Keeping Faith (28 page)

Reece sat at the juice bar and checked the time. Her next client was a bit late and if she didn't show in ten more minutes, Reece was leaving. She turned a bit on the stool and watched the door for a while before turning back around and finishing her drink. Hopping off the stool, she started towards the locker room when she banged into someone.

"Hey!"

Reece started to apologize when she recognized the offender.
"Alicia?"

Alicia smiled devilishly. "Hello, Reece."

Blue eyes widened. "What are you doing here?"

The actress's smile grew. "I'm your client."

Reece narrowed her eyes. "Excuse me?"

"Yeah, I'm a little late, but, I'm here now." She gestured to herself. "Shall we start?"

Reece shook her head. "No, I'm done for the day. There's a perfectly capable trainer over there."

Alicia stood in front of the taller woman. "I'm a paying client and I want you."

Reece pursed her lips in thought.

"Oh, come on, Reece. What's another 45 minutes? What kind of PR would it be if you walked out on a client?"

Reece sighed. What was the harm, really. "Alright. Get moving, I don't have all day."

Alicia beamed as she happily followed Reece to the weight room.

Reece rolled her eyes. "What are we looking at, ass, legs, stomach?"

"I don't know, you tell me." The actress spun around slowly, giving Reece a long look at the whole package.

Reece raised an eyebrow. There was nothing at all wrong with this girl's body. She was definitely in great shape, had a fabulous figure, and a perfect ass. An ass which Reece eyed suspiciously. "So, let's get this straight. I'm a trainer, I will train you, and that's it. Any questions?"

"Yeah, do you think I'm hot?"

Reece shook her head in disbelief. "Any other questions?"

Alicia looked around at the gym. "Why are you doing this?"

"Doing what?"

"Training women. I know more about you than you think. I know your type, and the last thing you need is temptation. You don't want for money, and you already have a hot business. This isn't a necessary distraction."

Reece's mouth hung open. She wanted to answer, but couldn't.

"See? You think this is a good way to be surrounded by women who want you. It's nothing more than ego." Alicia stared at Reece for a moment. "Unless you do get busy with your admirers and Faith has no clue." She advanced on the taller woman. "
Do
you get busy, Reece?"

Reece stepped backwards. "Don't fucking insinuate, Alicia."

Alicia kept advancing until Reece was backed against a machine. She ran a finger down the front of Reece's body. "You are so fucking hot, I can see why they all want you. You can have any woman you want, here, no one would know."

Reece took a deep controlling breath and grasped Alicia's hand, very hard. "It would benefit you greatly, if you never touched me again." She squeezed the actress's hand and watched her wince in pain. "First off, you and me? It ain't happening baby. You're disgusting, and I don't find you the least bit attractive. Secondly, this is the last time you and I will interact in any way." She released Alicia's hand which the actress grabbed with her other and rubbed.

"You almost broke my fucking hand." Alicia said through gritted teeth.

"Oh, Alicia, I could have done so much worse." Reece narrowed her eyes dangerously, pinning the brunette. "You're playing with fire, and I will burn you."

"I hit a nerve is all. You think you're getting away with fucking these bitches behind Faith's back. She's stupid if she thinks your not."

Reece growled and pressed her body into Alicia, backing her into the wall. "You so much as put that bug in Faith's ear and I will personally rip your precious little lips off. Now get the fuck out of here before I hurt you."

"T
HAT BITCH!" FAITH exploded.

Reece couldn't help but chuckle at her wife's outburst.

"It's not funny, Reece! She's so manipulative and obnoxious and I'm sure she's going to start all kinds of shit now."

"Faith, I didn't do anything. What can she say?"

The actress growled. "She can say anything she wants."

Reece thought about what Alicia said regarding fooling around with clients, and her eyes narrowed. Shaking off the anger, Reece embraced Faith and kissed her on the forehead. "Why don't you take a long hot bath, and forget about it for now."

Faith sighed in her lover's arms. "Come with me?"

Reece grinned. "How can I say no?"

Reece pulled Cori into her office and closed the door. The dancer looked confused. "What's going on?"

Reece sat in her chair and leaned forward. "Alicia came to the gym today."

Cori's eyes widened. "No way!"

"Yes, way. She flirted with me and I turned her down. She got mad and said she'd tell Faith I was fooling around with my clients."

Cori blinked rapidly. "But you don't..."

"Fuck you, freak, you know I don't!"

The dancer nodded. "Just checking. So, you have nothing to worry about."

"What if she starts spreading rumors around the set? Faith will have to defend me all over the place. What if Faith believes her?"

"Faith knows better."

"But, just, what if?"

Cori grinned a little. "You could go and scare her. Just a bit."

"I tried that, but she didn't seem the least bit threatened. Trust me, I wanted to break her fucking arm."

"Hmm. What do you want me to do?"

The club owner sighed. "I don't know, I thought maybe you had an idea."

"You can quit your job at the gym."

"Yeah, and look guilty as all hell."

Cori grimaced. "Right. Didn't think of that."

"Fuck it. Faith can handle herself with Alicia, right?"

Reece raised an eyebrow. "Just do nothing? It doesn't seem right."

"Really, Reece. What can you do?"

Faith arrived on the set to stares and piteous looks. She narrowed her eyes. "Fucking Alicia." She muttered. As she passed a small group of extras, they looked at her with insincere smiles. Faith held up a hand. "She didn't sleep with my wife."

"Louise! Get in here!"

Faith rolled her eyes. She assumed John knew better than to listen to Alicia's rumors. "Not you too?"

John jumped up and down. "She's telling everyone she spent yesterday afternoon with Reece!"

"Yeah, she stalked her to the gym."

"What the hell happened?"

Faith plopped into the chair. "Nothing. She hit on Reece and Reece turned her down."

"That's not what she says. She says Reece was all over her, and she had to fight her off."

Faith sneered. "Stupid bitch. And they believe her?"

"Who wouldn't? You know what they always drag up about Reece's past in the rag mags, and with Alicia's reputation... it just fits."

"Shit. This is just lovely."

The door opened and in walked Alicia. "Did I tell you how delicious your wife looks in lycra?"

Faith turned away from her so she wouldn't spit. "I'm quite aware of what she looks like thank you very much."

Alicia held a hand on her chest and looked dreamy. "So strong, and so hot. She has quite a grip on her too."

Faith boiled, spun around and poked the actress in the ribs. "Listen Alicia, I know nothing happened between the two of you so take your asinine rumors somewhere else."

"She told you nothing happened and you believed her?" She laughed. "Honestly, Faith, what do you really think she does in that gym all day?"

Faith gritted her teeth. "Get out of my face." She warned.

Alicia chuckled. "Please, you are so naïve. A woman like Reece is like a kid in a candy store in that gym all day. Half naked, lithe, young women, throwing themselves at her feet, swooning all over her body. Reece eats it up like she's starving. I was there sweetheart."

Faith growled and made a fist. John stepped in front of her. "Why don't you just take your malicious lies somewhere else and save yourself a smack."

"Oh John, you're just afraid of Reece, but you know the truth."

"Get the fuck out of here Alicia." Faith hissed angrily.

Alicia laughed her way out of the trailer.

Work was horrible for Faith that morning, with Alicia making comments regarding Reece and her prowess. Faith had enough and was stewing in the make-up trailer, venting to John.

"She pointed out Reece's palm callous, and the cut she made by picking her cuticle. Either she studied Reece a long time, or she has a point."

John's stomach grew butterflies. "You don't think..."

Faith threw her hands up. "I don't know what to think! I don't want to think that, but how the hell would she know about my wife's palm callous?"

"Faith, I think she's just doing this to make you crazy. You know Alicia, she gets what she wants and I don't think anyone has ever turned her down."

"Oh, great, you're really making me feel better." Faith steamed.

"No, I mean that since Reece turned her down, she can't let anyone know. She's just behaving this way to save her own reputation. She doesn't care what she does to you."

Faith sat in thought.

"Come on, you can't really think Reece is doing all that Alicia accuses her of."

The actress frowned. "I trust Reece, really I do, but there's that tiny part of me that knows Reece's intrinsic make-up. Before me, well, she would never turn down an opportunity."

"Faith, listen to yourself. You're falling right into her trap. I think the best thing to do now is not let Alicia see you like this."

Faith sighed heavily, "You're right."

"I know I am. Now, go back out there, shoot the last scene and play along. She'll be the one that's crazy when you're done with her."

Faith's cell phone rang and she grinned evilly at whatever was being said to her. "Ooo, that's just too good. Thanks Cor."

John raised a curious eyebrow.

"Cori just gave me the best idea." Faith chuckled. "I'll see you later."

Reece was extra careful not to touch anyone in any way other than was necessary while she trained. Alicia made her nervous, and the feeling didn't sit well with her. She felt like she was being scrutinized, like she was guilty of something she didn't even do. She was worried that Faith might think the worst. After all, Reece's reputation with women was legendary. The club owner distractedly did her work while thinking up ways to prove herself to Faith. She felt it needed to be done.

"Cut!"