Free Submission Moves: An MMA Romance by Camilla Sisco Page B

“I’d rather go with a Plain Jane.”
    “What?” Paolo demanded, aghast. “That could be the mother of your children. Do you want ugly little Rossi kids running around?”
    “Hey, nobody said anything about being ugly! There’s a huge difference between plain and plain ugly.”
    She listened to more sexist comments in silent outrage and debated between putting her foot down and taking control or waiting for this digression to die a natural death. When she caught Nick’s eye, her mask of stern reserve slipped just for a fraction of a second, but it was long enough for her mounting distress and frustration to show.  
    He sat up straight and turned around to cast the other guys a look that Rose didn’t see. The conversation dwindled in an instant.
    “Shall we continue?” she asked when all eyes were turned to her. She turned to the projector screen behind her, under the heading ‘Workplace Harassment’, she read, “Persistent request for dates and other unwanted sexual advances.”  
    Someone, she wasn’t sure who, made a side comment about how with enough tequila, there was no such thing as an unwanted sexual advance, which had everyone laughing. That was pretty benign as far as rape jokes went, but she felt the fragile hold she had on her temper break. She had zero tolerance for that kind of talk.
    “One in four women will experience some form of sexual violence in their lifetime,” Rose said. “So when you make jokes like that, there’s a huge chance you’re saying it in front of a survivor.”  
    The men quieted down, looking chastened.
    “You all have sisters, mothers, wives, girlfriends, or daughters, right? One in four women, guys. That’s a lot. Be more aware of the words that come out of your mouths. I’m sure you all have an idea of what kind of work we do here and the women we work with. I’d hate to imagine how they’d feel if they heard things like that, even if it was meant as a joke. Reminding someone of their trauma seems like a steep price to pay just to get a few laughs.”
    She scanned the room. Everyone was looking down at their hands or laps or out the window, except Nick, who was still staring at her. For once, he didn’t look like he was actively trying to seduce her. His gaze was hot and as intense as ever, but it was a different sort that Rose couldn’t place.
    The rest of the session proceeded with relative normalcy. The guys were more attentive and respectful, but they didn’t lose their good humor. When time came to dismiss them, she bade them goodbye and leaned her hips against the table as she watched them file out of the room. The fact that Nick remained seated and had made no move to leave wasn’t lost on her.
    “Can I help you with something?” she asked in a clipped voice when the last man had left the room. She fussed with her laptop so she didn’t have to look at him. It didn’t matter. His presence was so potent, she saw him clearly in her mind’s eye.
    Nick stood up and took a few steps toward her. He stuck his hands in the pockets of his jeans and waited.
    Finally, because she knew he wasn’t going to say anything until he had her undivided attention, Rose stood up straight and met his gaze. “What is it, Nick?”
    “I’ve called you several times now and it always goes to voicemail. I’ve left you messages and you never get back to me.” He spoke in a matter-of-fact tone, not pushy, but his stare was hot and sharp. “I thought maybe you were just playing hard to get. I figured a girl’s entitled to some token resistance.”
    Rose shook her head. “That is just wrong on so many levels.”
    “Yeah, I’m starting to get that.” He licked his lips, more out of unease than anything else. Rose’s reaction to that gesture, that same tiny gesture that had her distracted throughout the session, was visceral, violent, and completely unwelcome. She felt her face and neck go warm.  
    “Last thing I want is to make you uncomfortable with me. I