Charlie let himself down to sit and raised one foot to adjust the lace of his gym shoe. This gave him the chance to take a few deep breaths and let the ache die out of his shoulders. And he could also get a nicely reflected eyeful of his companion.
Of course, using the weights without anyone to spot for you could be dangerous.
Couldn't it?
He cleared his throat and swung down from the horse.
"erm," he said. "Not to suggest that you can't cope on your own ..."