I haven’t gotten to do much sightseeing. It’s mostly been the inside of the gym. That’s about all I see when I’m preparing for a fight. This trip I nearly got to see the bottom of a river, so that was an exciting change of pace.

Her father shrugged then turned the laptop around to face him again.“On the bright side, I suppose I’m not going to have to worry about you dating again anytime soon.

Do you really behave like this, or just to people who’ve sustained injuries at your restaurant?” she asked.“I was raised to be a gentleman, but if opening a few doors saves me some legal fees, consider me at your service.

If he didn’t know better, he’d think she needed protecting. Even with the knowledge that she was strong and powerful, the urge was there to hunt and gather food and thump his fists on his chest like a caveman. It was carnal. It was primal.

If he had not dedicated every inch of her lush body to memory he might’ve taken them for a splattering of small moles or a birthmark. If he had not spent years getting into trouble in the streets of Edinburgh as a lad, he wouldn’t have recognized them for what they were. Those were the unmistakable black flecks of gunpowder, still inflamed and fresh.