Page 21 of Show Me

“Try not to injure yourself.”

“I’ll do my best.” I stride toward the leg press. Just another guy starting his routine. Nothing more. Nothing to read into. Nothing that crosses a line I already told myself I wasn’t going near.

Chapter Eleven

Ruby

He disappears into the gym like he belongs there. Which he does. Of course he does.

He didn’t lean on the counter this time. That was the first thing I noticed. The space. Like he was making sure it was there. Like he needed it to be there. Which is just perfect. I made him uncomfortable last night, and now he’s making sure I don’t do it again.

After picking up the pen again, I tap it against the counter before forcing myself to focus on the screen. Work. Schedules. Names. Times. Things that make sense. Not Xavier Cole.

“You’re here early.” Her voice cuts across the floor.

Lindsey is already beside him, leaning in like she’d been waiting for the moment he wasn’t at the desk. Of course she was.

“Yeah, gotta get to work.”

“Did you get breakfast?” Lindsey asks.

His brow wrinkles like he’s trying to figure out if she’s concerned or attempting to invite herself to eat with him. “Yes, I did.”

“Good. You shouldn’t work out on an empty stomach.” Her smile is genuine.

Interesting. It was concern. Maybe I shouldn’t judge her when I don’t know her. Heat creeps along my skin at my rash assessment of Lindsey.

“Can you show me this again?” she asks, gesturing toward the machine.

He steps over. Helpful. Easy. That’s who he is.

“Adjust the seat,” he says. He steps in long enough to move the pin, shows the motion, then steps back again.

Fast. Like he doesn’t want to stay there. Lindsey doesn’t seem to notice. Or if she does, she doesn’t care. She lingers anyway.

“You’ve been busy.” She pokes out her bottom lip in a pout. I suppose she thinks it’s sexy, but to me, it makes her look childish.

“Work.” Same tone. No elaboration, as if he’s hoping that puts an end to their conversation. Except she doesn’t end it. Of course she doesn’t.

I look back down at the screen, but I’m not reading anything. I’m trying not to listen but failing.

“Maybe you could show me more later.”

He doesn’t answer right away. Why am I eavesdropping? This is ridiculous.

“Talk to the trainers.” His voice is flat and dismissive.

My heart skips a beat. It’s small. Annoying. Because I shouldn’t feel better that he blew her off. It’s not like it has anything to do with me. But I can’t stop the part of me that wishes it did.

“Ruby.” My shoulders stiffen at the intrusion of my thoughts. Greg stands on the other side of the desk, a file in his hand. “You’ve got membership updates backing up.”

What? I did those yesterday. “No, I don’t.”

His expression doesn’t change. “If you’re done watching the floor, you can double-check this.” He taps a file against his palm, once, twice, as if the pages need as much correction as I do.

He slides the file toward me. When I don’t pick it up, he arches an eyebrow. Watching. Waiting. For what?

I take the file, flipping it open. It’s the printed membership updates from yesterday.