by Marnee Blake
They were sitting outside the smoothie shop, enjoying the unseasonably warm weather. The spring could be fickle like this, offering warmth one day and then changing its mind and snowing the next. Part of the beauty of Oregon.
“I came up to run. Three weeks until my marathon.”
“Way to go.” Charlie lifted her cup in salute. “How’s it going?”
“Good.” Meg leveled her with a serious gaze. “But you’re right. This is about Hunter.”
That was not what she’d been expecting her to say. “Your brother?”
“How many Hunters do you know?”
Charlie waved with her drink. “Right. Of course.”
“He asked me to ask you to help him train.” Meg continued to study her as she took another sip.
Internally, Charlie groaned. Of all the things she’d hoped to talk with her friend about today, this wasn’t one of them.
Not that she hadn’t considered Hunter’s proposal repeatedly over the past two days. Since he’d left her office on Friday, her thoughts had strayed to him more than a few times. How they’d seemed to connect over his panic attack, a sort of “us against the reporter” teamwork thing. How many times she’d been uncomfortably aware of him, his big, sweaty, gorgeous body. How much she’d wanted to agree to be his personal trainer, even though working with someone she found attractive would be difficult.
“Did he tell you I already turned him down?”
“He did. But he wanted me to see if I could change your mind.” Meg grinned, shifting out of the sunlight and further under the umbrella. With her fair skin and red hair, Meg burned easily.
“Meg…”
“If you’re too busy, have too many other clients, I’ll tell him that. No biggie. I just wanted to let you know that he was excited to work with you.”
“Why?” Seriously, this was the question that had rattled around in her head over and over. “He is clearly in amazing shape. Why would he pick me to train him? I’m pretty sure there’s nothing I can teach him.” He was so cut and physically fit, there was probably stuff he could teach her.
Meg’s gaze trailed over Charlie’s shoulder, as if she’d become lost in her own thoughts. Charlie watched her closely. Since her conversation with Hunter, she couldn’t shake the concern that she’d left her friend too much to herself. After everything had happened last year, she’d probably needed someone to talk to. She had Lance, and she’d told Charlie that her relationship with her mom had improved. But Meg was her friend. She should have checked on her.
“How did things go with him, on Friday?” Meg finally asked.
“Fine. I mean, it was fine, I think. Why, did he say something?” The words were fast, breathy, and immediately Charlie regretted them. What was more suspicious than an overly fast denial?
“Nothing, really.” Her friend’s eyes narrowed. “Do you like him?”
Oh God. Determined to deflect, she tried to laugh. It sounded forced. “Of course I like him. He’s your brother. What’s not to like?”
“You’re avoiding me.”
This was the problem with good friends. They knew you too well. “Fine. I think he’s mildly attractive.”
Meg’s eyebrows shot up. “Yeah?”
“Oh, shut up. Fine. Really attractive. He might be your brother, but even an objective bystander could see that he’s incredibly good-looking.” This was going all wrong. She sighed. “That’s why I can’t train him.”
“I think you can.”
Charlie set her empty smoothie container on the table. “Didn’t you hear me? I’m attracted to your brother.” She enunciated each word. As if this wasn’t embarrassing enough.
“Yeah, I heard you. But he wants you to train him. That he asked is interesting. He hasn’t reached out for help from anyone, not since everything happened.”
“That can’t be right.” There was no way someone with as much family and as many friends as Hunter, someone as good-looking and talented… There was no way they wouldn’t be surrounded by people who wanted to help them.
“I’ve tried.” Meg shook her head. “I tried to get him to talk. Lance has made a lot of headway with him, regaining their friendship. But Hunter had been incredibly close with Will. Losing that friendship hit him hard.” Will, Meg and Hunter’s oldest brother, had been the one who’d sabotaged the parachute, assuming Lance would use it. Instead, Hunter had worn the twisted chute and nearly been killed.
“I mean, I don’t know what I can do.” If his family couldn’t get through, what could they expect from her, someone who was barely even a friend?
“No, I get it. I was just happy.” Meg sighed. “To hear he’d reached out. That’s good news. Maybe that means he’s ready to open up to all of us.”
Charlie watched her friend’s face, the hope there making her ache for her, for her brother, maybe for all of them.
She wanted to be part of that recovery for all of them. But she couldn’t take on that kind of responsibility, not when she could barely get herself together.
The interview that she’d helped Hunter get through last week had been published in today’s paper, and the worst had happened. It had included a picture of her and him, working through their exercises. Her face had been turned slightly, not giving the camera a direct view of her features. But it was enough.
It had been years. Joshua must recognize that she hadn’t been the only cause of his incarceration.
She could hope, but the possibility that she might have a psycho breathing down her neck at any moment had ravaged her nerves.
Surely that was a sign that she wasn’t in any place to help anyone. Especially not the hot, talented, interesting brother of one of her closest friends.
“I am sure I know someone who could use some extra money,” she finally offered. Even as she said the words, she balked. She could use the extra money. After living here for a few years, she’d begun to wonder if maybe she could settle down in Oregon. Set down roots and start her own physical therapy practice. She’d watched Leslie and her partner run Myers and Long, learned so much about the business of it from them.
She could do it, if she could find the capital to begin. That’s why she’d been taking on personal training clients. The money was great, especially because she worked out, too. It killed two birds with one stone: she stayed in shape and she dropped the extra cash in her “Future Business Fund.”
Three weeks of extensive physical training would be a pretty decent bump to her bottom line. It hurt to turn it down.
Meg shrugged. “If you’re sure.”
“I’m not.” She sighed as Meg laughed. “I could use the money. I’m getting close to the number that the business loan guy told me I needed to hit.”
“To start your own place?” Meg’s eyes lit up. “That’s awesome.”
“I said close. I’m not there.”
“Listen, Charlie, why don’t you give Hunter a chance? Work out with him a couple times. If it doesn’t work, no harm done. You could use the cash and he needs to be ready for training. If he gets there and fails again…” She shook her head. “I’m not sure what he’ll do.”
Charlie’s chest tightened. Was that even a possibility? Her mind strayed to Hunter, to his toned physique. He was in amazing shape. But maybe Meg meant from a confidence perspective. It must have been difficult, to face training again after having a year to remember what had happened last time.
“I don’t know—”
“Come on. One day.” Meg grinned. Obviously she could see Charlie was weakening.
She raised her hands in defeat. “One day. But let him know that I’m not sure this is going to work out. That I’m busy or whatever. We’ll see how it goes. No promises.”
But Meg already had her phone out, texting.
Chapter Five
I’m not guaranteeing anything. Charlie texted like sh
e did everything else: straightforward. The words made Hunter grin.
No expectations, he shot back. It was true. He didn’t expect her to do anything for him physically, but he couldn’t deny that she settled him.
He folded his pillow in half, tucking it under his head. It was Sunday night, and Meg had told him earlier that Charlie had agreed to help. Wanting to connect and make plans before she had a chance to change her mind, he’d shot Charlie a text and thanked her for taking him on.
This had been her response.
Chuckling, he watched as the three dots appeared, signaling that she was typing.
Good, because I’m not sure how I’ll help, but I’ll take your money.
He laughed at that. Fine with me.
She hadn’t even waited for his response as she kept typing. I’m sure you run faster, jump higher, lift more, etc. than I do.
No doubt. But that wasn’t the point. I need moral support and someone to whip me into shape. I’ll do the heavy lifting.
What did you have in mind?
What did he have in mind for her?
Despite his intention to remain platonic, his brain supplied him with a barrage of images of her petite frame with her slim hips and high breasts.
Damn it. That wasn’t what this was about. He needed to stay on task.
She was right; he didn’t need her to help him lift more or run faster. He had a pretty good handle on that stuff. What he needed was morale-based training. Except he didn’t know how to ask for that.
He must have been taking too long to answer, because she prodded, A run in the morning? I usually go at six.
Biting the inside of his lip, he inhaled. Well, here went nothing.
I actually ran a bunch today. I was going to bungee tomorrow. You wanna come?
She didn’t immediately respond. The lack of three dots had his heart picking up. That sounded an awful lot like he was asking her out on a date. Which he wasn’t. This wasn’t a romantic thing. This was him, wanting to hire her because she pacified the panicky monster inside him.
Not a date. Then again, when he phrased it like that, it didn’t sound any better.
Finally, she responded. Bungee jumping?
He typed fast. Yeah, haven’t been in a while. Wanna come? Our first training session.
There. That sounded almost like he didn’t care, even as his heart was racing. After a pause, he added, I get it if you don’t.
There were no dots for a long time. Finally, he lowered the phone, resting it against his chest after the screen darkened. He’d been holding it too close to his face, as if he could physically will her to respond if he stared hard enough.
This had been a mistake. He should have left this alone.
The phone chimed.
Sure.
The intensity of his relief frightened him. Had he been that invested in whether she agreed?
He rubbed his chin, staring at that short reply. If he was, then he needed to get a grip. This was about her doing him a favor, even if she would have no idea she was doing it. She would “train” him and unwittingly help him get over whatever was causing these stupid panic attacks.
He was no doctor or psychologist, but he guessed the attacks had something to do with him dreading parachuting again. Even thinking about it made his palms slick. But facing a jump with Charlie there somehow it didn’t seem as scary. She was so calm. Steady. Like she understood how fear worked.
It didn’t make sense, but he didn’t care. If having her around helped, he’d pay to have her around.
Have you been before?
No.
A novice. He had no idea if that was good or bad. As long as she came, that’s all that mattered. Can you go in the morning?
I need to be at work by 11.
Meet me at 8.
Ugh. Bring coffee.
He laughed. Not a morning person. Noted. But the last thing he wanted was her jumping on a full stomach. I’ll take you to breakfast afterward.
She didn’t respond, so he shot off the address of the jumping bridge.
When he stuck the phone on his nightstand to charge, the smile faded. Was he using her? He shifted to his side, punching his pillow. It wasn’t as if he wasn’t going to pay her to train him. In fact, when she’d mentioned her rate, he’d offered higher, insisting it was on short notice. She didn’t argue. She would be compensated. Still, it might not be fair that he wasn’t being truthful.
Honestly, though, how would she know? He was a master at keeping his thoughts to himself, even from his closest friends and family. No one needed the workings of his mind. So she helped him through something in his mental space while she was helping him out with physical training. Two for one.
As long as he kept reminding himself that she was his sister’s friend and she was unknowingly doing him this favor. He’d keep it light, professional.
And he’d keep his hands off.
* * * *
“You said nothing about me jumping.” Maybe Charlie should have read that between the lines. It had been late last night when they were texting. She had been in her jammies, her bra off and her hair in a clip, watching Grey’s Anatomy reruns. Apparently, she had read this situation all wrong. “You said you were going bungee-jumping, asked if I wanted to come along. Not that you wanted to me to jump, too.”
She had assumed they’d work out afterward. That wherever he was taking her had some sort of workout situation.
Instead, they stood on an insanely high bridge. Hunter held a clipboard with paperwork on it, signing and initialing in a bunch of spots. Waivers, she guessed. In case he died.
Jesus.
He tossed her a teasing grin. “Come on, Charlie girl. You mean you’ve never been tempted to jump off something high?”
That wasn’t the point. Sure, she had those same weird urges everyone had when they were up high—to throw herself out into the open, to experience that free-falling rush. It sounded terrifying and exhilarating and completely crazy.
She was rational enough to ignore those urges.
Because jumping off tall things was nuts. Below her, she had no idea how wide the stream was that ran through the canyon. Even from this high, though, she could tell that the rocks down there were sharp enough to mangle her. Call her vain, but she preferred her body the way it was right now. Unmangled.
He must have followed her line of sight. “You don’t get that close to the ground.”
She pointed at the cord. “That is a lot of line.”
The outfitter from the bungee-jumping company must have seen her doubts, because he launched into an entire description of how it worked, pointing out all of their safety precautions. Charlie listened at half-attention, her eyes on the platform that stuck out over the bridge’s lip.
When the guy picked up the full body harness, she lifted her eyes to Hunter. “Yeah, no.”
He laughed. “Come on. Carpe diem.” Except his smile faded as he stared at the harness, too. The expression that replaced it was inscrutable. Determination? Maybe. He’d said he hadn’t done this stuff in a while. Maybe this was him, getting back into it.
Carpe diem.
The phrase struck her in the stomach, right where she stored how much she missed her parents.
The last she’d heard from them, they were in New Mexico, learning to make pottery from some artisan. Before that, they’d spent the last summer in Kansas in Tornado Alley, experiencing the “exhilaration of Mother Nature’s destruction.” The year before it had been Maine, for fishing. They didn’t have cell phones, so she usually had to wait until they found their way to a landline they could call her from. Or when they remembered.
As a young child, she’d figured that everyone moved a couple of times a year. They’d lived in strange places—rented trailers, tents, hotel rooms. Her parents would pick up odd jobs. Usually
her mom cleaned houses and her father did lawn work. They didn’t have much money, but that never seemed to stress them out. They were as devoted to each other now as they had been when she was small.
They always said that. Carpe diem. Seize the day.
God, she missed them. She needed to give them a call.
“You know what, Charlie,” Hunter offered. “No sweat. I’ll do my jump and then I’ll take you to breakfast before work.” He winked, then glanced down at the guy who would help him into his harness and do his safety check.
“I’ll do it.” She held her hand out to the guy with the waivers.
“What?” The grin was gone from Hunter’s face.
“I’ll do it. I’ll bungee-jump.” How scary could it be? Lots of people did it and lived.
“I was teasing you.” Now his forehead was crinkled like he was convinced she was crazy. Like this had been her idea. “I’m sorry, but you don’t—”
“No, I want to.” She clicked the pen open and started filling out her information. “Seize the day, right?”
“Yeah, but you know, maybe you should start carpe diem-ing with something else. Like, try a new coffee flavor.” He stepped around the guy helping him and placed his hands on her shoulders. Meeting her eyes, he squeezed. “Seriously. I figured that you’d have the night to change your mind, if you wanted to. This isn’t something to decide on the spur of the moment.”
“I’m doing it.” He didn’t know her well yet, but when he did, he’d realize that she’d made up her mind.
Go where life blew you. That’s what her parents always said.
Something in his eyes shifted. He’d teased her earlier, but she got the impression he wasn’t as gung ho about doing this jump as he let on. Almost as if he was using her refusal to distract himself.
But why would he pretend?
His uncertainty hardened her resolve. “I’ll go first.”
The outfitter’s smile widened. “Savage.” He walked her through the waivers, and she paid close attention, making sure she understood everything—the risks and the harness. This particular company used a full body harness to avoid strain on the ankles and knees. Apparently, it allowed her to do flips in the air, too.