my office, I noticed the leggy blond sitting on a bench, watching Ryan, Boris and Tyres training with Derrick.
The three men all had fights coming up.
I knew that the competitions were meant to show what the gym members could do, entice new people to come train with them, and bring more money to the gym.
I’d been helping Mitch with the financial portion of preparing for it all.
Even though I was an accountant, when he’d asked for help with advertising and updating social media sites with information, I couldn’t say no. Somehow, even though I knew nothing about marketing, I managed to bring a little attention to the gym through the various social sites.
I didn’t understand any of that.
How could one spend their entire life online?
Then again, I was always piled high with facts, figures and numbers, so who was I to judge?
“Claire.” I heard Ryan call my name, but I ignored him as if I hadn’t heard him. Maybe it was childish, but I had better things to do with my life that listen to him explain his playboy ways. I had a job to do. “Claire!”
I stopped at the door to my office and turned around to glare at him.
He still looked good, and my body still longed for his.
There was no denying either fact as my gaze raked over his naked chest gleaming with sweat and down over the loose pants he wore.
“Can I talk to you?” he asked. There was pain in his voice, as if he regretted his decision, but I didn’t care to hear his sob story.
“I’m a little busy right now. I have plans for this evening and still have lots to do before I go home,” I told him in a matter-of-fact voice.
Without waiting for an answer from him, I turned away, opening my office and stepping inside.
Usually, I left my door open because I’d become accustomed to watching the men train as I worked.
Today, I didn’t want to even chance glancing up at Ryan.
I closed the door with a soft click.
Maybe I was angry with Ryan, but there was no reason to take out my aggression on the door. It hadn’t done anything wrong, after all. It wasn’t the door’s fault I’d been stupid enough to fall for the playboy fighter.
With a heavy sigh, I sat down at my desk, determined not to think about Ryan or the blond or even Mom or her boyfriend or Kate or Dad.
I concentrated on my work, settling in to get through the figures that could be cut down to start bringing more money into the gym versus out.
At the end of the evening, I was satisfied with the progress I’d made.
I went out and made a progress report to Mitch, who seemed pleased with what I told him. That was good because I still often felt like I was stumbling over my own feet where this job was concerned.
I was learning to love the challenge though, and it was a challenge.
I actually liked this job, despite the fact that it was something I never would have picked willingly if I’d had any kind of choice when I’d discovered it.
“Good work, Claire. This is exactly what this place needs.” He smiled at me, his eyes warm. “I’m glad we found you, or you us. You have no idea what I might have had to do if you hadn’t shown up when you did.” He shook his head.
“Close the gym?” I thought I knew the answer, but it was always good to confirm information before presenting an opinion either way.
“Yeah.” He sighed. “I still may have to. This competition is one of our last chances to bring this place back. You have no idea how much we need this.”
I smiled at that. I think I knew better than he did—at least where the numbers were concerned. “I know.”
He was venting, I knew, and glad for the momentary distraction from my own issues, I let him.
How could I not?
It allowed me to forget for a moment that Ryan was busy entertaining a certain blonde with a killer body.
“If those three out there don’t win their individual fights, I will probably have to close this place down. I just can’t keep up a gym that isn’t making any money, and with no new
The three men all had fights coming up.
I knew that the competitions were meant to show what the gym members could do, entice new people to come train with them, and bring more money to the gym.
I’d been helping Mitch with the financial portion of preparing for it all.
Even though I was an accountant, when he’d asked for help with advertising and updating social media sites with information, I couldn’t say no. Somehow, even though I knew nothing about marketing, I managed to bring a little attention to the gym through the various social sites.
I didn’t understand any of that.
How could one spend their entire life online?
Then again, I was always piled high with facts, figures and numbers, so who was I to judge?
“Claire.” I heard Ryan call my name, but I ignored him as if I hadn’t heard him. Maybe it was childish, but I had better things to do with my life that listen to him explain his playboy ways. I had a job to do. “Claire!”
I stopped at the door to my office and turned around to glare at him.
He still looked good, and my body still longed for his.
There was no denying either fact as my gaze raked over his naked chest gleaming with sweat and down over the loose pants he wore.
“Can I talk to you?” he asked. There was pain in his voice, as if he regretted his decision, but I didn’t care to hear his sob story.
“I’m a little busy right now. I have plans for this evening and still have lots to do before I go home,” I told him in a matter-of-fact voice.
Without waiting for an answer from him, I turned away, opening my office and stepping inside.
Usually, I left my door open because I’d become accustomed to watching the men train as I worked.
Today, I didn’t want to even chance glancing up at Ryan.
I closed the door with a soft click.
Maybe I was angry with Ryan, but there was no reason to take out my aggression on the door. It hadn’t done anything wrong, after all. It wasn’t the door’s fault I’d been stupid enough to fall for the playboy fighter.
With a heavy sigh, I sat down at my desk, determined not to think about Ryan or the blond or even Mom or her boyfriend or Kate or Dad.
I concentrated on my work, settling in to get through the figures that could be cut down to start bringing more money into the gym versus out.
At the end of the evening, I was satisfied with the progress I’d made.
I went out and made a progress report to Mitch, who seemed pleased with what I told him. That was good because I still often felt like I was stumbling over my own feet where this job was concerned.
I was learning to love the challenge though, and it was a challenge.
I actually liked this job, despite the fact that it was something I never would have picked willingly if I’d had any kind of choice when I’d discovered it.
“Good work, Claire. This is exactly what this place needs.” He smiled at me, his eyes warm. “I’m glad we found you, or you us. You have no idea what I might have had to do if you hadn’t shown up when you did.” He shook his head.
“Close the gym?” I thought I knew the answer, but it was always good to confirm information before presenting an opinion either way.
“Yeah.” He sighed. “I still may have to. This competition is one of our last chances to bring this place back. You have no idea how much we need this.”
I smiled at that. I think I knew better than he did—at least where the numbers were concerned. “I know.”
He was venting, I knew, and glad for the momentary distraction from my own issues, I let him.
How could I not?
It allowed me to forget for a moment that Ryan was busy entertaining a certain blonde with a killer body.
“If those three out there don’t win their individual fights, I will probably have to close this place down. I just can’t keep up a gym that isn’t making any money, and with no new
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