Free Run to Love (Triple R Book 1) by Jules Dixon Page B

past health problems created this issue. Thanks for catching me before I crashed to the ground.”
    Jude’s eyes brightened a little. “I hope I—”
    Blake cleared his throat.
    “Okay, I’ll see you on Monday. Have a good weekend.” He flashed one last strained but still heartwarming smile before turning back toward the gym floor.
    “I’ll be here!” I called out right before Blake shut the door.
    Rounding his desk, Blake examined me from head to toe. “Are you absolutely sure you’re okay?”
    “Yes, Blake. I need to be clear with Jude what my physical limits are. I think maybe I was trying to show off for him, too. He’s a great guy.”
    Blake scowled at my assessment.
    “And personal trainer.” I added, to cover whatever he didn’t like in my initial statement.
    Blake drew a piece of paper out of his desk. “I’m going to move you to Jamal for training.”
    “Why?” I asked with more than a touch of concern behind it.
    Blake ignored me and tapped something into his computer.
    “Blake! Why?”
    “I have my reasons.”
    “Don’t I have any say in this?”
    “Not really. Jude is new, and if I don’t like the dynamics of the relationship or his training methods, I have the right to remove clients from him.” Blake brought his eyes up and forced a thin smile. “Especially my favorite clients.”
    My brows furrowed. “What’s wrong with the dynamics of our relationship?” My heart skipped as I said “our relationship”. They seemed to be two words that fit together but I couldn’t wrap my head around why.
    Blake leaned forward. “Presley, you almost fainted. I can’t have him forcing you to exert yourself like that. It’s dangerous.”
    “Blake, first, Jude didn’t ‘force’ me to do anything. I’m an adult and by now I should know my limitations. Second, it was a one-time thing.” I crossed my fingers at my sides hoping lightning didn’t strike me for lying. “I promise I won’t overdo it again. I’ll train on a less intense level. Promise. Please.” I leaned forward and rested my hands on his desk. “I like Jude’s style of training and I was fine … until the cardio. Actually, I felt great.”
    Blake leaned back in his chair, rocking while holding my gaze. “You’re positive you won’t overdo it again?” His serious face spoke his concern more than the words.
    “Cross my heart.” I airbrushed an X on my chest.
    “All right, one more week, and I’m adding back in ten sessions to your package just so you don’t sue me.”
    “You don’t have to do that. I would never sue you, Blake.”
    “Karma will bite me in the ass some way if I don’t. Consider the next ten weeks on me. Really, I’d feel better if you changed to Jamal or Kai or Shannon.”
    “Let’s give Jude a chance to redeem himself—not that any of this was his fault.”
    “Okay,” Blake muttered reluctantly. “One more session. And I’m going to be watching him like a hawk.”
    “Fair enough. Now, can I go shower so I don’t smell like a dead fish at work?”
    Blake chuckled. “Sure, but if you’re not out in an hour I’m sending the cavalry in to find you.”
    I nodded, then stood and made my way toward the door. “Please, just not Emerson.”
    “What?”
    Had a feeling he heard what I said, but I didn’t repeat it. “I’ll be fine. Thanks, Blake.”
    As much as Emerson had never been my favorite person, I didn’t need to be bad-mouthing another person. I’d had people say bad things about me. Even if they were true, they still hurt, and I wasn’t that person.
    Blake’s eyes narrowed, and I turned to leave. “Have a good weekend, Presley.”
    “You, too.”
    I worked my way to the showers and was ready within the hour. Walking from the locker room, I watched Jude helping his next client across the gym. He gave a chin-jut my way, but I decided not to return his acknowledgment. I didn’t want to get him in more trouble. Plus, my feelings tangled and twisted. He was my trainer. That