Brett nodded and sucked in a breath. “Just like it sounds?”
“Yep.” She jumped up to her feet, oblivious to his few seconds of panic, and stepped over him in a standing straddle, facing his feet. “You’re just going to lift your leg straight—”
“I can’t straighten it all the way.”
“That’ll come later, just lift the leg and try to touch your toes to my hand, okay?” Penny shot a glance down over her shoulder.
At least now that she was facing away he didn’t have to pretend he wasn’t looking.He kicked his right leg up, leaving his left stretched out on the floor, but couldn’t quite force his toes to hit Penny’s hand.
“Pathetic. Try again.”
Brett coughed a laugh. He kicked up again, and this time, Penny reached out, wrapping both hands around the back of his calf. She tugged gently, easing his leg toward her. He grunted.
“Don’t hold your breath. Exhale. Deep breath in then deep breath out.” Penny let go of his leg as he lowered it back to the floor, then bent over again and pulled as he stretched it back to the ceiling. Brett had a perfect view of her back end, and it was the only thing keeping him from swearing at the sting in his hamstring.
She’s your physical therapist, douchebag.Brett forced his eyes to the underside of the couch and expelled the air from his lungs.Housemates, Andrea. I’m not sleeping with anyone.Brett grinned thinking about the conversation he’d very much enjoyed listening to with Penny and her sister earlier.I don’t have a type.That comment was his favourite because she only would’ve said that if her sister thought hewasPenny’s type. He’d run that possibility through his head on repeat, secretly hoping her sister knew her better than she knew herself.
Not that he was going to do anything about it. Not yet.
“Good. Let’s do a few more.”
Brett’s eyes glazed at that praise coming out of her mouth, and he clenched his fists. If they were going to do three sessions a week like this, he had to change his mindset. Take whatever was simmering in his midsection and shut it down cold. He gritted his teeth and started mentally repeating multiplication tables.
“Okay, get up and sit on the couch,” Penny stepped back to his right side and waited for him to pull himself off the floor. Brett did as she asked. “Seated leg raises. We want to activate and strengthen those quads.”
“Same thing?”
“Yep, lift the leg up past your other thigh.” Penny leaned over and again helped him stretch the leg higher than he could get it on his own.
“I feel like an eighty-year-old man.” Brett hissed air through his teeth as he worked to lift his leg higher.
“Well you don’t look it.” Penny winked. “Just enjoy this one. I saved the best for last.”
“Fantastic.” Sweat broke out on Brett’s forehead, which made him question whether he’d ever worked out a day in his life. A few minutes later, when he wondered if his upper leg was going to spontaneously combust, Penny stopped him.
“Take a minute.” She stood and walked into the kitchen, then returned with a clean towel. She rolled it up and set it on the floor then motioned for him to meet her on the rug. “Same thing as before. Lie down and place your knee over this towel.
“I don’t like where this is heading.”
Her lips drew into a line as he got into position. “You’re going to flex your muscle again, but this time, push your knee to the floor.”
Brett’s heart kicked up a notch. “That’s going to straighten the leg.”
“Right.”
“But it won’t go straight right now.”
“Right. I know.” Penny patted his calf.
Brett laid back on the floor and froze when Penny threaded her fingers through his. “I’m right here with you, okay?” Adrenaline coursed through his veins at her touch, and right then, he felt like he could sprint a hundred meters if she asked him to. But all he did was press his knee into the towel.
Pain exploded up his thigh, and he clenched his teeth together to keep from crying out.
“You can scream.” Penny's voice was soft, in complete juxtaposition to the movement she was forcing. She squeezed his hand as Brett released his leg.
“I don't want to scream.”
“Yes, you do.”
