AllFreeNovel
Share Us
CHAPTER1
Allie Benson
Ibob my head along with the thumping hip-hop and pop music in the gym, smiling at several of my favorite customers.
Even though we’re all getting sweaty and happy in here, the gym still smells fresh and clean. We take pride in the way we take care of it.
“Hey, Allie baby! When are you gonna go out with me?”
I groan and turn around when I hear Smitty’s voice. His big pec muscles flex in the ripped-up tank top he’s wearing. He’s so tan that he looks like he’s been burnt and his toothpaste-commercial white smile is unnerving and irritating.
“I’ve told you no a million times, Smitty. It’s not happening. Just leave me alone.”
He pouts and his handsome face looks like an overgrown baby. “Awww. Don’t be like that. Aren’t you supposed to be nice to the customers?”
“Nice yes. But just because I work here doesn’t mean that I’m part of your membership. Get that through your head or you might lose your membership.”
“I don’t think so. There’s no way that they’d believe you. I’m well known around here and everybody likes me.” The smug look on his face irritates the hell out of me but it also makes me nervous.
Is he right? Would everyone believe him not me? I get my answer pretty freaking quick.
“I would believe her since I was just standing here and heard you proposition her yet again, asshole.”
I roll my eyes. My second-least favorite person. Awesome! This day is shaping up to be really great. I had such high hopes too.
Smitty turns around, his cropped blond hair standing straight up, like he’s actually vibrating with annoyance.
“Dude, what is your problem!” he hisses. “I’m just trying to get a little action, man.”
“That’s odd.” Raymond tilts his head and frowns. “From where I was standing it sounded like you were threatening her job if she didn’t put out.” He straightens and moves closer, his barrel chest thrust out and his strong jaw tightening. “Did I get that wrong? Because I really hope I got that wrong. It would make me very unhappy to hear that you’re propositioning women here and threatening them. I think that’s actually a crime.”
Smitty scoffs. “Asking a girl out isn’t a crime.”
“Blackmail is.” There’s no give at all in Raymond Fairchild’s face. The lean muscles are taut and his whole look screams‘I’m gonna fuck you up if you don’t watch what you say.’
He glares at me and Raymond and finally throws his hands up in the air, grunting. “Fine. I’m just trying to get her to loosen up. She’s always such a bi…”. Raymond’s face turns three shades darker and he stiffens, stepping closer. “I mean, she seems to be in need of some fun,” he says lamely, backing up, his eyes darting left and right like he’s looking for an escape.
“That may be. But when a lady says no, she means no, asshole. Not blackmail me into sleeping with you.”
“Right, right. Yeah. I’ve gotta go.”
He turns tail and takes off, running like his big ass is on fire. I watch him for a second and then turn to Raymond.
“Thank you, Mr. Fairchild, but I’m quite capable of handling someone like Smitty,” I say, my voice cool.
“Mr. Fairchild?” His dark brows lift and his whiskey eyes sparkle. “Wow! I thought I graduated to Raymond a long time ago. Which nobody calls me anyway. Not even my parents. My name is Ray.”
“We are not friends. You are a client. Therefore, Mr. Fairchild is appropriate.”
The smirk on his sexy face widens and he chuckles. “Boy. I think my third-grade teacher wasn’t as stilted as you. And the woman was, like, eighty.”
Shaking my head, I turn around to walk away, only to find him following me. “Why don’t you like me, Allie?”
I whip around so fast that he almost trips over me. “Why do you come here instead of just using the police gym?”
“I asked you a question first.”
“That. That right there. That’s why I don’t like you. You’re too damn pushy. I don’t like that.” Even as I say the words, I know I don’t really believe them. And that’s the problem. I do like him. Way too much. He’s a pain in my ass but he’s also sexy as hell and my body can’t decide which way to go. Kiss him or kill him. Either way, he frustrates the hell out of me.
