Ultimate Courage (True Heroes #2)(17)
At least Rojas assumed the exercises were fun based on the squeals, giggles, and generally jubilant chatter coming from the kids. This class was a couple of years younger than Boom’s, and warm-ups were as much about burning off excess energy so the kids could concentrate more on the class as actually improving their agility and stamina.
Elisa paused a few feet inside and watched the controlled chaos with wide eyes.
“Hello, there.” Directly to the left of the entrance was a wide counter with a sleek tablet and stand that served as their register and a paper sign-in sheet. The counter also doubled as a merchandise display with “Revolution MMA Academy” t-shirts in various colors arranged alongside a variety of MMA gear. The speaker was a broad man, no less fit for his bulk, dressed in a similar black polo. His first greeting had been directed toward Elisa, and then the man gave Alex a nod. “Rojas, good to see you. How’s Boom?”
Rojas strode forward and shook hands. “Fine now. Quick thinking getting those ice packs and helping me immobilize her arm for the ride over to the ER. Doc says she’ll heal up quick.”
The man sighed and smacked his chest with an open palm. “She gave me a heart attack, not going to lie. Glad she’s going to be okay.”
Between the kids in the class shouting and the distance to the benches along the wall, low conversation in the reception area was fairly secure. Too much random noise to listen in on a quiet conversation.
Rojas smiled, then angled his body to include Elisa in the conversation. “We met a new friend at the ER.”
Eyebrows raised so high they almost disappeared into the other man’s hairline. Rojas paused to consider what he’d said. “Boom made a new friend. I mostly disturbed the peace.”
A sage nod. “Sounds more like you.”
And that was more than enough talking about himself. Elisa seemed to cheer up at the exchange, though. Maybe it was worth a little personal embarrassment.
Rojas cleared his throat. “This is Elisa Hall. She and Boom hit it off last evening. She also had the excellent timing of showing up with the bag gloves Boom forgot at the ER right about when Forte finally gave in and admitted we needed to look for an administrative assistant. Not only did she save me a trip back to the ER but she also saved me the trouble of posting to some online job site. I owe her big time.”
Long story made short and it was still so many words. He was going to be tapped out for conversation when this night was over. He hadn’t realized how much he relied on monosyllabic responses to get him through most exchanges. He’d talked more in the last twenty-four hours than in as long as he could remember. And most of it had been with Elisa.
“Administrative assistant.” The man grunted and came out from behind the counter, offering his hand to Elisa. “More like you need a keeper and a bouncer to keep those drooling women with their yapping puntables at bay. I’m Gary Boulding.”
There was a split second of hesitation, then Elisa took Gary’s hand and gave it a firm shake. Rojas wondered if Gary would interpret it the same way he did. A moment of assessment. It was a good habit to have for any person. Elisa Hall was fairly subtle about it, but a trained eye could still catch her.
“Mr. Rojas gave me the card for your school.” Elisa’s gaze wandered to the children’s class. “He mentioned you gave self-defense courses.”
Gary gave her a closer look while her attention was elsewhere. The man saw more than most, and Rojas appreciated his way with reading people. “We do, and you’re welcome to join our next workshop, but I don’t think that’s why Rojas brought you here tonight. We’ve only got the kids’ classes for another hour, then some of the advanced adult classes. Beginner’s adult classes are Monday and Wednesday evenings, and Saturday mornings.”
“We like to look out for our new employees.” Rojas tossed it out there before Elisa could reply. Her cheeks flushed a very attractive pink, but he didn’t want her to wrestle awkwardly with asking a stranger for help. She had her pride and might find a way to excuse herself and leave.
He hurried to continue. “I suck at explaining things, so I just brought her over here to introduce her. A hotel isn’t going to be the right fit for her, so I was wondering if you’d mind letting her stay upstairs in the studio for a night or two until she has a chance to find a place to rent somewhere in town.”
No need to air her private issues until she was ready. Rojas had a good idea of what was going on, but he was sure he didn’t have the full story. And Gary was good at hearing what wasn’t said.
Gary nodded slowly. “Sure. The studio’s reasonably clean. One of the boys slept up there the night before his fight last weekend, and Greg swapped out the sheets and towels during the week. Should be fine to take you up there now while Greg’s managing the class.”
“I could pay…”
Gary shook his head, holding up his hand to stall her. “It’d be complicated to add that income to the books. Why don’t we make a trade instead?” He jerked his thumb to indicate the instructor surrounded by kids. “My husband over there hates sweeping the mats every night and every morning. If you could take on that chore and a couple of others, it’d be more than the boys do when they sleep here for the odd night or two.”
Elisa blinked.
Rojas wondered what she was processing faster: the proposed trade or the mention of a husband. “Greg is always griping about the way the mats constantly collect dirt even when no shoes are allowed on them.”