Page 6 of Seizing Mack
Chapter Three
~ Nick ~
“Excuse me.” The womanat the semi-circular front desk didn’t appear to have heard him. Turned slightly away from him as she was, he couldn’t quite make out her facial features. It took him a minute to realize she was on the phone. Nick waited patiently, taking the opportunity to check out the place out.
According to Gail, many of the men and women who made up the local law enforcement were members and spoke very highly of it.Seizewas on the short list of places she recommended he check out. Not only would it give him a place to stay in shape, but according to Gail, it also had an active teen and pre-teen program that could prove mutually beneficial. Nick believed that a huge part of reducing drug use — and thus drug-related deaths and crimes — was providing education, positive role models, and viable alternatives for kids. Getting involved with the schools was a given, but what about the summer months, when so many kids had less adult supervision and more time on their hands? If he established a rapport and built trust with the kids here as well as through district programs, the probability of making a difference rose dramatically.
He hummed in approval at the tinted, floor-to-ceiling panel windows along the front. It gave the place an open, airy feel, which he liked. A large white ceiling fan circulated lazily above an assortment of plants, some exotic, some not. The faint scent of lemons hung in the air.
Overall impression: clean, functional, and exactly the kind of place he was looking for.
First inspection complete, he turned his attention back to the woman behind the desk. Nick used his finely-honed skills of observation to silently appreciate the sun-kissed, satiny skin stretched tight over well-toned arms. Dark chestnut hair pulled up in a ponytail revealed a tiny, heart-shaped white birthmark behind her left ear. Petite as she was, there was nothing delicate about her. She radiated strength and energy.
And at that moment, irritation.
“No, Jay,” she said on an exhale. “Tonight,can you believe it?... Yeah... You sure you’re okay with this?... You are a saint... No, three hundred thread count is more than enough... Yeah, I know... Bye, gorgeous.” She put down the phone and Nick could have sworn shegrowled.
Her call completed, Nick cleared his throat and repeated the phrase a second time before she turned his way. For a moment, he felt as if a pair of lasers were directed right at his heart. Pale gray-green eyes locked on him, doing a complete assessment in the matter of a second or two. Then she blinked and that feral expression smoothed into a pleasant, professional mask.
“I’m sorry about that. Can I help you?”
For a moment, his mind went blank. Dressed in skin-tight black yoga pants and black sports tank, she was even more attractive standing up. Thankfully, his brain kicked back into gear before she pegged him as a slack-jawed idiot.
“I hope so. I’m looking for a place to work out.Seizecame highly recommended.”
“Of course,” she said, relaxing enough to offer him an easy smile. She waved him into the small, functional office to the right. “Come on in. My name’s Mack.”
“Mack?” She didn’t look like a Mack. “Mack” conjured visions of big, beefy, tattooed truck drivers or dock workers. This creature before him was one hundred percent concentrated female.
“Short for MacKenzie,” she explained.
“Nick Benning,” he said, accepting her hand. It was so much smaller than his, but strong and warm. And he’d been right about her being tiny; standing, she barely reached his chin.
She stepped back and looked him up and down, her gaze professionally assessing. “Cop?” she asked.
“Detective. How’d you know?”
She shrugged, a graceful lift of her shoulders. “We have lots of local boys here. Is that how you heard aboutSeize?”
It had been a long time since anyone had called him a boy, but he didn’t take offense. She wasn’t any older than he was and her tone held admiration, not disrespect.
“The police chief’s wife, actually.”
Her lips curled into a genuine smile. “Gail is one of my biggest promoters. I’m going to have to start paying her referral fees. So, you’re new in town?”
“I just transferred from Chicago.” He resisted the temptation to explain that he’d been born and raised in Covendale. He wasn’t, by nature, a sharer, and years on the force had cemented the wisdom of not providing more information than necessary. He waited for her to pump him for more details, but she didn’t.
Instead, she simply nodded. “We offer two-week trials, free of charge. Unlimited use of the facilities. We’re open from five a.m. till midnight, seven days a week.”
“That’s a lot of hours.”
“Many of our members work crazy shifts and don’t get weekends off,” she shrugged, as if every business was as accommodating. “We have a couple of weight rooms — free weights, Stride, Nautilus — plus a full cardio deck. Heated Olympic in-ground pool. Massage rooms, saunas, steam rooms. Group classes in everything from meditation to MMA.”
“Sounds great.”
“It is,” she nodded without any trace of arrogance. A couple of teens ran past the office and waved, shouting out ‘heys’ to her, which she returned with a genuine smile and a wave of her own. “We also have a day care and a teen center, as well as several programs aimed at providing positive options, if you have kids.” Her eyes drifted down to his left hand.
“I don’t,” he said simply. Was she fishing? Or just providing information? Her pretty eyes gave nothing away. He liked that. Being a detective, he’d become adept at reading people. But Mack, she was making him work for it. “I’m not married.”
