you how to do it to me.”
He was never going to make it through this hour. Never. Every single word out of his mouth sounded like it belonged in a porn film. Or maybe he was just being paranoid. He slid a glance at Sienna. Sure, that was it. Paranoid.
“Watch. You just grabbed me. Now I put my hand on your wrist and turn like this. Then apply pressure. Doesn’t have to be a lot.” He gave her the slightest push, not wanting to hurt or startle her. “See?”
Understanding lit her features. “I think so.” She inched closer and held out one arm. “Try it on me.”
He cleared his throat, stepped behind her, and grabbed. Not hard, but she was a fast learner. She turned, pressed, and shoved him to the ground.
Mac and Damian broke out in laughter and applause. “Hey, that’s what I like to see! A woman who can bring Dashiell Springer to his knees.”
He popped back up. “Not bad.”
“Thanks.” Her face was pink. “That was kind of fun.”
“Yeah?” He motioned to Damian. “Give it a try with him.”
“Don’t tell Summer I was grabbing another woman,” Damian said with a laugh.
“Is she the jealous type?” Dash had only met Damian’s girlfriend a few times, but he knew Summer Thompson had grown up in Whispering Pines. And that she’d lost her kid brother in a car wreck years ago.
“Nope. She’s the cool, down-to-earth, gorgeous type.” Damian took Sienna’s arm, and she turned him around and put him on the ground. “Nice,” he said from his knees. “You aren’t a half-bad teacher, Springer.” He hopped up and grabbed his water bottle. “Ready to hit the weights?” he asked Mac.
“Yep. Sorry, Sienna,” Mac said as they headed for the door. “We’re leaving you alone with the devil.”
Dash flipped them the bird. “He’s kidding.”
“I know.” She wiped her face with a towel. “But Damian’s right. You are a good teacher. I mean, if I could pick up that move in just a few minutes.”
He flushed. “It’s a pretty basic one.”
“But a good one. I hate to think I might actually have to use it someday, but I guess that’s the world we live in now. Felons around every corner, huh?”
He didn’t say anything to that.
“So what’s next? Should we practice some more, or...”
“Want to try something else?” He didn’t usually suggest this right away, but Sienna seemed different. She might actually appreciate it.
“Sure.”
“Focus is important in self-defense. Awareness of your surroundings is key. Meditation can help with that.”
“Seriously?”
“You