you do to relax?”
“I visit my dad.”
“He also lives in the city?" I asked.
"Just outside the city. I visit him a few times a week. He’s housebound. " Her eyes clouded, and those protective instincts from last time we met kicked in.
"I bet he's happy when he sees you," I said.
"Yes. Even when I don't visit, I call and keep him informed of everything in my life. Thank god for FaceTime and all this modern technology."
The affection in her tone stirred something inside me. I hadn't been expecting that at all. I thought I was hollow inside when it came to anyone but my family. I didn't know I could feel anything anymore, but here Mel was proving me wrong. I wanted to learn more about her life and what drove her, what inspired her.
“I see Shauna from reception waving at me. She needs me. I’ll catch you around later, okay?”
“Sure.”
She smiled before leaving the weights area. I continued my exercise. A dangerous plan was already forming in my mind. I was so focused on it that I didn’t realize Ian was here until he walked right up next to me.
“Hey,” he said. “Couldn’t focus anymore. Thank fuck the gym is so close.”
“Yeah.”
"Man, she's hot," he said.
I glanced in the direction he was looking. Mel was at the reception desk, talking to a guy. "She's off-limits."
"What do you mean off-limits? No one's off-limits."
"Mel is Isabelle's personal trainer."
Ian turned around slowly, staring at me for a few seconds before bursting out laughing. "Man, you're giving me the evil eye because I said she was hot. You've got it bad."
“Ian,” I said in a warning tone.
“Very bad. I’m getting on the treadmill before you can give me more shit.”
“Shut up.”
After he hopped on a treadmill, I headed to the locker room. I changed and showered, and the idea from earlier wouldn’t let go. I knew it was ridiculous, but I wanted to spend more time with Mel. I gave my brother shit, but he was right. I was feeling possessive because he'd looked at her.
Leaving the men’s changing room, I walked around the main floor, spotted Melanie in the break room again, and joined her. There was another guy in there, but he left shortly after drinking a glass of orange juice.
“Hey. Done for the day?” she asked.
“Yes.” The corners of my mouth twitched. “By the way, I changed my mind about having a personal trainer. I want one.” I gave it a minute so I could look her straight in the eyes. “And I want you.”
Lowering her glass on the table, she looked at me intently. “My pitch about the training won you over, huh?”
“Your pitch did. Just not the part about training. The way you checked me out might have something to do with it. Might,” I teased purposefully to see if what I thought was real or not. When she gasped lightly, covering her mouth before looking around wildly, I had my answer. Her shoulders slumped with relief when she realized we were alone.
“You thought I hadn’t noticed?” I asked playfully.
She groaned, lowering her hand. “You didn’t want to let a flirty text slide even though I was tipsy when I sent it. I have no chance of you letting this go, huh?”
“Zero,” I confirmed. “And just so you know, I’ll bring it up every chance I get during our private sessions.”
“I have no doubt you will.” She grinned, and I couldn’t help but tilt closer. She drew in a sharp breath, licking her lower lip.
I barely staved off the urge to kiss her, but I wasn’t going to resist the next time I saw her. I just knew it.
Ian was right. I had it bad.
Chapter Five
Mel
“Earth to Mel. Where are you?” Shauna asked.
I smiled sheepishly. “Just thinking about my next session.”
It wasn’t exactly a lie, but it also wasn’t the whole truth. I wasn’t thinking about the session itself but the man: Dylan Gallagher. I almost couldn’t believe I’d agreed to this. Our session was starting in ten minutes, and I was on pins and needles. He was already on a treadmill, completing the warm-up.
“You’re so cute, always so stressed out when you have a new client. You’ve been doing this for years,” Shauna said. “Everyone likes you.” Thank God she thought my nervousness was due to taking on a new client, because that wasn’t it at all—it was most definitely because of the man.
Oh, Dylan liked me, there was no doubt about that. He wasn't trying to