How To Tame A Wildhearted Boxer?

"My name is Asher Lloyd," the man said with his deep, captivating voice. "I'm thirty-one years old and work as a boxing coach."

Twenty-eight-year-old Verena Stewart never imagined she would end up returning to her hometown for a blind date one day.

According to the matchmaker, the man she was meeting was an excellent choice. He wasn't from the area and had lost both parents, but his grandmother was still healthy and living with him.

He owned a three-story house in town, a fully paid apartment in the city center, and a pretty decent car as well.

He also ran a boxing gym downtown and earned a respectable income.

People in town all called him as Coach Lloyd.

Right now, the so-called ideal man sat across from her, his tall frame naturally commanding attention.

He was dressed entirely in black, giving off a rugged, bad-boy charm. His facial features were striking, and he had a neatly trimmed buzz cut. He had the kind of classic bone structure that older generations found especially appealing.

However, his face was stone-cold, and he emanated a cold aura.

He looked strong and distant. Though undeniably attractive, he was rough around the edges.

He was not the type who seemed easy to approach.

Verena smiled courteously. "I'm Verena Stewart. Twenty-eight years old. I work as a translator."

Asher quietly observed the woman sitting opposite him. Her skin was flawless. Although she smiled politely, her eyes looked detached. There was a graceful, otherworldly quality about her.

As his gaze lingered, he noticed the tiny mole near the corner of her eye. For a brief moment, his cold expression eased.

After the brief introductions, silence immediately settled between them.

This was Verena's first blind date, and she wasn't good at handling awkward conversations. Combined with Asher's icy demeanor, she had even less interest in making small talk.

So, she lifted her glass and took a sip of water to buy herself some time.

When she lowered the glass, Asher was still sitting back in his chair, quietly watching her with the same unreadable expression.

A faint shiver ran through Verena. Maintaining her composure, she asked, "So, I heard you're quite a catch. Why would someone like you need to go on blind dates?"

"I'm picky," Asher answered simply.

Verena teased, "I thought your family pushed you into this."

"They did." His deep voice remained steady. "My grandmother said she would be very disappointed if I missed today's date."

Just as Verena was thinking how direct he was, Asher added casually, "There's no need to treat blind dates as something serious. If things work out, maybe you'll find the right person. If not, just consider it a pleasant experience. At worst, you'll get some experience."

What nonsense!

Verena forced a smile. "Sounds like you have a lot of experience with blind dates."

"That's right." Asher gave a casual shrug. "I've probably gone on around a hundred of them."

Immediately, Verena saw him as irresponsible and unreliable.

"Mr. Lloyd, I don't think we're compatible." She chose her words carefully, knowing they lived in the same town and would likely cross paths again. "I prefer men who are mature and dependable. To be honest, I lost my job recently, got cheated out of my savings, and now I'm in debt. That's why I came back home and am relying on my family to survive. I'm really not worthy of someone like you. I sincerely hope you find someone suitable soon."

Asher narrowed his eyes. It was impossible to tell what he was thinking.

After a brief silence, he simply replied, "Alright."

Verena watched him pick up his coat and leave with long strides. As she looked at his retreating figure, she could not help feeling slightly surprised.

He was tall and solidly built, with broad shoulders and a lean waist. Every line of his muscles radiated strength.

With his appearance and physique, he would stand out even in a major city, much less in a small town like this.

It was a shame he had an unlikable personality.

Eventually, Verena told the matchmaker that she disliked frivolous men, bringing the failed blind date to an end.

The December wind was bone-chilling. Colorful string lights hung from the trees along the streets, filling the town with a cheerful holiday atmosphere.

But the scene felt both familiar and strangely distant to her.

Come to think of it, she had not returned in eight years, ever since she left for college and started her career.

The previous year had been nothing short of disastrous.

Early in the year, someone with connections took the deputy general manager position that had practically been promised to her. Later, a coworker turned the blame for a mistake onto her, costing her job.

Then, just before the year ended, she fell victim to a scam after answering a phone call and lost every cent she had saved.

After years of struggling in the city, she had ended up with nothing.

That was why she chose to come back home.

Part of the reason was that she could no longer afford rent. The other reason was that the man she had a crush on for years had announced his engagement last week.

The day after she returned, her aunt, Lisette Barnes, had immediately arranged this blind date for her, resulting in the awkward encounter she had just endured.

As soon as she arrived home, she heard Lisette and her uncle, Gerald Barnes, arguing in the hallway.

Their voices were not particularly loud, but the old apartment building had thin walls, making every word crystal clear.

"You arranged a blind date for Vera the moment she came back? Sure, Asher's conditions are good, but a man in his thirties who is still unmarried must have some kind of problem!"

"What do you expect? She suddenly quit her job in the city and came back. And now she's saying she isn't leaving anytime soon? Does she expect to stay here and live off us for free? I'm not raising someone who freeloads."

"Vera hasn't asked us for a cent since she started college! She even brought clothes and gifts for us when she came home this time. Can't you show a little kindness?"

"Gerald, haven't I already shown enough kindness by agreeing to bring her home from the orphanage all those years ago? She has been living under our roof since she was baby. She owes us! Besides, she's almost thirty, unmarried, and doesn't even have a job. How does she have the nerve to come back? What if the neighbors start talking? I'll be too embarrassed to face anyone. And we only have two bedrooms. Rosanna and her husband are coming home for a visit soon. Either Verena finds a place of her own, or she gets married and moves into her husband's house. There's no space for her here..."

Standing outside the door, Verena felt her limbs grow weak.

After so many years, she was still an outsider who didn't belong.

When she finally composed herself and stepped inside, Lisette's face was still dark. The moment she saw Verena, she launched into another lecture. "The matchmaker told me you turned Asher down. Take a good look at yourself. What gives you the right to be so picky? Once a woman reaches twenty-eight, she's past her best years. Nobody wants you anymore! Do you think working in a big city for a few years makes you special? You still look young now, so hurry up and get married. I'm doing this for your own good. I'll ask the matchmaker to arrange a few more men for you, and you're going on another blind date tomorrow!"

"Lisette, enough already! Vera is such a good girl and she deserves..."

"Uncle Gerald." Not wanting the two of them to argue because of her, Verena interrupted him with a strained smile. "I don't mind going on blind dates. If I happen to meet someone I connect with, that would be nice."

After returning to her room, she shut the door and dropped the forced smile. Her brows knitted tightly together.

Her heart began to ache and a cold sweat broke out on her forehead.

She walked to the bed, reached beneath the pillow, and pulled out the medicine she had hidden there. After taking the pills, she collapsed onto the mattress, utterly drained.

After a while, her breathing stabilized. She picked up her phone and opened WhatsApp, only to find a friend request.

The person's profile picture was a swirl of black smoke, giving off a strange and unsettling vibe.

Verena accepted the request and sent a message. "Who is this?"

After a few seconds, the person responded, "The frivolous coach."

Verena paused for a moment before realizing that it was Asher.

Without wasting words, she asked, "What do you want?"

Asher responded right away. "We only had drinks during the blind date today. The total came to twenty dollars. Since things didn't work out between us, we should split the bill."

Split twenty dollars? Verena had never met someone like him.

Not only did he come across as frivolous, but he was unbelievably stingy too.

With no hesitation, she asked for his banking details so she could transfer the money.

She had no desire to stay connected with him in any way.

Unexpectedly, Asher ignored the question and sent another message. "I want cash. Same place we met today. Tomorrow morning. I'll wait for you there."

Verena found him ridiculous.

Had he completely lost his mind?

She angrily typed out a long reply, only to delete it moments later. After calming down, she sent a much shorter message. "I'm busy tomorrow morning. Afternoon works for me."

Quite some time passed before a single cold reply popped up on her screen. "Okay."

The following morning, the matchmaker dragged Verena out once again for another series of blind dates.

Before noon, she had already met three different men.

One was a math teacher.

Another was an obstetrician and gynecologist.

The third was a divorced businessman with a child.

Some were greasy, overweight middle-aged men, while others were plain-looking men oozing with misplaced confidence.

Each one was more disappointing than the previous one.

Just when Verena thought the ordeal had finally ended, the matchmaker led her to the next location.

Her last blind date of the day was a twenty-five-year-old man named Liam Murray.

He talked nonstop and repeatedly complimented her beauty.

Even so, Verena politely found a reason to reject him.

Her life was already a mess. She just didn't have the energy or interest to start a relationship.

After their chat ended quickly, Liam took the rejection surprisingly well. With a smile, he said, "Even if this doesn't work out, we can still be friends."

Verena smiled back and nodded. "Of course."

"Oh, right. My friend and I are heading downtown to take care of some things. We'll be passing by your neighborhood anyway. Why don't we give you a ride?"

"That would be wonderful. Thank you." With the weather so cold, Verena gladly accepted the offer.

Following Liam outside, Verena spotted a black SUV parked by the roadside.

Beside the car stood a tall man with his head lowered, and a cigarette between his fingers. Dressed entirely in black, he gave off an intimidating aura.

The swirling smoke softened his features. It took away some of his ruggedness and made his already striking face even more captivating.

At the sound of approaching footsteps, the man slowly raised his eyes. Through the thin veil of smoke, his intense gaze fell on Verena.

The instant their eyes met, Verena froze.

It was Asher, the unbelievably frugal man.

"Asher, this is Verena Stewart, my blind date." Liam casually wrapped an arm around Asher's shoulder. "Since we're all headed in the same direction, let's give this gorgeous lady a ride home."

Asher remained silent. His lazy gaze moved over Verena from head to toe.

She still wasn't wearing makeup today, yet her skin was flawless and radiant.

She was dressed in a beige trench coat. Half of her hair was pinned up and some loose strands framed her forehead. She looked graceful and refined.

But her beautiful eyes were still cold and distant as he remembered.

"Well, well." Asher slowly exhaled a ring of smoke, one eyebrow lifting slightly. "Fancy running into you here."

"Quite the coincidence, indeed," Verena replied flatly.

"You told me you were busy this morning." Asher deliberately paused before adding, "So this is what you meant. Another blind date?"

Verena already disliked him, so her tone turned even colder. "What can I do? I'm not getting any younger, and my family keeps pressuring me."

The cigarette rested between Asher's lips as he looked at her. A faint, teasing smile tugged at the corners of his mouth.

"Wait, you two know each other?" Liam's eyes lit up at the smell of juicy gossip.

"We do." Asher flicked the cigarette butt, slipped his hands into his pockets, and shamelessly admitted, "She was my blind date yesterday."

"Why didn't you tell me sooner?" Into the drama, Liam slapped his hand excitedly. "Then that means I just had a blind date with your girlfriend?"

The men were definitely friends. They were both equally ridiculous.

Verena instantly lost all interest in taking the ride. Looking at Asher, she said, "I won't be riding in your car. I have other plans."

Then she reached into her pocket, pulled out a wrinkled ten-dollar bill, and placed it on the hood of his car. "Here's the cash you wanted."

Verena started walking away but she suddenly stopped and turned back. She took out another ten-dollar bill, placed it beside the first one on the hood, and gave Asher a faint, detached smile. "Drinks are on me."

Asher looked down at the twenty dollars on the hood and then looked at her retreating figure.

A barely noticeable smile touched his usually cold lips.

"Something is definitely up!" Liam bumped his elbow against Asher with a mischievous grin. "With your personality, there's no way you would willingly go on a blind date. Come on, tell me. What's going on here? Who exactly is she?"

Asher picked up the bills and slowly examined them. His dark eyes revealed nothing. "You wouldn't understand."

Naturally, Liam was completely confused. "Seriously, Asher, you're normally generous with money. Why are you chasing a woman over twenty dollars? What are you even thinking?"

Asher lifted his gaze and once again looked in the direction Verena had disappeared.

"I'm trying to win her over."

...

Every failed blind date meant enduring Lisette's temper. Eventually, Verena decided it would be better to move out.

The moment she told Lisette about her decision, Lisette's sour expression immediately brightened. "Vera, if you're moving, then move downtown! People around here love to gossip. If you stay here, everyone will talk about your uncle and me!"

Too exhausted to argue, Verena simply agreed.

The following day, she wrapped herself in a long down coat and headed downtown to search for a place to rent.

Since it was the weekend, the bus station was packed.

The crowd was even more chaotic than rush hour on the city subway.

People had baskets full of fresh produce strapped to their backs and huge bags hanging from their hands. Standing among them empty-handed, Verena looked strangely out of place.

As soon as the bus arrived, the orderly queue turned chaotic. The moment the doors opened, everyone surged forward. Verena instinctively followed the crowd.

Just as one foot landed on the bus step, a woman behind her grabbed the back of her coat and forcefully pulled her away.

Her footing slipped. She lost her balance and fell backward.

Just as she was about to scream, an arm wrapped firmly around her waist.

She was caught before hitting the ground and her back pressed tightly against a broad, solid chest.

Warm breath brushed past her ear. "Be careful, Miss Stewart."

Startled, Verena quickly regained her footing and turned around. She found herself staring into Asher's deep eyes.

He was dressed entirely in black once again, wearing the same outfit as the previous day.

Verena took a step away from him and said, "Thank you."

"No problem," Asher answered calmly.

Ignoring him afterward, Verena looked at the moving bus.

She never noticed that Asher's eyes had drifted to her bleeding fingertip.

He leaned casually against his car with his head lowered and pulled out a cigarette. As he flicked his lighter, the flame briefly illuminated his face. "Going downtown?" he asked.

"Yeah," Verena answered without looking his way.

"Get in." Through the drifting smoke, Asher looked at her lazily. "It's on my way."

"No, thanks. I'll wait for the next bus."

Asher remained completely unfazed. He flicked the ash off his cigarette. "Miss Stewart, then I suppose I'll have to be a little rude."

Before Verena could understand what he meant, he walked over and effortlessly swept her into his arms.

The faint scent of fresh shower gel filled her nose as she was held securely against his chest.

Verena struggled, looking up at his sharp jawline. "Put me down."

Paying her no mind, Asher opened the passenger door and placed her inside the car.

The interior of the SUV was spotless. A cute cartoon bobblehead sat on the dashboard, creating a strange contrast with Asher's intimidating appearance.

"Mr. Lloyd," she said with obvious irritation. "What exactly are you trying to do?"

After locking the doors, Asher turned toward her and met her eyes. He said casually, "Since being a couple didn't work out, why don't we start by being friends?"

"Unlock the door. I'm leaving."

Asher acted as though he hadn't heard a word. He reached out, held her wrist, and lightly pulled her hand closer. "Your finger is bleeding."

Only then did Verena notice the cut on her right index finger.

She must have gotten scratched by something while struggling through the crowd earlier.

She tried to withdraw her hand, but Asher's grip was firm. "Don't move. Let me tend to that cut."

Eventually, Verena stopped resisting. She watched helplessly as Asher found a first-aid kit in the car, brought out antiseptic, cotton swabs, and a bandage.

He then carefully treated her wound. Although he was a bit clumsy, every movement was very gentle.

As he lightly held her hand, the warmth from their palms slowly blended together. Inside the enclosed space of the car, the atmosphere became strangely intimate and awkward at the same time.

Without realizing it, Verena found herself staring at his remarkably handsome face.

That face was far too misleading.

When he was being serious, he actually looked rather attractive.

"Stop looking at me." Asher suddenly lifted his eyes, catching her gaze. Their eyes locked. "I'm petty. If you keep staring, I'll stare back."

Verena blinked in discomfort and quickly turned her gaze away.

In her opinion, Asher was a born flirt. She found him impossible to deal with.

After the bandage was secured, the car pulled back onto the road.

"Going into downtown for something?" Asher asked as he drove.

"Yeah."

"What for?"

"Apartment hunting."

A brief look of surprise crossed Asher's face. "So you're planning to stay in Peace County long-term?"

"You could say that." Verena's answer was deliberately vague.

She was short on money and her health wasn't exactly in great shape. Returning to her hometown for the time being had been her only realistic option.

When spring came, she planned to find a job in downtown, save some money, and then decide what to do next.

The conversation went on for a few more minutes, and then they continued in silence.

Feeling drained, Verena leaned back and closed her eyes.

By the time she woke up, they had already arrived. A black jacket was draped over her shoulders.

For someone so stingy, Asher was surprisingly considerate.

The driver's seat was empty. Looking through the windshield, she spotted Asher standing outside while talking on the phone.

His tall frame stood straight and relaxed. The black sweater he wore outlined his muscular frame, giving him an indescribable, rugged charm.

As if sensing her gaze, he suddenly turned around. Their eyes met.

The coldness in his eyes instantly melted, replaced by a teasing, mischievous smirk.

He lifted an eyebrow and silently mouthed, "You okay?"

Even through the glass, Verena understood him.

She pushed open the door, stepped out, and handed him back his jacket. "Thank you."

"Between friends..." Asher casually draped the jacket over his arm, stressing his words. "There's no need to be so polite."

Verena rubbed her temples and changed the subject. "How long was I asleep?"

The medication she had been taking lately made her unusually drowsy.

"A little over forty minutes."

"I owe you for today." She paused as something occurred to her. "Oh, right. Should I pay part of the gas money? I don't want you making this trip for nothing."

"I'm never after money. I want... your friendship." He took a step closer and bent slightly so their eyes were on the same level. The familiar roguish smile returned. "And I don't mind losing a little now and then. Sometimes the return is worth it."

At such close range, Verena could feel the force of his presence. There was something dangerously captivating about his gaze.

She had to admit that he was incredibly smooth.

In fact, she was convinced nobody could have this smooth flirting skill without plenty of experience with women.

Verena shot him a cold smirk, turned on her heel, and walked away to hunt for an apartment.

She spent the entire morning viewing properties. Not one of them worked. Every apartment was far beyond what she could afford.

The rental market in downtown was much more expensive than she had expected. Most landlords demanded several months of rent upfront, along with a security deposit. The total cost was staggering.

At the moment, she was surviving entirely on her credit card.

All she wanted was a cheap place with monthly payments. Unfortunately, the real estate agent told her that wasn't realistic. Even the smallest apartments were outside her budget.

By afternoon, Verena was ready to give up and return home. Then her phone rang. It was the agent.

According to him, a fully furnished one-bedroom apartment near Century Square had suddenly become available. The owner was leaving town the next day for an extended trip and wanted to rent it out immediately. Not only was the rent surprisingly low, but the owner had also agreed to monthly payments.

It was exactly within Verena's budget. It felt like a miracle.

Afraid someone else would snatch it before her, she rushed over and immediately signed the lease.

After settling everything in the apartment, her phone rang once again. This time, the call came from a translation company. They wanted to arrange an interview.

Verena had only uploaded her resume to a job website the night before. She hadn't expected a response so quickly. Even more surprising, the interview location was only a short distance from Century Square.

The interview itself went far better than she had imagined. The owner of the translation company was a friendly local woman with curly hair and bright red lipstick. She carried herself with the confidence and charm of a mature professional while remaining warm and approachable.

As soon as she learned that Verena had graduated from Zepvine University and had previously worked for a major translation company, she made her decision. Verena was hired on the spot. The owner even told her she could start work immediately after the holiday season.

The only drawback was the salary. Compared to what she had earned in Zepvine, the pay here was less than half.

After the interview, she was about to take the elevator down to the ground floor. The moment the doors opened, an excited voice called out from behind her. "Verena!"

She turned instinctively. "Liam?"

"Hey, what are you doing in downtown?" Liam hurried over with his usual carefree grin. "You came to see Asher, didn't you?"

He truly never thought before speaking.

She rolled her eyes. "Why would I come here to see Asher?" she replied. "There's nothing going on between us."

"Sure, sure, I know." Liam nodded dramatically. "Since you're here, come have a cup of coffee!"

Only then did Verena notice what stood next door to the translation company. It was a boxing gym.

Above the entrance hung a large, eye-catching sign. Blast Boxing.

So this was Asher's gym.

The coincidence was ridiculous, she thought.

Before she could fully process it, Liam had already grabbed her arm and started dragging her inside.

The first floor was filled with children attending boxing classes. Several parents sat nearby waiting for their kids.

As Liam pulled Verena through the room, many curious eyes followed them. The looks were filled with interest, speculation, and gossip.

"Everyone is staring," Liam whispered. "Are you going to walk by yourself, or should I keep dragging you?"

Although she looked irritated, Verena eventually followed him upstairs.

After thinking it over, she decided this might actually be a good opportunity.

When she saw Asher, she intended to tell him to keep Liam under control and stop him from saying she was his girlfriend.

The adult training area was on the second floor. Verena glanced around the spacious room but found no sign of Asher.

Liam looked over and said, "Asher doesn't teach regular group classes. He only does one-on-one private coaching."

"I don't care," she said indifferently.

Liam either failed to notice or simply chose to ignore her attitude. He continued enthusiastically, "You have no idea how impressive Asher is! He's amazing at boxing and all kinds of combat sports. And before that, he served in the special forces. His skills are unbelievable. If you marry him, nobody here would ever dare pick a fight with you!"

Verena hadn't expected Asher to have a background in the special forces. Apparently, even a former soldier could be this shamelessly flirtatious.

Completely uninterested in discussing it further, she ignored Liam's comment and followed him to a room at the very end of the second-floor hallway.

Without bothering to knock, Liam grabbed the handle and pushed the door open.

"Asher! Verena came to see you!" The moment he shouted those words, he gave Verena a sudden shove into the room. Before she could react, the door slammed shut behind her.

The silence that followed was unsettling.

Verena's eyes widened as she stood rooted to the spot.

Inside the room, Asher had apparently just finished training. Heat radiated from his body as he casually wiped away sweat with a white towel.

He wore only a pair of black boxing shorts. Beads of sweat traced a path from his sharp jawline, slid past his throat and across the defined contours of his chest, then into his waistband.

The sight caught Verena completely off guard and her heart skipped a beat.

A flicker of surprise crossed Asher's face when he saw her. Then he tilted his head slightly and looked at her with amusement. "We've only been apart for a little while. You missed me already?"

Verena immediately pulled her gaze away from his chest. "Do you suffer from narcissistic personality disorder?"

"Then why are you here?" Asher raised an eyebrow.

"You can thank Liam for that."

"Oh?" Asher tossed the towel aside and took a few slow steps toward her. The look in his eyes grew deeper and mischievous. "Don't tell me you've started stalking me."

Before Verena realized it, he had closed the distance between them. Step by step, he backed her toward the door.

His clean, masculine scent surrounded her, making her suddenly aware of just how close he was. From this distance, she could clearly see every detail of his face and the unrestrained amusement dancing in his eyes.

The atmosphere seemed to become tense. Verena's breathing unconsciously became shallower. Instinctively, she lifted a hand and pressed it against his chest. "Back off."

The instant her palm made contact with his skin, she realized what she'd done. He wasn't wearing a shirt.

The warm, firm feel of his skin left her feeling awkward and embarrassed.

Asher lowered his gaze to her hand. Then he leaned in slightly closer. His expression was suggestive, but his tone was clear. "Getting a little bold, aren't you?"

Verena was convinced this man had lost his mind.

Her body stiffened. She didn't dare move. At this distance, she felt that if she lifted her head even slightly, she would bump into him. "You're sick. I'm not some kind of pervert."

The next moment, Asher wrapped his hand around hers. Before she could pull away, he pressed her palm firmly against his chest. "And if you were? Go ahead. No need to be shy."