CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Jude pulled the UTV to a stop in front of the rec building and got out. He pulled open the door and stepped into the building, already eager to see Angela. Or rather, to see how she was progressing.
He’d turned over most of the self-defense training to Dawn, but he couldn’t seem to stay away. At the time, it had seemed like the right thing to do. Considering the feelings he had for her, keeping a bit more distance between them seemed like a good thing.
Unfortunately, he had needed to do it for the sake of his job too. There were projects that he’d needed to review and sign off on. He wasn’t just in charge of security for the estate. Duncan had him overseeing all areas of security for his companies and real estate.
Jude wasn’t a pro in every aspect of security—like the tech side of things—but he understood enough to be able to advise Duncan. The biggest thing was that Duncan trusted him. And Jude trusted the people he’d hired, who had the expertise he lacked.
Trust was a huge part of his life. His trust in God and the belief that He had a purpose for him. His trust in Duncan when he’d said he’d always have a home at the estate. And Duncan’s trust in Jude that he would keep his family safe.
Trust.
His steps faltered as he considered the word in light of his true motivation for going to the rec center: his desire to see Angela.
It was his job to keep watch over her, but he knew he’d still be there even if it wasn’t.
As he stepped into the large gym, his gaze swept the room. He noticed that Annie was there, but he wasn’t looking for her.
When he saw Angela, his gaze stayed locked on her. She and Dawn were currently on the mats while Kiara and Annie sat off to the side.
Jude leaned back against the wall, crossing his arms as he observed Angela’s moves.
She had definitely gained more confidence since their first day of training, though she still needed more power behind her moves. He was proud of her, though. She was working hard at it, and that was all he asked.
She happened to glance his way, and the moment her eyes landed on him, a beautiful smile enveloped her face. His heart slammed in his chest at that look. Never before had someone looked at him with such unfettered joy, just because they’d seen him.
The thing was, he felt the same way. Just laying eyes on her made him happy. The difference was that he had learned to control his outward expression.
But even so, a smile tugged up the corners of his mouth.
“Hey, boss!”
Dawn’s greeting reminded him that they weren’t alone. His smile slid away as he gave her his attention.
“Just checking to see how it’s going.”
Dawn’s smile took on a knowing edge as she nodded. “It’s going very well. Angela and Kiara have both picked up the moves quickly.”
“Do they need practice dropping a bigger target?”
“That wasn’t the plan for today,” Dawn said. “But since you’re here, we might as well take advantage of you.”
“I’ll go get changed.”
He’d taken to leaving a change of clothes at the gym so he was always ready to help during training if needed.
When he returned, he found that Dawn had Kiara on the mat with her, while the twins sat side by side at the edge of the mat. He paused just outside the open doorway, taking in the sight of them.
He knew the sisters had been hanging out together, but probably not as much as Duncan would have wished. But Jude thought that would come in time.
When he walked into the gym, Dawn waved him over. “You get to start with me.”
“Feeling the need for some practice, huh?” he asked as Kiara moved over to join Annie and Angela.
“I figured I’d show Kiara and Angela that you aren’t breakable,” Dawn said.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Jude flexed his hands, preparing for the interaction that was to come.
“They still think they need to take it easy on you.”
Jude lifted an eyebrow at her. “Planning to get a few hits in, are you?”
“You bet.” Dawn rubbed her hands together. “Let’s do this.”
Since they’d sparred a lot over the years, Jude knew Dawn would not pull her punches. They’d both be trying to fight off an attacker.
Jude focused in on Dawn, watching for the tells he’d learned about her through their previous sparring sessions. This wasn’t something he’d do with any of the other three. At least, not yet.
Dawn came at him fast, her movements fluid and controlled. Jude deflected her first strike and countered with a move designed to test her reflexes. She blocked it easily, then spun away from his follow-up attempt.
The familiar rhythm of sparring settled over him—the focused concentration, the calculated movements, the constant assessment of his opponent's next move. But he was acutely aware of Angela watching from the sidelines, and he found himself wanting to show her how he could handle himself.
Dawn swept his legs, and he rolled out of the way, coming up in a defensive crouch. She was good—better than most of his security team—and she wasn't holding back. That was exactly what he needed the women to see.
"Nice try," he said, circling her with careful steps.
"I'm just getting started," Dawn replied, her eyes gleaming with competitive fire.
She feinted left, then came in from the right with a series of quick strikes that Jude blocked, each impact reverberating up his arms. He caught her wrist on the fourth strike and used her momentum to spin her away from him, but she twisted free with practiced ease.
From the corner of his eye, he caught Angela leaning forward, her attention completely focused on their movements. The knowledge that she was watching sent an unwelcome surge of adrenaline through him that had nothing to do with the sparring match.
Dawn took advantage of his momentary distraction, landing a solid hit to his ribs that drove the air out of his lungs. He staggered back a step, grimacing.
"You're distracted," Dawn said, her voice low enough that only he could hear.
Jude narrowed his eyes and refocused, pushing everything else out of his mind. This was about showing Angela and Kiara what they could do if they took their training seriously, not worrying about impressing anyone.
The next time Dawn came at him, he was ready. He blocked her strike, then countered with a swift movement that caught her off balance. Not enough to take her down—Dawn was too good for that—but enough to put him back in control of the exchange.
They continued trading blows, neither gaining a clear advantage, until Dawn finally signaled for them to stop. Both were breathing hard, with a sheen of sweat on their foreheads.
"See?" Dawn said, turning to the women watching from the side. "Even Jude has to work for it. And I guarantee he's not holding back with me."
Jude rolled his shoulder, feeling where one of Dawn's strikes had connected. "Definitely not holding back," he confirmed, meeting Angela's wide-eyed gaze briefly before looking away.
"Angela, you're up," Dawn said, gesturing to the mat. "Let's see what you've learned so far."
Angela hesitated for a moment before standing and making her way to the center of the mat. Jude moved to the side, crossing his arms as he watched her approach.
There was still a bit of hesitation in her movements that spoke of uncertainty. However, she had a more confident look on her face that told Jude that while she knew she wasn’t going to be able to take Dawn down, she was going to at least try.
"Remember what we've practiced," Dawn said, taking a defensive stance. "I'm going to come at you slowly at first, then we'll build up the intensity."
Jude leaned forward slightly, his attention completely focused on Angela's form. He wanted to call out corrections, to guide her through the movements, but he forced himself to stay silent. Dawn was a good instructor—better than he was in some ways—and she’d correct Angela where necessary.
Dawn moved toward Angela with deliberate slowness, telegraphing her approach. Angela reacted exactly as she'd been taught, stepping to the side and bringing her arm up to block. Her form was good, better than it had been even a week ago.
"Good," Dawn said. "Now, counter."
Angela struck out with her palm, aiming for Dawn's solar plexus, but her movement lacked the force it needed to be truly effective. Still, her technique was solid.
They continued through a series of defensive moves, Dawn gradually increasing the speed and intensity of her attacks. Jude watched Angela's confidence grow with each successful block and counter, noting the way her shoulders relaxed and her movements became more fluid.
But then Dawn came at her with a move they hadn't practiced extensively—a grab for her wrist that Angela wasn't quite prepared for. For a split second, panic flashed across Angela's face, and her body tensed.
Jude felt his own muscles tighten in response, fighting the urge to step in and protect her.
But then something shifted in her expression. The fear gave way to determination as she remembered her training. Instead of pulling away—which would have strengthened Dawn's grip—Angela stepped toward her attacker, twisting her arm in the direction of Dawn's thumb, the weakest point of the grip.
Dawn's hold loosened, and Angela used the momentum to break free completely. She didn't stop there, following up with a strike toward Dawn's sternum that, while not powerful enough to do damage, showed she understood the principle of counterattacking.
"Much better," Dawn said, nodding with approval. "You remembered not to pull away."
Angela's chest rose and fell with rapid breaths, but her smile was triumphant. "I almost forgot. For a second, I just wanted to yank my arm back."
"That's normal," Dawn assured her. "The goal is to make the correct response automatic, so you don't have to think about it in the moment."
Angela nodded, pushing a strand of hair back from her flushed face. Her gaze flicked briefly to Jude, and he gave her a small nod of encouragement.
"Let's try it again," Dawn said. "This time, I'm not going to telegraph as much."