Anything for Her - Complete

Chapter 23

"Is that your boyfriend?" Jean asked, her eyes bugging out of her head when Dimitri came into the gym carrying Lara to collect Rose after the cardio class she ran.

"He surely is," Rose said with a wicked smile. Jean wasn't the only woman there checking out Dimitri, although most concealed it by pretending to coo over Lara.

"I hope you had a nice workout, ladies," Dimitri said giving them a smile that should have been illegal. "You'll have to excuse me, we have an appointment, so I have to steal my beautiful woman away."

Rose said goodbye, promising to see everyone at their next training session.

"Tall, dark, muscled and handsome. He's good with the baby and looks as though he's crazy about her. I wonder if he has a big..."

"Jean!" one of the other women remonstrated while the rest tittered. Despite being ten yards away, with their enhanced Dhampir hearing, Rose and Dimitri could hear every word.

"Oh, if only she knew," Rose said wickedly, looking up at Dimitri and winking as he flushed. "Are you sure James doesn't mind us coming out for the afternoon?"

"He's fine. He said he's got a big job on and would appreciate the help."

His third trip to visit James, the blacksmith, Rose and Lara's second, Dimitri had used a day off from Isaac and Pamela's as an opportunity to look around Mitchell with Lara while Rose worked a session at the gym. Now it was lunchtime they stopped for a quick bite before heading out to James' workshop on his rural property.

The trip there was quiet. They'd borrowed one of Pamela and Isaac's farm trucks, so Lara was in her car seat, strapped in between the two of them.

"James – thanks for having us out here again! I find this stuff fascinating, so I appreciate you taking the time to show me some of what you do."

"Not a problem at all, Dimitri. I won't lie – having a strong young man out here to help me is a real help with these bigger pieces." A stocky man in his early sixties, James had short cropped hair and a long wiry beard he tied into a knot at the base of his chin for safety's sake. A born storyteller, he rattled off tale after tale as the young family spent the afternoon in his workshop. Lara was down the end in her pram well out of the way of any stray sparks. Rose sat a little closer, watching mesmerized as Dimitri helped James with the large metal pieces he was working on.

As the sun was setting, the men washed up and Rose got ready to take Lara home. Standing beside the truck, James pulled his wallet from his back pocket, fishing out some notes.

"You've worked hard, Dimitri. You have a family to support – I should pay you."

"No, it's fine, James. It's my day off. I'm here because I'm interested in what you do."

"That may be the case. However, I make money off these repairs you've helped me with. It's not fair to use you."

"Teach me, then? We're traveling, so we're not going to be around forever, but I'm happy to put in my spare hours here if you're willing to show me some of what you know?"

"You interested in this as a job?" James asked speculatively. "You certainly have the build and strength for it."

"Maybe," Dimitri said with a shrug, looking at James, so he didn't have to meet Rose's eyes.

"Well if you're willing to put in the time, I'm happy to teach you," James said, pocketing his cash and reaching out to shake Dimitri's hand. "You call me whenever you're free to come over. We'll spend half the time on the heavy stuff I need help with. The other half I'll show you how to do other things."