Chapter 3
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“Lengthen your strokes. You’re not extending your arms like I told you to,” I yelled across the pool.
My client wanted his kid to be the next Michael Phelps. It wasn’t going to happen, but the dude was paying me double my normal fee to try. The extra income meant I could send more to my mom. Maybe I’d buy her a new Beamer. The kid wasn’t terrible, but he just wasn’t as good as Lindsey.
Dammit. Again. I couldn’t get Lindsey off the brain. Yesterday had made me a little crazy, watching her swim across the pool, turn and move through the water back to where I stood on the side. Her lean body stretched with every stroke. She wasn’t as tall as most professional female swimmers, but she was just as fast—maybe faster. I knew I could take her all the way to the Olympics. Her body was perfect.
Stop! She was Brian’s sister and a client. I don’t know what had changed, but every time I thought about her or looked at her, my mind jumped to me buried deep inside her. I wanted her more than I have ever wanted another woman. It was harder than hell to concentrate on anything else. Even now I could feel my dick hardening at the thought of running a hand over her tight ass, squeezing and pulling her into me.
My young client jumped out of the pool at the opposite end. “What are you doing?” I shouted, my frustration level growing.
He didn’t listen quite like Lindsey did. I could admit I was kind of an ass when I trained. I pushed people harder than they liked, but the results were always what they wanted. Some people pushed back. Then there were those, like Lindsey, who took everything I said and used it to get better. This kid was struggling. He refused to take my advice and continued to do what he thought was best. The kid was a pain in the ass.
“If you can’t listen to what I say, you aren’t going to get better,” I told the kid stalking toward me, leaving wet footprints on the perfectly smooth cement in his wake.
“I don’t care. My dad will hire a different trainer. Maybe I can find a hot chick to take over. You’re a dick,” he said, glaring at me as he grabbed his towel.
We were at his mansion, training in his Olympic-sized pool his father had put in on the grounds. The brat was spoiled. The pool was, of course, indoors and outfitted with every amenity, including a well-stocked bar. I needed a drink.
“Hire another trainer. I don’t care. Maybe you’re not good enough for me. I’m the best. My clients are the best. You won’t be the best if you go elsewhere, but that’s not my problem.”
“Dude, you’re such an asshole.”
I chuckled. “I am. You’re right.”
I was, and I really didn’t care. I had worked hard to get to this point. People thought I was arrogant—I was. There was no shame in striving to be the best at what you did. It was something Lindsey and Brian’s dad had told me more than once. James Scott was a self-made millionaire and knew all about working hard to achieve your dreams. I’d heeded his advice, and here I was, well on my way to making my first million.
“We’re done for the day,” I told him, grabbing my keys off the small table. “If you’re dad wants to fire me, please have him leave me a message. I’m not up for wasting my time or his money.”
With that, I walked out of the covered pool area and headed down the long circular drive. I jumped in my big F-350 and drove toward the gate at the end of a long driveway. Once there, I waited for the guy in the little guardhouse to open the gate.
My phone rang, and I checked the screen to see it was Brian. “What’s up, man? You still around?”
“Yeah, I decided to stay for a couple more days. Is that cool?”
“Of course. I’m happy to have you around. Is everything okay?”
“I just want a break. Want to grab lunch?” he asked.
“Sure, I’ll be back in the city in about fifteen minutes. That work?”
“I’ll meet you at the pub.”
“Okay, see you in a few,” I said, ending the call.
The pub was one of our favorite haunts. Good food and even better beer and it was low-key. Brian usually visited every weekend, but he hadn’t been around for a month. I missed the guy I considered a brother. It would be nice to catch up. Hanging out at the bar with him over the weekend was not the same as actually sitting down and having a conversation we could both hear.
I pulled into the pub parking lot and walked inside the dark restaurant. The lights were low, and the place had the stench of decades of cigarette smoke clinging to the dark walls. I found Brian sitting in a booth, drinking a draft beer.
“I already ordered for both of us. I figured you probably had more clients, so I ordered you a Coke. I get to drink beer,” he said, grinning.
I nodded. “Actually, I do have another client but not until later today. It’s Lindsey,” I said, waiting for his reaction.
“What?”
I cleared my throat. “I’m training Lindsey. I offered when she told me her other trainer up and left, and she accepted.”
He nodded. “Good. How’s it going?”
“Fine. She’s an excellent swimmer. Takes direction well,” I said, doing my best to sound like a professional and not like a guy who had been having inappropriate thoughts about the client.
“Do you think she has a chance?” he asked me, taking a long pull from his beer.
“Yes. Absolutely.”
“Good. I hope you can take her all the way.”
He had no idea what those words did to my body. If he knew I was lusting after his little sister, he would probably throw that bottle at me. I would keep it to myself. Be the consummate professional.
“What about you? What has you hiding out in San Diego instead of getting your butt home to Orange County?”
He rolled his eyes. “My job. Some days my job makes me crazy. Actually it isn’t the job. It’s the interns my dad insists we keep around. He’s all about giving people a chance to get started and everyone can benefit from getting their feet wet.”
I chuckled. “No naughty interns to take your mind off things?”
“God, I wish. No, I’m stuck with a bunch of whiny brats who know everything and deserve it all but don’t want to put in the time or work to actually get it.”
I shook my head, doing my best to empathize. If we kept the conversation on him and his issues, we didn’t have to talk about Lindsey. I didn’t want him to pick up on the fact my feelings for her were not quite as brotherly as they should be. Not even close. I wanted her in the worst way, and if she gave me even a hint she was down for it, I would jump at the chance. Brian didn’t need to know.
Our food was delivered. We chatted about nothing important, the topic thankfully staying away from Lindsey.
“You could always move here,” I told him.
He laughed. “I like making real money.”
“I make real money.”
“Orange County is where the office is. I like it there. I really don’t mind working for my dad. It’s just a bad batch of interns. They’ll only be around another month, and then I can kick them to the curb.”
I had to chuckle. “Only to have another batch come in.”
“Don’t remind me.”
We finished our meals before I stood. “I need to get going. I have to run some errands and then meet Lindsey at the school.”
“Okay,” Brian said, standing as well. “I’ll see you back at your place. I’ll order a pizza for dinner.”
“Sounds good. I won’t be home until after nine. Your sister is a machine.”
He laughed. “Yes, she is, and don’t even think she’ll quit a minute early. She will dock your pay if she thinks you aren’t giving it your all. She’s like my dad—a bit of a slave driver.”
I was excited to train Lindsey. She was a champion, and I wanted to be the one she hugged and thanked when she won that first medal.