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Charlie tells them, ‘Here’s my boss now,’ and they stand to face me. The brunette, whom I take to be the mouthy publicist, is standing on too-high heels, hands on her hips, her nails coated in bright-pink polish. She’s striking, yet my eyes flick over her and land on the blonde I recognize from TV. Izzy Coulthard. And good God, she’s even hotter in person. The TV did nothing to show that her slim figure, toned as it is, has all the right curves in all the right places. Her purple yoga leggings from the cover of her book have been replaced by jazzy blue print leggings, which she wears with a hot-pink running top. Her hair is tied into an immaculate ponytail, not one wisp out of place. And, oddly, given she is asking to work out, her face is full of makeup. A serious instructor would not work out in a full face of makeup.
I cross to the desk. ‘Ladies, how can I help you?’
An awkward silence ensues while I stand in front of them, my arms folded across my chest. I look from Izzy to the publicist. Waiting. The publicist opens and closes her mouth without speaking, then slowly, as her gaze runs from my head across my folded arms, she reaches out a hand for me to shake. Is she ogling me?
I take her hand in a short shake. As if the move snaps her out of a trance, she speaks loudly and quickly. ‘Finally, someone with some authority around here.’
‘Excuse me?’
She flicks her bobbed hair from her eyes and flashes me a flirty smile. ‘Well, I was explaining to this woman, your receptionist, that this is Izzy Coulthard. I’m sure I don’t need to explain to you that Izzy is here on a promotional tour for her new, highly anticipated fitness book.’
I stare at her blankly, as if I’ve never seen the stunning blonde by my side on TV.
She continues to speak. ‘I’m her publicist, Kerry. Izzy wanted to check out the gym to see if we could…’
I tune her out as my attention shifts back to Izzy. The woman from my hot-as-hell dream. The woman who morphed from herself to Alice and finally to Jake.
Christ. My body shudders as I remember that nightmare.
From the parting of her lips and the widening of her eyes, I’d say Izzy just picked up on my not-so-subtle revulsion, and she is 100 per cent affronted. I could fix that easily. I could explain that I’m not shaking off the thought of banging her in my dream but the thought of getting jiggy with Jake.
Of course, that won’t put an end to the incessant ranting of the ignorant publicist who is still talking at me.
‘…I tried to explain to your receptionist that it would be good marketing for the gym if Izzy were to be seen working out here, and—’
I dart my focus back to Kerry and hold up a hand. ‘I’m sorry to disappoint you, Kerry, but we don’t have the capacity for walk-ins. I have a full members list.’
She tuts. Actuallytutsat me. ‘This is Izzy Coulthard.’
‘Sweetheart, she could be Angelina Jolie. I don’t bow to status or threats from publicists. And, for the record, Charlie is my floor manager, not a receptionist. And if there were any chance of me letting Izzy work out in my gym today, insulting my staff is the last thing you should be doing.’
I resume my folded arm position and glare at Kerry until she looks away.
‘Look, we didn’t mean to cause an upset.’ Izzy speaks with a British accent. A cute British accent. She glances around the space and the people in the bistro who have gone quiet and are watching our show. When I look at her this time, I notice a small dimple in the center of her chin, and the amazing brightness of her blue eyes. ‘I just want to work out.’
Don’t be lured in by it, Brooks. She’s just another jumped-up wannabe, whether you’ve fantasized about tapping her or not.
‘Do you run?’ I ask, before images of her legs wrapped around my waist can penetrate my thoughts. At least I tried to stop them from doing that.
‘Ah, yes, I run.’
‘Well, since you’re dressed for it, I’ll do you a favor.’ I incline my head toward the neon-blue sports bag on the floor by the sofa and exhale sharply through my nose as I realize it is a high-end designer label and probably cost my month’s rent. ‘You can leave your gym bag in a locker here and go for a run. When you leave the gym, run eight blocks to the left. You’ll be in Central Park.’
For the second time, her lips part. This time, her mouth opens wider.
‘Are you joking?’ Kerry chides.
I shrug. ‘The offer’s there. Take it or leave it.’
Kerry puts a hand on my arm, a move I think is intended to be aggressive, or powerful, who knows? ‘But I called and told y—’
‘I picked up your voice messages before I came down here. All three of them. The first asked if you could come here today. The second gave me an hour to respond. The third said you were on your way.’ I take her hand from my arm. ‘I don’t take kindly to people telling me what to do with my gym, Kerry. Try advance notice and a polite request next time.’ I turn to Izzy, who still looks a little astonished. ‘If you want to borrow a locker, Charlie will fix you up.’
With that, I turn my back on them. Before I reach the double doors, I glance back at Izzy.
‘Hey, none of my business, but if you want that book to sell, you might want to reconsider your choice of publicist.’
I let the doors close behind me and smirk all the way up the stairs. Who the hell does she think she is?
