Free Total Temptation by Alice Gaines

it.
    â€œThe clients and the men come in here to work out together.” He continued lifting the huge barbells, causing his biceps to bulge. “Makes for some interesting activities in the showers.”
    She was hardly one to talk about doing the nasty in a shower. She selected a pair of shorts and tank top from one of the drawers and headed toward the locker room. Once inside, she checked around carefully for people who might have been left behind. When she found no one, she changed quickly and rejoined Bobby.
    He scanned her head to toe. “You almost look like you know what you’re doing.”
    â€œI do.” She got onto one of the treadmills and set it for her favorite routine. After the workout Bobby had given her, she ought to feel exhausted. Instead, she was full of energy, almost vibrating with it.
    Could this feeling be nothing more than happiness? Really? She’d had an ideal childhood with loving parents and every advantage. She’d had the perfect wedding, a dream of a honeymoon, and a marriage with everything a woman could want. Well, almost everything. She’d been happy her entire life, hadn’t she?
    The treadmill picked up speed and tipped upward as she climbed the first artificial hill. Her body took over, falling into the rhythm of strides and breathing. The exertion always shut down the bothersome voices in her mind—everything from the trivial to-do lists to memories of Howard’s death to hostile legal documents from the stepsons’ lawyers. She could so easily run full-out, rejoicing in the movement, but she’d pace herself instead, so she could enjoy the entire cycle.
    Bobby set down his barbell and walked over to the front of the treadmill. For a moment, he watched her, his arms crossed over his chest. Then a grin spread slowly over his face. “That’s pretty fast running, princess.”
    She couldn’t help but grin back. “You haven’t seen anything yet.”
    â€œNice form, too.”
    The treadmill slowed, giving her a few seconds to rest before the next series of hills. She took deep breaths, exhaling fully in time with her steps. Bobby watched her the whole time, the light of male appreciation in his gaze. Other men had looked at her in the gym and occasionally smiled. No one else’s attentions had filled her with pride as his did. She’d satisfied him in bed, and now he admired her for her strength and speed.
    The treadmill climbed again, and she rose with it. Working her arms, she lengthened her stride. She entered her favorite part of the cycle—when she could exert herself but not have to struggle for those last few minutes and yards. Here, she could fly, outrunning the people sent to follow her and spy on her every move. Here, she was in her own world, a place where she held all the power and made all the decisions. She didn’t have to rely on anyone else to finish the circuit. It belonged to her.
    A sheen of sweat covered her chest, and her breath became labored. Bobby produced a towel and held it out to her, but she shook her head to refuse it. Time for that later. Now she had to finish. The hardest part of her routine lay just ahead, the part that would rob her of oxygen and any thought but to keep her feet moving.
    The final push. Stride, breath, stride, breath. Gasping and throwing herself into the movement. Muscles burning, she continued, refusing to give up. A few more steps, and she’d reach the goal. Just keep moving. Ignore the pain. Go, go, go.
    She surfaced at the very crest of the hill, her feet still moving. Slowly, she started to descend. Her reward for a job well done. Another minute to cool down before the treadmill would stop itself. She’d won against the machine—and herself—again, and the post-run euphoria kicked in. It felt so good, she threw her head back and laughed.
    The laughter robbed her of breath for a few seconds, so she worked on pulling air into her lungs. As