When we were done and left the store together, my mind was swimming with unwritten lists, options for healthy snacks, terms that were new for me, like metabolic confusion. Basically, I needed to have a lot of variety, and I would alternate between days with more carbs and days with no carbs at all.
I was ready to give it a go.
After helping me load the groceries into my car, Ethan went to return the cart.
In the meantime, I scrolled down to the recipe I’d use for dinner tonight. I mean, I never followed a recipe religiously, but I liked the inspiration. And if someone told me I could eat grilled chickenwiththe crispy skin, they were my friend for life.
The skin is where you get your boost of collagen, he’d told me.
Ethan returned and stuck his hands in the pockets of his jeans. “Did you settle on a dinner?”
“Yes! The grilled chicken with lentil salad,” I said.
“That’s a good one.” He nodded. “So, remember—always eat when you’re hungry, stop eating when you’renothungry, drink plenty of water, and call or text whenever you need help. Especially in the beginning, we tend to need more support, and I’d rather you blow up my phone with texts than try to handle every craving or hesitation by yourself.”
How could someone so supportive possibly be the man Gray had described? I just didn’t see it. In less than twenty-four hours, Ethan had removed most of my worries about this lifestyle change.
“I really appreciate this,” I said honestly. “I know it’s a service I’m paying for, but I didn’t think you’d go all in like you have. It makes a big difference.”
He smiled. “My big secret is that I genuinely care about people’s physical and mental health. But don’t tell anyone.”
I laughed softly. “Your secret is safe with me, Coach.”
His smile morphed into a wolfish little grin, and I could tell he liked his nickname.
Hewasawfully handsome and, yeah, sexy too. But there was something about him… I got the feeling he was trying to hide the things I was most drawn to. Such as his age and all the signs that showed he’d left his thirties behind.
“So I’ll see you Friday morning, yeah?”
I nodded. “I’ll be there at nine.” It’d been one of the few available time slots, though it suited me fine. Working primarily from home allowed me to be flexible with appointments.
“Perfect. Good job today. I’ll text you tonight,” he said.
I’d thought about that earlier, and I couldn’t help but ask, “Do you get any time off, or do you spend every evening talking to clients?”
He chuckled. “It’s not that much work. I only take on four or five full-time clients like you, and a few texts here and there don’t bother me one bit. I like following their progress.” He shrugged. “I had one client a few months ago who treated the evening texts like his private journal, and it gave me a good insight. It was easier for me to tailor his workout plan when I knew his mental state.”
Goddammit, he kept saying all the right things.
Could Gray be wrong?
I decided right then and there to snoop. Chloe had to know the man somewhat too.
CHAPTER 3
Natalie Nolan
Igot my chance on Thursday when my sister invited me over for dinner. It would only be her, Aiden, one of the twins, and me.
I showed up at seven, ready to be nosy about the Quinn family.
“Mom!” Gideon yelled from upstairs. “When’s dinner ready?”
“Five minutes!” Chloe hollered back.
I helped with the salad, ’cause Chloe and I were Southern gals, and she liked to mix in dressing and croutons and cheese and…basically anything I had to be careful around. Well, the Parmesan was all right.
“Are you sure this will be okay, doll?” she asked. “I can make you something else if?—”
