Share

Chapter 1

Leah

“A bootcamp? What would I know about running a bootcamp?” I mutter distractedly, my phone on speaker, as I race around my apartment, shoving books and notepads into a backpack as I hurry to a late-night cramming session in the library. Final exams are looming. I am not feeling optimistic. While I am grateful that I had the opportunity to go to college, it’s cemented in my mind that working full time in an office environment is just not for me.

“You don’t need to run the bootcamp. You would teach yoga, which is what you want to do, right? And you’d get free accommodation and food in return for helping with the guests, making breakfast, checking them in, whatever,” Hayley explains, and I sigh, knowing that no matter what I say, she is going to have an answer. “And of course, the best bit is the chance to spend lots of quality time with your favourite big sister.”

I scoff, ignoring that part of her argument. She’s not dragging me into my twin sister’s constant one-upmanship.

“Yes, because coming to Grey Ridge to spend time with you was a great experience the first time,” I say sarcastically, and I’m met with silence down the line. Shit.

“Hey, I’m sorry. Bad joke. The fire wasn’t your fault, and I had a great time until then. And you’re wedding was amazing. We just never really left the lodge,” I venture, remembering the nearly tragic fire at the guest house we stayed in for Hayley’s hen party.

“It was a disaster; you can say it. But that’s why I want you to see that it’s not always like that around here. Come and spend some time in Grey Ridge. You were racing back to study after the wedding and the police caught the guy who started the fire. We’re back to being a sleepy, mountain town.” I roll my eyes. I should have known she’d use my careless remark against me, master negotiator that she is. Now I feel bad.

“I won’t deny that part sounds good, but who’s doing the bootcamp then?” I ask, my curiosity now piqued as to why she is so invested in getting me out there.

Hayley wouldn’t be suggesting it to me if she hadn’t already done some research and thought it was worth doing. And I do love the idea of building something from the ground up.

“Rex,” she states matter-of-factly, as if I should know who that is. “Cooper’s other brother.”

I pause for a second, but I don’t think I met him at the wedding. Although I remember seeing an unusually high ratio of attractive men wandering about in that giant lodge, both the day of the wedding and when they brought us back there once we got the all-clear from the paramedics the night of the fire.

“And this Rex, does he have a background in this kind of thing? I mean, bootcamps are popping up everywhere. What about Grey Ridge is going to bring people to the back of beyond to spend their hard-earned wages getting tortured? Does this guy have a big social media following?” I bet this guy is some gym bunny who thinks it’s just as simple as setting up a booking page and posting some pictures of his abs on I*******m.

Hayley snorts when I mention social media, trying to cover it up with a cough, and I frown. That’s not a good sign. The main reason I’m not enjoying my course is that it all seems so old-school. There’s some information on online marketing, but not as much as there should be.

“He’s ex-military. I’m not sure he even has a smartphone. He can leverage the family business to get bookings and drive the marketing, but they specialise in 5-star resorts. It’s too formal compared to what’s needed for this kind of place. I know you can make it take off. I know you can do it.”

She’s resorted to bare-faced flattery. Bribery is coming next. I know it. I know her. This really means something to her.

“Oh my gosh, really Hayley? Do you think little old me will be able to do it? Well then, gee whizz, sign me up!” I say sarcastically. I imagine her shaking her head down the phone at my attitude.

“Leah, come on!” she’s resorted to begging. I picture her pouting on the other end, the line between her eyebrows that appears when she frowns deepening.

“Oh, come on? Really, is that the best you’ve got?” Slamming the door behind me, I turn the key in the lock; phone gripped between my teeth before racing down the stairs. Not that there is much point in locking it. The plywood is so flimsy I could put my foot through it with a well-placed kick. “Listen, Hayley… I gotta go. You know that me and some tech dinosaur trying to build a business will not work. I’m sorry, but I’m not the right person for the job. I’m sure you’ll find someone else to fill the position.”

I am over this conversation. It sounded good, but — there’s always a but — I can’t work with some rich asshat that doesn’t understand social media and thinks he can get his parents’ stuffy hotel marketing team to make his bootcamp a success. Just as I’m about to hang up, I hear her screeching down the line.

“Leah! Wait, wait, wait! Shit. I didn’t want to resort to this, but you’re leaving me with no choice.” I can hear the frustration in her voice, and maybe a little… guilt?

Whatever she owes this guy, it must be massive. Or maybe she really needs to make a good impression on the in-laws. Whatever it is, now I have to find out what’s going on. I still can’t believe she’s married. Nobody else agrees, but I still think that’s all down to my excellent advice. I hope to God it works out between them because our older brother Chase is furious. Good thing he’s on the other side of the world.

My phone pings in my hand.

“Dammit, Hayley… I’m not kidding. I have to study!” With a few more steps, I reach the steps of the old red brick library and slow down. I have to study. I should just knock this on the head and focus or I’ll fail these exams.

“Just open the damn picture. You’ll get a profit share, I’ll talk to Rex about what percentage seems fair, and I’ll help you guys. I promise you won’t meet a harder worker than this man. He’s a fantastic guy, Leah. You know I wouldn’t even be calling you if I didn’t think there was potential here.”

She’s good. Damned good. I waiver, stalling with my hand on the brass doorknob. My gaze bounces back to my phone as I debate. The notification sitting there, calling to me, tempting me to just have a peek.

I should just close the alert because I know whatever Hayley has just sent me is going to be my undoing. She’ll get her way, as always, but my curiosity gets the better of me. She knew damn well it would, dammit. I swipe my thumb across the screen. As the image opens, I almost drop my phone. My breath hitches and I swear my heart skips a beat. He is a god. He belongs on the cover of a magazine.

“Now, Leah Walker, are you telling me you don’t think you can sell a week of sweating it out with this guy to your thousands of female followers?” She keeps blabbering on, but I don’t even hear the words she is speaking. I’m entranced. I would have remembered meeting him.

It appears someone has snapped the picture on the sly. I wonder what Cooper thinks of Hayley having half-naked pictures of his brother on her phone. I laugh out loud at that. He’d lose his pretty little mind.

The photo is presumably of Rex. He’s topless and standing next to a pile of cut logs, one hand resting on his hip, the other loosely holding an axe by his side. There is a delicious sheen of sweat and dirt coating his tanned body, and every inch of him is rippling with lean muscles. He doesn’t have an ounce of body fat, as far as I can tell. His hair is black and shaved short, a stark contrast to his piercing hazel eyes. Their startling paleness standing out against his deep tan.

A lake glistens in the background in the sunshine, and I can see mountains covered in lush green trees rising in the distance.

It looks like heaven.

Something inside me flares to life, and I’m gobsmacked. This guy is so smoking hot, he’s awakened a libido I never realised I had. Oh, my… if he has that effect on me, from just one photo, I can only imagine what it would be like up close and personal. People would pay good money to just be in the presence of a hunk like him.

 As attractive as he is, if he has half a brain and can run a good bootcamp, this could be very interesting.

“Alright, I’m in!” I cave, pushing the door open and marching into the foyer. Hayley shouts in triumph, and I picture her pumping her fist in the air in victory. Poor Cooper, how on Earth will he ever win an argument with this one? I promise her I’ll look at the raft of boring business plans and statistics she’s going to send my way before saying goodbye.

I haven’t even made it to my seat in the library before I share the picture with a ‘Big news to come!’ caption to my large following. For the next two days, my messages blow up as everyone demands to know who that total hottie is and if he’s mine. Don’t I wish! It’s my most commented-on post ever. This is going to be like shooting fish in a barrel.

Life’s looking up. A summer spent drowning in the raw magnetism of a sex god while staying in a beautiful mountain town doesn’t sound half bad. Spying on my sister’s too perfect new life and finding out what’s going on is a bonus. Chase would be proud.

Comments (6)
goodnovel comment avatar
Karen Marquise Bearden
Ah I am torn I want Rex happy but was hoping Zoe would be Steel’s mate
goodnovel comment avatar
Rachel Tomlinson
I hope this does not get drawn out
goodnovel comment avatar
Reece Barden
Hope you enjoy it!
VIEW ALL COMMENTS

Related chapters

Latest chapter

DMCA.com Protection Status