“So, if you’re using me to get to her, it won’t work.” TJ eyed him warily, though he still had a smile on his face.
“That’s not the kind of guy I am,” Bently assured him.
The distrust in TJ’s eyes seemed to waver.
Bently picked up his ball and headed back towards his truck as he called over his shoulder, “You coming?”
This kid was almost as hard to win over as his sister. But Bently had never backed down from a challenge before, and he wasn’t about to start now.
Chapter 7
Belle
August turned into a crisp September. The leaves changed to vibrant reds, yellows, and oranges. There was nothing like fall in New England. Belle inhaled the cup of cinnamon apple tea before taking a sip. The sky seemed as if it were on fire with its vivid hues blending into the increasing darkness. Each day was getting shorter than the last as they inched towards winter.
She placed her mug back into the center console before grabbing her water bottle. This was the last self-defense class in this six-week cycle, and then they’d start over from the beginning next week for any newcomers.
Belle was glad she’d stuck it out, even though she had to deal with the incessant flirting and banter between the ladies vying for Bently’s attention. She’d quickly taken a spot on the sidelines, just trying to learn the skills and get out of there before she combusted. Bently’s searing gaze burned her skin often. She had resorted to racing from class as soon as it was finished, and she waited until one minute before class started before she went inside.
This would be her last class. Then she could be free of Bently Evans.
“Hey, girl.” Katy waved.
“Hello.” Belle set her water next to her friend’s.
“You ready for the test?” Katy asked.
This was the moment she’d been waiting for. A chance to see if her new skills measured up.
“Hell yes,” she said, her veins thrumming with adrenaline. I can do this.
Bently walked in, followed by a few other dangerously handsome men. “Good evening, ladies. These here are my volunteers. You get to test out your abilities on taking them down. I bet them each a hundred bucks that you ladies could do it, so don’t fail me now.” He smirked.
There was a collective moan throughout the room.
“You got this. You’ve trained for this. Now you can see how it would be with a man,” he finished.
Belle’s stomach fluttered with nerves. These guys were big. She was only five feet two inches. How could she take down one of these giants?
Bently nudged the scarred, tattooed man she’d seen outside the bar.
“I’m Mason,” he mumbled.
“Mason is a former Navy SEAL,” Bently added.
The handsome man next to Mason said, “I’m Rife Owens, an officer with Shattered Cove PD.”
“Look at the man candy,” Katy whispered in her ear with a giggle.
Belle gave her a polite smile. Her friend was right—these men were sex on a stick.
“Okay, let’s clear the floor. We need the first three volunteers—each one of you will go up against one of us. If you don’t get it on the first time, don’t worry. We’ll walk you through the steps until you’re confident in your abilities in a lifelike simulation. Your attacker won’t be as lenient as practicing with your fellow partners,” Bently assured the ladies in the room.
“I call dibs on the SEAL.” Katy nudged her.
As long as I don’t have to spar with Bently.
Bently turned on a speaker and “Queen” by Loren Gray blared through the sound system.
She tapped her foot as the first three women went. Marcy sidled up to Bently, shoving another woman out of her way with her hip. Belle rolled her eyes and took a seat. She’d wait until the room calmed down. One after the other, the women took their turns, grappling with the beefy men. To see the uncertainty on their faces grow to confidence by the end of their session was the most exciting part. She and Katy cheered on the ladies as they practiced their moves on the men.
Katy chuckled. “This is how the world should be—each woman supporting the other to take down the patriarchy.”
“With the help of our allies of course.” Belle nodded towards the three men taking hit after hit, and willingly coming back for more.
“I have to admit, if I was cornered by those three, I’d probably beg them to do their worst.”
Belle burst out in warm, light-filled laughter. For the first time in a long while, she was relaxed and having fun. Her eyes caught with Bently’s and her smile quickly faded. Marcy took advantage of his distraction and twisted out of his hold and had him on his knees. Bently said something to her and then she released him with a smile as she jumped up and down. Belle averted her eyes to the other groups, drawing in a deep breath.
Some women left after they finished their turns. Katy went up against Mason. Belle cheered her on. When she was finished, she high-fived the giant and went back to sit with Belle.
“Who’s next?” Bently asked, searching the few women left against the mirrored wall. Belle looked over her shoulder. Everyone had gone except her.
Shit.
She stood to her shaky feet. “I guess I’m up.”
Awareness prickled her skin. The room suddenly seemed a lot warmer. She stood in front of him.
“Ready?” he asked.
Not really. “Yes.”
Bently grabbed her arm. Even though she’d come to expect the current of energy that snapped between them, it was still a shock to her system. There was no preparing for the onslaught of feelings that erupted from his touch—fire that promised devastation. Raw, unbridled sexual attraction spun her up like a tornado, whipping her around until she lost all her senses except one—fear. His eyes darkened with dense storm clouds blurring between them, crackling her synapses. She forced her breath in and out slowly and focused on the task—getting his hands off her.
Channeling her anger at the power
