“Next to the pit?”she teased, trying to bring humor back into the conversation.She hadn’t meant to bring up such a sensitive subject.
“Why would I give away all of my secrets?”
“Why indeed?”she mused.
Chapter 11
Rob shook off his melancholy about losing his career in Special Forces as he led the way through the house to the studio.He still had a job that required his skill set.Rob knew he was better off than most.Too many veterans committed suicide or ended up homeless because the military deemed them no longer essential and cut them off.
Veteran services were overloaded with vets needing help and not enough staff to help them.Colonel Nick Weber had found him and given him another chance to serve his country in a similar capacity as he had before.Nick didn’t care about missing limbs.He saw they all still had the means and desire to serve.That was enough for him.Rob couldn’t be that upset about the turn of events.
Instead, he focused on the task ahead of him.Training June to protect herself.After consulting with Dr.Shane, he knew some of her mobility limitations.He had some ideas on things he wanted to teach her.She wouldn’t be able to do any spin kicks by any means, but he would teach her enough that should she be faced with an opponent, she could incapacitate him enough to get away.
Rob led the way down the stone pathway to the studio his friends had helped him build a few years ago.His house only had two bedrooms, and the spare bedroom wasn’t large enough for his equipment and to do a workout.
Rob hadn’t wanted to spend the money to go to the gym.Greg had suggested building one in the backyard since he wasn’t using it.He didn’t spend much time out here.He didn’t have a pet or people to entertain, so it had become its own desert wasteland.
It had taken a few weeks to clear out the space and build his studio.After that, it felt odd to have a structure in the middle of nothing, so he had added some rocks and low-maintenance shrubbery.Due to living in the desert, water was a precious commodity.
“Lots of places to bury bodies back here,” she remarked.
It took Rob a moment to remember he had told her this was where he hid the bodies.“Yeah, but the soil is hard, and I got tired of breaking my back with the digging.I had to find a new place.”
“I’m sure your neighbors appreciate that.Wow, this is really nice,” June said in awe as she stepped into the studio and looked around.
“Thanks.”Rob looked around, trying to see it with new eyes.The space was built years ago, and he was used to it.
The studio was twenty feet wide and about the same depth.One wall was made up of mirrors and different sets of weights in front of them.He had a bench press, treadmill, elliptical, and a chin-up bar on the opposite wall.
A mat was laid out in the back for hand-to-hand combat with the guys and for his medicine ball training as well as jump ropes.Lastly, he had a battle rope anchored into the wall in the back.Everything he needed to stay fit.
“You have everything in here.”
“EverythingIneed,” he corrected.Gyms had more equipment and more machines.He just had everything he needed.
“Most people put a pool in their backyard, not a gym.”
“Or pits.”They both laughed at that.“Some people do, but I get more use out of this.”
“True.Did your sister help design this too?”
“No, I can take full credit for this space.House design isn’t my thing.I know it’s probably a guy thing to say, but I don’t care much how things flow or if anything matches.If it’s comfortable and gets the job done, I don’t care.”The same went for the studio.It was a place to work out, not be aesthetically pleasing.
June chuckled.The sweet melodic sound doing things to his insides.“Maybe it’s a military guy thing.You’re used to not having much outside of basic requirements in the barracks, so it transfers into civilian life.”
He hadn’t thought about it like that, but there could be some truth to what she said.In basic, they were only given what they needed.He was on the go so much before being discharged that he didn’t have time for anything other than recouping when he was home.
“You seem to know a great deal about military guys.”
“I’ve been around a few.I’ve worked with plenty.”She shrugged, not giving anything away.He hated not knowing.His research hadn’t pulled anything up.That didn’t necessarily mean anything.Her brother could be an underground mafia or something.June had said he lived in California near LA.Plenty of criminals.
“Go ahead and set your stuff down over there.”He pointed to the corner where he had a small bench set up to put things down on or just to sit on.
Rob headed toward the mat and waited for her to join him.He started stretching his arms to warm up.June joined him and threw her hair up in a messy bun with several strands falling down and then started warming up.
“Do you have any prior experience with defense training?”
“No, you’re going to have to treat me like a newbie.Sorry.”
