Page 69 of The Knockout Rule
“He’s a fantastic guy,” she told her dad.
“You started your own physio practice to avoid boxers. You tell me all the time how much you hate the sport. You can’t date him.” His voice rose as he spoke and red slashed his cheeks.
She’d expected him to worry that she’d inadvertently spill his secret, put his job in jeopardy. This anger came from a different place. Worry for Eric’s focus likely. “Whatever’s going on between us, it’s not affecting his training. If anything, he’s been more driven lately.”
His workouts had grown more intense the past few days, his runs longer, his sparring more aggressive. The stakes on this match had risen for Eric—the massive life change a win would offer. A flush bank account to ease his transition to regular citizen. If he lost, he’d still quit. He’d said as much, and she’d seen his sadness and dissatisfaction with his current life, how much he loved books and learning and language. Studies he was meant to pursue. Facts she couldn’t share with her father, but he couldn’t deny how in the pocket Eric had been these days.
But he glared at her so hard, she felt like an opponent in his ring. “You will not date him.”
Not a rebuttal on Eric’s focus. Just pure, unfiltered anger, and Isla was at a loss. “You’re the one who didn’t want me internet dating. You even set me up with Preston.”
His square jaw flexed. “You will not date Brick.”
“You have no say in who I date. Besides, Eric’s kind and smart and loving. I can’t imagine what your issue is with him.”
He gripped her upper arms fiercely, as though she might slip through his fingers. “He’s your client. I’m pretty sure there’s a rule about that. He’s also a boxer, Isla. I don’t want that for you. What your mother dealt with. What you are dealing with. I don’t want this life for you.”
Oh. Wow. That. An admission she’d never have imagined. Not in a million years. Tears threatened, another burst of emotion on an already emotional day. She’d thought she’d been cried out at today’s therapy session. Apparently not.
She wished she could tell him he didn’t have to worry, that Eric wouldn’t be a boxer for much longer. She also understood his concern. If Eric hadn’t offered her a future without him in the ring, she’d have been too scarred from her father’s Parkinson’s to make that leap of faith and risk her heart for Eric. Dealing with her panic attacks was one thing. A mountain she felt she would and could eventually climb. Dealing with another man whose health would likely deteriorate because he’d been too stubborn to see the consequences of his brutal sport?
No, she wouldn’t have been okay with that.
She removed one of her father’s big hands from her shoulder and kissed his palm. “I know what I’m doing, Dad. Eric is a short-term patient. We’ll keep things quiet until after his fight. And as much as I fought falling for him, it was inevitable. He’s incredible, and he’s not you. You need to trust me on this.”
Trust that she wouldn’t set herself up for this life again.
He slumped and sighed. “I don’t like it, but I guess I’m not surprised. You always liked the intellectual guys.”
Heather came over and slid her arms around both their waists. “Can we continue this super-secret conversation at a restaurant? I’m starving. I’ll even put in earbuds and pretend I’m not eavesdropping.”
Isla’s dad chuckled. “As entertaining as that would be, I have a meeting with Preston, then a training session with Brick.” To Isla he said, “You can skip this afternoon’s physio, if you want. Catch up with Heather. I’ll see you both tonight.”
He held Isla’s eyes a moment longer, then he left. She couldn’t tell what was going through his mind, but she was glad he knew about her and Eric. She also liked the idea of all of them out to dinner tonight and of an afternoon with Heather. Hopefully Eric would feel the same.
“Give me a sec,” she told Heather as she pulled out her phone. According to Eric’s schedule, he’d be in his room eating lunch while studying.
“It better be a second,” Heather said. “I’m antsy and need to eat and explore.” She fluffed her blonde hair and smiled at a cute guy walking in.
With Heather occupied, Isla focused on her phone.
Isla: Can we cancel this afternoon’s physio?
Eric: Everything okay?
He was immediately concerned for her, not his lost session. Time and again, Eric earned her trust.
Isla: Heather came for a surprise visit.
Eric: Does this mean I get to meet your best friend?
Isla: Dinner tonight. With my dad too…who actually knows we’re doing whatever it is we’re doing.
Eric: Shit.
Isla bit her lip, unsure if that was an angry shit or a nervous shit. She also didn’t like thinking about this much shitting.
Isla: What’s wrong?
