My Personal Trainer is a Demon (Demons for Hire)

Chapter Three

Lily

All night, thunder rattled my windows and rain splattered the panes in a steady downpour, as if spring had decided to wash Sweetberry Hollow clean in one dramatic gesture. By morning, the sky was a patchwork of lingering storm clouds and tentative sunbeams, the air still cool and damp. The power of the storm had faded, but I could smell the earthy scent of wet grass and fresh puddles when I stepped onto my front porch.

I stood there for a moment, absorbing the scene—raindrops trickling off the eaves, a faint breeze carrying the promise of more showers. Today, I had my first personal training session at VitalityFit. It felt like a pivotal morning, Mother Nature’s fickleness mirroring my own emotional mix of hope and anxiety.

After the fiasco at my last open house I’d realized something had to change—and quick. Amelia was close to losing her patience with me. If I didn’t boost my performance, I’d be out of a job. Sure, maybe getting fit wouldn’t solve everything, but the surge of self-confidence might tip the scales in my favor for better rapport with potential buyers.

So, I tugged on my black leggings, then pulled on a loose T-shirt to hide my curves and wrestled my hair into a messy bun. Dashing outside, I was careful not to slip on my rain-slicked steps and hopped into my car. The sky above was a patchy gray, but a single bright shaft of sunlight pierced through, making the pavement gleam. I took it as a sign: maybe this stormy morning could lead to a clearer path, and I crossed my fingers over the steering wheel.

Twenty minutes later, I parked outside VitalityFit. My stomach churned as I approached the sleek doors. On some level, I was terrified of looking like a total amateur in front of gym regulars.

Inside, the lobby gleamed with the same pristine perfection, the faint scent of cleaning solvents mingling with traces of fresh sweat. A receptionist behind a curved desk offered me a friendly smile. “Morning! Welcome to VitalityFit. Are you Lily Green?”

I nodded. “That’s me. I have an appointment with Damian Strong?”

“Perfect. He’ll be ready soon,” she said, gesturing toward a small waiting area. “Feel free to help yourself to water.”

I settled into a cushioned chair, clasping my hands in my lap to hide their subtle tremor. I told myself this was just a workout—no big deal—but my heartbeat thumped against my ribcage like I was about to face a panel of judges. I grabbed a paper cup and filled it with chilled water, sipping while scanning the gym. Rows of treadmills lined one side; on the other, weight machines gleamed under bright lights. A few people moved purposefully among them, earphones in, oblivious to my arrival.

After a few minutes, footsteps approached. I glanced up and froze. A tall man with broad shoulders and dark hair paused near the desk. He wore a fitted black T-shirt that hugged every huge muscle across his rock-hard chest and arms. Even from a distance, I felt an undercurrent of energy radiating off him. When our eyes met, I realized my mouth had gone dry.

This must be Damian Strong.

He approached with a measured, confident stride. Up close, I noticed his dark, intense eyes under neatly groomed brows, and a full beard framing a sharp jawline. The handlebar mustache gave him a slightly roguish edge, which, coupled with his height, made him seem larger than life. My heart slammed against my chest.

“Lily Green?” he asked, voice low and steady.

I swallowed. “Yes. That’s me.” My words came out softer than I intended.

His gaze was direct, and I licked my lips nervously.

“Damian Strong. Ready to get started?”

The warmth of his handshake made my nerves tingle. It felt oddly intimate for a greeting between trainer and client, but I brushed the thought aside. “Sure,” I managed, forcing a shaky smile. “Lead the way.”

Damian escorted me past the cardio machines, heading toward the free weight area. My cheeks already felt hot, though the air conditioning was at full blast. I tried to focus on the polished floors, the hum of treadmills, anything but the unsettling awareness that my new trainer was… well, insanely attractive in a way I’d never quite encountered.

He stopped near a mirrored wall, turning to face me. “Let’s start with some baseline assessments. You mentioned you want more confidence—especially for your real estate job.”

I nodded, still catching my breath. “Yeah. I’m… not doing well with sales. I figure if I get in shape and project confidence, it might help.”

“Makes sense,” he said, nodding. “Physical fitness can boost self-assurance. Let’s see what you’re working with first.”

Damian guided me through basic stretches. He explained each move calmly, and I appreciated his easy demeanor. I’d half-expected a drill sergeant barking orders, but his approach was gentle—yet precise. Warm-ups led to squats, then lunges, until my thighs burned.

“Keep your core tight,” Damian reminded me. He stepped behind me, resting a hand on my lower back to guide my posture. A jolt of warmth shot through me at the contact. “Good. That’ll protect your spine.”

“O-okay,” I stammered, feeling beads of sweat forming over my brow.

We moved on to modified push-ups. My arms wobbled, but his soft encouragement—“Just a few more”—kept me from collapsing. By the time I’d finished the set, sweat trickled down my temples. “That was… intense,” I gasped, arms trembling.

He handed me a towel. “It’ll get easier, I promise. You did well for a first session.”

His praise sent a small thrill through me, but I also felt a pang of self-consciousness. I was so aware of every wobble, every shake. Yet he seemed completely focused on my form, not judging how my leggings clung to my curves like a chocolate shell over vanilla soft serve. It was… surprisingly reassuring.

We ended with some light core work, and I collapsed onto a mat, panting. My entire body felt like jelly. “I can’t believe how out of shape I am,” I muttered.

“You’re starting,” Damian said, offering a hand to help me sit up. “That’s the important part.” His gaze flickered toward the window, where the light had shifted to a muted gray—storm clouds rolling back in. “We’ll keep things simple at first.”

My heart was still thudding when I noticed the overhead lights flicker. At first, I assumed it was just the weather messing with the power. But I caught a glimpse of Damian in the mirror, and for half a second—maybe less—I thought I saw a faint glow in his dark eyes, like a spark of amber. The hair on my arms stood up.

I blinked, and the glow was gone. My brain quickly offered a rational explanation: the building’s lights must have reflected strangely in his pupils, giving them the odd transitory effect. Still, a shiver crawled across my skin. Something about the moment felt… off.

He turned to me, brow furrowed. “You okay?”

“Yeah,” I said hastily, forcing a laugh. “Just seeing spots from the workout. I’ll be fine.”

He gave me a curious look but let it pass. “Be sure to hydrate. Muscle cramps are no fun.”

I drank from my water bottle and focused on the patter of rain starting again outside, the steady hush of the gym’s air system, anything to ground me.

Soon after, we moved toward a low-impact cardio section to finish up. Between the elliptical machines, I spotted a tall, manicured woman waving at Damian. She wore bright pink leggings and a full face of makeup, filming everything on her phone. She tossed him a dramatic wink.

Damian raised a hand politely. “Hey, Stirling,” he said in a neutral tone. Her gaze flicked to me, momentarily assessing, before returning to her own reflection in her phone camera. She started doing squats, keeping the phone poised for a perfect angle.

I stifled a giggle at the sight. The influencer life was far from my own real estate hustle. Yet there was a pang of envy, too—I’d never had that kind of camera-ready confidence even at my sorority formal. I sighed, facing Damian again. “People here seem pretty devoted,” I joked.

A faint smile touched his lips. “You’d be surprised at what drives them. But yes, a lot of dedication flows through these walls.”

Something in his tone suggested he saw a lot more than just workout routines, making me curious to know more. But I shrugged it off as overthinking.

By the time we finished cooling down, my breath came easier, but my muscles felt stiffening tension. Damian ran through a list of potential schedule times. “Ideally, we’ll do two sessions a week to start,” he said. “Then you’ll do at-home exercises on your off days.”

I rubbed the back of my neck. “I can handle that—I hope. It’s now or never, right?”

His gaze lingered on me, thoughtful. “Exactly. You have the drive; channel it into consistency.”

I swallowed, unsure how to respond to that calm confidence. Instead, I forced a grin. “Thanks. Honestly… I appreciate you not making me feel worse about how out-of-shape I am.”

He tilted his head. “I’m here to help, not judge. Give it time, Lily.”

For an instant, I forgot how to breathe again. The timbre in his voice, the intensity in his eyes as he looked at me—could this be more than just a trainer-client interaction? But I chalked it up to nerves. My body was still coursing with endorphins, right? I mean, the guy couldn’t possibly be interested in me—could he?

We headed toward the locker area, passing huge windows that revealed a steady fall of rain. Outside, thick gray clouds were gathering, foreshadowing more storms to come. The overhead lights flickered again, making me glance quickly at Damian. He seemed unperturbed, guiding me to the door of the women’s locker room.

“There you go,” he said quietly. “Change, recover, and treat yourself to a nourishing meal with plenty of protein.”

“Will do,” I breathed. My pulse skittered at his nearness. “Thanks again.”

He offered a slight, almost private smile. “See you soon, Lily.”

I ducked into the locker room, nearing tripping over my own feet. In the mirror, my face looked flushed, curls frizzing from the humidity. I didn’t even recognize my own reflection—who was this woman so flustered by a single workout session with a handsome trainer?

Get a grip , I scolded myself, splashing cold water on my cheeks. This is just adrenaline . Sure, he was easy on the eyes, but I needed to focus on improving my fitness, not daydreaming about a man so sexy his eyes might have glowed for half a heartbeat.

Dressed in fresh clothes, I emerged into the lobby to see the receptionist wave me over. “Have a great day, Lily! Damian’s put you down for Tuesday afternoon?”

“Yes,” I said, voice hitching. “Looking forward to it.”

Rain smacked the glass entrance as I stepped outside, the sky now tinted a moody gray-green. A gust of wind whipped at my shirt, and I realized I’d left my umbrella in the car. Ducking my head, I splashed across the lot, fumbling with my keys.

Just as I reached my sedan, I noticed a figure standing beneath a dripping awning near the side of the building. He was lean, wearing a casual jacket and jeans, and he nodded at me when our eyes met.

“You’re the new one, right?” he asked in a friendly tone. He looked about early forties, with sharp features and watchful eyes.

For a second, I tensed. “Sorry?”

He stepped forward slightly, still staying under the awning to avoid the downpour. “Name’s Harrison Slagle. I do some PI work on the side—paranormal stuff too, if you believe in that.” He shrugged. “I’ve been checking out VitalityFit. Heard interesting rumors about this place.”

A half-laugh escaped me. “Paranormal? You’re joking.”

He met my gaze squarely. “No joke. Sometimes the strangest things hide in plain sight.”

Unsettled, I forced a polite nod. “Well, I haven’t seen anything strange, other than influencer selfies and fancy equipment with AI that’s probably smarter than I am.”

“Maybe,” he said. “But keep your eyes open. And let me know if you notice anything… unusual.”

I stared as he passed me his business card, unsure how to respond. Finally, I mumbled, “I’ll keep that in mind,” and hurried to my car, water pooling around my ankles. Before I closed the door, I glanced back to see Harrison still watching, expression unreadable.

Exhaling shakily, I started the engine. The encounter left my skin crawling, but a niggle of doubt gnawed at me, and I wondered what it was that Harrison had heard about the fitness studio.

Thunder rumbled again, and the windshield wipers thumped rhythmically as I drove. My legs were already aching from the squats, and my arms felt like lead from those push-ups. Yet underneath the physical exhaustion, a tiny ember of pride glowed. I had done it—shown up, pushed my limits, and survived. My real estate woes hadn’t vanished, but maybe this new routine would ignite the change I so desperately needed.

That night, after showering and tackling some client follow-up emails, I collapsed onto my bed, every muscle throbbing. The storm winds rattled the windows. Rain hammered the roof with renewed force. Lightning occasionally flashed, illuminating my small bedroom in stark white. I found myself replaying the morning’s events, focusing on the moment Damian’s hand touched my lower back, the kindness in his voice, the strangeness of that fleeting glow.

My cheeks warmed at the memory. I’d never responded so viscerally to a man’s presence—especially not someone I’d just met. My mind kept offering rational explanations: I was simply starved for positive reinforcement, my heart rate hadn’t gotten up that high since who-knows-when, and he was exceptionally good-looking. But something tugged deeper, an undercurrent I couldn’t define.

I told myself to ignore the bizarre snippet of conversation with Harrison. People saw conspiracies everywhere. Besides, even if there was something unusual about VitalityFit, it wasn’t my business. I just needed to get in shape, meet my sales quotas, and keep my job.

I fell into a restless sleep as the storm raged on outside, dreaming of a man with eyes that gleamed like embers. In the dream, he stood under the pounding rain, beckoning me closer. I felt the thunder reverberate in my bones, mixing fear and an almost insatiable curiosity in equal measure. A flash of lightening jolted me awake, heart racing and a whisper of heat curling in my belly.

It’s just a dream , I told myself, pressing a hand to my chest. Fluffing my pillow, I lay back down, but further sleep eluded me.