Page 80 of Surviving in Clua


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Rae stills, arms flexed, weights in a half curl, a frown creeping across her face. “You want me to look into him? It’s highly illegal and ethically wrong, but I can totally get the low down if you want me to?”

“What? No!” I roll my eyes, “Jesus, woman, are you sure you’re not a spy?” I’ve known her since we were gawky teenagers, but I’m still not entirely sure that working in computer security something-or-other is all her family business is into. “Forget I said anything. We’re good. Great. Let’s talk about something else.”

“Okaaaaay. How’s the restaurant coming along? Is everything ready for tonight?” She continues to curl like the dumbbells aren’t the size of her head, the only sign of their weight the slight tremble in her arm as she lifts them.

I watch her for a second, my own much lighter dumbbells already burning in my biceps. “You really are a freakishly strong little woman.” I muse, momentarily distracted before I shake myself out of it. “The restaurant is as ready as I can get it without the damn bar tops. Can you believe the timber yard over in Tenting still doesn’t have them ready?”

“I’m sure they’ll be done for the real opening.” Her cheeks puff as her curls get slower. “And if they aren’t I’ll go kick some ass until they are.”

“I love you, you know that?”

“I do.” She smirks, then turns to the weight rack and drops the dumbbells. “Want me to help set up? I fold a mean napkin, you know.”

“All done. The silverware and glasses have been polished, napkins have been folded, tablecloths ironed. Lola has requested dinner on the roof terrace, so I can’t really set the table until we’re good to go. Besides, Si has banned me from setting foot in the place until tonight. Apparently, my nerves will affect his chef juju.”

“Wait, isn’t Lola in a wheelchair?” Rae tilts her head as she pulls her fingers back to stretch out the muscles in her forearms.

“She said, and I quote, the men I knock about with shouldn’t have a problem getting her up there.”

“Ah, nice.” Rae nods slowly, clearly impressed by Lola’s gumption. “Cools. Now give me ten more curls. Each arm.” She lifts her dumbbells again as I get mine.

We do two more sets of bicep curls followed by five more minutes of jump rope before we move over to the weight bench.

I make myself comfortable on the worn leather of the bench while Rae slides the weights onto the bar. Slightly heavier than I usually use. I get through one set of ten before we swap positions while she reps out ten without so much as a grimace. She really is freakishly strong for such a tiny little thing.

My turn again. I squeeze my eyes shut and focus on keeping form as I lower the bar to my chest, then push up. One, two, three, four, five… my chest muscles burn, my arms shake, six, seven, I squeeze my eyes tighter and puff out my cheeks with my exhale, nine and, the bar sways to the side as I try to push up, but before I can tap out the weight disappears.

I open my eyes.

“Nice form.” Mylo’s staring down at me, straddling the bench and my waist like he did the last time I was here. Only this time he’s grinning. This time he bends down and kisses me square on the lips. “That is what I should have done the last time I had you in this position.” He kisses me again, then straightens, holding his hands out to help me up.

“I probably would have stabbed you with a dumbbell if you had.” I let him pull me to my feet, laughing at the instant scowl that lowers his eyebrows.

“Guys, are we here to workout or to kiss face?”

We both turn to where Rae is still standing behind us.

“I’m gonna have to leave you to it,” Mylo drops one of my hands but keeps hold of the other, engulfing my fingers with his much bigger ones.

“I thought you didn’t have any classes today?” I turn back to look into his face.

“I don’t, but I do have something to take care of.” He smirks down at me, but there’s something in the tightness around his eyes that spikes unease up my spine. “I’ll meet you at the restaurant later?”

“Sure.” I lower my gaze. “Are you okay? Is it anything I can help you with?”

“It’s nothing you need to worry about.” He dips his head and kisses me again, tickling his tongue along the seam of my lips in a way that makes my breath catch. “I’ll see you tonight.” He’s already straightened by the time I open my eyes. “Catch you later, Rae.”

I watch him clap Jackson on the back as he passes him by the door.

Rae’s watching me when I turn to her.

I force a smile. “Looks like it’s just us then,” I try for easy, but by the frown on her face I’m pretty sure she sees right through it.

“You know, you can love someone without knowing everything about them.” She drops her attention to where she’s tightening the strap on her lifting gloves.

I narrow my eyes at her. “You literally just offered to run a background check on him.”

“I know I did, and I totally will, but, I mean, if he’s treating you good and he makes you happy, why not just relax and enjoy for a bit?”

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