by Piper Rayne
He moved toward me like he owned me. Like he controlled everything about me. And with his gaze pinned on me and my body still warm from sex, I couldn’t deny that maybe he did.
11
After stalking Balanced Life online the following weekend, I saw there was a late morning class on Wednesday. Since I was off, I headed over there to check it out, hoping to make it a regular thing. At least until I could find something else.
Jobs were scarce unless I wanted to move to a city. Syracuse was a few hours away, but I’d never lived in a city and wasn’t really sure about it. There were things I really didn’t like about living in MacKellar Cove, but I knew going from a town of a few thousand people to a city was a huge change. One I wasn’t willing to make just yet.
The studio was quiet again, but there was a low level of buzz to the quiet. I found a spot in the studio and did my best to calm my mind before class started. Some instructors jumped right in and some gave us a little more time to get centered, but I knew I needed an extra minute before class started to be focused and ready.
I’d just finished my breathing exercises when Sylvia walked over to me. I said hello and asked how she was doing.
“A little stressed right now, to be honest. I hate to do this to you, but I wondered if I could ask you a huge favor. Have you ever taught a class?”
I shook my head. My stomach dropped to the floor. She was going to kick me out? Seriously? I’d already been there.
“Shoot. You were so good that I assumed you were an instructor. I was going to ask if you would be willing to teach this class. I knew it was a long shot, but the woman I hired just called and she…well, she isn’t going to work out. I have a private lesson booked in the other studio, and I was hoping I wouldn’t have to cancel this class—”
“I’ll do it,” I blurted.
“You will?”
I nodded. “I will. I don’t mind at all. And, um, if you’re looking to hire someone else, I’d love to be considered for it.”
“Really? I thought you said you’ve never taught.”
“I…I haven’t, but I want to. I interviewed at another studio, and…I know I’m a risk and I have no experience and I don’t look like a yoga instructor should—”
“I don’t know who told you that, but they are wrong. You are a beautiful woman, and you don’t need anyone to tell you what you should look like. Let’s talk after class. If that’s okay with you.”
I nodded. “That would be great.”
“Thank you so much. I really appreciate the help, Willow.”
“I’m happy to do it. I promise, I’ll do my best.”
“I know you will. That’s why I asked you.”
Her confidence in me made me feel like I could do anything. She squeezed my arm and waved as she hurried out of the room. I carried my mat to the front of the studio and laid it out. Then I addressed the class.
“Hello, everyone. I’m Willow. I’ll be teaching this class today. It’s my first class, but I’m hoping not my last. If you have any suggestions for me when we’re finished, I’d love to know what you thought. Thank you.”
The others in the class smiled and nodded their heads, keeping things quiet and serene. I started class with stretching and breathing exercises that I knew everyone would be able to handle, then I moved on to moves that took a little more strength and flexibility.
I tried to remember what I’d learned from other yoga classes and demonstrated each pose then walked around the class and helped others if they weren’t in the correct position. I showed everyone poses for beginner, intermediate, and advanced students, doing my best to keep the class at a level where everyone was comfortable.
I was surprised when I looked at the clock and the class was almost over. I led them through a short cool down and stretches and thanked them all for being there.
I taught my first yoga class. It felt great.
“Thank you for teaching today,” one lady said when she approached me. “This was my first yoga class ever, and I was nervous, but you made me feel very comfortable. I never would have known you were new to teaching. You were wonderful.”
“Thank you,” I told her, beaming with her praise.
The rest of the students who approached shared similar thoughts and by the time the studio was empty, I was floating. I could feel everything inside me lining up. This was what I was meant to do.
Sylvia walked in while I was rolling up my mat. “You were a hit,” she said.
“Thank you. I think they were wonderful. And this was…amazing. Thank you for asking me.”
“I need to be thanking you. If you hadn’t said yes, I would have had to cancel this class. I owe you. And judging by the conversation on the way out and the things I overheard, I need to hire you.”
“Are you serious?”
Sylvia nodded. “I am. I wanted to have a second person working here with me. Like I said, the other woman isn’t going to work out, but I’d like you to consider it. If you were serious. Maybe we start with a month long trial basis so we can learn if we work well together. And if things go well, then we can talk about setting up some classes that you teach on your own.”
My smile was so big I thought my cheeks were going to split. But before I could say yes, I hesitated.
“I really appreciate this. I can’t tell you how much. Honestly, I’ve been considering leaving the area. It’s been a rough year for me, and I’ve been thinking about going somewhere else.”
“Oh,” Sylvia said. “Well, I’m sorry to hear that.”
I nodded. “Can I think about it? Because I really enjoyed this class, and I’ve been undecided lately about where I want to be. I just don’t want to leave you in the same position you’re in now.”
“Thank you for your honesty. Not everyone would tell the truth, but I really appreciate it. How about this? Over the next month, we’ll work together on classes. You can take some of them and I’ll take some of them. I’ll make sure I’m available for all the classes, just in case. I won’t double book anything. If at the end of the month, we’re both happy with the arrangement, we come up with a new plan. If by then, you decide you are serious about leaving, we’ll go from there. Does that work?”
Shocked wasn’t even close to how I felt. She wanted to give me a chance, even though I told her I might be leaving. “That sounds amazing. Are you sure?”
Sylvia nodded. “I am. I know you’re good at this, and I want someone to work with me who has a passion for yoga like I do. I see that in you, but I also understand needing to follow your own path. Give it some thought and see how you feel, and we’ll go from there.”
“Thank you, Sylvia. I…thank you.”
We talked a few more minutes and she asked my availability for the classes the rest of the week. We came up with a plan and I walked out the door with a new job.
That was definitely not what I expected. But it was amazing.
I was still flying high when I got back into town. I was starving and wanted to celebrate, so I went to Just Tacos. I didn’t care that I was alone, I just wanted a chicken taco and a margarita for lunch.
I smiled at the hostess and followed her to a table for one. I thanked her and took the menu even though I knew what I was getting. I flipped through in case something else jumped out at me and decided to splurge on queso and chips, too.
The server came over and took my order, then left me alone at the table again. I couldn’t stop smiling and was starting to worry I looked like a crazy person. I pulled out my phone so at least I could pretend I was smiling at something on there.
The server delivered my margarita and said my lunch would be out soon. I opened the Book Boyfriends Wanted app and pulled up my conversations with Rowan. One day I needed to get his phone number. Maybe. If we both stayed in MacKellar Cove. For the moment, having him only on the app made it safer. If we ended, I could delete him from my matches instead of having to delete his contact from my phone.
I sent him a message asking how hi
s day was and waited for his reply.
JustVisiting: Boring.
UpForAnything: I guess that’s good for a cop.
JV: Sometimes. It’s more interesting when something happens during the day. Doesn’t have to be much.
UFA: You’re wishing for someone to commit a crime. I think there might be something wrong with you.
JV: Probably true. How’s your day?
UFA: Great actually. I went back to the yoga studio and taught a class.
JV: Dammit. Now I’m horny. Why did you tell me that? And why didn’t you take me with you? I would have paid good money to see you demonstrating all those poses.
I laughed and shook my head at him.
UFA: I’m teaching again. Maybe you can take another class with me.
JV: I’ll quit my job if I have to. I’ll be there.
I laughed and set my phone down when the server delivered my lunch. “Anything else?” he asked.
I shook my head. “This looks great. Thank you.”
He nodded and walked away, leaving me to my food. And Rowan.
UFA: I’ll send you my schedule. For now, I’m eating lunch. My taco is waiting for me.
JV: I could go for a taco. Where are you? Order me a water and four chicken tacos.
I pulled back, surprised he wanted to join me.
JV: Sorry. I should have said do you mind if I join you?
I laughed.
UFA: No, I don’t mind. Sounds good to me. I’ll put in your order. I’m at Just Tacos.
JV: On my way.
I caught the server’s attention and asked him to add Rowan’s order to mine. He nodded and wrote it down before he walked away.
I glanced at the door, watching for Rowan to appear, and my breath hitched. Melody and Amber were sitting at a table on the other side of the restaurant. No, they were getting up from a table on the other side of the restaurant. And had to walk past my table in order to leave.
My heart pounded in my ears. My breath rushed out of me. I watched them until they disappeared behind the booths that separated us. I told myself to let them walk by me, but I didn’t want to. I wanted to talk to my sister.
“Hi, Melody,” I said when they were next to my table.
She turned with a bright smile on her face. Her gaze landed on mine and the smile melted away. Icy disdain filled her eyes. Her lips pinched together in pain.
“Willow.”
“How are you?” I asked her. “Hi, Amber.”
“Hi, Aunt Willow. Why don’t you come see me anymore?”
I glanced up at Melody, but she was looking at her daughter. “Aunt Willow and Mommy had a fight.”
“You always tell me I have to forgive my friends when we fight. Why shouldn’t you forgive Aunt Willow?” Amber asked.
“Some things are unforgivable,” Melody said.
The coldness in her voice was unmistakable. She had no interest in anything I had to say. But I had to try.
“I’m sorry, Melody. I am. More than you could know. I wish—”
“That you’d never kissed my husband or that I never found out about it? Oh, no wait, you wish I’d listened to your lies and left him so you could have him. Is that the one?”
“No,” I said softly.
“I don’t know what you thought I would say, Willow. Did you really think you could apologize and I would forgive you?”
“We’ve always forgiven each other. For everything.”
“And you’ve never done anything like this before. I trusted you. I thought you were on my side. I thought you were my best friend. I shared things with you I never told another person, even Ramsey. And you used it all against me so you could ruin my marriage. So you could have my husband for yourself.”
“I didn’t—”
“Hello, ladies,” Rowan said, appearing behind Melody like a beacon of hope. “How is everyone today?”
Melody turned and looked up at him. “Hi, Rowan. I’m sorry. I wasn’t trying to cause a problem.”
I should have known they were friends. They probably all got together on a regular basis or something. And as usual, I was on the outside.
“Good. Is everything okay?” Rowan asked.
Melody shook her head. “Not really. But I’m leaving. I’m sorry we created an issue. I wish they’d said something to us instead of calling you.”
“No one called me. I’m here for lunch.”
Of course, the server chose that moment to walk over and set Rowan’s plate down on my table.
Rowan looked up at me and smiled. “Looks great. Thanks for ordering for me.”
“You’re having lunch together?” Melody asked.
Rowan nodded. “Yep. I’d ask if you want to join us, but it looks like you’ve already finished.” He pointed to the to-go box Amber carried.
Melody’s gaze flipped between us like she couldn’t figure out what was happening. “You’re…are you…what…?”
“It was good to see you, Melody. Say hi to Ramsey,” Rowan said as he moved around them and took the seat opposite me.
I watched as my sister figured out what was going on. Her gaze flickered to mine, and she gave me a hard glare. I didn’t know why it was an issue that I was seeing Rowan, but obviously it was.
Melody guided Amber toward the door without another word. I watched them get in her minivan and leave, absorbing everything I could about them before they vanished from my sight.
“Are you okay?” Rowan asked after a minute.
I forced a smile and nodded. “Yeah, I’m great.”
“You’re also full of shit. What was that about?”
“I didn’t know you two were friends.”
He shook his head and swallowed a bite of his taco. “We’re not. Not really. I know Ramsey, and I’ve met Melody a few times.”
“You acted like you didn’t know who they were.”
He nodded while he chewed another bite. “I told you I wanted to hear things from you, not someone else. There are always two sides to a story.”
“And one side is always wrong.”
He shook his head. “I didn’t say that, Willow. I’m not here right now because of Melody. I’m here for—”
“Tacos,” I said.
He chuckled. “That, too.”
I tried to grin. I had no right to get upset with him. It bothered me that he was friendly with Melody, but I wasn’t surprised by it. I just had to wrap my head around the idea and know that she was probably going to talk him into ending things.
Like everyone else in town. No big surprise there, except Melody was the one person who could probably actually do it.
And that scared me.
12
Rowan
Willow was quiet through most of the rest of lunch. I tried to ask her questions and get her talking, but she was distracted. It wasn’t a surprise, but it bothered me. She was pushed out of so many things and the whole town had turned against her. All because of a crush on a boy who was nice to her when no other boy paid her any attention.
Maybe I was missing something to the story, but I couldn’t see where Willow was the only bad guy. I found myself laying more blame at Ramsey’s feet than Willow’s. He didn’t mean to lead her on, but he also was the adult in the situation. It didn’t excuse what happened after she kissed him, but I couldn’t stop wondering what happened during the years in between.
I paid for our lunches and walked outside with Willow, following her to her car. My SUV was next to hers, but I went to the driver’s door with her so I could have another minute.
“If I don’t hear from you again, I understand,” she said softly. Her lips curled up in a sad, forced smile. She avoided looking at me.
I tilted her chin up and waited until she met my gaze. A tear slid free and ran down her cheek, soaking into my thumb. She closed her eyes again, hiding her feelings from me.
It broke me to see her in so much pain. To know one conversation with her sister could upset her so much. She was strong and fierce, but
she didn’t want me to see how much everything hurt.
I leaned closer until her breath became mine. Her eyes asked the question, and my body answered, pressing against her as I claimed her lips.
And she claimed my heart.
I didn’t know where in the hell that came from, but the moment our lips touched I knew she was it for me. We were having fun. The sex was amazing and spending time with her was supposed to be a distraction.
But somewhere along the way, I fell for her. Hard. So hard that I wanted to shield her from everyone who even thought about hurting her. From anyone who threatened her.
I pulled back just enough that I could see her face. I scanned it, taking in every freckle and wrinkle while she breathed deeply. She was waiting for me to end things, but she was going to have to wait a long time because I wasn’t going anywhere.
“Thank you for coming to my rescue,” she said softly.
“Any time. Although next time, instead of tacos I demand a yoga class as my payment.”
“You didn’t even let me pay for the tacos,” she said with a laugh, finally looking like the woman I loved.
The words rolled around in my head while she laughed. The woman I loved. I’d never thought those words before. There were women who said they loved me, women I wanted to love, but never women I loved. Not until Willow.
“Let me know when you’re teaching again,” I told her, ignoring her comment about paying. She wasn’t going to worry about anything if I could help it. She’d had too much happen in the last year. She deserved to be taken care of for once instead of having to do everything on her own.
“I will,” she said with a nod. “You should probably get back to work.”
“To my endlessly boring day?”
She chuckled.
“I suppose. Can I see you tonight?”
She looked up at me then nodded, drawing her lips between her teeth.
“Good. I’ll bring dinner.”
“Dinner? Lunch and dinner on the same day?”
I nuzzled her neck. “I’m hoping I can talk you into breakfast in the morning, too.”
