Page 35 of Making Home with You (The Rockport Beach #3)

Her eyes drop, her words a mumble as she speaks them into her lap. “He’s just gross, that’s all. A dirty perv who likes to say things that are borderline inappropriate.”

I grab her hand, pulling it into my lap as I say, “You need to report him, babe.” I lift her hand to my mouth and kiss the inside of her wrist. “He should not be allowed to act like that.”

“I know,” she says, lifting her eyes to mine. “But everyone seems to turn a blind eye,” she admits. “As though it’s just him and it’s harmless, nothing to worry about.”

“It’s not fucking harmless,” I say, my words coming out harsher than I intend them too.

I brush my thumb across her knuckles in apology.

“You need to report him, Sarah,” I say. “If not to HR, then to the police,” I add.

“Maybe Ryan’s old partner, Joe,” I continue, remembering my earlier conversation with Beck.

Sarah smiles, but it doesn’t reach her eyes. “I know, Finn,” she says. “I will say something, okay? I promise.”

I stare back at her, willing her to mean it, even though I know I can’t push her too hard or try to interfere.

Eventually I nod. “Okay,” I say, smiling before changing the subject.

“So, I know it’s late, but think you might be able to wait an hour or so for dinner? There’s something I want to do first.”

Sarah smiles now, an eyebrow raised as she looks at me. “Oh really,” she says. “And what might that be, Chief? Something physical perhaps?”

“Always thinking about me naked, aren’t you, cheeky girl?” I tease. “But sort of.”

“Sort of?” she asks, head cocked to the side. “Now I am intrigued.”

I chuckle. “Well, I brought everything we need from home so if you’re good to go…?”

“Oh, I’m always good to go, Chief,” she says, turning back in her seat and reaching for her seat belt. “Punch it,” she adds, pointing her finger at the road.

Ten minutes later and we’re pulling into the mostly empty parking lot of the local community center. Sarah looks at me quizzingly, but I just grin, switch off the ignition and hop out of the car. I grab a bag from the trunk before taking her hand and leading her inside.

Troy, a friend from high school waits at the front desk, grinning when I walk in.

“Finn, hey, how’s things?” he asks, eyes flicking to Sarah.

“Good, you?” I ask, before introducing him.

Troy shakes hands with Sarah before handing me the keys and saying, “Lock up when you’re done? I’ll grab these from you tomorrow?”

I nod. “Sure thing and thanks again for letting us do this.”

“No problem,” he says with a wave before walking out the front door.

I lock up behind him, grateful we’d chatted earlier on the phone about why I wanted to do this and answering all his questions about the rumors running rampant around town.

Even though Sarah clearly knew Carla was creating trouble, I didn’t need her hearing all the questions I knew Troy would have.

“What are we doing here?” she asks as I lead her back to one of the training rooms.

“Well, first of all,” I start, dropping the bag before I reach in and grab her clothes. “You’re going to need to get changed,” I say, smiling as I hand her the things I grabbed from home before I went to pick her up.

Sarah takes the clothes, eyeing the leggings, t-shirt and sneakers I’ve brought for her. “Okay,” she says, looking around the room. “We’re the only ones here right?”

I nod, grinning as Sarah immediately starts to undress in front of me.

She knows I’m watching too, deliberately teasing me with the way in which she lowers her skirt, the seductive way she undoes the buttons of her blouse.

When she’s standing in nothing but her underwear and heels, it takes every piece of self-control I have not to just say fuck it to my plans and instead lay her out on these mats and have my way with her.

But I don’t, instead handing her the leggings, laughing as she pouts at my apparent lack of interest.

“Alright,” she says, hands on hips when she’s done. “What are we doing?”

I grin, stepping toward her. “We’re going to teach you some self-defense,” I say. “So you’ll never have to feel scared about Carla or your boss ever again.”

Sarah cocks an eyebrow at me. “I already know self-defense,” she says confidently.

“Oh you do huh?” I ask, crossing my arms over my chest.

“Please,” she says, waving a hand. “You do know who my brother is, right?”

I laugh, I should’ve known that hard ass would have taught her a thing or two. She’s his baby sister for fuck’s sake, like he was ever going to send her out into the world unable to defend herself.

“Really?” I tease. “And what about weapons?” I ask. “You know how to use a baton, or pepper spray?”

Sarah’s eyes widen. “I’m getting pepper spray?”

I laugh. “You are.”

I watch as a grin tugs at her mouth, obviously excited at what I’ve got for her. “That might be the best present anyone’s ever given me,” she says, rocking on her heels.

I can’t stop the laugh as I step toward her, arms wide. “Alright tough girl,” I say. “Wanna show me some of these moves of yours?”

“Oh, you better believe it, Chief,” she says, lowering her hands as she steps closer. “You ready?”

“I’m ready,” I tell her, giving her a quick wink.

Sarah moves faster than I expect and before I can say anything more, she’s hooking her right leg behind my knees, one hand on my shoulder, the other arm across my chest as she lifts me up and down so I find myself lying flat on my back on the mat.

Sarah ends up straddling my hips, each hand pressed flat into the mat on either side of my head.

“Fuck,” I grunt.

“Not bad, huh, Chief?” she says hovering over me.

“I’m impressed,” I say staring up at her.

Sarah licks her lips, sucking the bottom one between her teeth. “So, now we’ve established I can defend myself,” she says, eyes sparkling. “Wanna try another form of cardio?”

I grin up at her, hands moving to her wrists before flipping us quickly so it’s now her lying beneath me. Leaning down, I press my mouth to her ear. “Naked wrestling, maybe?” I whisper, before nibbling her neck.