“It means exactly what I said: Cian is an asshole and Rory is your next project. You’re the sweet little lamb who wants to fix the big, bad, broken wolf.”

“He is not my project. I don’t do projects. Plus we’re not officially dating or anything like that. My last boyfriend was a project, believe me. I will never go down that road again.” She crossed her arms over her chest defiantly.

“I call them like I see them, girly. Are you coming tonight to watch him at the sparring meet?” Casey asked.

“I saw a flyer for it at the gym, but didn’t know what it was.”

“Just a bunch of meatheads swinging at each other for fun. It’s pretty much just like a practice session for bigger tournaments and stuff. Rory hasn’t done one in a while because of his injury, so I’m betting he’ll have lots of takers to go against him tonight,” Casey explained.

“Maybe.” Clare tried not to sound as excited as she actually was about the prospect of seeing Rory. He had continued to walk her home from work every night, and while she was doing her best to keep things at bay between them, it was becoming harder and harder.

Those kisses. Her face flamed at the memory.

“Yeah, you’re coming. You’ve got it bad.”

“Why is it that every time we get coffee, we just sit and talk about boys?” Clare took another sip of her latte.

“Because we are both single and jaded by all the assholes in the world. Well, I’m single. I don’t know what you are.”

“I’m single, too!” Clare flashed Casey an indignant look.

“I’m just kidding, Clare. Lighten up.”

“I’m glad I’m single. It’s so nice to be free to do what I want, when I want. To feel like my own person again. I came here to get my life back on track, and I don’t need anyone getting in the way of that.” Even as Clare said it, she wasn’t sure she believed it. She was hoping that maybe if she kept saying it out loud, it might be the case.

“I guess I can understand that, but isn’t a good relationship supposed to let you be your own person?” Casey asked, more wondering out loud then really posing the question.

“That’s not how my last one was at all.” A hint of sadness passed through Clare’s tone. That was exactly why she had no desire to jump into a new one, either.

“I actually have never been in one long enough for it to suck. Or to be good. Or for it to be anything except for sex. I prefer the love-’em-and-leave-’em approach.” Casey tried to lighten the mood, but a heaviness had descended anyway. “All right, that’s enough moping around for me for one day. Casey Kavanagh is not a Debbie Downer.”

“Agreed, let’s change topics.”

“I think we should talk about how you completely killed it at my self-defense class today. I thought Linda was going to actually pass out when you slammed her down to the ground!”

“She is never going to agree to be my partner again.” After two weeks of classes, not only was her skill level improving, but so was her confidence. She sometimes forgot that it was just a class, though, and she accidentally found herself picturing Travis Creighton’s face as that of her attacker.

Poor Linda.

“That’s true. She already requested a new partner after class.”

Clare’s eyebrows shot up. “Seriously?”

“Girl, you acted like she was attacking you for real.”

“Well, it’s a self-defense class. That’s what we are supposed to be doing.”

“Lord help the poor jackass that tries to mug you one day.” Casey lifted up her coffee in a toast.

Clare pasted on a smile as if she agreed, but in truth, a mugger was the last thing that she was worried about. Clare decided to change topics, hoping to push away the dark memories threatening to creep up.

“I need something else to do with my days. I think that’s what it is. I’ve got your class and then dealing with Cian for a whole work shift…”

“You whaled on Linda because you’re not busy enough?”

“No! I mean that I don’t have enough outlets to pour my energy into.” Clare laughed at the thought.

“What about Rory? The way he looks at you, I’m sure he would be fine taking up all your energy,” Casey suggested. Then her face immediately twisted up. “And now I’ve grossed myself out.”

Clare laughed, taking another sip of her drink as she shook her head at Casey’s antics.

“He’s my cousin, practically a brother. I can’t think of him like that.”

“You’re the one that brought it up, you goof,” Clare chided her, laughing before returning to the original topic. “I wanted to be a vet. I was supposed to come out here to start classes. That’s what I should be filling my time with.”

“So go enroll in some classes. Easy fix.”

Clare frowned. “I did, but I missed the deadline for fall so I have to wait until spring to start.”

“What about volunteer work? The new partner I put Linda with manages an animal rescue. I think her name is Patty.”

“Really? That actually might be perfect. Most rescues have on-staff vets—I could get a bit of training in by shadowing them. Plus I love animals.”

“See, it’s perfect for you.”

“Do they do background checks for volunteers?” Clare wondered, only realizing too late that it had been out loud.

“Um, I don’t know. Why? Were you a serial killer in a past life or something?”

“No, I just don’t want to have to dig up all my papers and everything. I’m still unpacking,” Clare lied, blushing.

“Oh, okay. You’re kind of a weird duck, you know that, Clare?” Casey teased her.

“A duck?” Clare snorted. “Well, I do love animals, all kinds.”

“Animal people.” Casey sighed. “I’ll never get it. Rory has that damn dog with him anywhere he goes. All animals do is stink up the place and drain your wallet.”

“Small price to pay for filling your heart.”

Chapter 7

Having been unable to get Rory out of her head, Clare found herself going back to Legends later that evening to watch the sparring meet that Casey had told her about. She didn’t have to be at O’Leary’s tonight, and there wasn’t much else to do this early in the week. Never having been to an event like this, she nervously entered Legends, hoping she wasn’t overdressed in dark skinny jeans, tall black boots, and a thin, loose white blouse.

Her blouse was more than a little transparent, leaving little to the imagination as it displayed her silky skin and her black lace brassiere. Clare was hoping that Rory would notice, which felt like a juvenile quest, but she couldn’t resist. The idea of watching him compete in such a physical and brutal sport stirred something inside her that she hadn’t known she wanted before. Traipsing through the lobby, she kept replaying the last few kisses between them and she knew that she wanted more.

More of what, though?

Leaving the lobby, she made a quick trip down the main hallway before it opened onto the gym floor. The room was packed with people and all of the equipment had been pushed to outer edges to make room for them to stand around the center ring. The ring instantly intimidated her since the cage sides had been lowered from the ceiling to trap the fighters in. Two men she didn’t recognize were currently sparring, and the crowd was tightly packed as people shouted over one another to be heard.

“I totally called it!” someone shouted behind her and grabbed her arm.

Spinning around in alarm, Clare found herself face-to-face with a grinning Casey.

“Called what?”

“You. Coming tonight. And shit, Clare, you look hot!” Casey exclaimed, taking in her outfit as Clare blushed.

“I was bored, figured I would see what all the fuss is about.” She tried to shrug off her appearance tonight as mundane, but Casey wasn’t having it.