5. Lucian

CHAPTER 5

Lucian

T he next day I'm on my way into work at the gym and I'm running behind because Connie is being a huge pain in the ass this morning. Usually she stays with the babysitter but today there was some kind of emergency and Mrs. Renault called to say that she couldn't do it this morning.

So I'm dragging a sulky, glaring daughter who hasn't said a word to me all morning and she's giving me grief like you wouldn't believe.

"Connie! Come on! I've got to go! That new class is starting today and I need to check and make sure the room is ready." I turn away, muttering, "I don't know why we have to do dance classes anyway. What's wrong with what we already have?"

Nobody answers me back and I sigh and check my watch yet again. "Connie!"

"Jeez, Dad! I'm right here. What are you shouting for?" I glance down and see her standing next to me, her mouth twisted in a grimace.

"Oh. Okay. Let's go!" I hustle her out the door and check my watch yet again. I'm gonna be late and I'm only gonna have about five minutes to check on that room.

She digs her heels in and walks so slow that my hands are shaking while I fight the urge to pick her up and toss her in the car like a sack of potatoes.

She finally gets to the car in the driveway and I open the door, waiting impatiently as she steps inside so slowly that my teeth grind again.

I don't want to say something I regret so I just ignore it and then stomp around the car. I haven't gotten a cell phone yet but I'm seriously considering it. All my clients have trouble getting ahold of me and it would probably be a godsend for that.

I work part-time at the gym and then do my real job, advertising, on the side. I need a reliable way to keep track of everyone.

We pull up to The Sweat Shop and I bounce out, once again fighting the urge to grind my teeth into dust when Connie fiddles around with her seatbelt and takes all day to get out.

"Connie! Let's go!"

She glares at me but finally puts one foot in front of the other and manages to get to the doors. I open them and blow out a breath of relief when I stop at the desk and see Jean. "Hey! Can you keep an eye on Connie for a little bit? Maybe have her help you stock? I've got some things to take care of and I also have a training session."

She grins at Connie and I sigh when Connie glares back at her. "Sure, Mr. Marino. We've got a whole new box of t-shirts and tank tops to get out and priced."

Connie rolls her eyes again but I see her smirk just a little bit and count it as a win.

I stride off and to the empty classroom on the second floor. It's unlocked and I'm not surprised to hear music coming from inside. I peek inside and my heart skips a beat when I see a flying figure darting to and fro and then leaping into the air in a gravity-defying jump that has me gasping for breath. I must make a sound because she turns towards me and comes to a stop.

"What are you doing here?" She grabs a towel and switches off the music, tapping her slipper-clad toes as she glares at me.

"I'm sorry. I was looking for the dance teacher."

"That's me. But it's just a beginner's stretch class with some ballet included. Not really a dance class."

I nod my head but can't resist stepping inside even though her soft pink lips tighten. Her glorious blond hair is scraped back into a bun with wisps of hair dancing around her red face.

"What do you need, Lucian?" Her back is stiff as she turns away from me and the low back on her leotard makes my dick hard as a rock. Which is a problem considering I'm wearing the regulation shorts that we usually wear to the gym and they leave little to the imagination. My tank top fits tight to my chest and I see Serena glance over and then look away quickly. I see her chest rise and fall rapidly.

A smile curls my lips when I realize that she likes what she sees. I can't resist lifting my arm up and pushing my hand through my hair, knowing that my bicep curls up and she can see it.

She darts away and to the front of the class. I grunt and step closer to her. She moves away again until we've traversed half the damn room and she's up against the mirror with nowhere else to go. Her head lifts and she glares at me in the mirror.

"Don't you have something to do, Lucian?"

"Why don't you call me Luke? You used to."

She snorts. "I used to do a lot of things that I don't do anymore."

My lips lift, my heart quickly following suit. Damn! She's still a spit-fire and I'm here for it.

"I'm not going anywhere, Rena. And I know you don't believe me yet but I think that we both still feel something."

She shakes her head and her eyes drop to her delicate fingers, twisting the towel. "No. All I feel is annoyed, Lucian."

My hand lifts and she flinches away from me when I touch her shoulder gently, shifting her shoulder away. I let her. I know she's still mad at me.

I know she deserves to be. I was an idiot. But I was a kid and it was the best I could think of at the time.

Now I'm a man. A man that knows he made a mistake and is willing to do whatever it takes to make it up to her. Anything to see if we still have the same feelings between us.

"Rena? There's still feeling bubbling up between us. I know you feel it. I think you know that I'm serious about this." I wave my hand back and forth between us. "We deserve a shot at something amazing and I know you know it's still there. I'm really sorry that I told you to go but I heard you talking and I knew you were gonna give up that scholarship. I couldn't let you do that."

She shakes her head and her little pointed chin lifts as she glares at me in the mirror. "You're wrong."

I back away. Rena's stubborn as a damn mule. All I can do is keep coming back until I hopefully prove to her that the feelings are real. They're not going away.

"I'll be around, Rena. See ya." And I reach down and drop a quick kiss onto the top of her head.

She jumps and glares at me but I see a shiver down her bare back. I'm desperate to trace the delicate trail of her spine with my tongue. To feel her under me and know that she's mine.

For good this time. I'm not letting her get away. Never again.