She clearly saw determination and … yes, possession in his gaze.
He eyed her weight stack. “Don’t overdo it.”
He clapped Reginald’s back in a friendly gesture, but the set of his jaw told a different story.
Well, well. Could it be that Nick Kent was jealous?
With her heart beating a little faster, she watched the two men as they strolled toward the heavy barbell section. Reginald said something that clearly didn’t sit well with Nick, who shook his head and glared at him.
But Reginald just laughed, evidently not intimidated.
Soon, Nick lay on his back on a narrow bench, his thick legs spread wide apart, his arm muscles beautifully corded, bench-pressing a massive barbell as if it were made of Styrofoam. The loose legs of his shorts offered Jannie a glimpse of the red boxers like the ones she’d yanked off him last night, and she shifted, feeling her nipples pebble. Behind him, Reginald grinned broadly at her and winked.
Her mouth was dry, whether from the sight of Nick working those muscles she liked to touch or because she’d pushed herself too hard, she didn’t know.
Nick was right, though. Best not to overdo it the first time she exercised after such a long break. Rising, she headed to the concession stand near the gym entrance.
“What can I get you?” the girl at the counter asked, wiping the stainless surface with a damp cloth. She had a pixie haircut and radiated bubbly energy.
Jannie eyed her name tag, which read,Piper, then looked at the menu on the wall. “I don’t see prices.”
“Everything is included with your membership.” She grinned. “Or with your guest pass.”
“Oh. OK.” A smoothie would fit the bill, Jannie decided.“Which smoothie would you recommend?”
“I like the strawberry-pineapple-banana,” Piper replied without hesitation.
“Sounds good. One of those, please. And a green apple, spinach, and banana. With almond milk.”
“We call that one the Hot Pilot!” Piper winked. “Nick always orders it. Would you like to add a vitamin and protein boost to both for additional energy and nutrition?”
She wasn’t a fan of unnecessary supplements. “No, thank you.”
The girl nodded and set about scooping and measuring fruit and juiceinto a blender carafe. “We haven’t seen Pilot Nick in a while,” she said.
Jannie pulled two straws from the dispenser. “Oh?”
“Yeah, he’s usually in here every day for at least a couple of hours. Works out like a beast, that man. We were wondering if he moved away or something, or if he was flying a different route nowadays, or maybe got sick, because no one has seen him in, like, forever.” She looked at Jannie with open curiosity. “Are you his new girlfriend or something?”
Or something.
Before she could think of a reply, Piper went on.
“Sorry, you don’t have to answer that. I’m way too nosy.” She waved her scoop in the air, then flipped the switch on the blender, eliminating any possibility of further conversation.Jannie inhaled the aroma of strawberries and bananas, watching the mixture swirl in the carafe and turn a pretty shade of coral.
The moment the blender stopped, Piper continued. “There’s a rumor that’s been going around. They say he has a brother. Is that true?” She made a pouty face. “Please say yes.”
Jannie’s heart squeezed. “Nick is an only child.”
The girl’s face fell. “For real?”
“I’m afraid so.”
Disappointment flickered in Piper’s eyes. “Aww, that’s too bad. It would’ve been so cool if that were true. They said they were sure he had a younger brother who looked just like him.”
She yanked the carafe from the base, ripped off the lid, and poured the fruity mixture into a tall paper cup. “Wishful thinking on their part, I guess.” She sighed. “They broke the mold when they made that man, that’s for sure.”
She pulled a plastic lid from a stack behind her. “They also say—” she lowered her voice conspiratorially “—that he owns asex club.”
