4
MY FEET COULDN’T CARRY ME AWAY FAST ENOUGH.
I ran down the hallway and ducked into the first empty room I came upon.
I sank to the floor and wished it could just open up and swallow me whole.
I buried my face into my hands and tried to get my breathing back to a normal level.
“Uh… are you okay?”
I looked up and startled at the familiar person standing before me.
He was shirtless and his tanned skin was drenched in sweat. His mesh shorts hung loosely off his hips and his hands were wrapped in white gauze or something like it. I stared like an idiot, taking in his short dark hair and the stubble covering his angular cheekbones. He was the most beautiful man I’d ever seen.
“Oh,” he said, startled. “I remember you. The club.”
My mind went blank. I couldn’t even remember my name.
“I’m Jared. And you’re?” He looked at me, waiting for me to say something, instead of just kneeling on the floor like an idiot.
Name? What is my name? “Um… I’m…” I racked my brain. “Katy!”
He chuckled. “Okay, Katy. What are you doing sitting on the floor of my training room? This place is off limits.”
“Oh… sorry. I kinda… um…”
“Katy! Katy!” I turned to the doorway, hearing my name being called by a startled Rollo. “Katy!” he poked his blonde head into the doorway. “Oh thank gawd! There you are! I was so worried when you ran out and were screaming about Preston.”
“Preston?” Jared said, his brow furrowing. “Is Preston your boyfriend or something?”
My eyes threatened to pop out of my head. “Hell no!” I said, more venomously than I meant to.
Jared put his hands up. “Sorry, it was just a question.”
“Hey! You’re the guy from the club! I didn’t get a chance to thank you for taking care of my girl. I swear, I can’t let her out of my sight for two seconds,” Rollo held out a hand to help me up.
“Not a problem,” Jared rubbed the scruff on his chin. “You sure you’re okay?” he turned to me.
“Yeah,” I nodded.
“I guess I’ll see you around?” He raised a brow in question.
“Um… maybe?”
“I hope I do,” He grinned.
Oh holy cow, I think my heart just skipped a beat at his smile. It had been so long since I’d had that feeling; I didn’t know quite how to react.
I tried to smile but it came out as more of a grimace.
He chuckled and strode away to a corner of the room where one of those large punching bags was set up. He hit play on his iPod and rock music filled the room. He began punching it and I couldn’t help but admire the way his back muscles flexed, and the way he danced from foot to foot.
“Katy!” Rollo said from beside me. “Are you checking him out?” he asked, under his breath.
I was quiet for a moment. “I think, maybe, I am.”
Rollo looked at Jared and back at me. “I don’t know what it is about this guy, but I really hope he can help you overcome your guy-phobia.”
“My guy-phobia?” I looked at Rollo, a bit mystified.
“Oh please,” Rollo said, leading me out of the room. “You won’t go near anyone that has a dick.”
“I hang out with you,” I pointed out.
He snorted. “And I practically have a vagina, therefore, I don’t count.”
“Is everything okay, Katy?” Todd asked, as we returned to the room.
“Yeah,” I nodded.
I saw that Paul was now working with Rollo’s partner.
“Let’s speak outside for a moment,” Todd breezed out the door and expected us to follow.
With a sigh, I did.
“Rollo informed me of your –uh- situation. I understand that you don’t like to be touched. I think this class would really help you, so I’d love for you to stay. Would you feel more comfortable working with Rollo?”
“Yes,” I squeaked.
“Good,” he clapped his hands. “Class is almost over for today but I expect you back next week. Okay?”
I nodded.
“Be sure and leave your information with Patsy at the front, just in case we need to get a hold of you for some reason. Sometimes these classes have to be rescheduled. Since they’re offered for free, the other classes take precedence.”
“Okay, thanks,” I said, and gave Todd a half-hearted wave before heading down the hallway.
I stopped at the desk to give Patsy my information. She slid Rollo and I a sheet of paper to fill out.
When I finished, I handed her back the piece of paper. Rollo did the same and she smiled pleasantly at us both.
“Uh-” I said, feeling awkward. “Dan said we could go out that door,” I pointed to the door with the sign that said, Employees Only, “Since I parked back there by accident.”
“Oh, of course,” she smiled, “go right on ahead.”
“Thank you,” I said, opening the door. I felt like someone was going to jump out and yell at me for being back here, but luckily Rollo and I made it to the parking lot without incident.
I unlocked the car and was just about to climb in, when I heard, “Are you stalking me or something?”
I jumped and turned. Jared was standing next to a bright blue Toyota FJ Cruiser. He had put on a sleeveless gray top and was wiping sweat off his face with a towel.
He raised a brow, waiting for my answer.
“Oh… um… my navigation system told me to park here…” Wait, what did I just say? Oh dear God, I did not just say that.
He chuckled. “O-o-kay,” he drew out the word. “But I wasn’t asking you why you were parked here.”
My face colored in ten varying shades of red and pink.
“Although,” he leaned against his car, “that would’ve been my next question.”
“Why are you parked here?” I asked, it was the first thing that popped into my head and out of my mouth.
I really wanted to smack myself right about now; of all the questions I could have asked hottie-mc-hot-pants, that shouldn’t have been one of them.
He grabbed a bottle of water from a duffel bag in his trunk and took a long drink before answering.
“My dad owns the place,” he said with a shrug.
“Dan is your dad?” I questioned. They looked nothing alike, so I was a bit surprised.
Jared looked down at the ground and kicked a pebble with his tennis shoe. “In all the ways that count,” he muttered under his breath. “So,” he said, louder this time, “you never answered my first question.”
I rattled my brain for what he had asked.
“No, I’m not stalking you, promise.”
He put his hand over his heart. “I’m hurt, Katy. Here I thought you were interested in me.”
“Yeah… um… no… I think I better just… go,” I backed against my car.
He chuckled, and the sound sent warm tingles down to my toes. It wasn’t a feeling I was used to. “Katy, you’re a tough nut to crack, but I’m thoroughly going to enjoy trying.”
My eyes threatened to pop out of my skull at his words. Everything he said seemed to shock me.
With a grin, he hopped in his car and was gone.
I stood there, and watched his car disappear down the street. I couldn’t seem to get my feet to move.
“Get your ass in the car, Katy!” Rollo yelled. “I have homework to do!”
I shook my head and got in the car.
As I drove away, I wondered why Jared’s words hadn’t frightened me.