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An Excerpt From: ALL WORKED UP
Copyright © EVE VAUGHN, 2008
All Rights Reserved, Ellora's Cave Publishing,
Inc.
We built Fit Co. from nothing and I’ll be damned if I
allow the reputation of this gym to be tarnished by anyone. Quality service
is guaranteed and I intend to see it provided.”
“Aye, aye, Captain.” Pete gave him a mock salute and
clicked his heels together.
Landon was not amused. He exhaled when he was alone once
again. Deep down he realized Pete, his best friend since college, meant
well by telling him to let go of the past. But it was the past that drove
him to become the success he was today. The product of a broken home, he’d
been raised by an alcoholic mother who’d told Landon he’d never amount to
anything.
Scrawny and malnourished, he’d been the target of bullies.
Even though he’d confided to Pete about his childhood, Landon was sure no
one could fully appreciate what he’d gone though—what it was like being
told what a loser they were. He’d been the invisible kid until one person
taught him the meaning of self-worth. Landon often wondered what had become
of her.
Glancing at his sports watch, he realized it was time to
meet his client—Kristen’s client. When he walked down the stairs, he
halted, catching sight of the woman standing by the trainer’s station. She
looked familiar.
No.
It couldn’t be. Get a hold of yourself. You’re
imagining things. But the closer he got, the more she reminded him of
someone he knew. She was older of course, a little heavier, but he’d
recognize that profile anywhere. God knows he’d stared at it for countless
hours when she’d tutored him.
She turned in his direction and his heart stopped. It
was Gloria Redmond, the cute student teacher he’d had a crush on from the
moment they’d met. Her smooth brown skin glowed like rich mahogany. She had
large dark eyes one could get lost in and a set of lush unpainted lips he
used to dream of kissing. She wore a red bandana on her head, with her hair
pulled back into a ponytail. Landon allowed his gaze to slide over the rest
of Gloria.
Her body was encased in a black sweat suit which did
nothing to hide her voluptuous curves. She was just as gorgeous as he
remembered. Landon’s pulse quickened and cock stirred. Settle down,
boy. The last he’d heard from her, she was married with a child, and
even if her status had changed, who was to say she was attracted to white
men?
“Gloria Redmond?”
She smiled hesitantly. “Sanders, actually. I must have
put my maiden name on the application in error. Are you my trainer?”
He could sense her disappointment. It was obvious she
didn’t recognize him. “Will that
be a problem?”
“Well, I don’t mean to be rude, but I did request a
woman. I would feel more comfortable…” There was so much uncertainty in her
voice. Her vulnerability was evident and he wanted to take her in his arms
and reassure her everything would be all right.
Landon gave her a wide smile to show her there were no
hard feelings. “No offense taken. I sincerely apologize your request can’t
be accommodated at this time, but unfortunately, the original trainer we’d
put you with called out sick. If you’d like to reschedule with another
female trainer, I’d be happy to set up an appointment for you right now.
However, I’d be more than happy to start you on your workout regimen.”
She suddenly seemed distressed, her eyes darting from
left to right as if she was looking for someone to rescue her. Her mouth
moved, but no words came out. What was it about him that made her so
nervous?
He took a step closer, but when she took one back,
Landon halted. “Are you okay?”
Gloria moistened her lips with the tip of her tongue,
forcing his gaze to follow the movement. She obviously didn’t realize what
that innocent little motion had done to his equilibrium. It was strange how
his attraction for her hadn’t changed after all this time, yet she still
seemed as uninterested in him as a man as she had when she’d tutored him.
“I’m not sure if that will be a good idea. Uh, do you
work here all the time?”
He frowned, wondering why she asked. “Yes, I’m here
every day. Actually, I’m co-owner of Fit Co.”
Her eyes widened. “You own this place? Then why are you
training?” Her voice was barely above a whisper.
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