Page 10 of Bear to be Wild
He motioned with his chin toward the weight rack. “Can you grab the lightest one up top?”
“Sure.” I reached to grab it and pulled it off the rack. Oof. “It’s heavier than I thought.”
He cocked his head and gave me an amused grin. “Maybe we should get you into a training program.”
“Ha ha. I’d rather give birth to a kettlebell, bear.”
He smirked. “Let’s carry these next door.”
The glass door swung open, and our boss, Tia, stepped inside. Tall and lean, with silver-streaked black hair pulled neatly into a bun. Her sharp eyes traveled from Roan to me.
“Maribelle, what a surprise to see you here.”
I bit my lip, searching for an excuse, but Roan stepped up.
“Maribelle volunteered to help me move some weights here,” he said with a nod. “Very welcoming.”
Tia cocked her head. “Why do you need to move the weights?”
“Customizing a plan for my next client,” Roan replied without missing a beat.
I blinked, startled by how he was covering for me, and then forced a bright smile. “He has some great ideas, very client-focused. They’re going to love his style.” I nodded. “Very motivating.”
His warm eyes fixed on mine.
“Glad to hear it.” Tia studied us for a moment, then nodded her approval. “I like to see this collaboration. Wellness for thebody and mind.” She twirled her hand and walked toward the door. “Keep it up.” She strode out, leaving a jasmine-scented silence in her wake.
I exhaled hard and my shoulders slumped. “Thanks for not ratting me out.”
“Of course,” Roan replied. “We have to work together, right?”
“Right.”
I mustered up words I never thought I’d say to the bear I’d been cursing out since before we even met. “Roan, I appreciate everything you’re doing.” I glanced at the floor. “Considering it’s all my fault.”
“Hey, I get it. You were trying to do your job, and I was being a little too loud.”
My lips twitched into a lopsided smile. “You’re very enthusiastic so early in the morning.”
He chuckled. “No one wants to train with a bored trainer. They want—someone who will encourage them.”
“True.”
Once we moved some equipment into the fitness studio, I returned to the spa.
Charlotte greeted me and asked, “How did he take it?”
I pressed my lips together, still flustered by the entirely unexpected reaction.
“He was understanding.” I grimaced. “And infuriatingly helpful.”
She chuckled. “So, now what?”
I huffed. “We get through this very trying day, and I figure out how to undo the spell.”
“And if you can’t?”
I shot her a look. “Let me just get through one horrific hour at a time.”
