Big Beautiful Little Read Free Page A

Lance. He liked the way she said it. Yes sir. So did his cock. He shifted a little as it nudged the front of his shorts.
    “Well, if you’ll come with me, I have some forms you can fill out before I give you the grand tour.” He took her elbow and she walked with him to a small room off to the side of the reception area. There was a table in the center with a chair on either side. Lance pulled a chair out. Tiffany Barlow looked at him as if surprised by the gesture and sat down, placing her gym bag at her feet and her purse on the back of the chair. He took the chair across from her and turned a clipboard in the center of the table so that it was facing in her direction.
    “Just a little background about Summit Fitness,” he began. “I’m the owner-operator, so it’s a locally owned business and not a chain. I’m ex-military, which some people like and some people don’t, but I believe in keeping order here. I try to keep this a safe place for working out—drama free. In addition to regularly maintained free weights and equipment we have a pool, exercise classes, an on-site nutritionist, and a personal trainer option. Any questions?”
    She shook her head. “No, sir.”
    He smiled, charmed, and handed her a clipboard with the forms.
    “The first form is just personal information—phone, address, emergency contact.” He handed her a pen and watched as she carefully filled it out. Her script, like her, was lush and feminine.
    “Down here is where you put in your credit card information,” he said when she’d finished the first part. “Now, you won’t be charged unless you decide you want to join at the end of the trial period. If you do want to join today after getting a tour of the gym, you get the first three months for thirty percent off, so that’s like getting a month for free.”
    Lance looked up to make sure she was listening. He noticed her large eyes again, framed by those impossibly long lashes.
    “Lord, you have some beautiful eyes,” he said. He’d not meant to, but the color was so striking—an aquamarine color. The words just tumbled out.
    She looked at him, her expression surprised and then suddenly wounded.
    “You don’t have to do that, you know,” she said quietly.
    “Do what?”
    “Flirt with the fat girl to get her business.” She put the pen aside. “I knew this was stupid. I’m sorry I wasted your time, Mr. Sawyer.”
    She stood, and he stood, too. “Whoa, hold up,” he said, taken aback by the pretty vulnerable redhead with skin he wanted to touch and curves he wanted to…
    Focus, Sawyer .
    “You think I was hitting on you just now to get your business?” he asked. He couldn’t keep the indignation out of his voice. “Seriously?”
    “Yes,” she said. He could see the anger in her eyes, anger that barely hid the pain behind it. This girl had been hurt once. Hurt bad.
    “Hey, listen.” He tried to keep his voice gentle. “If that’s the impression you got, let me assure you…”
    “Yeah, right.” She’d stopped listening and snatched her purse off the back of the chair as she headed for the exit.
    Lance knew it wouldn’t be any use to try to stop her again without seeming too heavy-handed. He stood at the edge of the reception area, watching Tiffany Barlow’s round hips sway as she walked quickly down the steps to the parking lot. He continued to watch as she got into a blue Toyota 4Runner with a cartoon pony decal stuck on the back. She didn’t look at him as she drove past.
    Shit. Lance wanted to hit something, preferably whoever had damaged the pretty redhead to the point that she couldn’t take a compliment. But he also wanted to punch himself. His timing sure could have been better.
    Big lug.
    “My man!” Trey was coming out of the gym, laughing. “I can’t believe you let that one get away! If anybody ever needed a workout…”
    “Can it, Trey!” Lance growled, rounding on his friend. He was in no mood for joking, especially about the weight