Page 8 of Up All Night

I nodded and looked at my watch while she went to get my substitute trainer. It was 5:58, so hopefully we wouldn’t get started late. I had to leave here no later than seven to get home and shower before heading off to work.

Hearing footsteps, I glanced up to see the blonde coming back out with a beautiful brunette behind her. My mouth fell open, and it felt like my jaw had hit the floor.

I blinked a couple times. This couldn’t be happening.

She looked as confused and horrified as I’m sure I did.

“What are you doing here?” Halle finally blurted out.

“I’m here to work out. What are you doing here?”

“I work here,” she said like it was obvious.

She worked here? She couldn’t be serious. Was this some kind of cruel joke?

“You work here,” I said slowly, trying to get my brain to process this information.

She crossed her arms. “Again with the repeating?”

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, before opening them and responding. “I didn’t know you worked here.”

She let her arms drop, resting her hands on her hips. “Well, now you do. I’m filling in for Ben, so I’ll be your trainer until he gets back.”

I kept looking at her, like at some point I would wake up from this horrible dream.

Although as I kept staring at her, I couldn’t help but notice how attractive she was. Ben had told me my trainer was pretty, and I already knew Halle was beautiful, but seeing her in a matching navy sports bra and high-waisted capri leggings with her hair in a high ponytail, she looked like she had just stepped out of a fitness magazine. But not the kind of fitness magazine where the girl looked like she hadn’t eaten in a month. Halle had soft curves with a hint of toned muscle. You could tell she worked out, but she looked healthy, feminine. I bet she would feel amazing in my arms.

What?No. I didn’t mean that. The shock of seeing her had just made my brain short-circuit, that’s all.

I rubbed a hand down my face, hoping none of my thoughts had been portrayed there. I already hadn’t been looking forward to having a different trainer, but this was way worse than I could have imagined.

“It’s six o’clock, so let’s get started,” she said with a little too much glee in her voice.

I had a feeling this wasn’t going to go well for me.

“What are some of your favorite things to do for cardio?” she asked.

“Rowing is my favorite, but I also like the stair machine,” I said, before adding, “The treadmill is my least favorite.”

“Treadmill it is, then.” She walked past me, heading toward the treadmills, expecting me to follow.

I begrudgingly followed behind her and had to mentally slap myself when my eyes got hung up on her exceptionally nice glutes.

I should have known she would have me running on the treadmill after telling her I didn’t like it. Why hadn’t I kept that little tidbit to myself?

She started me at a slow pace, taking the time to get me warmed up. A brisk walk turned into a slow jog, and eventually after several minutes, I was running.

She stood next to me as I ran on the treadmill. “Is the music too loud for you? Do you want me to turn it down?” Her sarcastic tone wasn’t lost on me.

“No.” I gave her a saccharine smile. “But thank you for asking.”

She hit the up arrow making me go faster.

“Thank you for your note,” I said. “And the potstickers were absolutely delicious.”

“I’m so happy to hear that.” Again, she turned up the speed. “Interesting that Ben didn’t mention anything to me about his first client being sopleasant.”

“Interesting that Ben didn’t mention anything about my fill-in trainer being soconsiderate,” I replied.

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