“Tia Anderson?” A deep male voice startles me from behind. Lily’s cheeks turn red and she giggles.
When I turn to face him, I immediately understand Lily’s reaction. She’s got the hots for Evan McDillan. He’s tall—maybe shorter than Victor, but still towers over me—and in great shape, with hard muscles in his arms that show below the short sleeves of his T-shirt. I do my best to keep my eyes on his face. He smiles and we shake hands. He nods in Lily’s direction and I hear her squeal.
“I’m Evan. Nice to meet you.”
“You too.”
As we leave the front desk area, Lily waves at me with a wide smile. I like her bubbly character.
Evan leads me through a long hallway, passing by various doors with signs for the locker rooms, weight room, and swimming pool. We pass by a large kiosk, which I notice is the directory. The building is massive.
We take the elevator to the third floor, and Evan leads me to an area with offices and cubicles.
He is personable, chatting easily with me, and a little weight lifts from my shoulders. His thick eyebrows emphasize long lashes and black eyes. He has that dark and dangerous look, but as soon as he starts talking, explaining the duties of the front desk position, I can tell there’s nothing dangerous about him. He’s a no-nonsense kind of guy, and I like him, but not in the way I like Victor. My body’s reactions to Victor are different. Carnal. Unwelcome. Welcomed.
Evan asks me questions about my class schedule and what hours I’d like to work. It sounds as if I’ve already gotten the job. I let out a quiet sigh.
When he asks if I have any questions for him, I take a deep breath and ask about whether it’ll be possible to eventually move up to a different job position. He talks about the experience and certifications needed for the instructor positions. They pay a lot more money and have flexible schedules. What if Victor is right when he said that I’ve believed for too long that I was not athletic?
Challenge accepted.
Within ten minutes, Evan has me sold on the other jobs at the center. I express my interest in a position as a fitness instructor, and he seems satisfied with my answer. I could use some happy hormones.
“I’m glad to hear that. You’re ambitious and honest. It’s definitely possible, and I can help you achieve your goals.”
I almost fall from my chair. He’s going to help me? No stranger has ever wanted to help me before.
“Take as many fitness classes as you want here. You need to be exposed to various workouts and teaching styles.”
At the end of our conversation, he explains he has three more interviews today, and in the next couple of days he’ll email the person who’s hired. I cross my fingers and hide my hands at my sides.
He walks me downstairs and we stop at the elevator on the first floor. He shakes my hand goodbye.
“I’m sorry I can’t walk through the facility with you right now. I have another interview scheduled. Take a look at the fitness rooms and the rooms for yoga and kickboxing. And if you have any questions, please feel free to call me or email.”
I thank him for his time, and he sends me away with his charming smile. I check the time on my cell, realizing the interview was twenty-five minutes, tops. I’m not sure if that’s enough time for Victor to work out. So I wander around for a while, giving him extra time.
As I’m nearing a turn in the hallway, muffled voices become clearer.
“Mmmm… he’s so yummy,” a female voice says.
“I would do anything to get my hands on him,” another female voice says. “On his—”
“You’ve already tried everything, and it’s not working.”
“Ugh. If he doesn’t want to hook up with me, then who is he hooking up with?”
“He’s off campus a lot. I bet you he has a girl off campus. No way he’s not having sex. Look at him.”
My stomach twists with a bad feeling. I stop right before the turn.
In the brief silence, I hear a smacking sound in the corner room. What was that?Smack. Smack. Smack.
I’m not going to hide here. I’m being unreasonable.
I step forward and try to pass by the room nonchalantly. The two girls come into view. They are dressed in yoga pants and tight tank tops revealing their sports bras. Each girl is holding a water bottle. I can only see their slender backs, because they’re looking through the window. I follow their eyes. Victor is circling a punching bag while throwing kicks and strikes at it. His shirt is sticking to his body, revealing the definition of hard muscles everywhere. My favorite part of ogling Victor while he’s working out is when his white T-shirt becomes so drenched in sweat that it reveals the black ink of the bull underneath.
The girls are oblivious to my presence, and Victor appears oblivious about theirs. He’s focused on a single point on the black leather.
