Chapter Three
Angela
I grabbed my car keys from the wall mount and scanned the counters and stove to ensure I turned everything off before heading out the door. Moving through the living room, I picked up the remote and turned off the flat screen television hanging above the white brick fireplace. Grabbing my Nike duffle bag next to the door with my cycling shoes, towel, and a bottle of water, I was ready. Stepping onto my porch, I turned to lock the door. When I came down off the porch, I was greeted with a wave from my next door neighbor who was out for her mid-morning walk.
“Hey, Ms. Taylor. How’re you this morning?”
Her smile creased her chestnut skin, glistening with sweat. “God woke me up this morning. Gave me the strength to walk on these old tired legs. Can’t ask for much else.”
I chuckled. “I guess not. You enjoy the rest of your walk.”
“Thank you, baby. Oh, and thank you for that chocolate lava cake you brought over last week. It was so good, I had to stop Cheryl from taking the last piece. Was almost better than the cakes your mama used to make. God rest her soul.”
A pang of sadness twisted in my stomach at the mention of my mother.
“I’m sorry, baby. I didn’t mean to―”
“It’s okay, Ms. Taylor. I’m just running late for my spin class,” I interrupted.
“Well, then you go on. Guess we both need to work off that chocolate cake, huh?”
I grinned and gave her a wave, heading over to my electric blue Acura. My car was the one personal luxury item I’ve splurged on in the last three years. I preferred to drive in silence, letting my mind run through all the things I needed to take care of for the day before heading to the bar that night. Thankfully, there was plenty of parking in the gym’s lot.
“Hey, Susie,” I greeted as I rounded the front desk to sign in for my ten o’clock class.
“Hey, Angela. How’s it going?” Susie studied the textbook in front of her. She was a college student at one of the major universities in the city and worked at the gym part-time.
“I can’t complain,” I answered, before heading off to the locker room to change into my cycling shoes. I was wearing my usual black biker shorts, sports bra, and a pink sleeveless tank top to the gym, figuring I would just change when I got back home. At five of ten, I exited the locker room to head to the class where the spin class was held. The previous class had already piled out and left the doors open to air it out before my class started. Seeing a few of my regulars, I waved and gave a couple of hugs out before moving to where the speakers and small entertainment center was set up. Plugging in my phone, I hit the music app to bring up high-energy playlist.
“Let’s get this shit over with,” a familiar male voice sounded off as he entered the room.
I turned around, and a laugh burst from my lips.
“You have got to be in the wrong place,” I said to the group of men in front of me.
“Angela?”
“Ah, shit!”
Don and Corey belted out at the same time.
Without my consent, my eyes began searching the rest of the men with these two until they found him. Eric was amongst the group of firefighters, and right along with them, he was wearing a pink tutu over his workout clothing, but his strong, masculine presence couldn’t be overshadowed even by the ridiculous ensemble.
“W-what’re you all d-doing here dressed like th-that?” I stumbled out.
“Sean set us up.”
“Sean?” I looked to Eric even though he hadn’t given me that answer.
He remained silent, but his eyes did his talking for him, eyeing me up and down. I remembered our last encounter at the bar, just a few nights earlier. His eyes now held that same promise in them. He took one last look before climbing onto a bike in the front row, his eyes holding a glimmer of mirth.
“Time for class,” was all he said, staring intently at me as if I was the one out of place.
The music started, taking me out of my mystified trance.
“All right, everyone on your bikes!” I announced into the microphone that was attached to an earpiece. “Make sure your feet are secured into the latches on the pedals. And … 3… 2…1. We’re starting off slow today,” I began, my voice growing louder to be heard over the music. I climbed onto the bike in front of the room, facing the crowd of peddlers and directed the class as usual. We began seated to warm up, but by the time the second round of the hooks came for the first song, we were up off our seats, doing arm push-ups against the handlebars. By the beginning of the next song, we were down for a short rest and then up again, pumping our legs. Even though I was working just as hard in addition to calling out cues, I kept an eye on each one of the twenty-five or so participants. The usuals were used to my high-energy, fast-paced class, and while I suspected none of the firemen had attended spin class before, they all kept up with no complaints. Even while I tried to keep my eyes on everyone in the class, my gaze kept floating back to the man directly in front of me. Every time I looked at Eric, his gaze was squarely on me, pinning me. At one point, the look he gave me was so intense that I faltered and I lost my grip on one side of the handlebars. Having been an instructor for three years now, I quickly recovered without too many people noticing. Embarrassed, I resolved to keep my gaze off of Eric for the remainder of the class. I failed miserably.
“Thanks, Angela. I needed that workout today,” Sharon, one of my regulars, panted as I unplugged my phone.
“It was my pleasure. Why don’t you bring Larry in here next time?” I laughed at the face she made. Larry was her husband, who she brought a few months back. She said he complained for days afterward.
“Never again. Larry can stick to his early morning runs now that he’s retired.”
I was amused at Sharon’s exasperation with her husband. We talked for a few more moments until we both stopped upon hearing loud whooping and hollering coming from outside the room. Wondering what was happening, I made my way to the main gym room to see my brother and two other men from his fire station cracking up and taking pictures and filming the men from Rescue Four.
“I knew they’d show up eventually,” Don stated loudly.
“Don’t worry, someone was taking pictures of you in class, too,” Sean laughed.
I continued to watch as Sean and his crew followed the Rescue Four men out the door. I covered my mouth, laughing to myself.
“Something funny?” That deep voice penetrated my senses. Although my temperature had begun to decline from my workout, I felt myself get all hot and bothered again.
I spun around to find Eric staring down at me. That same acute gaze drinking me in. My mouth suddenly felt dry.
“Shouldn’t you be with them?” I looked down the length of his body to see he’d removed the tutu, leaving him in a workout T-shirt and a pair of shorts that stopped an inch above his knees.
His eyes flitted up to the entrance where I surmised the men were still being berated, before falling back to me.
“I’m right where I need to be.”
My mouth went dry and I cursed myself for leaving my water bottle in my gym locker. A silence fell between us, which was so unlike me. Often, I could keep up an entire conversation on just my end alone, but my words seemed to get all jumbled up in Eric’s presence. I felt like a deer in headlights, or like the prey in the crosshairs again, when his eyes lingered on me.
“Did you enjoy class?” I finally managed to get out.
“I did.”
“Good. Good.” I clapped my hands for some reason. “That’s my goal. Make sure everyone has fun and burns lots of calories, of course.”
“Goal accomplished. Do you have another class to teach?”
“No.”
“I’ll walk you out,” he offered.
“Uh, I have to go get my bag from the locker room.”
“I’ll wait.”
A giddy feeling filled my stomach, and I nodded, hurrying off to grab my duffle bag. Checking my hair in the mirror, I sighed. After such a sweaty class, my curls were limp, weighed down by sweat. I made do and fluffed the sides of my hair as much as possible, grateful that I just got my cut trimmed and purple streaks refreshed over the weekend. Wiping my face of the sweat with a facial wipe I kept in my bag, I then coated my lips in a clear gloss I had on hand before going back out. A smile touched my lips when I saw Eric still waiting for me.
“Do you teach here every Tuesday?” he asked as we proceeded to the door.
“Every Tuesday and Thursday morning at ten a.m.”
His head tilted as if he was storing the information away for the future.
“We also have kickboxing classes, step aerobics, and of course a full weight room and cardio machines like most gyms. But we’ve got specialized personal trainers who’ve worked with some of the most famous people in the entertainment industry. That’s the spiel they tell us to give everyone,” I laughed as if it was an inside joke. “The gym has been open for less than a year, but I like the atmosphere. I’ve taught spin at other gyms in the city, but this place is by far my favorite.” I clamped my lips shut to keep from rambling on anymore. It seemed I found my ability to talk in his presence, and I mentally kicked myself for it.
“I’m over here.” I pointed to my car.
“And I’m right there.” He nodded to the car next to mine.
“Fire engine red. Fitting color for a firefighter,” I joked.
“I guess so.” Again the smile that reminded me of the sun came out, and I lowered my gaze, wishing I had my sunglasses with me.
“I like the pool. At the gym,” Eric added. “I divide my cardio between swimming and running to give my knees a break.”
“Yeah, I’ve had a few participants in my cycling class say they needed to switch because of knee or hip issues from running. You know, they say running on pavement for long periods of time does it. I read that orthopedic doctors are finding they have to do two hip or knee replacements on older patients because those things only hold up for like ten to fifteen years, maybe twenty. And…” I trailed off when I noticed his amused expression. “Sorry, I tend to ramble. It gets worse when I’m nervous.”
His head shot back. “I make you nervous?”
I rolled my eyes. “Oh come on, don’t pretend like you don’t have the whole sexy, brooding firefighter thing going on.”
When he threw his head back and laughed, I had to squeeze my thighs together.
“You’ve never been told that?”
“No, I don’t think I have.”
I gave him a sideways look. “I think you’re being modest.”
He shook his head, grinning. “You work here and then work the bar at night?”
I shrugged. “It’s only a fifty-minute class, and I don’t go into the bar until around three or four, sometimes later.”
“But you’re there ’til what? Like two in the morning?”
I shook my head. “Between three and four.”
“You don’t leave by yourself, do you?” he asked, brows dipping into a V, expressing his concern.
“I usually have at least one other employee close up with me.”
His look remained skeptical.
“Some nights Sean waits with me while I close up.”
“Sean, from Rescue Two? The one who just clowned all my guys?”
I laughed. “That’s him.”
“You two…”
“Are related? Yes, he’s my brother.”
The crease in his forehead released as relief washed over him. “Good to know.”
“Why’s that?” My voice had dipped a little lower to just being this side short of seductive.
“Because when I take you out, I don’t have to worry about him thinking I’m trying to steal his woman. Though, I wouldn’t give a damn if that were the case.”
My jaw dropped. “Sooo, you’re asking me out? On a date?”
“Yes, Angela. I am asking you out on a date.”
I think I swayed a little bit when I heard him say my name for the first time.
“When?”
“Tomorrow night.”
No hesitation.
No contemplation.
“I have Wednesdays off.”
“I know.”
“Where?”
“That’s for me to know. I’ll pick you up at six?”
I nodded. “No, wait.”
He frowned.
“You don’t know where I live.”
“I’ll pick you up from Charlie’s.”
“Okay, that works.”
“Six o’clock.”
“I’ll see you then.” I gave him what I thought was one last smile, but he had other plans. I pressed the button for my locks, but when I went to open it, his large hand covered mine. I felt his warm breath on the back of my neck and the heat from his body along my backside.
“I got it,” he said in my ear, pulling the door open for me to get in. “Wear something comfortable, to walk around in.”
Turning, I looked at him, confused.
“For tomorrow night.”
I nodded and then shivered when he ran his thumb along the inside of my wrist before releasing my hand just enough to allow me to get in the car. Instead of shutting the door, he leaned down, resting one arm on the roof of my car.
“Drive safe, Angel.”
Another shiver. I was liking my new nickname, but only if it came from his lips.
“I will.”
He stepped back, watching me as I started the car and pulled out of the parking space. I took a peek in my rearview mirror and saw those dark, hooded eyes still watching me. The first thing I was going to do when I got home was to take a cold shower. Unfortunately, my phone rang a few moments later, interrupting my thoughts about Eric.
I sighed when the name of the caller popped up on my car’s bluetooth screen.
“Hi, Marshall,” I answered.
“Hey, Angela, how’re you?”
“I’m well, just finished teaching spin class.”
“That’s good. I was calling on my break to see if you wanted to go out again tomorrow night. I know Wednesday and Sunday nights are your only evenings off.”
“Yeah, uh, I can’t tomorrow night.”
“Oh.” Disappointment filled his voice.
“Maybe next week?” I injected my voice with false hope.
“Sure. Sure, next Wednesday will be fine.”
“Okay, that’s great. Listen, I just got home and need to do a ton of stuff before I go in tonight.”
“A-all right then. I guess I’ll talk to you later.”
“Bye.” I felt guilty for rushing him off the phone like that. Marshall was a good guy―an eighth-grade English teacher who tutored over the summers. The few dates we went on were decent, but none of them compared to the feelings experienced in Eric’s presence. And while I’d told Stephanie passion wasn’t that important and building a solid foundation with someone was, I’d be a fool to actually believe it. Besides, it’s not like Marshall was my boyfriend, and Eric and I were just going on one little date. I’m sure after our date we would both realize there wasn’t much between us besides physical attraction. I avoided dating firefighters for that very reason. But for some reason, I couldn’t find it in me to turn down Eric’s offer.