Page 26 of Family Bonds- Gabriela & Luca

Nothing wrong with looking. Picking up men in the gym had never been her thing.

Most times there weren’t many in here, which was why she came at this time.

The other five people besides the hottie on the bench were retired and moving around like it was a social event rather than a workout.

Instead of being caught staring, she pulled her eyes away and went back to focusing on burning calories.

But when there was a loud clang, her gaze shifted back and there was the body she’d be dreaming about tonight, adding even more weight and the employee coming over to spot him.

Bet he didn’t need it, but hey, she was a doctor, she’d gladly rush to his aid if he tweaked a muscle.

“Thanks,” the man said five minutes later, grabbed his towel, then moved to another machine. One closer to her, another to work his chest.

The minute he sat down after adjusting the weights, his gaze swept over and landed on hers.

Her jaw dropped, his smile widened, his laughter joining hers.

“Hi, Luca,” she said, waving. Maybe she was louder than she should have been, causing two older women walking the indoor track to check him out also.

Who were they kidding? Those women were already doing it and she didn’t blame them.

She kept pedaling, Luca kept lifting. He moved around to a few more machines, his T-shirt wetter than hers when he was done.

Was she looking at it fitted and damp to his body? Fuck yeah. There was no way to turn away from it.

Her thirty-minute program ended, she took another swig of her water and moved to one of the pieces of equipment to work her abs not that far away from him.

Why not?

“Come here often?” she asked, knowing he was new to the place. It was his first day off after his rotation, and no way he could have found the time working. Unless he came while she was working.

“It’s only my second day,” he said. “I’m assuming this is your normal time and location?”

“When I’m off, yep. Every day I’m off unless I’ve got plans. I figure I’ve got to make up for not working out five days in a row. Actually, six days. The first day after my rotation, I’m catching up on sleep, then everything else that didn’t get done for those five days. Food, laundry, dust.”

He laughed. “I thought the five days on, ten off was going to be great, but I’m learning it’s being nonexistent to the rest of the world going on for that time.”

“That’s pretty much it. I talk to few, interact with less unless it’s in the office or hospital. You’ll get the hang of it. Guess you’re not like me and need to sleep in the first day after you’re done working.”

“I got up about two hours ago,” he said. “Showered, ate something, tried to figure out my game plan for the day and came here.”

“And now you’ve got those ten days off. So what’s on the agenda if you don’t mind me asking?”

“Food, a haircut, maybe drive around and figure out where the heck everything else is. I spent my first few days unpacking and settling in as best as I could. Had a few things to do to get ready for work too.”

“Well, I’ve got nothing going on. I can show you around, or at least let you know the best places for takeout, even where to get a haircut.”

Which was stupid because, like most people, he’d just look on his phone for that stuff.

She climbed on the equipment, jumped up and put her forearms flat on the thick bars, her fists gripping the short poles, and then lifted her knees to her chest, keeping her upper body still, her abs burning.

There was another one next to her, Luca climbed on and mimicked her routine.

“I wouldn’t mind that,” he said, letting out a few breaths between reps. Much faster than hers. “You know, helping you kill the time during the day.”

She laughed. “That’s how it feels. When I’m working, I’m so busy, and then can’t wait to be off, but after a few days of catching up, I’m like, now what am I going to do?”

She inhaled after that long explanation, took a quick breath, then switched and was turning her knees side to side lifting them, working her obliques. He did the same, causing her to laugh.