Page 22 of The Knockout Rule

The next two had selfies that screamed Cocky Womanizer. They got axed so fast she nearly knocked over her Gangster’s Mistress. Not a fabulous start, but there was one more, and all it took was one intriguing profile, one fun date, one first kiss to find her match.

She clicked on the last notification and sat taller. Lance looked like the intellectual type she usually dated: trim beard, glasses, a kind smile. His name made her think of a pampered frat boy, but his profile didn’t set off any sociopath alarms. He was an algebra professor and even made a cute math joke: I’m looking for a relationship like an exponential curve: unbounded.

Her thumb hovered over the screen, ready to swipe right and open a chat, but no flutter of excitement rose—the hint of butterflies that accompanied the stirrings of attraction. All she felt was hungry for the yummy smelling roasted nuts.

Earlier, when treating Eric, those butterflies had sparked to life. During their afternoon session, while she’d worked on his shoulder mobilization and lower back, he would occasionally say something in Russian. A random word when he was in pain. The guttural sounds had been oddly sexy, even though nothing about their interaction had been intimate. She’d used traction on his back, active release on his shoulder. All the while she’d avoided asking about his studies, his language skills, anything outside of their professional relationship. Questions that still nagged at her.

What would his dating profile say? Handsome boxer who loves languages and pretends to act like a dimwit. Enjoys punching faces and kidneys on weekends.

She glanced again at Lance’s photo, tried to muster enough interest to swipe right. She motioned for Jason to fill her drink instead.

“Hello, beautiful.” Preston slipped onto the stool beside her.

This man and his flirtations. “Somehow I’m not surprised to see you.”

“It must be fate.”

“Or we happen to be staying at the same hotel and both wanted a drink in the quietest bar.”

“See? We already have so much in common.” He slid his credit card over to Jason, who was doing a fine job of shaking up another Gangster’s Mistress. “Her drink’s on me. I’ll have a martini, extra dry. And some of those amazing smelling nuts.”

Those nuts really were making her mouth water. “If I ask to share your nuts, will you misguidedly assume I’m flirting with you and ask me out again?”

“That’s a given.” He swiveled on his stool, angled his body closer. “And you don’t have to ask to have at my nuts.”

She half-snorted a laugh. “You don’t do subtle.”

“Subtle is for the weak. And you were on a dating app when I got here. Guess things didn’t work out with that other guy.”

So much for that lie keeping his flirting at bay. “Things fizzled.”

Instead of pushing the point, he pulled out his phone, checked the screen, and set it down. “Brick seems happy working with you.”

“Yeah?” There were those butterflies again. At the wrong time. For the wrong man.

“He’s bluntly honest when he’s not happy. I actually don’t think I’ve ever caught him in a lie. If he says he likes working with you, it’s true.”

“That’s nice to hear.” A relief she’d redeemed herself after their first meeting and the morning’s blunders.

“Feel free to push him. He’ll work his ass off for you.”

“Like most boxers, he needs plenty of treatment.” She pictured a jab connecting with Eric’s face, his head jerking back. The damage to his neck and face and brain. She winced.

Preston scrubbed his jaw, studying her. “You don’t like boxing.”

Understatement. “It’s a rough sport.”

“It is, but it also gives kids confidence. Promotes a better sense of self, helps make them aware of their strengths, their weaknesses. Gives people an outlet when their other options might be less constructive. Plus, it’s a great workout.”

Easy to say when he earned a mint off his clients. “For the average Joe, sure. For professionals it’s all about ego and money.”

He shrugged a shoulder. “There’s nothing wrong with using your skills to earn money. Your father certainly benefited from his fists.”

Any butterflies lingering from discussing Eric died a fiery death. “He also benefitted from lots of hospital visits.”

“Most things in life come with risks.”

“Ninety percent of boxers sustain a brain injury.”