"You can do eight," Luke said with confidence. He cupped his hands beneath the bar, ready to take its weight if necessary, and with an unashamed, effortful grunt, Sabrina lifted the bar to start her reps.
She hadfantasticupper arms, biceps and triceps standing out in terrific definition as she brought the bar down. Luke almost forgot he was supposed to watch the weights, not her arms, or the way her face went red with concentration. Only for a second: then he was back to business, counting the reps for her. She'd been right: four was easy, but her arms were trembling by the end of the sixth. "You can do it," he said again, confidently, and she blew out another hard breath as she lowered the bar for the seventh rep. Luke braced in case she faltered and really did need his help, but she got through the seventh, then finished the set with another loud, effortful grunt.
Luke actually cheered as he took the bar's weight to guide it back into its fittings. Sabrina let her arms flop down and gasped a couple times, then groaned. "I'm never going to get to Vegas now."
"Your arms are too tired to make the flight?" Luke flapped his elbows and Sabrina laughed, then sat up with yet another grunt. She was so tiny and curvy and completely comfortable grunting, Luke thought with delight. A lot of his female clients didn't want to look or sound like they were putting any effort in, but Emmy's friend apparently didn't mind at all.
"I like a man who recognizes the setup for a stupid joke," she said, flapping her own elbows, then offering her hand. "Thanks for the spot. I'm Sabrina."
"I'm always down for stupid jokes. Luke Jones." His huge hand enveloped Sabrina's, but her grip was steady and sturdy. "Nice job with the set."
"Thanks. I, ah. Haven't seen you around here before?" She screwed up her face, which was possibly the most adorable expression Luke had ever seen. "Wow, what a pick-up line. But it's true."
"I just got back to town last night," he said. "And you're new here, too. Not that I'm new here. I'm from Virtue. But you're not. I'd have noticed."
His bunny stared at him in despair.Christ, man, stop talking.
Make up your mind!
I didn't know you were going to sound like an idiot!
That was fair. Fortunately Sabrina either notice or didn't mind, because she was back to smiling broadly at him. "No, I just got here a few months ago and am only here through October?—"
NOOOOOOOOO! WAIT! TELL HER SHE CANNOT LEAVE US! WE WILL BE IN DARKNESS AND DESPA?—
Whoshould stop talking?Luke demanded. Aloud and trying not to sound as if he had a demented rabbit yelling in his head, he said, "Well, then, welcome to Virtue. What brings you to our little town? Wait. Am I interrupting your workout?"
"My arms are numb now, so I'm probably done. But am I getting in the way of yours?" Sabrina took a step back, apologetically, as if she'd forgotten they were trying a do-over conversation and really were just starting from scratch.
Luke had also almost forgotten that, honestly. He'd more or less forgotten everything in existence except Sabrina Keep's gorgeous dark brown eyes and sunny smile. He'dcertainlyforgotten about his intended workout, and blinked around the gym at her question.
That, unfortunately, brought Emmy back into view. His big sister, sitting on a weight bench a few feet away, was grinning like an idiot. Once she'd been noticed again, she gave him two exaggerated thumbs up and an equally exaggerated nod of encouragement.
Emmy thinks you're doing great!His rabbit, always happy for positive reinforcement, bounced right back to its 'rah-rah-Luke!' mode. If he wasn't used to it, Luke would probably get whiplash from the rabbit's highs and lows. He looked back at Sabrina and shook his head. "Definitely not interrupting my workout. Hadn't even gotten started yet. Might even skip it, since I hear I'm heading to Vegas this weekend myself."
"Oh, God." Sabrina put a hand over her face, visibly mortified. "No, no, no. We were doing so well! Emmy! This is your fault!"
Emmy said, "Guilty!" in the least-guilty, most-cheerful voice Luke had ever heard.
"Weweredoing well, weren't we?" Luke asked Sabrina with a grin. "Look, honestly, I really did just get back home and I don't have anything specific planned until I re-schedule clients, so ifyou're in a bind, I'll help you out. Even if my sister is a weirdo for suggesting it."
"Clients? Sheisa weirdo," Sabrina said with a glare she clearly didn't mean aimed at Emmy.
"Clients. I'm a physical trainer."
Sabrina's gaze bounced back and raked him up and down. "Ofcourseyou are. No, really, it's much too weird?—"
"I'll book a separate room," Luke promised, and Sabrina laughed out loud, a great big bark of sound.
He liked that she was noisy. He was also wearing gym shorts and absolutely under no circumstances should think about other situations she might be that noisy in.
And now he couldn't think of anything else.
Football games?his rabbit enquired curiously. It didn't understand football at all, but was aware people made a lot of noise at them.
Luke choked on a laugh.Football games, yes.He clung to that idea, hoping it would keep his gym shorts in place. To Sabrina, he said, "What's so funny?" although he had his suspicions.
"I'm thirty-three years old," she said. "None of my girls are going to believe I'm sleeping in a separate hotel room from my boyfriend."
