Page 11 of Throttle Therapy

“Tell me about why you want to do this?”he said while she was bent forward, trying, and failing to touch her toes.

Jenna frowned.That was an awfully invasive question.

“I want to get into better shape.”

“I get that, but we all have a motivation.We all have something that pushes us to get up in the morning, to brave the cold, or the heat and get here in time to finish our workout before we tackle everything else on our plate.What’s yours?”

She didn’t answer right away.She was trying to come up with something better than she needed to make more in tips, and this was the only way she could figure to do it.Well, other than trading her job waiting tables at the Driftwood Lounge to work the stage down at the Broken Spur.And she couldn’t do that.She had custody of Lacey, but this was the bible belt.If word got out that she was putting food on the table and a roof over their heads by taking off her clothes for strangers, they very well could step in and take her away.Then she’d end up in the foster system and that was the last thing Jenna wanted.

That would be failing Mama, and Lacey, in the worst way.She looked at him through her lashes, keeping her head lowered so he wouldn’t know she was watching him.Should she say it?How much should she say?

“I need to be in better shape to make more money.”She kept her voice soft, so it wouldn’t carry across the huge space and no one else would hear her humiliation.Jenna didn’t know what she’d expected to happen after her confession, but it wasn’t for the big, burly biker to stop and stare at her.Another glance through her lashes told her he was scowling too.

“I’m sorry.You’re going to have to run that by me again, slower this time.I’m not sure how working out and losing weight will help you make more money.”

She sighed.

“I wait tables down at the Driftwood.I know I could make more with a better place, or with better hours, but I need to be home in the evenings with Lacey.She’s older now and she needs to know she’s not alone.Mason, he’s my manager says I would make better tips if I was in better shape.”What she didn’t say was that every time he said it, he also added a cruel sneer that round was not an attractive shape.

“That fucking prick.Mason?What’s his last name?”

Jenna watched, forgetting to hide that she was looking at him, as his jaw clenched and he fisted his hands.Why did he seem so upset?It wasn’t like she hadn’t heard that, or something like it, at least a million times.It wasn’t the words that cut from Mason, but the hateful, cutting tone he used every single time.

“His name, Jenna.Give it to me.”

She shook her head.It wasn’t worth it.Mason wasn’t worth the trouble Roadkill would likely get in for whatever he had in mind.

“It doesn’t matter.”She bent back over her leg, reaching for her toes, then switching to the other leg and leaning into that one.

“You need a better job.”

“I know.But what can I find here in Wilmer that will let me work during school hours, call out when I need to without losing the whole gig and lets me keep on all my clothes?”Jenna knew she sounded whiney and pathetic.She really wasn’t making a good impression here.But did that matter?Did he have to like her in order to help her learn to use the gym?

“I can tell you’re not comfortable with this.But I have one more question before we move on.”

She stared at him, then nodded.She might as well get over it with.

“Did this Mason start out hitting on you, then turned to getting mean when you either said no, or it didn’t work out?”

Jenna froze.She thought back over the last three and a half years she’d worked at the Driftwood Lounge.Had Mason ever asked her out?

Something sparked in the back of her mind.It took a moment of digging, but eventually she remembered Mason suggesting she meet him for dinner, more than once.She’d been so absorbed in dealing with the courts and foster system in order to keep her sister out of the system she hadn’t even registered that he was flirting.Was that why he was so nasty to her?Because he felt like she snubbed him?

She didn’t have time to worry about that now.She went back to stretching.

“How long do we do this before you show me what’s next?”She had shit to do and worrying about the motives of her petty, hateful boss wasn’t on the list.The way she saw it, in better shape she might be able to land a better job.Or at least move a little faster to make more tips, that would be helpful too.

“Ten to fifteen minutes, both before and after, you need to figure that in when you’re planning a workout.You don’t want to skip it, that’s how people get hurt.”

She nodded.She would do as he said, she didn’t have time for injuries.

Chapter Seven

Roadkillmanagedtoholdon to his temper as he walked Jenna through a routine, teaching her how to use machines and watching to make sure she was doing it right.He didn’t want her hurt because he hadn’t done his job properly.

“Why don’t you go on up, walk the track for ten minutes then you can spend another fifteen in the hot tub or sauna.They’ll help you not be so sore tomorrow.Want me to come up with you?”Roadkill said as he watched Jenna’s flushed face.

She puffed out a breath and shook her head.