It was tempered only slightly by the memory of Spencer’s sour face as she’d dared to pause in the middle of her workout.Shame twinged at her, and she did her best to mentally swat it away.She doubted he could or would have said anything if she’d had to run to the bathroom, and the idea had come on as suddenly as any gastric emergency, which was why she’d given that as an example.
The justification carried her through the rest of the evening and might truly have helped her sleep at night.Or maybe the vigorous workout played a role — she didn’t get as sore as the first day anymore, but still felt it in her limbs.
The next morning’s email brought a reply from the author:Yes!That is EXACTLY what I was hoping for.Sending these designs to the mug printer now.Let me know which sample you want as a thank-you tip.
It perked Misty up, and so did the payment notification from her bank in the next email.If she hadn’t gotten the idea down, she wouldn’t have reached this point and wouldn’t have gotten this much-needed commission, so fuck Spencer.
Okay, that was an unfortunate choice of words.Early in their introduction, it had dawned on her that shewouldfuck Spencer.But his behavior during the sessions seriously tested that premise.
All the same, it made her wonder what he’d be like in bed.She bet he’d check in with a partner like he did during a training session...and that he’d keep that stern look on his face when he was coming.
This had to stop, or she wouldn’t be able to look him in the face during today’s session.It was bad enough she’d blurted out that question about sex last week.She’d been thinking it, and it had flown out before she could stop herself when he took her protein bar away.
Misty shook her head vigorously, as if to rattle the awkward memory out, feeling her long hair shake around her shoulders.She tied it in a ponytail and kept her hair up all day, wearing it that way to the strength session.
Spencer was waiting for her just off the reception desk by the entrance to the café.He was in his usual gym gear, looking as hot and inscrutable as ever.“How are you?”he asked.
“I’m good.The sun is shining and my project is finished.”She couldn’t resist adding that last part.
“Glad that work project’s done.”He sure didn’t look like it.“Let’s get to work in the weights area.”
Chapter Four
After sending his morningclient off, Spencer went to the café for an iced coffee and a moment to decide what to do with Misty at her upcoming session.He wasn’t sure she was strong enough to lift a 600-pound sled yet, but she was on her way after a few weeks of working with him.At the same time, he didn’t want her to gain so much muscle that it interfered with her speed.Maybe there was a way they could combine cardio and strength for today’s session.
Duh!The thought slammed into his head with all the force of a free weight hitting the ground.There was something they could do, and it was right there in the name.How had he not thought of this sooner?Because she wasn’t strong enough?No, that wasn’t true anymore, and —
A voice that was starting to become familiar sounded at the front desk.Two women — one with a headband holding a crown of dark curls away from her face, the other with a long reddish ponytail — scanned their phones at the front desk to check in.The closeness between Misty and the other woman was obvious even at this distance, and it seemed to give her a spring in her step as she approached him.
“Did you use a guest pass to bring a friend?”he asked after greeting her.
Misty laughed.“If you’d asked a month ago, it might’ve been the other way around.Tish is the world’s biggest gym-vangelist.”
Spencer couldn’t help coughing out a laugh at her way of putting it.“Who is she?”
“The one that got me here, to try out for the team in the first place and to train here.”
