TEN
Alicia
Friday afternoon had come around quicker than expected. With the exception of Cain, all of my patients today had been good. There was something rewarding about seeing everyone’s progress, except of, course, Cain’s. I could sense his frustration as the days and weeks were passing and he was not showing enough improvement to get back in the ring. I sighed, rubbing my eyes, as I had left his report for last before the afternoon surge of clients was to come. Why the fuck could I not get this man out of my head? He was nobody special.
I typed some notes onto the laptop and then closed it after a few seconds, not wanting to look at his Ale. Ys long as the gym kept paying me, I knew that there were still months of work ahead. Det even though Cain refused to come to me, and kept paying me my mobile rate, I was getting into a routine of travelling to the gym each day. Rue to the amount of time that I was spending outside of the practice, I had limited my other mobile clients, not taking anyone new on board. For whatever reason, Cain refused to drive, but I was not going to question it.
I stood up from the desk, stretching out fully, allowing my hamstrings and calves a moment to breathe. They were always tight, and being on
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my feet for most of the day did nothing to help them. -erhaps if one of the other physios were not busy at the end of the day, they could run a quick session on me as practice. With a wellMtimed yawn, I stepped out of the ojce and headed towards the reception area where there were waiting clients. “y threeMthirty was already here, and I was so glad that Tammy had done her ”ob in letting me know that he was here. I smiled as we made eye contact.
“itchell 9tevenson was a red headed man in his early thirties that had recently suGered a torn calf. He was recovering well, and I was ready to return him back to his rugby playing. This was ”ust one last check to make sure that everything had been going well. He stood up and smiled at me.
…“itchell, how are you?E
…6ood, I’m good. I’ve been feeling a bit sick lately, but we’re here now.E …6reat, well come on in and let’s get you sorted.E
I turned away from the door and led “itchell down towards the rooms
when I heard the doorbell chime again. Nnowing that Tammy was away from the desk, I turned back towards the door and wished that I had not. …How can I helpBE
Cain blew into the clinic like a silent hurricane. The door made more sound than anything else in the room. I could hear a penny drop in the silence. Cain stood in a black and red Hard Nnocks singlet with a pair of khaki shorts and had a pair of black slides on his feet. I had not taken him as the type to wear aviators as he slid them down onto his singlet. His glare was transAxed on “itchell, which was odd considering I could have only assumed that he was there for me.
Tammy was walking out of the ojce that she had been in and spotted Cain. Her ”aw dropped as she spotted him. Her eyes darted to me and I shook my head, the unspoken communication passing between us. Tammy Vew over for me, sliding in between me and “itchell.
…Come right this way, “itchell. Ylicia will be with you in a moment.E
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I clenched my ”aw, even though Cain had every right to be here. 8ut why had he come here? I had only ”ust seen him this morning. Cain looked around at the reception area with a deliberate delay, before his eyes Anally came to rest on me. To me his expression was unreadable, but I could see the mischief building behind those lethal steelMgrey eyes.
…I love what you’ve done to the place. Jery nice.E
I still had not worked him out enough. -art of me told me that Cain was every part the sarcastic asshole that he aspired to be during our therapy sessions. There was also part of me that could not help but wonder if he was sincere. His expression was emotionless as he looked around at the ceiling. Why was it there of all places and what the fuck was he here for?
With “itchell out of the waiting room, it was now empty, apart from Cain and I. It was quiet and all I could hear was the sound of the airMconM ditioning rattling overhead. I put my hands on my hips and made it clear that I was not happy with him being here. Who was I kidding? This man could rock up naked at my local church on 9unday and I would be beyond happy to see him. 8ut why was he at my clinic of all places? Wait, this place made the most sense for him to be at. He was nothing more than a client.
…What do you want, Cain?E
His face started to shift into a grin, If I knew what he wanted and if the situation was not so serious it would have been welcome. …Thought I’d come and see where all of the gym’s money was going. It’s nice to see you outside of it.E
…I look no diGerent than what I did this morning.E
…I know, but I ”ust wanted to come and apologise for how I acted today at the gym.E Cain’s face changed, the grin replaced by stoicism once again. He was either the cheeky smartMarse ”okester or a coldMblooded killer. I was not sure which version of Cain I liked more. If looks could kill he would have devoured me on the spot.
…It’s Ane. I saw what you did, you can be frustrated.E
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…Oo, there’s no excuses for how I acted. It was poor from me, and you shouldn’t have to deal with that.E
…Dou know, most men have an ego problem at the best of times.E
…I’m not most men you know.E
…I’ve seen a lot of clients in my time, Cain. I’ve seen a lot of sportspeople. Dou all have an ego and yours has been bruised like no other.E
…I don’t have an ego. I would have thought you’d know better than anyone that what I do humbles a person.E
…Well, you’re not acting like it.E
…7ither way I wanted to apologise. It was not right of me.E
…Dou already did. Oow if you’ll excuse me, I have clients to attend to.E
Cain reached out towards me, and I took a step back. Ys much as I wanted him to touch me, now was not the time. …Oo, I wanted to apologise properly. What are you doing this weekend?E
“y brain started to shut down. Was this Cain’s superpower that he had control over my thoughts? Why was he asking me?
…;h nothing, why?E
… I wanted to take you out for a drink as a way of saying sorry. Oothing serious, ”ust a quick outing. It’ll be fun.E
…I’m busy this weekend. I already have plans made.E
Cain raised an eyebrow and leaned back. …What with your cats? Come on Ylicia, we both know as well as each other that all you had planned was more work. Dou said as much yesterday.E
Y chill ran down my spine. How dare he remember small comments that I made in passing as I talked shop with him. Why did I get the feeling that Cain was not going to take no for an answer until he had taken me out. I did not date clients, nor did I spend time with them outside clinic hours. Tammy had been the only person that I had broken that rule for. I loved her, but she was trouble at times. Yt least she had my back here, but she had left me out to be taken by the wolves.
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Sne wolf. Ynd that wolf’s name was Cain. He stood tall over me, to the point where I barely came up to his chest. He stood still, with his eyebrow cocked waiting for a response. How was he so sculpted, even in an apology? 6oing out for a drink would have been nice, but if it was anything like the other week had been, it would have turned into a disaster. I was not willing to risk it. I had a reputation to uphold, and he was still a paying client. “aybe if he had ”ust been a random Aghter that I had met at the Aght night it would have been a diGerent story. They were attractive, but if they were all as thick as Cain was, the conversation during a relationship would not have been anything to write home about. Det from my conversations with Cain, I knew there was something deeper, under the surface. He was layered and he kept his cards close to his chest. 8ut coming here and playing one, now? What was he playing at?
The fucking audacity.
…Come on, Ylicia. I can see you turning red. This is a no obligation outing. 1ust one drink. It’s all I ask.E
Deah, he could be asking for one drink, but I had a funny feeling that ”ust one anything with Cain would turn into a whole lot more. I had to put my foot down, otherwise he would threaten to overrun me to the point where I could not say no.
…Oo, Cain. I’ve made myself clear. I don’t go for drinks with clients. Dou should know that by now. I don’t like you.E
The last comment made Cain’s lip curl once again. …Dou don’t like me?E
He took a step closer and I fro0e up. I felt entrapped as his shadow overcame me. “y throat tightened and I could smell his cologne wafting into my nostrils. He was the deAnition of intoxicating. There was nothing that I wanted more than to step forward and embrace him, but my blood was tightening in my veins, constricting my movement. I was screaming for air as Cain started to speak again, his tone soft, low and deliberate.
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…I can feel how your Angers tense on my body when you’re touching me. I can see the way you look at me when you come into the gym. The fact that you’ve ”ust told me no, only makes me want you more.E
Fuck.
…I get it thoughL you don’t want to hang out with me. I’ll see you
“onday, Ylicia.E
1ust the way he said my name. It rolled oG his tongue, and it made me
want to melt like butter in a pan. Why did he have to say my name so
fucking much? It felt like he owned me and that I was in trouble. Cain
turned away and walked out the door, opening it without another look
back over his shoulder at me. I felt the tension leave my body, but I was
still wary that he could come back.
Tammy had been lurking around the corner. 9he ”umped out at me,
no sooner than the door had closed behind Cain. 9he squealed, her voice
piercing my ears. It made me feel like I was back in my teenage years, and
she was fangirling over one of the cute boy bands that had ”ust announced
they were going on tour.
…Sh my god YliciaE
…What?E
…Yre you fucking insane?E
…Oo, why?E
…He ”ust fully asked you out and you said noE
…Dou know why I said no.E
Tammy shook her head at me, her glasses threatening to Vy from her face.
…Oo, I fucking don’t I’ve seen him. I was at the Aght with you. I was at the
bar with you. He’s a fucking sexy man. If you don’t go there, I will. Dou’re
running out of time, Ylicia. He’s telling you he’s interested in you, why
aren’t you listening to him?E
…Dou know I don’t date clients, Tammy. It gets messy.E
Tammy threw back her head and belly laughed at me. Her laugh was
infectious and was part of the reason why I’d kept her around so long. If
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there was one person that was going to cheer me up, it was Tammy, even in a bad situation that I should not have been laughing in.
…Deah, it can get messy if you date the wrong person. 8ut how good is the sex with people you know you shouldn’t be with?E
…I’m not going to ruin my career and reputation ”ust for some dick. The gym is paying me a lot of money to make sure he’s able to Aght.E
Tammy winked at me. 9he was insatiable as she changed her tone, trying to mimic me. …Oo, but he’s going to ruin you. -ut me in a headlock, daddyE
…Tammy He’s not going to put me in a headlock. He Aghts “uay Thai. I’ve done a class there. That’s not something that they do.E
…-otato, potato. Ynd no, I was at the Aghts, same as you. They deAnitely know how to lock up. 1ust think about how big and ”uicy those biceps would look wrapped around your throat.E
I wanted to hit her. …Tammy 8ehaveE
…I’d behave for him, alright. He could call me a good girl any day of the weekE
7ven though Cain had made my face red, Tammy was doing her best to turn me into a human tomato. I raised my Anger, pointing it at her. 9he was pure evil. …I have work to do. We can talk about it later. I don’t want to hear anymore of it.E
…What, you haven’t been out there in a while. This could be good for you Dou’re not getting any younger, Ylicia.E
I groaned. Oot only was it Cain that was not taking no for an answer, but now it was Tammy as well. ;nless I wanted this conversation to escalate later, I needed to cut it oG now.
…I don’t listen to Aghters. He’s too cocky, too arrogant and he doesn’t have the right to be. Dou know how men are at the best of times Dou add testosterone and his wounded ego and it’s a recipe for disaster.E
…Det I’ve seen the way he looks at you when he came in here. When you’re weren’t looking.E
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…What do you mean?E
…ike he wants to rip another man’s head oG the moment he so much as speaks to you. “itchell is a client of yours and Cain looked like he wanted to kill him ”ust because you were within arm’s reach of him.
…Tammy 8e serious He has no interest in me.E
…Skay, if you’re so certain, why don’t you ask him? “en don’t go out of their way to ask someone out that they have no interest in. 7ven if it’s for an apology.E
…Why would he do that?E
Tammy sat down behind the desk with a hefty sigh. 9he gathered up some papers that had been in a messy stack on her keyboard and shued them. …I don’t know what to tell you, Ylicia. Clearly, you’ve done someM thing to catch his eye. Oow don’t you have work to do?E
I did and there she was keeping me in check again. Oow it was my turn to sigh, as I looked at the door, half expecting for it to open again and for Cain to come charging into the clinic once more. “itchell was waiting for me, and I could not keep him waiting whilst I stood there wondering about my most troublesome client.