“I see Shauna from reception waving at me. She needs me. I’ll catch you around later, okay?”
“Sure.”
She smiled before leaving the weights area. I continued my exercise. A dangerous plan was already forming in my mind. I was so focused on it that I didn’t realize Ian was here until he walked right up next to me.
“Hey,” he said. “Couldn’t focus anymore. Thank fuck the gym is so close.”
“Yeah.”
"Man, she's hot," he said.
I glanced in the direction he was looking. Mel was at the reception desk, talking to a guy. "She's off-limits."
"What do you mean off-limits? No one's off-limits."
"Mel is Isabelle's personal trainer."
Ian turned around slowly, staring at me for a few seconds before bursting out laughing. "Man, you're giving me the evil eye because I said she was hot. You've got it bad."
“Ian,” I said in a warning tone.
“Very bad. I’m getting on the treadmill before you can give me more shit.”
“Shut up.”
After he hopped on a treadmill, I headed to the locker room. I changed and showered, and the idea from earlier wouldn’t let go. I knew it was ridiculous, but I wanted to spend more time with Mel. I gave my brother shit, but he was right. I was feeling possessive because he'd looked at her.
Leaving the men’s changing room, I walked around the main floor, spotted Melanie in the break room again, and joined her. There was another guy in there, but he left shortly after drinking a glass of orange juice.
“Hey. Done for the day?” she asked.
“Yes.” The corners of my mouth twitched. “By the way, I changed my mind about having a personal trainer. I want one.” I gave it a minute so I could look her straight in the eyes. “And I want you.”
Lowering her glass on the table, she looked at me intently. “My pitch about the training won you over, huh?”
“Your pitch did. Just not the part about training. The way you checked me out might have something to do with it. Might,” I teased purposefully to see if what I thought was real or not. When she gasped lightly, covering her mouth before looking around wildly, I had my answer. Her shoulders slumped with relief when she realized we were alone.
“You thought I hadn’t noticed?” I asked playfully.
She groaned, lowering her hand. “You didn’t want to let a flirty text slide even though I was tipsy when I sent it. I have no chance of you letting this go, huh?”
“Zero,” I confirmed. “And just so you know, I’ll bring it up every chance I get during our private sessions.”
“I have no doubt you will.” She grinned, and I couldn’t help but tilt closer. She drew in a sharp breath, licking her lower lip.
I barely staved off the urge to kiss her, but I wasn’t going to resist the next time I saw her. I just knew it.
Ian was right. I had it bad.
Chapter Five
Mel
“Earth to Mel. Where are you?” Shauna asked.
I smiled sheepishly. “Just thinking about my next session.”
It wasn’t exactly a lie, but it also wasn’t the whole truth. I wasn’t thinking about the session itself but the man: Dylan Gallagher. I almost couldn’t believe I’d agreed to this. Our session was starting in ten minutes, and I was on pins and needles. He was already on a treadmill, completing the warm-up.
“You’re so cute, always so stressed out when you have a new client. You’ve been doing this for years,” Shauna said. “Everyone likes you.” Thank God she thought my nervousness was due to taking on a new client, because that wasn’t it at all—it was most definitely because of the man.
Oh, Dylan liked me, there was no doubt about that. He wasn't trying to make my panties melt; it came naturally to him.
What had I been thinking, agreeing to train him one-on-one?
What had I been thinking, flirting with him in my messages?
Eh, the last one was easier to explain. I’d had a glass of wine while listening to a steamy audiobook, and one thing led to another.
As to the private session? Apparently I didn’t seem to be able to think straight around him, not when he pinned me with that sinfully hot gaze.
“Well, I’m off. Wish me luck,” I said, quickly going to the ladies’ room before the session started. I inspected my appearance in the mirror. My dark shoulder-length tresses were firmly up in a ponytail, as usual. I typically wore no makeup at the gym. Even in my free time, I usually sported a natural look, only using black eyeliner on special occasions when I wanted to highlight my green eyes.
After rinsing my hands, I noticed a message on my phone. I unlocked the screen and gasped.
Elliot: I need to talk to you.
What the hell?
Mel: Forget it. I don’t want to see you. Ever.
Elliot: You think I do? I just need something.
Mel: FUCK YOU.
I leaned my forehead against the cold tiles, drawing in a few breaths, trying to relax. He needed something. I couldn’t believe the nerve of him. My ex was truly a shitty person. I didn’t want to change my number because it was a hassle. With trembling hands, I deleted the messages and his number.
I stayed in the ladies’ room for a few minutes longer before heading to the weight section. Dylan still had a few minutes on the treadmill, and I snatched the opportunity to drink him in, hoping the view would erase my thoughts of Elliot. Isabelle’s brother was wearing Nike shorts and a sleeveless tank top—those arms, yum. He was definitely all man with a build that rivaled any professional athlete.
When he turned around and locked his gaze with mine, I licked my lower lip. Just like that, all the anger those texts provoked slid to the back of my mind. Drawing in a sharp breath, I smiled widely, hoping he couldn’t tell how much he affected me. I clasped my hands together, standing next to the weight station as he walked toward me, and I was determined to keep my eyes on his face.
Do not look down, Melanie. Don’t be obvious. You’ll have plenty of opportunities to check him out later when he’s not looking.
There was a thin sheen of sweat on those delicious muscles.
“Hi. I see you've already done the warm-up. Are you ready for me?"
"I'm ready, Mel."
Just the sound of my name coming from his mouth was doing things to me. I had goose bumps on my arms. Sweet Lord, I was in trouble if I reacted to him this way already. I hadn't spent even five minutes with him and I was ready for a different kind of workout. Sheesh, I was usually not this responsive to the opposite sex.
Men in T-shirts and shorts surrounded me daily. I didn't even really register them anymore. But I sure as hell memorized every single inch of Dylan. I was blaming it on his gentlemanly actions that first day. He'd gotten under my skin, and now there was no shaking him off.
"So," he said, "should I bring up the audiobooks already?”
I tilted my head, smiling. It would seem I had to sort out this flirty situation before I could do my job.
“You can, but it doesn’t mean I’ll answer your questions.”
“That wasn’t our deal.”
“We had no deal. You said you’d bring them up, and I agreed you would.”