You know what? I think I know what I need.
I head on inside. Pamela is behind the welcome desk, and she waves to me. “Hi, Dawn! How are you? Going on a treadmill today?”
“I might try a bike or… actually…”
“What do you need?” She smiles brightly.
I hate that my first thought is to wonder how she can be so incredibly bubbly all the time. Is it just an act? Or are there really some people out there who are that happy all of the time?
“I think I might… There are personal fitness trainers, right? I need help. With motivation, diet… I don’t think I can do this on my own, and with Heather leaving…”
“She’s leaving?”
I nod.
"Bummer. I love Heather. She's been coming for years, five now, I think. Maybe six. Anyhow, yes! Of course we have personal fitness trainers. We actually have a newer one who doesn't have a ton of clients on his docket yet, but so far, everyone is raving about him—"
"Him?" I blurt out. "Um, no. I was kind of hoping for a female one."
“Hmm.” Pamela walks over to her computer and types away. Somehow, even her typing seems perky. “Yeah, I was afraid that was the case. All of our female trainers are completely booked up, but I can let you know if that changes. In the meantime, maybe you can give Lucas a chance?”
“Who should give me a chance?”
A hunk of a dreamboat walks over. He looks the part of a gym rat, tall and muscular, with blond hair cut short and blue eyes.
“Lucas! Just the trainer I wanted to see. This here is Dawn. Dawn Melton. She is looking for a trainer, and I suggested you.”
"Hi." He appraises me, giving me the once-over, and I swear he frowns, and faint lines appear on his forehead.
He’s already judging me. I can tell, and not only that, but he’s finding me lacking. I can see it in his eyes. He doesn’t think I’m going to stick with this, that it’s going to be a waste of his time.
“I’m Lucas Thorpe,” he adds. “Let’s get to work.”
He starts to walk away, and I almost have to jog to keep up. His strides arelong.
“Wait, don’t you want to know about my goals?”
“We need to establish a baseline,” he says, sounding bored.
And he’s heading toward the area of the fitness center I never go.
Toward the weights.
Oh, this really isn’t a good idea. Not at all. If I had Brooke’s body, then I wouldn’t mind working out with Lucas, but then again, I wouldn’t need a personal fitness trainer.
Damn it! Why did I have to inherit my mom’s sweet tooth? Then again, she’s not overweight because she knows when to stop eating.
I can do this. I can do this. I can…
Lucas glances over at me. Damn, why do his eyes have to be so bewitching?
“Are you ready to get started?”
I would so rather get started on him than dare lift a thing of weights, but maybe I can use Lucas as motivation. Not that I’ll have a chance with him, not when there are women who work out here wearing full faces of makeup and look flawless yet once they’re done. Crazy. Batshit crazy.
Lucas makes a face, and I realize I’m staring and he’s waiting for an answer.
“I’m ready,” I say as bravely as I can.
He grimaces, and I’m sure he’s just counting down the hours until I quit. What he doesn’t realize is that I’m going to use him as motivation to keep on going.
I want to see him smile, damn it, and not just smile at anyone.
I want him to smile at me.
I bet his smile is as bewitching as his eyes.
* * *
