Leverage characters are not mine.

Chapter 1

Josie

Just as she walked into the dark gym she heard heavy breathing and loud grunts. She peered around the room, saw a man pressing weights and the weights seemed to be winning. As she ran towards him, she quickly put on her gloves. Standing where a spotter would have been standing, Josie grabbed the weights. "Okay, you got this."

He looked up, the sweat was running in his eyes, but all he could see a blur of a woman. With her help he moved the weights up into the brackets. Making sure the bar and weights were secure, she offered a gloved hand towards him, bringing him up into a sitting position. She went back and grabbed her back pack. Going back to where he was still sitting, she pulled out a bottle of water, handing it to him. "Here."

"I don't want to take your water." He was still breathing hard.

She pulled out a second bottle. "I have plenty." She offered the bottle again, this time he took it.

Opening it up, he drank half of it down before he stopped. "Thanks." He furrowed his brow. "How did you get in?"

"Friends with the owner. When I get in town, I use this gym." She pulled out a key. She looked around the room. "Where is your spotter?"

The young man shook his head. "Called in sick." Extended his gloved hand. "My name is Eliot."

The woman smiled as she took his hand. "Josie."

Finishing off the rest of his water, he set the bottle on the floor. Taking the towel around his neck, he wiped his face. "You press weights?"

She shook her head. "I generally use the machines, some barbells. You need a spotter?"

He shook his head. "That was my last set." Eliot slowly stood up. His breathing had slowed down.

Grabbing another bottle out of her bag, she extended it to Eliot. "You need to cool down before you take a shower.

He nodded, as he began a slow jog around the perimeter of the gym, slowing to a brisk walk. Josie watched for a moment then began with the stationary bike. She worked out for an hour on various machines and barbells. Glancing at the clock, the time was near 6:00 AM. Collecting her things, she headed towards the women's locker room.

Quickly showering she dressed in her street clothes and packed her gym things into the backpack. She found Eliot waiting at the counter.

"Hey, I figured you left." Josie smiled as she pulled her hair in a pony tail.

"Not the best neighborhood to be leaving in the dark."

She pulled an envelope out of a side pocket of her back pack and set it on the counter for the owner.

"Are you up for breakfast?" Eliot walked next to her towards the back door.

"Sure."

Making sure all the lights were off, they the gym through the back door.

Sitting at the prep table she watched as he fried bacon and prepped vegetables for omelets. "You cook a lot?"

"Not as often as I would like." He picked the bacon out of the fry pan on to several layers of paper towels. Draining the bacon grease from the pan, he then added the vegetables. He moved to the bowl of eggs and began whisking them.

"Is this your kitchen?"

"No." He smiled. "It belongs to a friend. He glanced at the clock. "He should be coming in soon."

As if on cue, they heard the backdoor slamming shut. A tall young black man and a young blonde entered the kitchen. He looked from Eliot to the young brunette sitting at the counter. "You're here early."

"Went to the gym earlier this morning." Eliot paused. "Josie, this is Alec Hardison and Parker."

Josie smiled and shook their hands. "Nice meeting you."

Hardison covered his mouth yawning. "Too early." He picked up a piece of bacon and started chewing it. He studied Josie for a minute. "You look very familiar."

Josie blinked. "I get that a lot."

Parker looked from her to Hardison. "Pretzels."

Hardison glanced from Parker to Josie. "What are you saying Parker."

She shrugged. "When I look at her, I think of pretzels."

Tilting his head slightly as he studied Josie, who was beginning to feel a little uncomfortable. Pretzels? He furrowed his brow for a moment. He smiled. "You're Josie, the singer!"

Josie's slightly blushed. "Guilty. But how do you connect me with pretzels?"

Alec began stammering. "Well, see, it's..."

Eliot pulled two more plates and set them on the counter, as he passed Josie he whispered in her ear.

Her face turned another shade of pink. "Oh.?"

She looked towards Hardison and Parker, then looked at Eliot.

He grinned and nodded.

"Well, okay then...I think."

Turning back to where the bacon was lying, he swatted Alec's hand with the spatula. "Stop that."

"Technically, it's my bacon."

"Yeah, well then, cook your own bacon." Eliot growled at him. He moved the plate out of Alec's reach.

Dividing the omelets he put them on the plates and then put several pieces of bacon on each plate. He looked at Josie. "What would you like to drink?"

Josie was studying Parker, who appeared to be sleeping in her chair. "Water's fine."

Later that morning, Josie stopped at the secretary's desk. "Is my brother, Robert, in?"

The young man smiled. "Josie, right?" The woman nodded. "Yes, he is. He is expecting you."

Tapping on the door before she opened it, she stepped into his office. She raised a brow seeing Eliot in a chair in front of Robert's desk.

"Hey Robert." She eyed Eliot as he turned in surprise. "Eliot, what are you doing here?"

"Sis. Have you two met?" Coming around the desk, he gave her a hug and a kiss on her cheek. He looked at her. "You're annoyed."

"Yes, we've met. What's going on?" She took a seat next to Eliot.

"I called Jason, the owner of the gym, to hire someone for security. He gave me Eliot's name and number." Robert took a seat at his desk, putting his feet up on the corner of the desk, leaning slightly back in his chair.

"Whose security?" Josie's defense kicked in.

Robert frowned. "Come on sis, I know you've gotten threats."

"Zealous admirers." She looked at Eliot. "No offense, but this happens all the time."

Eliot shrugged. "I was offered an easy gig, came to check it out." He straightened his legs out in front of him as if disinterested in how it turned out.

Her annoyance grew. "So, you're hiring him to protect me?"

Robert smiled. "Yes. At least until you leave Portland."

She sat silent for a moment. Robert lowered his feet back to the floor and turned his chair to face her. Eliot pulled his cowboy hat down and crossed his arms, as he waited for her response.

"Are you going to respond?" Robert looked at her.

Josie took a breath before responding. She looked at Eliot. "Just how good are you?"

Not the response he was expecting, he raised his hat slightly, eyeing her. "I'm good."

Nodding, Josie stood up. "Any more surprises, Robert?"