“Yeah.” He hits like a battering ram. “I mean yes, Master.”
“Get up. Try again.”
Gwen struggled to her feet. She flung her hands out, but the instant before her palms collided with his chest, the energy went out of her and she ended up barely touching him.
Impatience flashed in his eyes. “What’s the matter with you?” His massive hands shoved at her chest, sending her back. “Like that.”
Gwen tumbled to the mat. She shook off the disorientation, getting to her feet. “I’m sorry.” This isn’t me.
“You’re gonna have to do better than this. I want to see attitude from you, Gwen.”
She stepped toward him, but the thought of being knocked down again made her hesitate.
“You call that attitude?” Archer strode to her and shoved, square in the shoulders, sending her on her ass.
A grunt whooshed out of her. She pressed her lips together in annoyance and got up. This time he didn’t wait, just stalked to her and shoved, hard. Gwen flew back, hitting the mat with a thud.
“Get up. If I was a real attacker I wouldn’t wait for you to get to your feet.”
A myriad of emotions roiled in her. Annoyance with herself and anger with him. “Was that really necessary?” She stood up and brushed herself off.
“Come at me.”
When she backed away, he advanced and shoved her again. She toppled.
Anger raced through her, white hot, and before she could stop herself, she scrambled to her feet and shoved him hard, right in the chest. “Stop!”
Eyes widening, Archer stepped back with one leg to balance himself. He didn’t fall, but she’d moved him.
“Oh my god. Archer I...”
“See?” A fierce light burned in his eyes. He pointed at her chest. “Now that’s attitude. That’s what I want to see.”
Understanding hit in a dizzying wave as she went over what she’d done. The way she’d shoved him, yelled at him. “Wow. That was cool. I did it.”
“Yes, now if you could just do your kiais the way you just shouted at me, you’d be on your way.” Archer turned as if to put space between them. Then he spun around and grabbed her arm, shoving her backwards.
Gwen snatched a sharp breath and stumbled back, but her body wouldn’t listen to her brain. Frozen in place, shaky, she could only look away from his intense, antagonistic gaze.
Damn it! What was the matter with her?
A concerned look took over Archer’s chiseled face and he stepped back, out of her personal space. “What happened?”
She dropped her arms. “I don’t know. I froze. I don’t understand it. It was like my brain locked or something.”
“It’s fear.”
“What?”
“We need to teach you to change your mindset. Lots of people are hardwired to avoid confrontation. For someone like you, that programming runs even deeper.”
“Someone like me?” She couldn’t help the tightness in her voice.
He nodded. “You’re afraid of failure. That added fear of retribution makes something as harsh as aggression even more difficult for you.”
Gwen lowered her eyes. He was right. Every time she was forced into a confrontation with her family, her mind seized up. “How do I change that?”
Archer reached out a hand, touching her shoulder. She jerked her head up. The compassion in his eyes floored her. For a man as gruff as him… Well, damn.
“We can do this. Believe me, Gwen. First, you have to stop thinking of defending yourself as something you shouldn’t do. You need to learn to stand up for yourself without worrying about other people. With time and practice, it will become as natural as anything else you do.”
She stared at him. His reassurance that they were in this together sent a pleasant flutter through her. The way he said “we.” Like she wasn’t in this alone. Perhaps he only meant it to boost her confidence, but it made her feel stronger to know someone was on her side.
“All right. What do you want me to do?”
Archer’s teeth flashed in a big grin, incredibly sexy on that brutal face. “Tomorrow night you’re going out with me.”
The wires in Gwen’s brain must have short circuited. A night with Archer. Oh, no. Out of the question. She didn’t want more contact with him than absolutely necessary. On the other hand… Her heart hammered. “Master Archer, are you…?”
He straightened the black jacket of his gi. “Gwen Stanton, I’m taking you out for the best porterhouse steak you’ve ever had. I have some ideas how to proceed with your training, but it’s a little unorthodox. It’ll take some explaining.”
“Um… right… training.” She forced a smile. “Sounds great. I’d… I’d like that.”
“Good. I’ll pick you up at six.”
“Sure.” She nodded to the door. “I’d better go. Umm… with your permission, Sensei.”
He smiled. “Class dismissed.”
Archer looked like a god.
He hooked her arm in his and drew her down the front walk to The Mountainside Grill, a restaurant at the foot of Mount Seraph, already packed despite the early hour. In black jeans that clung to his strong thighs, a silk button up and with his dark hair swept off his strong face, it was difficult not to stare. Especially when the gray of his shirt brought out the steel color of his eyes.
He gave a crooked smile. “What? Why do you keep looking at me like I have two heads?”
“I’m not.” Her face flamed. Ace’s best friend. You don’t want a man like him.
He nudged her shoulder when she didn’t finish. “Do I look that ridiculous?”
Was he kidding? “No, Master Archer. It’s just…I’m just not used to seeing you without your gi.”
“Ah. And?”
The thought of telling him made her face burn. Archer chuckled, running his hand over the middle of her back and guiding her through the front doors of the restaurant. His huge palm seared her skin through her red silk blouse.
“Come on.” He nodded to the hostess, who signalled them to follow her to a booth near the back. While the hostess walked ahead of them, he leaned in. “By the way, you look incredible.”
A spear of heat shot through her when his warm breath brushed her ear, and Gwen nearly tripped on her high heels. “Um… thanks.”
One of his powerful arms caught her around the waist, steadying her.
Way to go, Gwen. He compliments you and you almost face-plant the rug. Real smooth.
She slid into the booth while Archer took the side opposite. She’d have to remember to thank Zoe for her help picking out her outfit. Gwen’s fatal lack of fashion sense would probably have left her looking like the president of Librarians Inc standing next to Mister Sexy GQ.
“You don’t take compliments well, do you?” Amusement turned the corners of his mouth up. He called the waiter over and ordered wine for both of them. “It’s a shame. You’re gorgeous.”
Gulp.
She stared at the checkered tablecloth, counting the squares. Well, shit. In some ways he was so much like her family. Abrupt, critical demanding, and arrogant. But this side of him… Why did he have to make it so hard not to like him?