Page 6 of Hiding for the Holidays
“We could hire you,” Leo says, surprising us all, as Asher, Grant and I all look at him in confusion. He glances at the other two and shrugs, then looks back at me. “I’m guessing by the way you tore my flyer apart, you have some sort of marketingbackground?” he asks.
I nod tentatively. “Wait—yourflyer?” I ask in confusion. “So you work here?”
“I’m one of the three owners.” My eyes widen in shock as I glance at the other two.
“You too?” I ask, looking at Asher, who nods in response. That means I was taking a free self-defense class with the owners of this gym. I glance at Matt and Callum, who seem to be taking turns holding the other in a headlock as realization hits me.
There was no class scheduled for today. They threw this together for me. But…why?
Chapter 3
Grant
Isee the moment it clicks in her head. She knows I was lying about the class.
But how could I not do everything in my power to help her? Leo had come in with his usual coffee run, looking frazzled. He told me about the beautiful woman with bruises on her neck, who ran before he could try to help her.
The last thing we expected was for her to walk into our gym looking to take a self-defense class. I was happy she was taking a step to protect herself, but there were some harsh realities that the world likes to lie about. Unless she has extensive training, and becomes very strong, the likelihood of her being able to get away from a large man intending to harm her or taking her against her will is extremely low.
It didn’t mean I didn’t want to arm her with whatever knowledge I could. But one look at her haunted blue eyes and the bruises peeking out around her neck, and I knew this girl needed a lot more help than a self-defense class. She needed someone to protect her. Orsomeones.
“So what do you say?” Leo says, breaking the silence.
“About what?” she asks, her eyes nervously bouncing between us as if she’s not sure of our intentions.
“Do you want a job?” I want to applaud him. Getting her to work here is a great way for us to monitor her and get her comfortable enough around us that she will hopefully ask for help when she needs it.
“What sort of job?” she asks warily.
“You can see how quiet it is in here. Think you could help us get more traffic?” He tilts his head, shoving his hands in his pockets as he tilts his head at her in question.
She glances around the gym, and I watch as her shoulders start to lower, telling me she’s losing some of the tension she was feeling.
“Do you have a computer in here somewhere?”
I smirk, pointing towards the back right where the staff room, office and washrooms are hidden. “Yeah, there’s an office back there.”
She nods slowly as if still thinking it over. “I have a marketing diploma and a degree in business admin. I’ve been working in the field for the past ten years. Although I’ve never had a gym as a client, I definitely think I can help drum up some more business, depending on what sort of freedom you give me to change things.”
“Deal,” Leo says instantly. “When can you start?”
“Tomorrow?” she asks hopefully.
“Great, we open at six, but you don’t need to come in until nine, if that works for you?”
She nods her head, finally looking excited for the first time since I met her. “Sure, I’ll see you at nine.” She shrugs on her jacket and grabs her bag, offering us a quick wave as she hightails it out of the gym.
I want to stop her, to find a reason to keep herhere for the rest of the day, but I think we’re already pushing our luck. If we push her anymore, she might run.
Asher stalks to the front of the gym, staring out the window silently. He steps over to the door and pushes it open, but then looks down and seems to only now remember he’s not wearing any shoes.
“Fuck,” he grumbles, letting the door slam shut as he walks back towards us.
“Did you see where she went? What car was she driving?” I ask as he passes us and heads for the backroom.
“No car, she walked towards Main Street until I lost sight of her.”
I frown, glancing at Leo. “She was walking in this weather? She didn’t even have a winter jacket or gloves.”
