Warrior (Relentless #4)(90)
“I’m going to speak frankly. I think it’s too soon to tell Sara about the bond. Can I ask that you give her a little more time? Train her and get to know each other better, but hold off on anything more serious. Just for a little while longer.”
I didn’t like anyone telling me how to handle my personal affairs, especially when it came to Sara. I wanted to tell her about us, to court her, but I’d never push her into something she wasn’t ready for.
If it had been anyone but Tristan, I would have told them to stay out of my business. But Tristan was a close and trusted friend, and Sara’s grandfather. I knew he spoke with her best interests in mind, just as he had when he asked me to leave here for a month.
“I’ll hold off on telling her as long as you don’t try to keep us apart again,” I said.
“I can’t promise I won’t be an overprotective grandfather at times, but I won’t try to come between you.” He smiled wryly. “Unless you need a referee.”
The two of us laughed because that was a possibility.
“You haven’t even been to your apartment yet, have you?”
I looked down at the clothes I’d been wearing for a day. “I had more important things to do.”
“What are your plans for this morning?”
“I’m going to get cleaned up, and then I’m planning to talk to Callum about Sara’s training.”
Tristan raised an eyebrow, and I laughed.
“I only want to ask him what they’ve worked on so far. I promise to behave.”
“When are you going to let Sara know you’re back?”
“This afternoon. Margot said she’ll sleep for a few more hours, and I don’t want to do this in the medical ward.”
“I’m sure Sara wouldn’t want that either.” He shuffled a stack of papers on his desk. “I have some business to take care of, but Chris and I are sparring at noon. Why don’t you join us? I promise to go easy on you.”
Chuckling, I stood. “You’re on, old man.”
I stopped by the medical ward to check on Sara before I went to my apartment to shower and change. I spent an hour tending to my weapons, and as I polished my swords, my eyes wandered around my living room.
I’d always enjoyed my Spartan yet comfortable home, but for the first time I wondered how it would look to a woman, to Sara. Would she find it too austere and lacking a feminine touch? Would she feel at home here with my things, and with me?
I imagined her curled up on my couch with her sketchbook on her lap, her books and drawings filling every available surface. I’d never been one to indulge in reverie, but the idea of her belongings here among mine brought a smile to my face.
*
When I entered the arena at noon, I was surprised to see that Tristan and Chris weren’t alone. Seamus and Niall were there along with at least a dozen other warriors, including Erik.
I walked over to Erik. “How long are you here for?”
“A week or so. I thought you were in Vegas.”
“I was. Just got in last night.”
He gave me one of his signature half smiles. “I guess even Vegas was dull after Maine, huh?”
“Like a resort vacation,” Chris quipped, joining us.
I looked toward the door as three more warriors entered. “So I take it this is not a normal sparring session.”
“Tristan thought it would be more fun to have a little competition,” Chris said. “And once word got out you were back, everyone wanted to participate.”
The arena wasn’t a large building, although the domed roof gave it the appearance of being bigger than it was. Within thirty minutes, the bleacher-style seats were half full of warriors waiting for their turn to show off their swordsmanship.
Excited whispers reached me, and I glanced at the small group of trainees crowded together near the main door. I knew Sara wasn’t among them before I looked, and I wondered if she was coming. I’d called the medical ward on the way here and found out she’d been released. After Maine, it felt strange to be in the same place as her and not know where she was.
Tristan called for everyone to clear the floor and asked who wanted to go first. When Seamus and Niall stepped forward, people laughed. The brothers often bantered about who was the better fighter, but they were identical in more than looks. A more evenly matched pair I’d never met, and neither of them would want to concede defeat.
We took a few minutes to organize the matches. As expected, more than one warrior asked to dual with Tristan and me, so we agreed to three matches apiece. An air of anticipation filled the room when Tristan called out the order of the dueling pairs, and he and I were fourth in line to dual each other.
My phone rang just as Seamus and Niall squared off. I smiled when I saw it was my parents, and I left the noisy building by the back door to walk toward the river. My mother spent the next twenty minutes talking about her best friend’s new grandson and asking if I’d met any nice girls. I didn’t tell her about Sara because I was half afraid she’d be on the next plane to the states. The last thing Sara needed was my well-meaning and determined mother swooping down on her before she even knew about us.
I walked back to the arena after we ended the call. As I neared the building I felt Sara’s presence, and I knew she was inside. My pulse quickened in anticipation of seeing her again.