“I pay for you.”
“You pay to be trained, and you’ll pay the same, no matter who the trainer is.”
Honey’s hands fist, and her face trembles as she clenches her jaw and curls her lip.
She might throw a punch at me. It wouldn’t shock me.
“You can take this hole in the wall and shove it right up your ass. You must be gay to turn me down, you piece of shit.”
“And now you can leave and not come back.”
“I don’t want to have anything to do with this piece of shit place.”
“Out you go, Honey.”
I open the door and wait for her to leave. She glares daggers at me as she walks past, then suddenly presses her ample tits against my chest and pushes her face up toward mine.
It makes me sick to my stomach.
“You’re missing out, Ben. I’m a fantastic fuck.”
“I’m sure your husband thinks so.”
She snarls as she walks away toward her little Mercedes. When she’s sitting inside, she screams.
A blood-curdling scream as if she’s being stabbed to death.
Then, she flips me off and peels out of my parking lot.
“Well,” Kara says from behind me, “I guess I won’t have to work with her.”
“Nope.” I turn to Kara and flash a relieved smile. “None of us do, thank God. Now, let’s go over your new schedule.”* * * *Sunrise is my time to get my workouts in. My job is physically demanding, all day long, but it’s not the same as an intense session of my own—which is important to continue fitting into my schedule. I have to maintain a certain look for my career, and I feel better when I’m in top physical condition.
Running along the waterfront is my favorite for cardio. I could use the equipment at Sound Fitness, but I spend all day in there. Getting out into the fresh air is where it’s at, rain or shine.
And in Seattle, there’s more rain than shine.
Running also helps me empty my mind and think clearly.
I’m still not 100% sure that taking Luke’s job offer was the right thing to do, but the gym can use the income, and my employees have promised that they can handle things while I’m mostly gone.
I plan to have the client at Sound Fitness for at least two hours each day anyway. I’ll be able to check in and take care of anything that needs to be handled during that time.
I have a chef on standby, ready to start cooking the meals I request for Miss Harrison. I need to sit down with her first thing on Monday to talk about her goals and current fitness level before hammering out a final menu, but that shouldn’t take long.
I hope she realizes how intense the next few weeks will be. I will approve every bite she puts into her mouth. Her body will ache, and she’ll sometimes whimper in pain. I only hope she’s disciplined enough to endure it without throwing the weights at my head.
I run through town, headed toward my best friend’s bakery. Succulent Sweets has been a mainstay for delicious and designer cupcakes in downtown for well over seven years. Nic is the reason I moved to Seattle. She and I are from the same small town in Wyoming. I’d visited her often over the years, and finally decided to move here full-time a couple of years ago.
And then Sound Fitness fell into my lap when Nate’s dad decided he was ready to sell and retire.
It’s as though everything was meant to be.
It’s early on a Friday, which means Nic is already in her kitchen, baking up the cupcakes for today.
I knock on the back door and then walk right in, the smell of chocolate already hanging in the air.
“Just me,” I call out as I take a second to lean on the door and stretch my legs. When I walk into the kitchen, Nic smiles at me and continues stirring some batter in a bowl. “Don’t you own one of those massive industrial mixers by now?”
“This is my therapy,” she informs me. “Just like ridiculously long runs are yours.”
I cross my arms over my chest and watch her work. “What are you doing this weekend?”
“I believe there is a Montgomery family BBQ to attend on Sunday, and I’m working tomorrow because Bailey is off with the guys on vacation.”
Bailey, one of Nic’s very good friends, has been filling in for Nic on the weekends. She’s also married to two men.
To each their own, and it’s good to see the three of them so happy.
“What about you?” she asks.
“I’ll be working.” I tell her about Luke’s offer and the new client I’ll be working with in just a couple of days.
“I think that’s awesome. You’ve always loved one-on-one work the best. I know you enjoy owning the business, but this will kind of take you back to your roots. And it’s an excellent opportunity for the gym. Good for you.”