"You watch too much television."
"And you take me for a fool, but anyway you're right about me killing a lot of my brain cells each night sitting in front of that screen. Let's finish up here. I'm hoping that at some point this year, you'll tell me whether or not you're ever going home with me."
When I didn't answer, he added, "You don’t have to commit now, but I do want to take a short trip in three weeks. We can go for a week or two and that will be enough time for you to walk through the space and get a better feel for what I'm trying to do."
I still didn't say anything, but I was thinking.
"Come on, Kofi. Don't make me have to beg you. Look at it this way. Coming down with me isn't committing. It's like taking a field trip. When you're in Jamaica you can see if you like the island enough to do business there. Don't worry about permits and stuff. My father knows people, so that won't be a problem. Your knowledge is what can make or break this for me, and we stand to make good money."
"I'm thinking about the time and how it will work with my schedule."
Kemar looked at me as if I was stupid. "In case you forgot, you work for yourself."
"But I have clients."
"Whom you put on programs. They can work out for a week or so without you supervising them. If they need you, they can send a message or reach you on social media."
My gaze went to the television, then back to Kemar. "You have this all worked out."
"Yeah, say the word and I'll book the ticket. We can stay with my parents and you'll be back here in a jiffy. It will be as if you never left."
"I think you missed your calling. You should have been a lawyer. You argue a convincing case." I got to my feet and pulled my keys out of my jeans pocket. "I'll tell you if I'm going by Monday, but it sounds like a good plan."
Kemar stood and slapped me on the shoulder. "Don't make me have to drag you on the plane."
We walked to his front door, where we exchanged a man hug and he thumped me in the back. It was a good thing he wasn't bigger or heavier than I was. Otherwise, he'd do some serious damage since he clearly didn't know his strength.
With the engine warmed up, I guided the car in the direction of the gym. I hadn't planned to go there, but Jerry wanted to meet with me and today was a good day for both of us. He accepted all the recommendations I'd made so far for upgrading his equipment and was now looking at expanding the services offered to his clients.
I'd been thinking about Kemar's offer for a while now. I couldn't see the down side of going into partnership with him. The numbers he put together looked feasible, plus he had a good business head and his father's help and money to back that up. For me, it would mean possibly relocating for a time while we got things set up and hired the right mix of persons to staff the place.
My thoughts went on hold when the gym came into view. I got out my duffle, locked up and walked through the front doors. The receptionist waved at me, wearing a cheerful grin. Tia always seemed to be in a good mood, which was ideal for the job she was in and the number of people who passed through each day.
Jerry was waiting for me in his office, and we got down to business right away as he had to be somewhere else when we were finished. We spent fifteen minutes discussing his requirements and another twenty factoring in my suggestions. By the time our discussion ended, he was satisfied with the direction we were going in and told me he'd start replacing the equipment in the next few weeks.
With that settled, I picked up my duffle and headed to my locker. Having changed into sweats and a tee-shirt, I got on with doing some stretches and then hit the weights. My workout took me forty-five minutes and when I was done, I was a little tired, sweaty and also energized. With my towel thrown around my neck, I was on the way to the shower when my senses told me Gina was around. Only God knew how I figured she was in the building, but it turned out I was right.
My sense of smell was sharper than I believed and the shot of adrenaline that spread through my body told me she was nearby. That delightful combination of almond and mango had me searching for her as if I were a bull being led by a ring in its nose.
When I found her, I stood with my hands in my pockets watching her.
Gina lay on a mat doing leg lifts. Then she went into planking position.
I didn't disturb her, but waited until she planked for a couple of minutes and rested on her towel before I walked toward where she lay.
As if she sensed my presence, Gina turned her head in my direction. "I knew you were here somewhere."
I crouched next to her. "You have ESP?"
She flipped on her back and raised both arms to undo and retie her hair. "Nah, I just knew you were here, plus I know your smell."
If I broke out laughing, Gina would think I was crazy, but it tickled me that I'd also been drawn to her because of her scent.
Smiling, I said, "I hope you mean that in a good way."
Acting as if she had to dig deep for an answer, she said, "Hmm, lemme think about that for a second."
She sat up and held out one hand to me. I took it and when she was on her feet, her smile widened. "Of course, I meant that in a good way. You see, I have a thing about men who smell green."
