Page 32 of Rebel Hawke

The Hawkes.

I release a relieved breath.

Atlasdidsay they know a lot of suburban housewives, so maybe finding clients won’t be so difficult.

We aren’t fully set up yet and won’t be open until next week on Monday, but I will be there tomorrow between about 6:00am and 5:00pm if you want to swing by for a chat.

That would be lovely. 6:00 AM?

Sure. See you then.

I slide my phone back onto the nightstand and grin as I snuggle down in bed, finally starting to feel a little less tense than I have all night. Though, I’m not sure whether that was from the orgasm or my first potential client.

Perhaps both.

And they each came my way from the Hawkes.

As much as I might not want it to be true, I may need them if I’m going to get this thing off the ground and make it successful.

It’s what I need, for myself and for Gramps.

He can’t work much longer, and sooner than I want to think about, he’ll need the kind of full-time care I can’t afford.

If making this work means accepting help from the Hawkes, I can do that…

Just don’t let yourself fall for Atlas.

You’re only going to get hurt.

I know it’s true, but as my eyes start to get heavy and my lids droop, it’s his face I see. His touch my body imagines. His strong arms wrapped around me, holding me tightly and keeping me safe as I finally fall asleep.

6

WREN

Ipace barefoot back and forth down the main aisle between the two rows of reformers, chewing on my nails, as the first morning light starts to filter through the now-clean front windows.

The day might just be starting, but I’ve been here for hours, unable to sleep. Too restless. Too excited. Too nervous about the possibility of finding my first private client.

Not to mention the fact that every time I closed my eyes, the same visions of Atlas kept popping back up, making it literally impossible to get anything but worked up. Certainlynotsleep.

Which makes all this waiting even more unbearable.

Who are you really waiting for?

My potential client said she would be here by 6:00—unfortunately, around the same time Gramps and the man who seems to occupy all my dreams usually show up next door.

Don’t think about that.

Concentrate on business.

Easier said than done.

I’ve tried about everything.

A long, intense flow on the Cadillac before the sun even came up. Setting up social media accounts so I can start advertising for Early Bird Pilates. Unpacking the last of the boxes that contained the Pilates chairs, balance boards, weights, and everything else any of my clients will need—now all neatly placed in the little cubbies I ordered for the end of each reformer.

All the busy work has been done, which leaves me burning a path across the wood plank floors with my pacing.

---