“Sir, stop!” the receptionist said, scrambling around the desk. “You can’t go inside! You’re not a member.”
Deaf to her pleas, Chase continued into the gym. It was filled with attractive women with great bodies, but Demi’s neon-yellow attire instantly caught his eye. She was lying face-up on a padded mat, but she rocked her shoulders and hips to the beat of the music blaring inside the gym. Her hair was piled high on top of her head, diamond studs glittered in her ears and, without makeup, she looked like a college freshman.
Reaching the back of the gym, Chase heard Demi arguing with her trainer and frowned. He’d expected her trainer to be a buff muscle man with tattoos, but she was a toned brunette with braces and a chin-length bob.
“Come on, Holland. It’s not my fault I’m out of shape,” Demi said, huffing and puffing. “No one goes to Ibiza and eats healthy, so cut me some slack.”
“I’ll do your push-ups, but you have to buy me dinner afterwards. And a Heineken.”
Demi glanced over her shoulder and met his gaze.
“Ms. Harris, I am so sorry,” the receptionist said with an apologetic smile. “I tried to stop him but he wouldn’t listen.”
“No worries. It’s all good. He can stay.”
The receptionist left and Demi wore an amused expression on her face.
“So you’re stalking me now? What are you doing here, and how did you know where to find me?”
Chase raised his iPhone in the air. “From your social media posts, of course. You asked for help and here I am. Ready, willing and able to serve.”
“And just in time. Holland is trying to kill me.”
“No, I’m not,” argued the brunette. “I’m trying to get you back in shape, so finish your sit-ups or I’ll make you flip tires in the alley.”
“Not tires!” Demi groaned.
“Do we have a deal?” Chase unzipped his Nike-hoodie, took it off and hung it on a wall hook.
“No way. I can’t go out in public like this. I smell hideous and my clothes are filthy.”
Chase sniffed the air. “You’re right. You do stink!”
Giggling, she swiped at his leg, but he dodged the blow.
“You don’t strike me as the kind of woman who cares what people think,” he said. “Furthermore, I’m starving and you owe me, so stop making excuses.”
“Fine, it’s a deal because if I have to do one more sit-up I’ll pass out and you’ll be peeling me off the floor.”
Holland shook her head, but Chase could tell by the way her nose twitched that the trainer was trying not to laugh. Demi was playful, the kind of person people loved to be around, and Chase was glad he’d made the trip to the fitness studio to see her. When Demi was around he was guaranteed to have a good time, and he wanted to spend the rest of the night with her.
“Come on. We’ll do it together.” He grabbed a yoga mat from the metal stand, spread it on the ground and sat beside her. “Ready? You can tell me about your day and your upcoming speaking engagement in Atlanta while we tackle these floor exercises.”
“I’d rather tackle you instead,” she quipped with a knowing smile.
“We’ll finish our workout and then you can have your way with me. How’s that?”
Demi licked her lips. “I can hardly wait. Let the good times roll!”
* * *
Two hours later Demi sat at a round, wooden table with Chase, reading text messages on her iPhone and watching him on the sly. Worry lines creased his forehead and his eyebrows jammed together. Demi wondered what he was thinking, if he’d enjoyed their workout, and if he was serious about getting them VIP tickets to see Hamilton next Sunday.
Demi tried not to stare,
but she was drawn to him, impressed by his aura and his quiet confidence.
Since his surprise visit to the airport, she’d read numerous articles about him, and the first thing she’d discovered was that he’d lied to her about his career. Chase wasn’t just an app developer, he was a tech rock star who’d changed the industry forever, and his clients loved him. But what impressed her most about Chase was his devotion to his family. He did crafts with his mother, babysat his nieces and nephews, attended sporting events with his dad, and didn’t let a day go by without talking to his brothers. It was hard not to fall for him, and the more she learned about Chase, the more she desired him.