One

Dillon

The clank of weights and the regular hum of treadmills welcome me as I stride into the Sweat Store Fitness center. I am right here to grind, to shed the day’s rigidity beneath Josh’s watchful eye. I drop my bag within the locker room and begin my routine stretches, my muscular tissues loosen and heat.

She seems like a brand new problem, all confidence and funky smiles. “Hey, Dillon Hanley, proper?” Her voice cuts by means of the health club’s noise. “I am Natalie Stevens. Josh bought known as away on an emergency, so I will be stepping in for him right this moment.”

Pausing mid-stretch, I eye her warily. I’ve by no means even seen her right here earlier than. Swapping Josh’s navy self-discipline for… what? I am not sure, skeptical even, till my gaze travels from her face down her athletic type. She’s all energy and poise wrapped in a blonde package deal that knocks the air clear out of me.

“Guess meaning you are caught with me,” she says with a smile that means she’s greater than as much as the duty.

Her scent is surprising—a whiff of vanilla that battles in opposition to the health club’s normal scent of sweat and effectively… extra sweat. It is disarmingly nice.

“You positive you possibly can deal with me?” The problem slips out earlier than I can cease it, however she does not flinch.

“Greater than positive,” Natalie shoots again, a playful spark in her blue eyes. “You able to work?”

Nodding, I am already smitten together with her fairly face and including the boldness was nearly greater than I might hope for. There is no have to look down since she meets me nearly eye to eye—a rarity that I discover immediately interesting.

She flips by means of the pages hooked up to a clipboard, her forehead furrowing as she scans Josh’s meticulous notes on my routine. “I’ve bought a deal with in your routine.” Natalie places the clipboard apart and steps to the load rack. “Let’s kick it off with goblet squats.”

I watch her sink into the transfer, the load clasped near her chest. She rises with such fluid grace, it is like watching energy take human type. Grabbing my very own dumbbell, I mirror her, quickly feeling the acquainted burn in my thighs and glutes.

“Hold your chest up, Dillon,” she corrects, her fingers on my sides guiding me. Her contact is agency but light, sparking an unfamiliar tingle that races alongside my backbone.

“Take a number of deep breaths. It is lat pulldowns subsequent.” She factors to the machine and I comply with her.

“I believe I am able to go up a notch. Josh stated he thought I ought to.” Glancing over, I see her scowl. She’s going to inform me no and provides me a sound purpose I ought to keep the place I’m. The look on her face makes that apparent. Usually, I might be pleased with establishment, however not in entrance of my new coach.

“Yeah, I am not able to log off on that. I’ve by no means seen you do something on this machine earlier than, so for right this moment we’re preserving every little thing the identical.”

“However I am prepared for it.”

“Possibly you might be. However you are not doing it right this moment. This one is about management not weight, anyway.”

Her means to take no shit is exceptional and slightly intimidating on the identical time.

Natalie steps in entrance to tweak the machine settings. As she leans ahead, I can not assist however get a peek down her shirt earlier than I jerk my eyes away, chastising myself for being that man. She stands as much as catch me trying and I am irritated I did not look away quick sufficient. Oh effectively. It’s what it’s.

“So fingers on the bar.” She raises an eyebrow and takes a have a look at my fingers on the bar. “Good. Keep in mind to maintain your abs tight.”

I pull the bar down like I’ve all the time achieved earlier than. I believe I’ve aced it.

“Come on, Dillon. It is a vertical pull. Do not pull in direction of your torso.”

I nod, do it once more the fitting manner this time. She nods approval and I get by means of the following eight reps.

We lastly get to lateral raises. She picks up the weights first, setting an instance with excellent type. I am drawn to her reflection within the mirror. The depth etched on her face as she counts out the reps, the dance of muscular tissues beneath pores and skin, the way in which her ponytail swings in sync with every elevate.

“Let’s do them collectively.”

“Positive factor.” I transfer to face beside her as we each watch one another within the mirror. My breath is taken away once more.

I hoist my dumbbells, attempting to match her rhythm. Like most individuals who work out, I watch myself within the mirror alone to right my type as I’m going, however this can be a change I am right here for. Rattling if it is not powerful when each transfer she makes attracts my eye, although. My arms wobble at one level and I nearly let go of the load.

“Focus,” I mutter beneath my breath.

She does not miss a beat. “You’ve got bought this,” Natalie encourages me as she seems into my eyes within the mirror.

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