Stop checking him out, Hannah. He has a girlfriend, remember?
“Take a five-minute water break, and then we’ll spar.”
Sparring. Yikes, she’d forgotten about that part. Which, really, was probably going to be a key factor in her being able to defend herself should she need to.
She followed the crowd to the back of the studio where water bottles lined the window. She picked up her purple Hydro Flask and downed a few gulps.
“How are you holding up?”
Not hearing Eric’s approach, she coughed on the water and pressed the back of her hand to her mouth.
“Sorry, didn’t mean to startle you.”
“No, you’re fine. I’m holding up pretty well.” She cleared her throat. “This is a good workout.”
“It’s as hard as you make it,” he agreed. “So Master Myeoung is your uncle?”
She nodded, the tension easing in her shoulders. “Yeah. He’s been trying to get me back in here for years.”
“How old were you when you took classes?”
“Eight.”
“Ah. A couple years before I started. I figured I’d have remembered you otherwise.” He paused. “It’s amazing how close our paths came to crossing. We’re all the same age, right? You, me, and James.”
Clearly, he’d regretted the question the minute he asked, because he winced and glanced away.
“Sorry, didn’t mean to bring him up.”
“Yes, we’re the same age. And it’s fine, really.” She touched the arm of his uniform to give him a reassuring pat, and nearly gasped out loud at the muscles she encountered.
Whoa... the man was buff.
She jerked her hand back and curled it around her water bottle.
It hit her then. The memory of hugging him goodbye last week. The other firm part of him that had risen between them.
The urge to drop her gaze south was so overwhelming she had to clench her teeth to resist.
You will absolutely not check out his package, Hannah.
“Hey,” he said softly. “Let me be your first.”