“You better know what you’re doing.”
I scowled in annoyance and confusion. “I wouldn’t have taken on this job if I didn’t know what I was doing.”
He snorted. “Yeah, just make sure you didn’t take it on for other reasons.”
Slamming my hands on my hips, I questioned, “What other reason would that be?”
“I’m sure you know what I’m talking about.”
Pit lowered his eyes to the fists I made at my sides before rising to meet mine again.
“Take care of him.” He looked back over his shoulder toward Luke who stared at us through the window. Luke didn’t bother trying to hide it either. Pit nodded at Luke before giving me a final look and then headed toward the exit. I watched him walk away before turning back to Luke who was, surprisingly, eyeing me. Unlike Pit, Luke’s face was completely readable. His expression said annoyed as he lifted from his chair and came back out to the main area of the gym.
“For that interruption, you owe me an extra twenty minutes,” I declared. His scowl deepened. “As I was trying to ask you earlier, what’s your daily diet consist of?”
“Are we really doing this?”
“Yes. It’s important to your training.”
He rolled his eyes.
“Be careful before they get stuck like that,” I teased, but Luke’s entire body stilled.
“What did you just say?”
I shrugged. “Just something someone used to say to me. About the diet?” I looked at him, expectantly.
“Typically, I’ll drink a pre-workout before my morning session, followed by a breakfast of eggs, bacon, and half an avocado if I feel like it.”
“No doubt it’s not low sodium bacon or at least the kind without nitrates and all the garbage in it.”
“That other shit tastes horrible.”
I shook my head. “Knew it.” At the same time, I made that declaration my phone buzzed in my pocket. I smiled as I read the message. “That’s your new nutritionist now.”
“My new what?”
“Nutritionist. Don’t tell me you haven’t worked with one before.”
He shook his head. “Never needed one.”
“Or so you think. We have a meeting with him later this week. For now, let’s get started.”
“Whatever,” Luke grumbled as he removed the V-neck T-shirt he’d been wearing, tossing it to the ground.
Briefly, I let my eyes graze over the many tattoos that covered his chest and arms. A shiver ran through my body, before I pulled my attention back to the timer in my hand. I shook off whatever that feeling had been and put Luke through a grueling workout. My goal was to see how far I could push him, what type of shape he was in, and whether or not he would actually take direction from me.
There was plenty grumbling on his part, but once he started, it was as if a light switch got turned on and he went on autopilot. The questioning, snark, and overall asshole comments from earlier dissipated as he worked up a sweat, going round after round with the jump rope, punching bag, speed bag, and all the other exercises I had him do.
He did, however, question it when I had him do some groundwork with me. Though, I suspected he knew that was his main weakness.
“Don’t forget we’ve got an appointment with the nutritionist next week. I had to push it back to fit his schedule,” I stated as I packed up my belongings and stepped back into my heels. I was going to have to rethink these shoes for our morning training sessions. “Once your diet is in place, we’ll be going up to two-a-day workouts. In the meantime, instead of here, we’re going to meet somewhere else for our morning training.”
“Where?” He asked with squinted eyes.
“It’s a local place. Perfect place to really begin your groundwork training. I’ll shoot you a text later today with the address.”
“How? You don’t have my cell and I’m not giving it to you.”
