While Malcolms eyes and nose streamed wetness, Margo said even more sweetly, “You mean finish him off like that?”
Kit crossed his arms to hide his amusement. He didn’t want Margo getting cocky. Poor Malcolm was blinking and struggling manfully to dry his face with his gloves. “Well, that’s one,” Kit drawled, “but in a real situation, you always need to kill or cripple at least twice.”
”Twice?” Margo echoed. “Oh, so he doesn’t surprise you when you think he’s down.”
When she made to finish Malcolm off again, Kit waved her back.
”No, Malcolm is clearly finished. This time.”
The freelance guide glared at Kit as though to say, “Malcolm does not want to play any more. Malcolm is in pain and will pay you back for this, good buddy”
Kit shrugged as though to say, “Who knew?”
Malcolm had struggled to his feet. “You…” he wheezed at Kit, “…should be damned glad Bull doesn’t allow litigation lawyers in La-La Land.”
”So I should,” Kit said mildly. “And so should you. Go one more time.”
”Cripes, Kit, what’re you trying to do? Give Rachel Eisenstein more business?”
Margo was literally preening.
Kit’s grin was entirely unsympathetic. “The day Margo puts you in the hospital is the day I’ll eat your shoes. C’mon, buddy. Brace up.”
Margo gave him a making bow, carefully keeping her eyes on him. Malcolm groaned and settled himself. “All right,” he muttered. “We’ll just see.”
Malcolm, forced into the role of attacker by the requirements of the sparring session, came in again — but this time, he surprised her. Malcolm came at her like a trained Tai Kwan Do fighter, throwing a beautiful front snap kick of his own. It knocked her back with an unladylike sound Malcolm charged in flailing, punching with both fists, one-two, one-two. Margo staggered back, moving away, bringing her arms up as he tried to hit her. Then she threw up a hook kick, sweeping his arms down out of the way with her foot. Before he could recover, she punched him twice in the face, using the momentum of her forward motion. As he backed away from her, Margo threw her shoulder into his chest, knocking him backwards. Then she really surprised Kit — not to mention Malcolm. She grabbed the back of his leading knee and snatched it up past her own hip while continuing to push with her shoulder. Malcolm smacked the mat flat on his back and gave out an ugly “whoof!”