Simon Says Read Online Free PDF Page A

no one would hold that against her.
    Her day was looking better. All she needed now was some coffee.

C HAPTER 2
    S WEAT poured over his shoulders and trickled down his spine to soak the waistband of his shorts. Training other athletes and training himself were two very different things. He’d never pushed anyone as hard as he pushed now. The passion was both exhilarating and exhausting.
    Padded in protective gear, Gregor squared off with him again. Simon prepared himself—and a flash of blond hair distracted him just long enough for Gregor to knock him on his ass. His head rang, darkness crowded in, and then he had no more time to mollycoddle himself because Gregor attacked.
    Six and a half feet of muscled fighter landed on him.
    Shaking off the cobwebs, Simon went on automatic pilot, defending himself by rote, countering all of Gregor’s attempts at submission holds and blocking most of his punches. With a few well-timed moves, Simon managed to reverse their positions and in seconds, he had Gregor in a rear-naked choke.
    â€œHo, hold up, Simon. He’s tapping.”
    Dean’s voice cut through the fog, and Simon immediately loosened his hold. Gregor rolled over to his knees, cursing himself.
    Exhaustion pulled Simon flat to the mat. Eyes closed, he sucked air into his straining lungs while Dean took the time to tell Gregor what he’d done wrong, and what he’d done right.
    Then he started on Simon.
    â€œWhat the hell were you thinking? You dropped your hands and you looked away from him. That’s your number one rule—to always keep your eyes on your opponent.”
    Simon didn’t open his eyes yet. Gregor’s slug had nearly knocked him out. Little stars danced behind his closed eyelids. “I know.”
    â€œCouldn’t prove it by me,” Dean said. “If you’d been looking at Gregor, you’d have seen a wild haymaker like that coming a mile away.”
    Damn harpie. “I know.”
    â€œMaybe Gregor is too damn big for you—”
    â€œNo.”
    â€œThen you’re not putting enough into it. You know if you can’t handle him here, you sure as hell won’t be able to handle someone in a competition.”
    â€œStop bitching.” Simon opened his eyes to see the bright lights on the ceiling of Dean’s gym. What had distracted him?
    Oh, yeah.
    He sat up and twisted around in one motion to see a Barbie clone standing inside the gym doorway.
    Yep. She was the distraction all right.
    Dean followed Simon’s line of vision and grunted. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”
    With a shoulder propped on the wall, her arms crossed, Blondie stared at Simon.
    Dean asked, “Who is that?”
    â€œHell if I know.” Without looking away from her, Simon pushed to his feet. “But spread the word before any of these bozos get lewd ideas—I’ve got dibs.”
    Because Dean had been after him to start dating again—without success—that statement earned him a double take. “Now?”
    Simon shrugged.
    â€œYou’re training for a fight, or have you forgotten?”
    â€œBad timing.” Simon studied her negligent pose. “What can I say?”
    â€œYou can say that you’re joking.”
    Simon flashed Dean a quick glance. “I’m not.” Then he shook his head. “But don’t worry. I’ll take my time, and I won’t let her interfere.”
    â€œYou don’t even know if she’s free.”
    That made Simon frown. For a woman to show up in Dean’s gym, she’d probably come to meet someone. Was she involved with one of the other fighters? Married to one of them?
    Dean made a sound of impatience. “Before you burn holes through her with that dark scowl, want me to find out what she wants?”
    Just as Dean spoke, Blondie pushed away from the wall and sauntered toward them.
    Simon shook his head. “Don’t bother. I think we’re