Page 16 of Mr. Red

Hard with who?

There’s no way she’s working out with anyone else today. I’m going to cancel her appointments with the front desk. “It’s okay if you need to sit or something.”

“Mr. Reding, although I’m not one hundred percent today, I assure you, I can assist you in training. Now, you want to grab what you feel is a good starting point?”

“Yeah, I like starting off slow,” I say as I grab the weights.

“Maybe a challenge would suit you better. Try five pounds heavier.”

I look back to her. “I thought you told me to choose.”

“I thought you’d make agooddecision; I was wrong.”

The corner of my mouth ticks up as I pick up the most weight I can handle and start pumping biceps, keeping my eye on her. She’s trying to keep a placid face, but her eyes widen at the amount I’ve picked up. I hope it’s impressive. I keep quiet for a while, but I need to get to the front desk to make sure no other appointments will be booked.

“I forgot my water. Be right back.”

I walk to the front desk associate. She straightens up and blushes a little when she sees me walking up to her.Thatis the usual response I get from women. Unless your name is Scarlett, evidently.

I peek over my shoulder. Scarlett has her back to us. Perfect.

“Hello. I need Miss Scarlett’s appointments to be canceled for the rest of the day without disclosing it to her. Can y’all help me with that?” I give her my best smile. “I want to make sure Scarlett will be paid, and I’ll pay for those clients’ time in addition for your discretion.”

“Yes, I think I can handle that,” she replies with a seductive look. “I can handle a lot of things.”

I nod. There’s no way I’m hitting on her. I’m obviously thinking about someone else. I pass her a few hundred-dollar bills and she charges the other appointments to my account.

“Thanks for the help, ma’am. Make sure no one elsegets booked with her today.” I knock on the too big desk.

“No problem. Let me know if you need anything else. I’d be happy to help!”

I walk back to Scarlett, prepared to be a perfect gentleman. It seems like she needs to be back in bed. I can’t toss her over my shoulder and place her where I want without getting arrested, so a slow game it is. I adjust all the weights on the machines myself as we go through the workout. She should be doing as little as possible.

“You know what you’re doing, huh?” she asks with a lifted brow.

“Always.”

“If you always know, any particular reason you need a trainer then?”

“Pretty sure you already asked me that, Miss Scarlett. Thought you could teach my body some new things—remember?” I give her a sly grin.

She looks away, trying to hide the blush creeping up on her cheeks. It makes me want to see her outside of the gym. Preferably tomorrow, since I won’t see her for a training session. She’s off tomorrow. I shouldn’t betryingto see her, but fuck it.

I have a feeling just asking her out isn’t going to work. She’s still fighting her attraction towards me. Even though I’ve been catching her checking me out the entire session. Best to ask some subtle questions, so I don’t come off as the creepy gym guy.

“Do you go to the trail we ran into each other at often?” I start.

“Just depends.” She shrugs.

Deciding to play mysterious, I see.

“Any plans this weekend?”

“Yeah, washing my hair.” She looks at me with a bored expression.

“Your hair looked wet when you arrived. Trying to impress someone?”

“If I wanted to impress someone, I would’veactuallystyled it. And I wouldn’t want to impress a client because I don’t date them.”