Page 86 of Declan's Dove

“I’m not jealous,” I lie.

“Right. Maybe it’s my jealousy then.” He smirks, tipping his chin toward a couple of men at the other side of the gym I hadn’t even noticed, who are now totally staring at us. One of them is Dr. Halloway, and he looks—angry?

That’s odd.

“Hey there, lass,” Kieran calls from behind the front desk. “If you two are done sucking face, you’re both wanted downstairs.”

Declan grips my hand, leading me toward the fighter’s training room. “Thanks for the heads up.”

“Thanks for the show.” Kieran winks and I bury my face, hiding against Declan’s shaking arm as he continues to laugh at my embarrassment.

“You can be such an ass,” I mumble, and his body shakes harder.

The sound of gloves hitting pads and bags fills the room, along with the grunts and groans of the fighters training around the room. We catch sight of Skyler across the room, encouraging Sadie, “Now aim for the solar plexus. If you’re being attacked, you don’t aim to injure you aim to disable. If your attacker can’t breathe, he can’t make chase.” Sadie spins a kick and strikes the pads Anna’s holding up for her. Anna steps back with the force of the kick.

“Good. Again,” Skyler continues to shout.

“I didn’t know Sadie had a session today. She doesn’t usually come in on Fridays,” I casually mention, noticing Hawk staring at Sadie with his arms crossed over his chest.

“Apparently, she had some pent-up anger to work off, so she called Anna to come in for a session first thing. She’s been at it for nearly two hours.” Skyler’s glower at Hawk says this is his fault without her having to say the words. Judging by his guilty countenance, he knows.

“All right, switch gears,” Skyler commands. “Come on out of there. Anna let Sadie take five and let’s get her set up to work on getting out of the attack holds. Then we’re good to call it a day.” She makes eye contact with Sadie. “You have five minutes to get a drink and relax, then I’m only allowing another fifteen to practice, then you are done for the day. Got it?”

Sadie’s panting as she drinks down her water. “Got it.” Sadie catches Hawk moving toward her and asks Skyler, “Think I can get in tomorrow?”

“You should probably take a day off. You’ve worked hard today.”

“Something tells me I’m going to have more pissed off energy to work through.” Hawk steps up to the ring just in time to hear Sadie’s words.

“What’s got you all pissed off? Thought you had a new friend to help work out your tension for you.” If Hawk is looking for a fight, I think he just found it.

“Not all of us fuck anything that offers to deal with our issues, fuckhead,” Sadie says, calm as can be. “And you should know I’m not the type to fuck and tell. I prefer my privacy, and men with class.”

“Sadie.” Matteo’s baritone voice cuts through all the chatter around the room. “Are you about ready, Dolcezza?”

“When the fuck did he get here?” Hawk snaps.

Skyler hides her smirk behind her hand. “Oh shit.” Her shoulders shake as she tries, and fails, to hide her laughter. “This could get interesting,” she sing-songs to me and Declan.

“Fucking hell,” Declan grumbles. “Did you know he was coming?” Skyler shrugs. “A fucking warning would’ve been nice, Sky. I didn’t know I had fist fight a mob boss on my bingo card this morning.”

“Calm down.” Sky nudges Declan’s shoulder. “Matteo won’t do anything in here. It’s too public. Well, so long as Hawk doesn’t do anything stupid.”

Declan glares. “That’s not a bet I would take. Hawk is known for making stupid decisions. It’s his fucking calling card.”

Sadie’s face lights up as Matteo approaches her. She steps up to meet him. He places a kiss on her forehead, and I watch as her shoulders relax, and she leans into his touch. Matteo speaks softly to her. Whatever he’s telling her has her taking deep breaths and nodding slowly.

“Good morning, Skyler,” Matteo greets. “How are you feeling today, sweetheart? How’s the baby?”

“I’m tired and the baby is making me fat and hungry,” she snips.

“You are not fat. You are beautiful,” I fuss. “And if you’re hungry, your husband needs to get you fed.”

“What do I need to do?” Ethan comes up behind me and moves around to hug and kiss Skyler. She instantly melts into him.

“Feed your woman,” Hawk answers. “Apparently your crotch goblin is making her hungry.”

“Crotch goblin?” Sadie glares at Hawk, who isn’t the least bit apologetic.

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