Page 12 of Fit for Love
Ethan
The prospect of training with Cora was a whole lot more appealing than training with Betsey Jackson. Plus, if I was being completely mercenary about it, she was more likely to pay. I wasn’t planning on ripping her off or charging her more than I would my usual clients, but I was sure she would be more committed.
To ensure I was on the same page in terms of her fitness levels, I looked back on her blog, and watched a couple of short videos she posted, of her working out with another trainer I recognised from other social-media platforms. She was more about the sculpting and toning rather than muscle building, which was exactly what I had expected.
As I watched, I couldn’t help but check her out. Long, supple limbs, taut abs, pert breasts, twinkling blue eyes and a glorious mane of flaxen hair.
I had barely noticed her when she was seeing Mal.
Now I did, as if for the first time.
My phone rang. I glanced down at the screen, noticing the time as I did so.
Shit!It was Mrs Jackson and I was late picking her up for her weekly supermarket trip.
“Ethan? Where are you? I was meeting June at midday for coffee. She’ll be wondering where I am.” Mrs Jackson’s voice crackled in my ear, a note of confusion in her tone.
“I’m so sorry, Mrs Jackson. I got caught up with, um, another job. I’ll be there in five minutes.” I grabbed my hoodie from the back of the chair and threw it on over my T-shirt.
I rushed out of the room and shot across the living area, where Cora sat at the table. Without thinking, I screeched to a halt next to her.
“Hi! Did you want to do a session today?” I grinned, aware that I was probably coming across a bit manic. “I’ve got some time this afternoon.”
She looked up from her laptop screen, where she seemed to be doing some online shopping for lingerie. Catching me watching her, she hastily switched windows to a more mundane-looking spreadsheet.
“If you’re sure? I know you’ve got a lot of other things going on right now.”
“For you, anytime.” The grin stretched that bit wider. “I’ll pick you up around three? We can use the gym at the leisure centre if you’re okay with that?”
Her face fell. “In public? I was hoping not to have to go out yet. I don’t really want anyone recognising me.”
An idea came to me. “You could always try that disguise again? We’re not going to be doing anything that strenuous in the first session. I’ll want to check your fitness levels, mobility and flexibility, that sort of thing.”
Relief crossed her beautiful features. “I didn’t think of that; it’s a good idea, Ethan, thank you.”
I could easily stay there all day chatting with her, but my phone rang again and I saw Mrs Jackson’s number pop up. “Sorry, Cora, gotta go. Look forward to seeing you later.” And I ran down the stairs two at a time, reaching the bottom in record time.
It didn’t take me long to get to Mrs Jackson’s, although she stood in the doorway, with a face like thunder. “June will have already started her shopping now. She’ll be upset with me.”
If all that she had to worry about was missing a coffee date with one of her retired friends, then she didn’t know how lucky she was. I realised I had to be more careful, trying to balance all of my jobs, so I didn’t let anyone down.
She got into the car, still grumbling under her breath, as she put her seat belt on.
I expected her to be short with me the whole journey, but she surprised me.
“Betsey said she had a lovely time with you last night and she feels so much better already. Wouldn’t stop talking about you and how fit you are. She can’t wait for your next date.”
I was amazed to hear this, given the low level of intensity we were starting from. We’d barely done any real workouts and she’d groaned and whinged the whole time. And I didn’t remember agreeing to a date. However, I also wasn’t totally comfortable with the way Mrs Jackson was apparently checking me out now.
“I think the two of you would make a lovely couple. I’ve been saying to Betsey for a while now that it’s about time she met a nice young man to settle down with,” she wittered on.
Thankfully, the drive to the supermarket didn’t take too much longer. I spotted June waiting by the door to the coffee shop—she was another of my regular hairdresser/bank/shopping fares.
“See, June’s waited for you,” I said.
“Oh, so she did.” Mrs Jackson beamed. She handed me ten pounds, way more than was needed, and I reached into my pocket for change. “Don’t you worry about the change, Ethan.” She patted the back of my hand. “You keep that for when you take Betsey out—she likes a spritzer or two, that girl.”
I bet she did.
