Shape Up To Love

Chapter 3

3

Melissa sipped on a soda and watched Nick hum a happy tune as he entered his house. She checked her watch.

It sure was taking him a long time to turn around.

When he snapped on the light and spotted her, Nick jumped back and held a hand to his heart.

“Ah!”

Melissa stood and stretched. She’d been waiting for five minutes. As soon as Parker called her, she’d mobilized and raced straight to Nick’s house.

It hadn’t been hard to break in. People really should know better than to leave their back doors unlocked.

“Who are you? What are you doing in here?”

He looked like he was about to bolt. Melissa got ready in case she had to chase him down. It wouldn’t be a pleasant introduction if she had to drag her client kicking and screaming.

“My name is Melissa Michelson. I’m your personal trainer.”

Nick’s eyes flickered to the soda bottle in her hand.

“Oh,” she grinned. “I hope it was okay to just take it. I was thirsty.”

He held out his hands to her as if she were a rabid dog snarling at him.

“Miss, if you calm down and explain what you’re doing here, I won’t press charges.”

Melissa laughed and rose to her feet. Nick stumbled backward.

“Nick— can I call you Nick?”

“No.”

“Nick,” Melissa said anyway, “why don’t you have a seat?”

Nick turned around and tried to run out the door, but Melissa darted forward and slammed it back in place before he could escape.

She grabbed him by the collar and tugged him toward the sofa. Nick scrambled for his cell phone, but Melissa snatched it from his hand.

She was actually having a lot of fun scaring the crap out of this guy.

“W-what do you want?”

“I told you, I’m your personal trainer. I want you to be happy and healthy.”

“I-if it’s money you want, I don’t have any on me.”

Melissa tried not to laugh. Ida would roll on the floor when she heard this one.

“What do you think you’re worth, Nick?”

“Excuse me?”

“You have a price?”

“Lady—”

“I find that a lot of the people I train have a low estimation of their value. It’s why they don’t take care of themselves. They don’t understand how much they’re worth.”

“Miss, I can assure you…”

“How much, Nick?”

Sweat beaded on his forehead and his eyes trekked back and forth as he searched for a way out.

Parker had warned that Nick had high blood pressure so Melissa decided to quit scaring him and get straight to the point.

She let him go and he fell into the chair. Melissa stood directly in front of him as she spoke.

“Starting tomorrow, I’m moving in with you and personally training you. Parker and Ida provided me with your schedule at the hospital. I’m going to plan a workout routine around that.”

“What?”

“It’s going to take me at least a day to get my house in order so I can live with you. In the meantime, I want you to take every single unhealthy package in this house and throw it away.”

“Look, lady—”

“Yes, Nick?”

He seemed surprised that she had acknowledged him.

“I-I don’t know what Parker and Ida paid you but I’ll double it if you leave me alone.”

“Oh, I assure you my bill will be coming in the mail. I accept payments in increments if it suits your financial situation. My secretary will work that out with you.”

“No.” Nick fisted his hands. His nose flared and his eyes flashed in defiance. Melissa smiled. At last, some back bone!

“That’s great!” she laughed. “That right there, you’ll need that attitude to survive my three-month plan.”

“Your three-month plan?”

“Yes. One month for dieting and exercise, one month for sculpting, and one month for body building. It’s going to be intense. If you want surgery, that’s a whole ‘nother ball game.”

“Surgery? What? I don’t even know you!”

“I’m Melissa Michelson,” she said patiently. “Fitness instructor.”

“I’m Nick Lee, but you already know that. It seems you know a lot about me.”

She opened her mouth to respond, but he cut her off.

“Except this. I don’t like bullying and I don’t like being told what to do. I know Parker and Ida have good intentions, but I won’t take smack from anybody. Now please, get out of my house!”

“Okay, okay.”

Ida was strangely excited as she strolled toward the door. She hadn’t expected Nick’s sudden flare of anger. It was a good sign.

It meant, underneath all that flab, he was a fighter.

She slapped his shoulder as she passed him by and headed for the door.

“This is going to be fun, Nick. I can feel it. I’ll see you later.”

“I don’t think so.” Nick followed her to the door and slammed it in her face.

Melissa grinned and stretched. Ida was a nosy little woman, but she had to thank her for this opportunity.

Nick would be a challenge, not because his weight was impossible to overcome, but because he didn’t seem to want her help.

The idea of a back-and-forth with a stubborn client awakened something that had lain dormant in her heart.

For almost two years, she’d given up her passion in order to run the gym and lead the Rump Shaking classes.

Rediscovering her love for personal training was like finding a forgotten keepsake.

Yup, this would definitely be an interesting experience.

Melissa got into her car and left Nick’s split level in the rear view mirror.

On her way home, she stopped by Ida’s place. Her best friend had demanded a recap of the first meeting with her new client.

Melissa had a feeling Ida wouldn’t approve of her methods, but she was excited to share it anyway.

She hopped out of the car and bounded to the front entrance of Ida’s bungalow. The door flew open before she fisted her hands to knock.

“Auntie Mel!” Santi flung his arms around her.

“Kid!” She ruffled his silky, black hair and hefted him into her arms.

Together, she and Santi walked inside.

Santi Hernandez was a bright eight-year-old with interests that spanned everything from cooking to astronomy.

The kid had a magical quality that made people fall in love with him without a second thought.

“‘Sup, Mel,” Mateo greeted her from his perch around the table.

She smiled at the handsome boy. Mateo would no doubt be a heartbreaker if Ida ever let him off the hook to date.

“You working hard, Mattie?”

Mateo shrugged. “I guess. Chem is Chem.”

“It sounds like fun. Where’s Ida?”

“Mommy’s in the back.” Santi pointed a finger.

The child began calling Ida ‘mom’ soon after Ida got emergency custody. Mateo hadn’t brought himself to, but he didn’t put up a fuss when Santi did.

Ida and Melissa considered that a victory.

“Hey, Mel!” Ida appeared.

She was dressed in shorts and a tank top. It was especially hot today so all the windows were blazing open.

“Mom, can I watch TV?” Santi hopped into the couch.

“Yes,” Ida nodded. “Mateo, could you make sure he doesn’t cruise to those mature channels?”

“Moom,” Santi groaned.

“I’m watching you.” Ida held her fingers toward her eyes and then pointed them at Santi.

“Got it.” Mateo saluted.

“Come on, let’s go.” Ida dragged Melissa into her bedroom.

The purple walls and frilly white curtains were classic Ida-styles. A picture of Ida and Parker stood on her dresser. Photos of the boys covered her mirror.

Melissa settled on the bed and Ida joined her. They put their heads close together the way they used to when Ida was having a hard day with her mom.

“So…” Ida rolled over.

Her eyes were full of life and there was no hint of anger or despair in them. Ida had come a long way indeed.

“So…” Melissa grinned.

“How’d it go? Did he agree to do it?”

“Not exactly, but that doesn’t matter.”

“What do you mean?”

“I’m not giving up until he’s healthy and fit.”

“How do you plan to do that if he doesn’t want to cooperate?”

“By being my natural, charming self.”

“Really?” Ida’s phone rang and she fished the device from her pocket. “Hold that thought.”

Melissa waited patiently for her best friend to answer the call.

“She did what?” Ida yelled.

Melissa cringed when Ida caught her eyes and glowered. Oops, looked like Nick had squealed.

The doctor had caved much faster than she’d expected.

“It’s okay,” Ida said. “She’s in front of me right now. I’ll talk to her.”

Melissa blinked innocently when Ida ended the call.

“So… what did Parker say?”

“How could you break into someone’s house? Are you crazy? Do you know how illegal that is?”

“That’s debatable.”

“It is not. Mel, I know your punk-rock-emo-rebellious stage is coming out because you’re looking at this like a dare, but you could have been arrested today.”

“I wasn’t.”

“But you could have been.”

“Chill, g.” She calmed Ida’s frantic mood. “I got this.”

“You better,” Ida sighed. “Because if you go down, I’m going to pretend to have nothing to do with this.”