Page 22 of Bound by Vengeance
Three.
Over and over.
The repetitions continue, sweat pouring from my face, down my chest, and to the floor below me. Regulating my breathing, I work to fight the quivering now coming from my muscles that want me to stop, urging me to take a break.
There is no break. There is no stopping, not until I feel I’ve had enough.
My body can handle more, so I push, moving on to crunches, then twisting my body, my abs feeling each movement.
“Austyn,” Charlie calls from the mat in front of me.
Charlie’s an older man, but I bet he could still kick my ass if he wanted to. The man has moves. I’ve seen him in the ring before, sparring. He’s owned this gym for as long as I can remember and takes a special interest in those who visit his establishment. Good for him, not so good when you don’t want to talk, just workout until your body can’t anymore.
I should’ve gone to the clubhouse and worked out where my mom taught me years ago, but I needed different scenery. This is what I get for that.
When my feet hit the mat, I rub my hands down my short spandex workout shorts. They are red hot and more than likely have a few blisters. It’s always the sign I’ve done my work here.
“Charlie.”
“Good to see ya here.” He smiles as I walk over, grab my towel, and wipe the sweat off my face and neck.
“Nice change of pace.”
His face grows serious. I know what’s coming. Even though I hate it, I refuse to be a bitch to him.
“How ya holdin’ up?” And boom.
Placing the towel around my neck, I tell him, “Good. Every day’s getting better.”
“You need anything, you let me know.”
I must admit, I’m surprised that he dropped it so quickly. Most people would go in for the kill when they have me to themselves. Not Charlie. I respect that.
“Will do.” It’s time to get the hell out of here.
Walking out of the gym, I’m alert as I take in my surroundings just to be safe. What I’m not expecting to find is Ryker standing against the door of my car, arms and ankles crossed in front of him, sexy as hell, with his eyes on me.
Hiking my workout bag up my shoulder, I make my way toward him.
“What do I owe this honor?” I tease to lighten the mood. Considering our car conversation and him wanting to be friends, this is how I decided to play it when we saw each other again. I’d be me, but a knowing me. A controlled me. A me who won’t let her feelings get involved in any way, shape, or form. A me who has her eye on the prize.
He shrugs. “I got the short straw.”
“Huh?” I have no idea what he’s talking about.
“Bodyguard duty. But then Cruz told me it was your body I was guarding, and I was all over it.” His eyes grow dark with desire in a way I used to dream about. “The straw suddenly didn’t seem so short.”
While I do like that I have the joking, teasing Ryker back, what he says doesn’t make me happy.
I stand in front of him, wanting to roll my eyes but refrain. “Bet you say that to all the girls.”
Ryker shifts, standing to his full height, which luckily blocks the sunlight from my eyes, but unluckily makes me have to look up at him. His glasses shine in the sunlight while his muscled, tattooed arms bulge out of his black T-shirt. His jeans fit him as if they were custom-made, hanging low on his hips. All of it is hot. Too hot. Shit.
“What the hell is bodyguard duty?”
“You and me, we’re a team now.”
I blink rapidly as my chest constricts, trying to process what he’s saying. No, this wasn’t part of the deal. Ryker can’t follow me around all the time. That’ll be the same as if I lived at home, which is why I left.
