while he was away. Is that understood?”
“YES, SIR!” I was surprised to hear the class bellow. The man naturally elicited it, though.
“Until Thursday, then. With the exception of Daniel-san, you are all free to go forth, and sin as much as you can get away with.”
We bowed out. I grabbed my towel and followed Temple into Nolan’s office. I was grateful to the point of tears that he did not sit in Nolan’s chair behind the desk, but sat on the desk itself. He did, however, offer me water from Nolan’s stock in the little fridge.
“No doubt you are delighted to see me. I give you leave to express your pleasure—no? Perhaps just curious as to my presence. That I will grant you. I came when I heard that Nolan was in hospital. But I also decided that I could profitably spend my time keeping up his classes, keeping myself gorgeous and in condition, and perhaps, keeping an eye on you. Clearly, you’re attracting some serious trouble.”
“Um,” was all I could manage.
“I don’t expect thanks, not from you, Emma. Old Nolan would do the same for me, it’s understood. But if my worries are justified, then you will, perhaps, give me the benefit of an extra two hours of your company a week, for private sessions. Perhaps your husband would join us.”
I looked up quickly. “How did you know Brian is here, too?”
“Nolan keeps quite accurate notes on his students, including the family relationships. Elementary, Daniel-san.”
“Oh. I don’t know about Brian…he’s pretty busy at work, right now.” I could feel my face, already hot from the workout, go another shade red. I didn’t want Brian out of the house any more than necessary.
Temple looked at me sharply, but I wouldn’t say anything else. “Very well. I will discuss that when he comes into class tonight, should he chose to do so. Now then, what does your schedule allow, in terms of more fun and frolicks with Yours Truly?”
“Well, the semester’s just started, so I’m actually also going to be very busy the next week or so—”
“Of course. So we’d better make them first thing in the morning, and perhaps the hour class with the others? Surely you can manage that?”
“Um, not really, no.”
He smiled hugely. “Splendid, I thought so.”
What was with this guy pushing so hard? “No, seriously. My schedule is pure madness for the next six weeks. I can’t possibly add more on to it now.” Big points for me, I thought, for standing up to him.
Temple cocked his head, looking very serious. “I think you can manage one extra class, can’t you?”
“No, I really can’t.” There it was, polite but firm.
Except it didn’t take. We went around the block a few more times until I finally agreed to give him an extra hour a week. I should have known I was doomed from the first: Who was going to win an argument with a mountain? Except maybe Mindy. And God, how I hate early mornings…not that I’d been waiting for the dawn chorus to wake me up lately.
Time for a change of topic before he realized that if I didn’t sleep, there were about six hours a night I could train, too. “Mr. Temple? Have you seen Nolan? Do you know how he is?”
His face darkened. “They’re letting no one but family see him—”
I had no idea Nolan had any family at all.
“—but I did find out that his condition is most grave. He lost a good deal of blood. I know of six men who are waiting for me to call and tell me that I’ve found the bastard that’s done this. Then, there will be no need for any further authority involvement.”
I chewed that over, the particularity of that very specific number, the fact that Temple could speak so casually and so convincingly of murder, for that was what was in his eyes. All I could do was nod, and I felt myself getting ready to cry again.
His expression turned to alarm. “Now! None of that!”
I felt his hands on my shoulders; Temple gave me a shake. Then he shoved a hanky into my hand. I blew my nose gratefully.
“Sorry.”
“Now, now, you’re not going to scare me with a bit of waterworks. I’ve got a wife and children, you think I’ve never seen tears before? Ha! Old Nolan’s tough as a root, he’ll be just fine.”
“I hope so. It’s my fault he’s hurt in the first place,” I said.
Though we weren’t on the mats, I’d finally