Shattered (Steel Brothers Saga 7)

“Whatever you say.” She chuckled.

“You think it’s not work? When we get back, I’ll take you riding. How’s that sound?”

“I didn’t mean to—”

“I know you didn’t. But if you think riding is easy, you have another think coming.”

“Fine. Fine. Here’s the fitness center. I’m going to do some reps with the free weights. What do you want to do?”

I had no idea. I hadn’t been in a weight room in ages. “I’ll just do what you do. How’s that?”

“You can probably handle more weight than I can.” She smiled. “I’m going to start with the dumbbells. I use the fifteens because I don’t like to get bulky.” She looked me over. “You should probably start with the twenties or thirties.”

Twenties? Did she think I was that much of a wimp? I grabbed a fifty pounder in each hand and started doing some bicep curls. I’d show her.

My arms were strong, so I didn’t have much problem doing the first ten reps. I rested a minute and then did another ten. She had moved onto tricep curls by the time I started my last set of reps.

The weights got heavier.

Damn. But I finished. No way was she going to show me up.

I moved on to tricep curls. As before, the first set was easy, but then…

God, what had I gotten myself into? I was strong, true, but the muscles I worked around the ranch were different from the ones I was working now, apparently.

“Don’t overdo it,” she warned.

“Don’t you worry about me. I know my way around a gym.”

“Whatever you say.” She put down her dumbbells and picked up a yoga mat. “I’m going to do some crunches and push-ups. Go ahead and finish with the weights.”

While she was occupied, I took the time to rest my arms. Then I decided to do some squats. I knew my thighs could hold up. I couldn’t find anyone to spot me, so I decided to use the leg press machine instead. After a few sets on that, I looked over at Ruby. She was finishing up.

She walked toward me, wiping her face with a towel. Every part of her body that wasn’t covered sparkled with shiny perspiration. She looked good enough to eat.

“Ready for breakfast?”

Was I ever. I grabbed a towel and wiped my face. “Sure am.”

We each took a quick shower in the respective locker rooms and then walked over to the restaurant where the breakfast buffet was being served. Ruby piled a plate high with bacon, scrambled eggs, and pancakes. Then she added some fresh fruit.

“You’re going to eat all that?” I said.

“You bet. I’m famished after a workout.”

I went through the omelet line and then took a serving of ackee and saltfish, which I’d heard was a traditional Jamaican dish. The ackee looked a lot like the scrambled eggs on Ruby’s plate.

Ruby had already taken a seat at a table outside, so I went to join her. I noticed she had also taken some ackee and saltfish.

“How’s the ackee?” I asked.

“Good. Different.” She munched on a slice of bacon. “I like trying new things.”

I smiled. Good. Because I had a lot of new things in mind that I wanted to try with her.

Chapter Nine

Ruby