Page 17 of Throttle Therapy

“Yep.We need to be healthy.I don’t want you ever to hear the nasty shit I do, and it might be easier for me if I’d learned young, so I’m going to give you the advantage I didn’t have.We’re both going to start going.I signed up for a membership the other day.Today I’m going to take you in and show you how to use the machines.”

“You’re not working out?”

“I did a big workout yesterday and I’m sore.But I made arrangements to have the guy there so he can make sure you’re learning to do things right.The last thing either of us needs is to get hurt.”

Lacey stuck her lower lip out for a few seconds then resumed eating.

An hour later, they were both dressed in leggings and comfortable t-shirts as Jenna herded her sister out of the house and out to the car.

“You’re in an awful big hurry.Are you sure there’s not more pulling you to the gym than making sure we both stay healthy?”Her sister glanced at her from the corner of her eye.

Jenna just shook her head and didn’t bother saying anything.Did she like being around Roadkill?Yeah, she did.Though she couldn’t say why.And it was too soon to think too much about it anyway.Instead, she made sure Lacey buckled her seatbelt then started the car and headed to Savage Iron.

“CanItalktoyou for just a minute?”Roadkill asked as Jenna sent Lacey to the shower.

Jenna frowned but nodded.She hadn’t worked up a sweat, so she didn’t need to shower.“I’m going to stay out here.Come on out when you’re done,” she said to her sister then, when she’d disappeared into the locker room, turned to Roadkill.“What is it?”

He bit his lip, making her wonder what he was thinking and why he seemed nervous about it.

“Would you mind stepping back here into my office?”He motioned toward the doorway that led to the locker rooms and the stairs up to the second floor.“We can leave the door open if that makes you more comfortable, but I think you won’t want to be talking about this out here where we can be overheard.”

“Sure, but—” she cut herself off as she looked toward the locker room.

“Bobby Lee?”Roadkill called.

“Yes, sir?”

“We’re going to step back to my office for a few minutes.If Lacey comes out of the locker room before we come back, go ahead and send her back, got it?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Let me know if you need anything,” Roadkill said before turning back to Jenna and motioning her forward with the sweep of one arm.She headed for the doorway, moving to one side to let him pass once they were in the short hallway.He went to the door marked ‘Authorized Personnel Only’, waved a card in front of the small panel to one side then pushed the door open.She followed, finding herself in a small, neat office.There was a desk with a rolling chair on one side and two padded chairs on this side.A computer sat on one side but otherwise, there wasn’t a lot of decoration.

“Have a seat.”Roadkill motioned to one of the chairs on this side of the desk.

Jenna frowned but sat.Her frown became a scowl when he sat in the chair beside her instead of on the other side of the desk.

“You told me yesterday your boss is…” he paused, as if looking for the right words.“Well, let’s just say he leaves something to be desired.”

She had no clue where this was going, but her heart seemed to race in her chest.Was Roadkill a friend of Mason’s?Was he going to take what she’d said back to him?Had she just screwed up the only income she and Lacey had?

Slowly, she nodded, wondering what he would say next.

“A friend of mine was in the Driftwood yesterday and saw how he treated you.How everyone treated you.You know that’s not right, right?”

“I need the job.I don’t have a lot choice.”

“If you could find a different job, one that pays better and doesn’t leave someone sneering at you all the time, would you be open to it?”

“Well, yeah.But I barely have a high school diploma.I’ve only had a couple of jobs, ever and who’s going to hire me with the restrictions on my availability to take care of Lacey?Who’s going to be willing to take me on knowing that if something happens to her, I’ll call out?”

“Don’t worry about that.I talked to a friend of mine.He’s willing to meet with you.Talk to you about the job, one that will let you pick her up from school and take her back to work with you if you need to.As well as possibly give Lacey something part time after school, if that’s okay with you.”

She narrowed her eyes at him.“What kind of job is it?”

“Reception and billing at a mechanic shop.”

“I’ve never done any kind of billing.I’m not sure I’m the right person for it.”