Page 7 of Dragon Tempted

“Neither was you throwing me under the Tessa bus.”

“You’re right. I should have known it would come back to bite me. I’m going to go change before she gets another idea. I’ll meet you in the training center in thirty minutes.”

True to her word, Sienna walked into the training building that sat to the left behind the clan house and came to a stop. The space was normally a large open area with mirrors and various equipment on the outside walls. The dragon guards trained in the building under the watchful eye of Marcus, their head of security and a surrogate uncle to Sienna.

Tonight the one corner had been transformed. A table and chairs had been set up with a festive tablecloth. Tessa and Megan sat at the table with chips, salsa, and a pitcher of margaritas.

Tessa held up her glass. “We’re here to cheer you on while you work out with Ryan.”

Of course they were. Tessa was nothing if not persistent. Ryan was over at the side grinning as he stretched.

“What are you grinning at?” she asked.

“Nothing.” But the jerk kept on grinning.

Tessa clapped her hands. “All right, you two. We want a clean fight. Let’s see what Ryan’s taught you.”

Sienna’s eyebrows rose at the declaration, and she looked at Megan, who simply shrugged.

“If you’re so excited about this, why don’t you fight him, Tessa?” Sienna said.

“Sweetie. I started modeling at fourteen. My mother had me in self-defense classes before the ink was dry on my first contract. Let’s see what you’ve got.”

Forty minutes later, Sienna was sweating and irritated. Ryan had showed her some moves, and now he was circling her, getting ready to attack so that she could defend herself. Marcus had trained her as a teenager, but she had to admit that she’d gotten rusty.

Plus, the longer they worked out, the louder Tessa’s suggestions became. The clean fight she had requested earlier had been forgotten. Instead her cheering was more suited for an underground cage match.

“Go for his junk!” she hollered.

Ryan stopped circling and glared at her.

“What? The number one point of defense is to go for vulnerable places, right? There are numerous men from my past whose ability to father children is now in question.”

Sienna leaned forward, placed her hands on her knees, and sucked in a deep breath. The funny or maybe scary thing was she didn’t doubt that Tessa was telling the truth.

Ryan rested his hands on his hips. “The number one point of self-defense is actually to get away. If you have to attack, you do go for the vulnerable areas—eyes, nose, and groin area.”

Tessa raised her glass. “Exactly!”

Before she could make more suggestions, Marilyn, the clan cook, walked into the center with a tray of snacks and another pitcher of margaritas, distracting Tessa. “Taquitos and fresh guacamole! You’re amazing.”

Marilyn smiled. “I enjoy cooking for someone who appreciates food. I’ll bring the churros in a little while.”

“Let’s stop for today,” Ryan said. “Just promise me you’ll drink a large glass of water before you start in on the margaritas.”

Sienna nodded. “Yes, Mom.”

“You can join us, Ryan,” Megan offered.

He shook his head. “That’s okay. You all need to catch up.” He turned and grinned at Sienna, and her alarm bells started to ring. “Maybe they can give you some advice.”

Tessa perked up. “Advice? Advice on what?”

Not for the first time Sienna wished that she had laser vision and could give her best friend a sunburn right now. Ryan picked up his towel and winked at her before escaping.

Sienna sighed as she wiped her face with her towel and then plopped down at the table.

Megan handed her a bottle of water. “Do you want to tell us what Ryan was talking about?”