Chapter 21
Chapter Twenty-One
Addie stood next to Rhett and Walker outside the ring as Price and Easton sparred.
They were both incredibly strong, their upper bodies well-muscled with some significant scars.
She wanted to ask Price about each scar as she had last night with the scars on his face.
Truth be told, she wanted to touch and kiss each one.
Price stepped into his element and performed. He effortlessly dodged Easton’s blows and the hits he delivered to Easton were smooth and perfectly timed. It was obvious he was an elite fighter. A soldier. A hero.
Easton continually taunted Price, and Price patiently smiled in return and got in another hard hit. No matter how hard Easton hit him in return, Price had a smirk on his face that said, I am a master at this and I’m holding back. I’ll destroy you soon.
She might have been putting thoughts into that smirk. Easton was overly confident and funny, but there was a quiet confidence in Price that said he could take on the best fighter in the world and stay in the ring.
“Is that all you got?” Easton taunted.
Price’s smirk turned to a grin. He faked a punch, then stepped in with his other fist moving almost too fast to see. It slowed at the last second, but the punch still landed like a sledgehammer into Easton’s head. The cowboy swayed on his feet and looked to be seconds from teetering over.
Price backed off, watching Easton when he could’ve finished him off. He glanced over at Addie and gave her a manly tilt of his chin.
Shaking his head, Easton called out, “Come on, pretty boy with all the military training. Stop playing with me. I’m not a wimpy mama’s boy.”
“Are you sure about that?” Price asked.
Addie couldn’t help but laugh. She thought Price was asking if Easton was sure he didn’t want to be toyed with, but Easton seemed to think he was referring to not being a ‘wimpy mama’s boy.’
Easton growled and launched himself at Price. Price dodged and threw Easton against the corner. Easton bounced back, whirled and fought wildly, his hits growing increasingly desperate.
Price patiently went at Easton with a series of well-executed jabs and backed him into a different corner.
Addie clapped her hands together, half-cheering and half unnerved by the battle.
These men were willingly fighting and having fun with it, but there was still an underlying brutality that didn’t make sense to her.
Having all sisters, she’d never seen brothers brawl.
She assumed it would feel similar to this, though maybe not as brutal and impressive.
Price would knock him down soon. Easton was blustering and bragging more than ever and wobbling on his feet.
“Come on, Sir Captain,” Easton crowed. “Maybe you’re the wimpy mama’s boy.”
Price chuckled. Addie sensed he could knock Easton out anytime he wanted, but he didn’t want to decimate Easton’s pride.
“I’m waiting for you to make me look good,” Price teased.
She wasn’t sure what Price was referring to, but Easton growled and came at him. They exchanged hits. Price’s jabs were placed precisely. Easton’s were wild. A right hook to Easton’s jaw sent him crashing onto his back.
He struggled to sit up but sank back, groaning.
“You’d better call it,” Price said to Walker. “You know he won’t quit.”
“All right,” Walker called. “Easton, it’s over. Mama and Cassie say we’re done.”
“Cassie’s not here,” Easton mumbled from the ground.
Price squatted down. “You all right?”
“I’m great.” Easton didn’t move. “Just give me a minute. I’ve been used as a punching bag by an elite military guy who won’t stop taunting me about it.”
“He’s all right,” Walker said. “His mouth is still running. If he shuts that mouth, then we’ll worry.”
Price took off his headgear and unwrapped his hands, waiting by Easton as Rhett brought them both a water bottle. Easton sat up and they both drank deeply.
Easton was back to taunting almost immediately. “Why did you stop the fight?” he asked Walker. “I had him right where I wanted him. Using Cassie as a trick to get me to be merciful. Now that is low, bro.”
Addie laughed.
Price helped Easton to his feet. “I’m sorry if I went too hard,” he said to Rhett and Walker.
“He begged for it,” Walker said.
“Not too hard,” Easton blustered. “I was making you look good. That’s the kind of friend I am.”
“I appreciate that,” Price said, his voice full of humor.
Rhett and Walker escorted him off.
“You think he’s okay?” Addie asked, watching them help him out of the barn into the snowy day.
“Yeah. He’ll have a headache and some bruises later. I’m sure he’ll milk it for all it’s worth and Cassie will kiss him better.”
They shared a smile. If only Addie could kiss Price better.
He still didn’t have a shirt on. She didn’t have any complaints about that.
He was sweaty and she was supposed to be keeping her distance from him, not wanting to hear about each scar on his chest and then kissing him, telling him how heroic of a fighter he was.
“You’re an incredible fighter,” she admitted.
“Are you saying Easton didn’t have to make me look good?” he teased.
“No.” She couldn’t hide her smile. “You don’t need any help from anybody to look good.”
“Thanks.” He studied her, those dark eyes searing into her soul. “Did the fight bother you? You only have sisters, so I didn’t know …”
“I don’t love watching fighting,” she admitted. “But I liked watching you fight.”
His eyes got a sparkle in them. “Addie.” His voice was deep and husky. “I’d love nothing more than to kiss you right now, but I’m all sweaty …”
Addie flushed with warmth. Had he really just said that? “And I told you not to kiss me again,” she reminded him.
Some of the sparkle left his eyes. “There is that. I’m hoping you can rescind that request, that we can talk, kiss, and you can learn to trust me again.”
Addie backed up a step, feeling unsteady. This man was more appealing than any man she’d known, but he had hurt her deeply.
“Too far?” he asked, his eyes serious.
“Yes.”
He nodded. “Shall we go shower and make breakfast?”
“Yes.”
Addie was grateful he’d backed off. She’d claimed to forgive him for Christmas, but she wasn’t ready to hash it all out and figure out how to move past it. Trust would take time to build. If she could ever trust a man again.