Chasing You

Chapter 5

Chapter 5

GrahamI followed Alexa out of the employee area and into the gym itself.

My “Lola” was Alexa. Alexa Stevens. A tenant.

Small, small world.

The sway of her hips jerked my eyes to her a*s like the gravitational pull of the sun, and being back in her orbit gave me a charge.

And judging from her reaction, she wasn’t nearly as immune to me as she wanted to be. Shock wasn’t the only thing widening her velvety eyes and making her jumpier than a frog on meth.

Alexa would pretend we were all business, but I knew better.

She walked with purpose—her back ramrod straight—and barely looked at me as she began our tour in a crisp tone.

I’d let her do her “business” thing. For now.

“The space isn’t as large as many national chains, but we have top-notch cardio equipment.”

She pointed out the two rows of machines—six treadmills, three ellipticals, and three exercise bikes. A rowing machine sat in one corner next to an area of cabled weight machines, a pull-up station, and free weights with benches.

“That’s the area for strength training, obviously.”

Every piece of equipment was spotless and top-flight. I probably paid double for the slick, meat-market gym where I had a membership, and it wasn’t nearly so well appointed.

I had a feeling this was a direct reflection of the gym’s owner. Alexa liked things in order, which surprised me.

The woman I met on New Year’s Eve had seemed like a free spirit. This woman? Not so much. But that did explain who she became the minute the sun came up.

She led me through the weights area to peek in on a pilates class.

“We have clients who have been with us for years. They love our classes and our personal fitness and nutritional planning. We have a nutritionist who comes in once a month and does classes. Everything is tailored to each client. We’ve even trained some fitness competitors.”

With her avoiding eye contact and turned toward the studio, I got another prime view of her backside. I hovered a step behind her—the air between us charged and magnetic.

Her curly, dark brown hair clustered in a fluffy, low ponytail, brushing between her shoulder blades. The softness of her electric blue sweater made my fingers tingle. I gripped my hands tight at my sides and followed her form down to her close-fitting, black knit pants.

She could be a fitness competitor herself.

Alexa whipped back around and caught me looking. She smoothed the hem of her pullover, and her mouth pinched.

I darted my gaze around the gym to keep from snickering in her face. That wouldn’t help my pursuit. “What’s included in your expansion?”

Her lips parted, pressed shut, then parted again. “We’re putting in a dry sauna and a whirlpool with an extra shower area between the lobby for the spa and the gym. They’ll connect via a hallway.” Alexa gestured toward the wall. “The glass doors will be here.”

“And the spa?”

“We’ll have four massage rooms and two rooms for aestheticians. We toyed with adding a mani-pedi area, but decided against it. There is space in the back of the building to add something like that later. For now, we’ll use the room as extra storage. I can take you over there if you like. It’s not connected yet, so we have to go outside.”

“After you.”

Next door, the surging whine of power tools greeted us. The various rooms were framed, but not finished, and the floors were stark concrete.

“Careful where you step.”

The space was nearly as large as the gym, and she pointed out where everything would go in the lobby and in each unfinished room.

“It’s not much to look at right now. Our drywall can’t go in until they finish the wiring and plumbing. That’s the issue I mentioned earlier. There’s something that has to connect in with the power to the building, and we can’t get into the building’s wiring closet. Or something. I’ll have my contractor detail the problem and email you.”

I could see how marketing the businesses together would be a natural fit for her brand—whole-body wellness, catering to the clientele, and personal service.

“This is very ambitious.” I couldn’t keep the chirp of surprise out of my voice.

Alexa smirked. “Thank you?”

I rocked back on my heels. “I mean it as a compliment. I wouldn’t have guessed…I don’t know. Maybe I should shut up now.”

“Let me guess. You wouldn’t have thought I was a responsible adult.”

Sarcasm added heft to her blunt indictment. Maybe for a moment on New Year’s Eve, I’d thought she was an aimless party girl, but I suspected that she was more than that by the time the hotel door slammed shut.

“No, actually. I could tell you were a woman in control. Shoulders back. Chin up. Looking me straight in the eye.”

As if taking direction from me, she straightened her back.

“I used to model. Posture was everything. So, any more questions about the expansion or the gym?”

I chuckled. “No. No more business questions. I have some questions about your modeling, but I need to get to my lunch appointment. Maybe another time.”

She was clearly done with me, and I did have places to be.

Alexa walked me back outside, and I stopped on the driver’s side of my Lexus SUV.

“Thank you for the tour. Let me know if you need anything.”

“Will do.”

She extended her hand for a shake, but I clasped it between my hands and held it there. I craved the reaction I could get from her.

She gave her hand a yank, and I dropped it.

“You said you have a lunch meeting.”

“I did. I do.” I opened the car door slid behind the wheel.

“Then, I’ll see you around.” She turned and rounded the front of my massive vehicle to head back to her gym.

I shouted after her. “Bye, Lola.”

I laughed. She walked faster, and I couldn’t stop myself from laughing again.