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“My lil’ girl kicked your ass, uh?” said a warm, deep voice, full of mirth and a hint of teasing.
Bucky looked up; the tissue still pressed to his nose was soaked with his blood. This was the part he didn’t like about training youngsters to box: The sometimes asshole parents – hold up. Who? What? Bucky cleared his throat.
“Excuse me?” he asked, slightly flustered; he wasn’t sure if it was because of the hit he had taken to the face, or because the man standing before him was quite literally the most beautiful he had ever seen.
“Karli,” the stranger replied. “She’s my kid. I heard she kicked your ass while sparring. I’m Sam, by the way. Bucky, right?”
Bucky nodded his head and instinctively looked to Sam’s left hand, checking for a wedding band. He let out a little wry chuckle and then gingerly got to his feet, stumbling a bit.
“Woah, now. You should be careful. You okay?” asked Sam as he reached out a hand, but fell short of making contact with Bucky’s elbow.
“I’m good, thanks,” Bucky replied, smiling a little behind his hand. “Not the first time a student’s landed a blow and rocked me. She’s got an amazing left jab. She get that from you – or your wife?”
Sam dipped his head and smiled, before letting out a laugh. The sound washed over Bucky and felt like it had wrapped him in a hug.
“Nah, man. That’s all her,” Sam replied. “Plus, I’m not married. Not even seeing anyone. I’m a single parent. It’s what my Mama would call a damn travesty.”
Sam looked up and smiled directly at Bucky, causing his knees to go weak. He was rickety on his feet already, he didn’t need this hot, single dad flirting with him to knock him on his ass the same way his daughter had. Still, Bucky was a little shaky from Sam’s gorgeous smile – and probably the loss of blood or whatever.
His brief stumble must have been noticeable, because Sam gave him a concerned look and said, “Hey, maybe you need to sit down. You’re looking a little unsteady there.”
“I look like a mess in front of a cute single dad,” Bucky blurted out before he could stop himself.
When he realized what he had said, Bucky’s eyes went wide.
“Sorry, I uh –”
“It’s cool,” Sam said, waving him off. “You’re actually right.”
“About what?”
“About lookin’ like a whole damn mess and about me being cute,” Sam flirted, causing Bucky’s tummy to do a little flip.
“I usually look okay,” Bucky flirted back. “But your kid messed up my face.”
“Aww, you poor baby,” said Sam with a cheeky grin that was one hundred percent doing it for Bucky. “Lemme see.”
For some reason, Bucky wanted to pout and be all soft and playful with Sam. He batted his eyelids and carefully removed the tissue from his face, before saying, “Don’t run away screamin’ or anything.”
“Wouldn’t dare,” said Sam with a wink that made Bucky definitely want to melt. “Well, would you look at that?”
“What? Oh lord. Is it bad?” asked Bucky, a little concerned he was worse off than he had initially thought.
“A little swollen,” said Sam, as he leaned in closer, flooding Bucky’s senses in the most delightful way imaginable. “But you’re still pretty as a picture.”
Bucky’s brain short-circuited and he found himself staring into Sam’s deep brown eyes and saying, “Can I take you out on a date to make it up to you?”
Sam looked confused and amused at the same time. He let out a chuckle and said, “Wait, that’s meant to be my line. I’m supposed to say that to you in this situation, right?”
“Shit, yeah. Sorry,” Bucky stammered, his face glowing red from where the heat was spreading. “Sorry.”
“Yes,” said Sam, beaming brightly.
“Excuse me?”
“Yes, you can take me out on a date,” Sam offered.
“Really?”
“Oh yeah,” Sam replied smoothly. “Take me out and I’ll definitely make it up to you.”