Lior set down the pads, watching her stride across the floor. He was in his late thirties with hair shaved nearly to his skin, deep-set gray-blue eyes, and though he was probably only about five foot ten, he had the type of authoritative presence that made him feel much larger. Tracey knew he was scrutinizing her mental state, looking for clues in her behavior, the way he and his wife, Eliani, who was now six months pregnant and no longer teaching, had taught her to.

“What’s going on?”

“Nothing really. Work stuff.”

“Still having trouble with your big-ass babysitter?”

“Something like that.” She’d told Lior about Diesel after Bones and Sarah’s wedding, when she’d come in for a lesson and had attacked the heavy bag with a ferociousness she’d never felt before. One of Bones’s friends, Dr. Rhys, had been checking Tracey out at the wedding, and she’d sent him a few flirty glances. She hadn’t realized Diesel had seen them. When Diesel had strode across the dance floor toward her, his expression different than it was at work, a little softer, appreciative of her dress, maybe, she’d thought he might actually try to have a conversation with her or ask her to have a drink with him. But the closer he’d come, the darker his stare had turned, and then he’d simply inserted himself between Tracey and the handsome doctor, staring the poor guy down. Before Tracey could say anything, Izzy had snapped, Stop cockblocking Tracey and ask her to dance already. Diesel hadn’t taken his threatening stare off the doctor as he’d said, I don’t dance. When Izzy had pointed out that he’d danced with Kennedy, the man who answered to no one had grunted and had remained an immovable wall between Tracey and the rest of the male species.

Lior crossed his arms. “Want to talk about it?”

“No. I want to beat the hell out of someone.” And I want to show Diesel that he doesn’t control any part of me.

A glimmer of fight shone in Lior’s eyes. “Now we’re talking. That’s why you ought to consider helping me train while Eliani is off the floor.”

Eliani was the reason Tracey had chosen their program. She was from Israel and had been a victim of domestic abuse prior to coming to the United States and meeting Lior. She understood what Tracey had gone through and had helped her bridge the gap from fearful to empowered. Lior had been nudging Tracey toward becoming a trainer ever since Eliani had stopped teaching, but Tracey wasn’t sure she was ready.

“You’ve got what it takes to help a lot of people, Tracey.”

She set down her water bottle, too edgy to think straight. “Not in this mood I don’t.”

“Fair enough. Then let’s practice some takedowns.”