Intensity Read Online Free

and she immediately grimaced. “Ugh, don’t remind me. That crush was just bad news from the start.”
    “Yeah, it was pretty stupid.” Ruthie avoided Celine’s irritated expression and glanced up. Spotting a rare gem in the corner, she quickly broke out into a run.
    “Hey! Where are you going?” Celine yelled after her, struggling to keep up.
    “Better work on that cardio, Celine! We have to get to that machine before someone else takes it!”
    Ruthie was on a mission and reached the empty machine without even breaking a sweat. She grabbed the blue padded handle just as another hand reached up simultaneously. “Excuse me, I got here first,” Ruthie said in a semi-sweet, semi-“I will kill you” voice. She looked up and gaped at the handsome face that stared back at her.
    “No, I think I did,” he replied with a kind smile. He took out his ear buds and laid the cord across his broad shoulders.
    Gosh, even his teeth were attractive, she thought. She quickly shook her head and responded, “If you don’t mind, you can wait in line after my friend here? Like I said, I got here first.”
    The man turned his head and flashed a smile at Celine, who had just caught up with the two. Breathing heavily, she smiled apologetically. “It’s all right. You can take my turn. I’ll just go after you and Ruthie.”
    “Ah, so Ruthie’s her name.” He glanced back at her and winked. “Beautiful name for a beautiful woman.”
    Ruthie ignored him and positioned the bar behind her neck. Without another word, she began doing the quickest squats known to man. Celine’s jaw dropped as she watched her friend complete her ridiculous looking reps.
    “Well, I’m Scott,” he replied, bowing his head slightly. The corner of his mouth crept up into a lopsided grin.
    “I didn’t ask,” Ruthie grunted. A bead of sweat rolled down her forehead and into her eye, momentarily blinding her. Not wanting to break form (or give Scott an excuse to grab the bar), she ignored the stinging pain.
    Once again the compassionate one, Celine stuck her hand out. “Nice to meet you, Scott. I’m Celine.”
    “At least one of you is nice,” Scott joked. He watched Ruthie for a little while longer and finally turned away. “I guess I’ll do some free weights. Nice to meet you both.” He waited for Ruthie to reply, but she remained focused on her reps. Silently, he turned on his heel and began to walk away.
    Celine waited until he was out of earshot and hissed at her friend, “What was that about? You were really rude to him!”
    “I wasn’t rude to him! I was…”
    “You were what?”
    “Flirting?”
    Celine threw her head back and burst into laughter. “That was flirting? Seriously?”
    “Not everyone’s an expert in relationships like you,” Ruthie snapped.
    “I never said I was,” Celine replied, crossing her arms. “I just think the best way to flirt is by not acting like a bitch.”
    Ruthie replaced the bar and began stretching her arms. “I was not acting like a bitch!”
    “Um, you totally were,” Celine replied, braving a glance at Scott. He was busy lifting weights and paid the two no mind. “Do you want my advice?”
    “Not really,” Ruthie shot back.
    “Just quit ‘flirting’ with him and go over there and ask him out!”
    “What?” Ruthie gaped. “Are you effing kidding me?” She shifted uncomfortably. “I can’t throw myself at a guy like that.”
    “You won’t be throwing yourself at him.” Celine rolled her eyes. “You’re a strong, independent woman who knows what she wants. Get this whole flirting thing out of the way, because seriously, you’ll never win him that way.”
    Ruthie huffed and shook her head. “Let’s change the subject. You wanted me to train you for the wedding, so here I am. Get on the machine and do three reps!”
    “Okay, stop yelling at me. Geez, I didn’t know you were that sexually frustrated!” Celine growled .
     
    ***
     
    Celine rolled into bed that night sore