Chapter 1

1

“Did you call me an asshole?” The trainer folded his well-muscled arms across his chest and narrowed his eyes briefly. “Keep up with such comments, buster, and you’ll be pushing extra time on the treadmill after enough crunches to make you cry.”

I bit my cheek to keep from laughing out loud. I could tell from the sparkle in Bruce’s eyes he wasn’t serious.

“I believe I said ‘frigging asshole’ after you didn’t even bother to stifle your chuckle when you took my weight and measurements. For the record, I’m not looking to become a senior citizen bodybuilder.” It surprised me that my once 32-inch waist, 34-inch inseam had morphed into 36/34. I’d seldom looked at sizes when buying new pants. “And your height-scale might be defective. I’m sure I don’t weigh one ninety and for most of my adult life, I stood at six foot two. Now you’re telling me I shrank in height and bulged at the seams.” I nodded when Bruce pointed out that the data doesn’t lie.

Bruce stood and clapped his hands together. “Up and at it, mister, we’re taking a tour of Full-On Fitness. I will show you the cardio section, the free weights, and resistance machines you’ll be using. Your daughter mentioned your preference for solitude and you might be…um, crotchety, I believe was the word she used.”

He held his hands out in surrender when I glared.

“Dan, I haven’t known you long enough to form my opinion. Let’s get a workout routine planned. I’ll show you the technical details of each but, when you come in, you’re on your own unless you ask for my help. Julia said you were independent and preferred meeting challenges by yourself.” He grabbed a blank form and filled in the columns for the exercise, reps, frequency, and he made it a point to show where the date and staff’s initials go. “I plan to watch it just to be sure you’re keeping with the routine that your lovely daughter thinks important.”

He laughed when I grumbled that I should have sold the kid for medical experiments while I had the chance. A thought occurred. “Bruce, how well do you know Julia? How did she rope you into this impossible mission?” I could hear her voice in my head as I spoke. My father needs to have an attitude adjustment and stop moping around the rest of his life. “What did she tell you about me?”

Bruce glanced at the workout log sheet before speaking. “She told me you’ve been almost a recluse since your wife passed away a year or so ago.” He met my eyes before continuing. “She’s worried that you’re not socialising and you’re avoiding new friendships.”

I knew she’d said more from the way Bruce chewed on his lower lip. “Spit it out, trainer. What else did she blab? That dang kid used to be my favourite daughter before now.” My stomach knotted while I wondered how much she felt it necessary to tell. My wife of thirty-four years passed away over a year ago. She and the kids knew of my “orientation”. I’d been honest and faithful despite my urges, so now I wondered if she included that tidbit in the dossier she gave to this relative stranger.

Bruce chuckled. “She’s your only daughter, Dan, so you can’t choose favourites. Why don’t you ask her how much she may or may not have said? I’ve asked her out to dinner a few times so it’s kinda blurred what counts as trainer-client information and a dinner date conversation.”

“Oh lord, are you suggesting my personal trainer is soon to become my son-in-law?” I pursed my lips and shook my head. “Dealing with one brat is challenging enough, but two of you?” I raised my eyes, pushed my palms over my heart, and said, “I must have been terrible in a previous life. Two against one working to get me fit will be the death of me.” I failed to find the humour that caused Bruce’s belly laugh.

Once he controlled himself, we began the tour. I noticed, at different stations, Bruce checked his watch and glanced towards the entrance. We’d gotten as far as the cardio section when a man who was tall, lean, and easy on the eyes approached us.

“Hi, Dad, I was just going through a routine with Mr. Holstrom. Dan Holstrom this is my father, Luke Fraser. Dad, meet my new client, Dan Holstrom.”

I nearly shivered when Luke Fraser spoke in an amazing baritone. He appeared to be around my age, mid-fifties, had intense hazel eyes, and his hair was chestnut brown with grey accents. I wondered if he had it styled that way. His hand was warm and firm when we shook at our introduction.