Total pages in book: 134
Estimated words: 123877 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 619(@200wpm)___ 496(@250wpm)___ 413(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 123877 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 619(@200wpm)___ 496(@250wpm)___ 413(@300wpm)
“What I want is to encourage you to train with me.” Beckett held Julian’s gaze. “Nothing intensive, just some self-defense.” He lifted a finger, stopping Julian from saying anything more. “Because defense training is confidence enhancing. I feel certain you would benefit if for nothing more than building back your sense of security.”
“I’m a lover, not a fighter,” Julian quipped, letting Beckett play with his fingers.
“Are you, though?” The point hit its mark. Julian lifted a single challenging brow. That inner sass was back like the protective shield it had always been. “I suspect you’re in survival mode, which isn’t a bad place to be. The will to survive and the attitude to stay alive will keep you going. You’ll survive. It’s the crazy lesson that companies pay me hundreds of thousands of dollars to teach their people. You’re naturally figuring it all out.”
“I don’t think so,” Julian said, and Woofer settled at Julian’s feet.
“I want to help.” He came at it from a different angle. “You’ve given me so much. This is something I could give you.”
“How long are you here for this time?” Julian asked. Beckett tucked his chin to his chest, hiding his grin. He loved the idea of Julian knowing that he came and went regularly.
“I can be here more. I generally drive to carry our materials back and forth, but I can fly. It’s a pretty easy trip.” Logistically, Randy and his other senior instructors could handle the trainees out in the field. Beckett could stick around Coronado indefinitely.
“You say fly like you’re a pilot?” Julian asked. Of course very little got past him. Probably the reason he was such a good choice to manage all of Reservations.
“Yeah,” Beckett said, not letting Julian stray off course this time. “We can work a schedule that fits both our calendars. It won’t be difficult.”
Julian finally nodded. He clasped his hand tighter around Beckett’s. Beckett held on just as firmly, giving his promise to do his best by this man. He couldn’t get past the weariness still lingering in Julian’s eyes even as he teased, “I knew the infamous Marlboro Man was going to be a complication. You didn’t bat an eye over my past.”
Beckett laughed, deciding to remind Julian he had his own links to a creative past. “You’re a good man. Besides, you ain’t got nothing on my mother’s side of the family. They might send you running far away from me.”
Julian lifted his brow as if Beckett might have a point and finally let go of his hand, getting to his feet. Woofer looked at Beckett for his instruction, and he again cocked his head toward Julian. The dog followed Julian to the desk. “I miss the cowboy hat.”
“I have it. Don’t worry.” Silence held between them as he watched Julian aimlessly riffle through some mail on his desk before the blue eyes lifted to his.
“Thank you,” Julian whispered. A peace settled over Beckett as he nodded.
Chapter 14
Julian used both hands to lift himself onto the edge of the table Beckett used as a desk. He settled on top of the polished wood as he continued to watch Beckett pace in small, three-step intervals while continuing his instruction as if Julian were still right there on the mat with him.
He reached for his nearby water bottle, appreciating the view of Beckett’s hard body in the tight-fitting logoed workout gear. Absolutely spectacular. A life of hard physical work had molded his physique. He could watch Beckett all day and never get bored by the masculine beauty.
A testament to that thought came from the last forty-five minutes of their session. Beckett’s presence was just too damn distracting to get much done. He’d finally thrown in the towel. Beckett’s heady, alluring scent was as much man as it was cologne. Having those big strong arms and legs wrap around him to teach him real-world techniques and the husky tone Beckett used to give the instructions set Julian’s world upside down. Of course, he couldn’t pay attention. Not with that hard body rubbing against him.
Beckett animatedly expressed his words as he spoke, waving his calloused hands to make his points. If Beckett knew he had bailed on the lesson and left him standing there, the man never let on.
The crux of this first lesson concentrated on the importance of repetition. Of doing the self-defense moves so many times they became second nature. Julian got it loud and clear. The lesson had made an impression and imprinted into his brain. He saw no reason to continue trying to drum it into his head, even if that was the definition of repetitive behavior.
Truth be told, Julian had learned these concepts well through his counseling. He understood how his brain might freeze if he ever had to put these techniques to use in reality. In the privacy of his condo, he’d watched countless YouTube videos. So many, Julian could probably become an instructor himself.