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up at six, but I got out of
bed to use the gym at work. No one was normally there this early, and I needed the
run to clear my head. I swiped my card to unlock the door and prayed that it
worked. Sometimes it was a little tricky and I had to go to security to get a
new one.
    “I’m glad it worked this time.” Charlie stepped around the corner
and chuckled as I jumped. “Sorry. I saw you drive in on the monitors and didn’t
want you to be left outside if the card decided to take the day off.”
    I completely understood why Charlie Flagg was head of security.
He had a constant scowl that told you he was watching you. I was pretty sure
his bicep was bigger than my thigh. I wondered if he had a military background.
He always wore his hair short—too short to tell the exact color of it. His
uniform was always perfectly pressed, and his shoes were polished more than my
car. I was really intimidated at first, but eventually we struck up
conversations that eased the tension a little. He was really a funny guy when
you got to know him, and he looked just like a big teddy bear when he smiled.
    “It’s okay. I just wasn’t expecting anyone. Thanks for checking.”
I started to walk towards my office to put my stuff away before my workout.
    “Is there another big project going on?”
    I turned around, not realizing he wanted to talk. I hope he
didn’t think I was being rude. “Oh, there’s always a big project. I just
thought I would check out the gym this morning. I haven’t been running since I
moved here.”
    “I could tell you did some type of exercise. I should have known
it was running.” He pointed to my legs. “You look great in skirts.” He winked
and walked away.
    I heard someone before I completely walked through the door to
the gym, and I almost turned to leave. Maybe he wanted time to himself, too. It
didn’t sound as if he were using the treadmill, so I decided to go in anyway.
We didn’t have to talk. The gym is like the movies, no conversation required.
    I walked in and saw Ryan lifting weights. He looked up and smiled.
“Hi there.”
    “Hi, Ryan, I couldn’t sleep so I thought I’d come in for a run.
Did you have trouble sleeping, too?”
    “No.” He set the weights down and walked over to me. You could
tell he’d been there for a while already since he was completely covered in
sweat. “The only time I really have is early morning. Why can’t you sleep?”
    I shrugged. I didn’t want to tell him the truth. “It happens sometimes,
so I like to run to clear my head.”
    Ryan nodded. “I can understand that. Do you think you could spot
me on the bench really quick before you start your run?”
    “Excuse me?” I wasn’t sure why that sounded inappropriate, but I
couldn’t believe he just asked me that.
    He pointed to the bench with weights. “I need to get my reps in,
but I can’t do it unless someone is here to help with the weights. I know the
one time I try to do it on my own will be the time the weights fall on me and I
suffocate. If you don’t want to, though, I can skip it.”
    “No, I can help you.” Maybe it was just wishful thinking that it
was inappropriate. “Sorry, I really only know about running. I don’t do
anything else. What do you need me to do?”
    He walked over to the bench and pointed behind it. “I really just
need you to stand there and watch me lift the barbell.”
    I raised an eyebrow. “You want me to watch you flex your
muscles?” I couldn’t hide the smirk. “Is this to boost your male ego, or are
you really afraid you’re going to suffocate?”
    Ryan was red from his workout already, but it looked as if he
blushed a little more. “It really is for my safety. If the weights slip and the
bar crushes my windpipe or chest, I could die if someone isn’t here to lift it
off of me.”
    “If you can’t lift it, how am I going to lift it?” Suddenly the
thought that his life was in my hands terrified me.
    “Don’t worry.” He got into position and